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Hi everyone.....I found this site a few days ago.....strangely it was after our first family campin trip......which was an experience..but great fun........

For our first trip, we purchased a cheap set up from Argos, which was fine for the first weekend, but no good if we wanna make a regular thing of camping......

The family consists of Myself, my partner, 5 kids from 14 to 5 and 2 staffordshire bull terriers, 1 is 7 and the other is a pup, of nearly 3 months.

i have been lookin at the Outwell hartford xl, Vango diablo 900, and a few others that slip my mind....i have looked on ebay but not to sure about the idea of a cheap brand.

I have read many posts on here and there are pros and cons for both the hartford and the diablo....

All i was after was some first hand info on either tent to help me decide, if i think of the others i was looking at I will post the names of them...

thanks in advanced Janine

Avoid the cheap Ebay tents like the plague, most of them have a very bad reputation.  Although you can get second hand bargains in reputable names there.

I can't offer advise on the tents that you mentioned, but know that a lot of people like the Hartford XXL.

Do try and see some tents up before you spend your money - go and look at displays, even ifyou buy elsewhere.
When looking at tents, bare in mind the manufactures work on four people sleeping on roll mats all neatly in line - not on kids who can take up the best part of a kingsized bed to themselves - so if it says five man, think three man.   Also try to picture your bits and pieces in the tent as well, not just the strategically placed chair that the camping shop has in their display model.   The clothes, the food, the muddy wellies, and the kids' toys.

Good luck with your tent search and welcome to the site.

well i have been lookin all day and i am still undecided.......

i have seen a few tents up, and i just cant make me mind up.....

I have the Royal Biarittz 9 which is slightly smaller than Diablo 900!  I love my Biarritz but I cant be doing with pitching the inner first. Its a great size we have 3 kids and 2 chocolate labs and we fit in it with all our gear without any trouble!!  I want a new tent as I have foolishly let ours get mouldy!  I have spent the last 3 months trying to decide on exactly what I want especially as I am about to fork out £500 for it in all!  Today I have finally decided on the Outwell Idaho XL wih extension! Its a great tent!  2 4 man bedrooms although we do plan if the kids need to use one of the dressing rooms as a bedroom for the kids as we will be taking OH's daughter away as well!  Do take your time when choosing though and try and see as many reviews and tents up as you can!  I have honestly spent more time looking at tents than I ever have at houses......mmmmm do you think that makes me a bit of a nut job?