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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

Calling all camping experts

140 replies

MrsDoolittle · 30/07/2005 09:47

We shall not be camoing this year but dh has decided that now, when the sales are on, is the time to buy a tent.
By next year we will be a family of four, two adults and two children. We would like to get a 6 man tent.
Dh has spotted this bargain . I think it's less than that now.
Anyway, I thought I should ask Mumnsetters what they thought. I notice that the Colorado is rated most highly.
Is this a good deal? We are also going to have a squiz around Touchwoods this afternoon to see what's on offer.

OP posts:
CountessDracula · 01/08/2005 11:00

She's a Rhodesian Ridgeback, very quiet and docile, she wouldn't try and break out! But I would want to know she was safe - so you can shut the flap on the main bit at night?

Original poster
MrsDoolittle · 01/08/2005 11:02

I'm sure she will want to stick by you. I doubt she would get out.
I am under the impression most people leave their dogs in the living area

OP posts:
sarjon · 01/08/2005 11:26

Hi - I took a labrador away camping in a 3 man dome tent (v small and only 1 'room' for sleeping and living in) and felt much safer cos he couldn't get out as it had an integral groundsheet. When I've taken him away in the bigger frame tent I always put him in one of the sleeping compartments. I don't think he'd try and escape (too busy snoring!! ) but wouldn't want to risk it.

Janh · 01/08/2005 11:30

A determined dog could easily wriggle under the bottom of the tent, CD - putting her in a bedroom would be safest. They usually have a mesh screen as well as a solid one, you could just close the mesh screen for her and then she could see what was going on.

happymerryberries · 01/08/2005 12:08

Sunncamps are a well respected brands and people on UKcampsite say very good things about their tents.

the the montana 12 i would love one! but as my tent is only a year old i can't justify the cost.

If you don't want the cost of the Montana 12 have a look at the Colorado 8, it is in between the Montana 12 and 6 in size. Only drawback is that it doesn't have a fully sewn in ground sheet.....you have sewn in sheets in the bedroom pods but the living area has a separate ground sheet

Original poster
MrsDoolittle · 01/08/2005 12:09

hmb - I had a discussion about groudsheets with dh last night. It said it was easier to dry out a wet tent with a separate ground sheet.

OP posts:
happymerryberries · 01/08/2005 12:10

CD, my dh felt much the same way about camoing. We went away at whitsun and had a great time. We also went away for the wekend with friends. He isn't mad keen, but he is coming round to the idea. the holidays we are having in our own tent this summer is £1000 cheaper than the one we had in a caravan last year!

happymerryberries · 01/08/2005 12:11

mrs d , i think that is right. that said the modern non carvas tents dry a lot faster anyway

Original poster
MrsDoolittle · 01/08/2005 12:12

Dh is a bit old fashioned - keeps telling me he was a scout you know!! In NZ where men are men and....

OP posts:
Original poster
MrsDoolittle · 01/08/2005 12:12

....the sheep are scared!!!

OP posts:
happymerryberries · 01/08/2005 12:15

We would get on, I'm Welsh!

Spent the day trying to get an adaptor for our EHU. In the end I got one in a caravan shop and got a little clothes drying thingie that you hang up. For some unacountable reason this makes me very happy

CountessDracula · 01/08/2005 12:25

what does that mean? Separate groundsheet?

Original poster
MrsDoolittle · 01/08/2005 12:26

Lots of tents now have sewn in groundsheets. Although I think they need a mat over the top, personally.
Others are just bare ground inside once the tent is up IYSWIM?

OP posts:
Blu · 01/08/2005 12:28

Have a look at Wildday.com - brilliant and v cheap - lots of bargains amongst 6 person tents (and other camping gear) I do agree that you need a 6 person tent for 4.
here

happymerryberries · 01/08/2005 12:30

This is sort of hard to explain without pictures!

My tent goes up 'in one' You raise the tent and peg it out. There are bedroom pods inside that have a ground sheet sewn in, they are permanetly fixed, big bags, if you like. The living area doesn't have a swen in ground sheet. When the tent is first pitched you can see the grass. We then have a loose ground sheet that covers the floor and we peg that down.

Soem tents , Lide the Montana, have sewn in ground sheets all the way through.

Advantges of fully sewn in, less faff to put up, stops all bugs getting in, warmer with less drafts.

Disadvantages, longer to dry, more airtight so more chance of condensation, usualy more expensive!

Blu · 01/08/2005 12:30

CD - our tent - a vango venture 600 - has a separate bit of tarpaulin that goes under the sewn in groundsheet. That means if the ground is wet, it's the underneath groundsheet that is horrible and muddy, not the one which is sewn-in and you fold up with the tent.

CountessDracula · 01/08/2005 12:31

surely would be better to have a separate groundsheet though - what happens if it rains and gets waterlogged, do you have to pull the whole tent down to clean it if it is built in?

Don't fancy no groundsheet I don't think

Have just found that sunncamp calypso XL one for £129!

Original poster
MrsDoolittle · 01/08/2005 12:32

Thanks for the link Blu

OP posts:
CountessDracula · 01/08/2005 12:32

sorry posts crossed

Think I may go for that sunncamp one

Original poster
MrsDoolittle · 01/08/2005 12:33

CD - that's dh's arguement.

OP posts:
Janh · 01/08/2005 12:33

Groundsheet is waterproof, it just gets muddy underneath - no need to clean it until you pack up. I think Blu's sewn-in plus separate one underneath is a great idea!

happymerryberries · 01/08/2005 12:36

I would always recomend that you try to see a tent up before you buy, if you can see a few different ones together it can make you realise what you like/dislike about the different designs

CountessDracula · 01/08/2005 12:39

Hmmm yes would be ideal but don't have time tbh. Maybe I will try next weekend tho

CountessDracula · 01/08/2005 12:40

Also have seen a friend's one with the 3 pods and it was great. I think I like that configuration best.

CountessDracula · 01/08/2005 12:42

Does anyone know of a camping/tent shop in SW london or near Winchester?