First time camping.

[Yummymummy456]

Hi,
We are planning our first camping trip, 2 adults & 2 children (5&3). We have the tent, but the only problem is the tent can only fit a single and double airbed in.
I’m happy to sleep on the double with the 2 kids, it is a little squished but would kind of work if I slept diagonally! I wondered what other options there is? The tent is a 4 person tent, but I’m guessing that means sleeping without airbeds, but surely that will be freezing?
We bought the camp bunk beds for the kids, thought they would solve all problems but they wouldn’t fit in the tent! So we are now wondering should we just buy a bigger tent, keep the bunk beds and we can sleep on the double airbed. Any help with what you do what be great!
There is a tent on to outdoors for £99, Eurohike Sandero but the reviews aren’t great.
many thanks

You need a bigger tent. It's not just space for bed, you need space for all your stuff as well!

4 person tents like that are designed to take 4 roll mats - we have thermorests but they are £££ (better than airbeds from a ground cold angle). Personally id buy a 2 bedroom 6 berth tent for comfort

For 4 of you I’d get a 6 person tent. You ideally want space for sleeping and a separate space for your stuff, sitting, etc. Check facebook marketplace and gumtree as you can often get great deals on tents on there, and Decathlon is also good for well priced camping kit. Enjoy!

There will be no space for your stuff in a 4 man tent. Head to somewhere like Go Outdoors or a local camping shop who have some on display to have a look how much space you’ll need then have a look on FB marketplace for a second hand version.

An airbed is terrible for heat so don't rely on having them to keep you warm. What type of tent have you got? Is it one space small 4 person tent or a bigger 2 space tent? I've a variety of tents and I use different ones depending on the trop planned, with two adults and two children for more than a day or two I'd be bringing a 6 person 2/3 space (1 or 2 bedroom plus living area) tent. It's possible to use a smaller tent but plan on bring outside almost all of the time and what you'll do if it's raining. I've had a Eurohike tent in the past and it was fine, lasted over twenty years!! I bought a new smaller Eurohike that I haven't used yet but have it pitched in the garden and it seems good. All my others are Vango and nearly all purchased second hand from Facebook market so I'd recommend checking there for equipment.

You should definitely buy a bigger tent which sleeps at least 6. We ended up with a 9 man one for 4 of us when kids were older to stop the inevitable fighting. 😕

We have a trespass Caterthun 4, 1 space bedroom. I will have a look for second hand things. I didn’t want to spend a fortune as this might be our first and last camping trip, depending on how it goes.

See if you have a friend that will lend you one maybe? Unless you have perfect weather I would imagine it has the possibility of being very cramped and not very much fun which means it will likely be your only time. Camping is great if you have enough space for all weather eventualities (and decent beds, but thats an investment for a trial) Hope you have fun.

If I were to buy a new tent, is there any specific brands that are better than others? Looking at reviews of them all, they are all mixed, so I literally haven’t a clue.

You need a 6 berth tent for 4 people if you want to spend any time in it at all - eg if it’s raining.

How often would you go camping if you liked it?

Id recommend a trip to go outdoors. You can see (and play in) all the tents. They don’t have to be overly expensive for something bigger. Plus if you are using commercial camp sites, 95% of the time you’ll park next to the pitch so the weight of the tent isn’t a huge worry.

We were very pleased with our Vango and it lasted for years

We have a 4L Colman Aspen tent (we are also 2 adults, 2 kids). Two bedrooms with a lounge area. If it rains you need somewhere to hang out. Totally understand not wanting to invest much before you know if you'll go camping again. Our first tent was v basic with no windows etc and from that we could decide on what we really needed in a tent. Good luck - hope you enjoy the camping life! 🏕

Outwell and Vango I think

We bought ours of eBay marketplace - it’s a 2 bed, 8 person tent and we paid £100 for it. It’s just big enough to be comfortable for two adults and two children so I’d def go bigger or it probably will be your last time camping x x

I've got a Eurohike air pole 8 person tent just for me and the two kids. 2 bedrooms and living space for when it rains.
If you can only fit one bed and don't want to buy a new one, can you get a king size blow up and all sleep together on it?

dont spend a fortune when u r not sure if you’ll like camping!
as long as the forecast is dry you’ll be fine without loads of indoor space, esp as the kids are so small.
I would use the tent u have, with the airbeds as planned with you and kids on the double. Loads of sleeping bags/ fleece blankets/ duvets. Keep warm socks on and have woolly hats handy, sleep in comfy joggers and jumper/fleece.

make sure you all change into warm clothes early in the evening, as soon as it starts to chill down. Have dry things out handy for the kids incase they spill their dinners all over themselves/ find a puddle to fall in last thing.

keep all the clothes toys etc in the living area and only have your beds and blankets in the bedroom.

have fun!!!

in the morning it will be hot and sweaty as soon as the sun hits the tent. Be ready to peel blankets off the kids for longer sleeping.
it’s clever to have the day clothes ready to go so you don’t have to spend ages wrestling for them. Packing cubes are best. In your set up id have packing cubes ready for bedtime and another one for am.

You can often hire camping equipment, including the tent, some places will even erect it for you.

https://ibexcamping.co.uk/tent-to-hire-460-c.asp

Sleep for one night with your current set up, then decide what you want/ need.

I agree that you need a 6 person tent. At best one with a porch area and high enough to stand up. That's for the UK weather.

Also you need an insulating thermal mat under the airbed- especially for the DC.

I second Outwell, but they can be pricey. We had a 6 person /2 bedroom tent for the better part of 8 years. Then sold it on for around £250.- (auction on eBay). Granted it was in good condition for the age and around 1k to buy in the first place. We were serious campers

We camped a lot with our 2 kids - in 6 person tent first, then an 8.
You need that space if you have kids with you - for stuff, space to sit inside if it's wet etc. We were a bit similar at first - hadn't planned to spend much 'in case we didn't go again'. Sadly, if you have a small tent the first time then you probably won't go again!

Oh I don’t know, maybes 1/2 times a year, for a few days each time. It will totally depends on whether the kids (and partner) likes it!

That’s what I thought but my partner says there would be no way we would all fit on!

Thank you for this! I think you are right, we maybes just need to give it a go and see how it goes! I personally love camping so it’ll be down to what everyone else thinks.