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After discussing with many Dutch campers in France during this years summer holiday I decided to buy a De Waard - unfortunately reality has now arrived and I simply cannot justify (or save up in time for next year) the £2000+ plus the hassle of travelling to The Netherlands to buy it.

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Hi. I have a Pyramid 6 and while it would sleep two adults and one/two children very comfortably I really don't think it would provide anything like enough living space for your needs. The Barbados would be the same I think.

A frame tent would do a good job for you though, either an Andorra with the 4 person inner for yourself and your o/h and the zip on sleeping annexe for your little one or an Aruba/Athena, as in Piglet's post.

I really like the layout of the Andorra and the flexibility offered by the zip on annexe, but the Aruba does offer more living space I guess.

If you visit the Dutch language tent web pages this could be useful although the results can be hilarious.

..... http://babelfish.yahoo.com/translate_txt

Quote: Originally posted by sapper696 on 12/11/2008

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I doubt if anyone will have any on display, i believe there is a Cabanon dealer in Doncaster.

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Quote: Originally posted by dadsbeaniemad on 12/11/2008

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There's an Aruba just come on eBay for £500 - brand new never used.

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Hi Mathew

Can't comment on the new tents but we had an old Cabbanon Nevada 4 berth, reproofed it last year,for the first time in 20yrs never a drop of water. Only sold it this year after upgrading to an F/C. In my opinion you can't beat them for quality. 

Dave

Hi again,

Piglet - thanks for your reply - we have used an Outwell day tent for the past two summer holidays but I sold it to an Irish family for more or less what we paid whilst on holiday in southern Brittainy this year.

Although it was reasonably well made, it just didnt work for us - we set up all our cooking faciltiies outside (surrounded with a wind break) and we got fed up having to mess about when the weather turned wet.

As we have a large platic patio type table and 5 comfy relaxer type chairs - there really wasnt space as well to cook inside the day tent.

I think I have now answered my own question - we need the Aruba so that we have plenty of living space for cooking and dining !

My parents had a large frame tent when I was a kid so I know them well - the lack of a SIG has always put me off them but I have read the reviews of the Aruba and one of them does say that they have 8 inch mud flaps which you can tuck underneath a plactic ground sheet thereby forming a sort of SIG.

I will buy some heavy duty plastic and also a roll of the stuff caravaners use in their awnings (the stuff which allows doesnt kill the grass) to put on top of the plastic in the living area of the tent - I was mightily impressed how cosy and warm this stuff is when I went into an awning on holiday this year.

Am not too bothered about the packed size as we have a large estate, very big top box and a massive "home made" trailer - saying that, its usually a squeeze to get everything in !

My question regarding where to view the Cabanon range should have stated - "next year once the stockists have them on show" - will investigate Don Valley once spring arrives as I want to buy new.

Anyway, thank you everybody for the advice - its much appreciated.

Matt