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Hi all,

I have recently purchased an Outwell Hartford XL, and me & my OH went camping in Harrogate this weekend, WELL I just wanted to share with anyone wanting to purchase this tent that it is well worth it.  It has everything, large space for sitting in and 3 decent size bedrooms, temperature guage etc etc etc.  We were trying it out for size before we take the kids next time and we love the flysheet on the entrance to the main tent as it keeps out unwanted beasties.  My only concern was it is VERY heavy and I was worried about the largeness of it as it is 7.7m x 7.5m and after reading some reviews I am now concerned how many sites will take large tents but Ripley caravan park had no issues.

Can't wait to go camping with the kids, I just hope we find room for them in the car as it was packed, and there was nothing I could have gone without - LOL  Doesn't this camping lark get expensive, I think we have everything but the kitchen sink now!!! :-)

We have a Hartford XL too but ours is the 2007 model - we absolutely love it and there's loads of space to fit evreything in - do you have the extension too??  i've just an enxtension for our tent today from Camperite which will give us even more space and I can't wait to use it  

Hi Ann,

No, I daren't get the extension, it looked a monster of a tent as it was.  It is only our 3rd time camping and before we had a tent with no sewn in ground sheet, but my daughter is very funny about beasties etc (Yes I know, we are in the great outdoors!), so we need her to feel as at home as possible.  It was fairly quick to put up and take down as well with the 2 of us, about 1 hour 15 mins, but we still need the knack to get it back into the bag in one nice folded state  

Hope your extension is brilliant, it's like being a kid at christmas trying out the new things!!

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Caro x

I know exactly what you mean

Years ago, a trip to a garden centre or an outdoor type place would bore the pants of me, now i'm in my 40's I love anything like that and camping shops, well, I just have to have a good nosey round and more than likely i'll end up buying something (much to OH disgust, he reckons we've got too much camping gear, well I reckon you can never have enough - I keep telling him I need to be prepared for every eventuality - now, he just lets me get on with it)

Wishing you many happy camping trips with your Hartford XL!

Our very first tent was the XXL, (last year) wife calls it the canvas Bungalow. Also purchased the front canopy. No problem at Cofton Country near Dawlish Warren.

Fitted on the pitch with car and trailer.

Hi there,

Nice to hear there are no problems with pitching these tents at campsites, one thread not so long ago made me stop and wonder whether we would be ok, but we had already bought it and I am glad we did.

We was thinking of getting a trailer or a roof box, as honestly the car was packed solid and there was nothing I would want to leave behind.  We have all the kids stuff to put in next time and I can't see where it will all go. 

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Caro

We got our XL a month or so back and went away in it BH weekend to Dunnington, York.  We loved it!  Even had family show up unexpectedly and had no prob accommodating them.  Just put the kids in together for the night.

Same issues with space so we invested in roof box - well worth it. 

Booked to go to Wales end of May and Scotland Aug, no probs with sites so far.

We also have the xxl model , I think it is the cosiest tent we have ever had(and we have had a few!!) Once you have shut your self in it gets nice and warm, as you say no beasties can get in and don't forget you can now get a ground sheet to go under the tent and a CARPET!!!!!!! making it even cosier  Its really big in the centre and the bedrooms are a good size too....LURV it!!

Sad I know but I have too reached 40

Hi Amanda37,

Have to laugh at us sad people getting excited over a tent, I am mid 30's and I never thought I would be so happy about a tent.  I would never have thought of camping a couple of years ago but with the uk being so damn expensive at the moment it will get us some nice weekends away that we could ill afford otherwise.

They are cool tents though and I am glad we bought one, we also bought the footprint thingy to go underneath, but on it's first usage last weekend it teared slightly where the corners are that you peg down so was a little miffed with that, but it will be ok.

Roll on our next weekend away!!

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Caro

We recently replaced our Vango Killington with the Hartford XL, have only pitched it in the garden but it looks great, we also bought the carpet,windbreak and footprint groundsheet.

Can't wait to get out, have booked a couple of sites for June and August just to make sure we get out.  May try and go this weekend to Keswick but not sure of the weather.

Happy Camping