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Camping

Our UK Camping forum has all the information you need on finding the right equipment for your tent or caravan.

Original poster

Help Me Find A Tent!!!!!

28 replies

magnolia1 · 06/05/2007 16:07

Ok, 7 of us and Dh is 6'6" Tall!!!! So needs to be a huge tent, easy to put up and cheap
I know its a lot to ask but Dh wants to go camping but we have 5 kids youngest is 5 months so a tent thats hard to put up will just cause me to go rent a caravan

I need to get one off Ebay or second hand so tell me the good makes and he ones to really avoid???

My budget is £100 but would prefer to spend less

OP posts:
hbbell · 06/05/2007 17:54

some camping shops also sell second hand tents that you can see up. might be worth a phone round (our one is out side norwich and prob not much help)

Blandmum · 06/05/2007 17:57

Hard to get that much for under £100

Good makes.

Outwell
Khyam
Montpellier
Vango

Ignore names on Ebay that you don't recognise

Lucycat · 06/05/2007 18:01

Can you stretch to £114?

If so then Argos have some good deals on now.

Original poster
magnolia1 · 06/05/2007 19:27

Argos one looks good but highest is 210cm, 225 would be better for Dh.
I am watching a VANGO Colorado 800 DLX on Ebay are they ok??

OP posts:
Original poster
magnolia1 · 06/05/2007 19:28

Out of these:
Outwell
Khyam
Montpellier
Vango
Whats the easiest to put up??

OP posts:
Blandmum · 06/05/2007 19:30

Probably Khyam....but these are quite expensive.

Outwells are quick to put up, ours lakes me 30 mins, on my own.

It is the type of tent that matters for the speed tbh. Look for 'out first' or 'as one' tents rather than flysheet first, as these tend to be quicker. In general tunnel tents also tend to be quicker and easier than does, and also give you good head room in the sleeping areas.

Original poster
magnolia1 · 06/05/2007 19:40

Ok, the Vango is at £43 with 1 hour to go on Ebay but is the 800 going to big enough for us??

OP posts:
Blandmum · 06/05/2007 19:43

It might be snug. Are any of your kids old enough to sleep in a pup tent?

Good tent BTW. Vango is a very reliable name

Original poster
magnolia1 · 06/05/2007 20:14

They are 11, twins are 7, 3 and 5 months

OP posts:
Lucycat · 06/05/2007 20:18

The only issue that I can see with the Colorado is that it seems to have just 2 bedrooms, no?

bit cosy for 6!

Lucycat · 06/05/2007 20:21

or even 7

Cloudhopper · 06/05/2007 20:27

A word of warning - we bought a cheap un-branded tent on ebay. Disaster. We have been camping twice in it and that has almost put us off camping for life (previous die-hard campers). Even in gentle breezes the thing almost collapses in on itself.

It was a false economy, because we had to buy another, and the old one can't even be given away. I could never forgive myself if someone went camping in it and had such a rubbish time as we have.

If I could start over, I would save up for longer and buy a slightly better tent, even a second hand but better quality one.

In fact that is what we have now done, but only after two years of not cutting our losses.

Cloudhopper · 06/05/2007 20:28

PS It looks as though Vango is not one of these un-branded names, so good luck with the ebay auction.

Lucycat · 06/05/2007 20:28

Which brand was it cloudhopper?

There seem to be a lot of Skandika tents about.

Cloudhopper · 06/05/2007 20:29

I can't remember, but it wasn't Skandika. It was a 6 berth 'Arizona'. It could just be us being picky, but I wouldn't recommend it.

Blandmum · 06/05/2007 20:30

Lots of people on UKcampsite say the same as you cloudhopper.

Their advice is only to go for a known brand as there is a lot of tatt sold on Ebay

Original poster
magnolia1 · 06/05/2007 20:33

I looked ona camping site for the specs and It said the colarado was 2+2+4 is that not 3 or is it using the main space for sleeping to??

OP posts:
Blandmum · 06/05/2007 20:37

I thought the vango colrado was a 2+2/4 vis a vis

Original poster
magnolia1 · 06/05/2007 20:40

Ok I am a camping virgin so don't understand all the specs
I take it I need more that an 8 berth to have 7 in comfort?

OP posts:
Lucycat · 06/05/2007 20:41

Isn't that ours mb?

The ones in the listing say 2 sleeping areas.

Blandmum · 06/05/2007 20:42

In general the betrth numbers are quite 'optimistic' For longer camping holidays and comfort I would say that for 7 you should realistically be looking at a 9 berth, or possibley bigger.

We are 4 and have an 8 berth. This gives us ample space (important if the waether turns shoddy). I could go down to a 6, but lower than that would be too much for me. Also you'd have to slepp on camping mats to fit everyone in. I'm a softie and need my camp cot!

Lucycat · 06/05/2007 20:45

this ebay one says 2 bedrooms but the more modern ones seem to have 3 bedrooms.

Blandmum · 06/05/2007 20:45

deffo 3 bedrooms. It is a different tent to the old vango I remember. If it is the one with the porch, it will give you a fair bit more living space.

Lucycat · 06/05/2007 20:49

Might a Vango Diablo 900 be better for you?

Original poster
magnolia1 · 06/05/2007 20:51

Thats the same as the one I am lookig at Lucy, so too small yes??

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