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Subject Topic: Speed and ease of set-up
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PersonCyberCynth
11/3/2024 at 11:20am
 Location: North Somerset
 Outfit: Freedom Microlite View CyberCynth's Profile View Profile   Reply to CyberCynth Reply   Quote CyberCynth Quote  
Joined: 26/3/2016

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Thanks Richard,
I thought I had replied to your last post but it may have fallen foul of the router change-over this morning...

Anyway, yes, I had thought about a bell tent - albeit very briefly! As I thought they might be a bit big and heavy for me, and bulky when packed down to get into the back of my little Toyota Yaris. Someone pointed me in the direction of the Cabanon Guadaloupe, which I thought would have similar advantages to a bell tent, and its smaller stable mate, the Noumea would be even lighter! I have yet to see either 'in the flesh' yet, and at any rate, may stick to my Caranex.

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Life without dogs? I don't think so!


Personrichardh1905
11/3/2024 at 1:58pm
 Location: South Cumbria
 Outfit: Lightwave T10 Trek View richardh1905's Profile View Profile   Reply to richardh1905 Reply   Quote richardh1905 Quote  
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You can get 3 metre bell tents which may be somewhat easier to handle. For example - https://belltentsussex.co.uk/collections/3m-bell-tent-collection/products/3m-bell-........

I do like the idea of a tent with a wood burning stove for winter use - although I wouldn't be carrying it up the hill!

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PersonCyberCynth
12/3/2024 at 7:41am
 Location: North Somerset
 Outfit: Freedom Microlite View CyberCynth's Profile View Profile   Reply to CyberCynth Reply   Quote CyberCynth Quote  
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Quote: Originally posted by richardh1905 on 11/3/2024
You can get 3 metre bell tents which may be somewhat easier to handle. For example - https://belltentsussex.co.uk/collections/3m-bell-tent-collection/products/3m-bell-........

I do like the idea of a tent with a wood burning stove for winter use - although I wouldn't be carrying it up the hill!


Thanks Richard, nice looking tent but double the pack weight of my Caranex! I would want to go and see this 'in the flesh' though, before considering a purchase.

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Life without dogs? I don't think so!


Personrichardh1905
12/3/2024 at 11:05am
 Location: South Cumbria
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I was more thinking about ease of pitching, CyberCynth, bell tents are reputedly very easy to pitch, lots of videos out there of people erecting them solo, just peg out the canvas and then get underneath and erect the centre pole.

Here's an example - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vwGcRUzEZo&t=138s

PS - the 3m tent that I liked to earlier is also available in polyester, weight 12kg. But for a tent like this I would much prefer canvas.

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wildaboutwalking on wordpress


PersonCyberCynth
12/3/2024 at 12:05pm
 Location: North Somerset
 Outfit: Freedom Microlite View CyberCynth's Profile View Profile   Reply to CyberCynth Reply   Quote CyberCynth Quote  
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Thanks for the link Richard. Lovely tent but I think my Caranex takes a lot less time to erect. That seemed like quite a lot of pegging out to do. I may end up trying either a Guadaloupe or a bell tent one of these days, just because I like to try something different and/or quirky! The thing that appeals to me about the bell tents is the solid poles, as opposed to the twangy carbon fibre type in most modern tents.

I like a good old fashioned frame tent, too, partly because of the solid poles, partly because they're usually made from cotton canvas but mainly because once they're up, you have full head height throughout most of the space, therefore less likelihood of rubbing up against wet canvas when you're moving about inside the living space.



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Life without dogs? I don't think so!


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PersonCyberCynth
06/5/2024 at 5:32pm
 Location: North Somerset
 Outfit: Freedom Microlite View CyberCynth's Profile View Profile   Reply to CyberCynth Reply   Quote CyberCynth Quote  
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Well I don't need to worry about setting up tents any more as I have bought myself a caravan!

It's a Freedom Microlite Sport. I've only had one night out in it so far: that was because I'd travelled a long way to buy this unit (from a dealer) so stopped off for 1 night on the way home, just to break the journey.

One of the reasons I reverted to caravanning was because of the weather. i hadn't had an outing in the tent for over 6 months and the rain seemed so relentless that I thought I'd never be able to get out without getting a right old soaking. So, there we are, a confirmed wuzz who has given up on the camping life and spent the money I'd been saving towards a new kitchen on a caravan! Hoorah! Happy (if now seriously broke) bunny!

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Life without dogs? I don't think so!


Personnavver
06/5/2024 at 7:12pm
 Location: West country
 Outfit: Mondeo View navver's Profile View Profile   Reply to navver Reply   Quote navver Quote  
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That's brilliant Cynth. Sounds like a good solution for you.

We had a Freedom Sunseeker back in 1998 which we towed with a Mini Metro.


PersonCyberCynth
06/5/2024 at 8:22pm
 Location: North Somerset
 Outfit: Freedom Microlite View CyberCynth's Profile View Profile   Reply to CyberCynth Reply   Quote CyberCynth Quote  
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Thanks Navver, I'm very pleased with it! I'm towing it with a Toyota Yaris 1.3 VVT-i TR Manual. It seemed to cope alright on the drive home from the dealer. Needed to make more use of the gears than usual, but you'd expect that I suppose. I can't imagine towing one with a Mini Metro! Wasn't that a bit lightweight for towing - even a lightweight like the Freedom?

Can't wait to get out with the caravan now, for a proper holiday, which I've booked up for June. I might sneak out for a weekend before then though!

The Microlite is lovely. It's 20 years old but has had a very professional refurb done so shouldn't need any work done on it for the foreseeable future. Fingers crossed, she says...




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Life without dogs? I don't think so!


PersonHedgehugger
06/5/2024 at 9:17pm
 Location: Wirral
 Outfit:  Aztec Mardi Gras 3 View Hedgehugger's Profile View Profile   Reply to Hedgehugger Reply   Quote Hedgehugger Quote  
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Congratulations, CyberCynth! Hope you have many happy times in your caravan, protected from any bad weather. I daresay the kitchen will wait awhile...

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Always edited for sloppy typing - when I spot it!


PersonCyberCynth
07/5/2024 at 8:25am
 Location: North Somerset
 Outfit: Freedom Microlite View CyberCynth's Profile View Profile   Reply to CyberCynth Reply   Quote CyberCynth Quote  
Joined: 26/3/2016

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Thanks! Yes, really not worried about having a new kitchen... I had got as far as asking round for quotes, but as I was sitting in one retailers sales office listening to all the sweet talk, I suddenly felt an irresistible urge to rush off to the caravan dealers instead, as I could not work up any enthusiasm for a new kitchen at all!

In the end end, rushed off all the way to Bradford, as I'd seen online this lovely little Microlite on a dealer's forecourt. The rest, as they say, is history!

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Life without dogs? I don't think so!



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