Message Forums

Hi all

What a great site this is for tips! Please be gentle, it's my 1st post.

After returning from a weeks hols in a statci caravan, and paying well over the odds for it, we have decided camping is the way to go now.

Me and OH have 3 kids 12, 10, 6 and 12 year old nephew that tags along especially now we have said we are camping! We are going away for a 4 night first run in August, in a borrowed tent, to see how we all get on with it. I know me and the kids will love it, it's the OH that needs convincing. I have been looking at tents to buy, if we enjoy it enough. But were to start???

Obviously we need a large tent, with 3/4 rooms and a living area with a porch. But my main question is if the tents are so big, how are the campsites at accepting big tents. How big is the average pitch size?  Or would be better with a smaller tent, and have a little 2 man tent for the oldest two kids.

Its so confusing, and what to start with, any suggestions gratefully accepted!!

Many thanks in advance

madmum - for taking all the kids

hi madmum and welcome to the forum ........and welcome to camping under canvas.

as for big tents i believe now that sites are recognising that tents are getting bigger so they are accepting them, but like you said you could get a smaller tent with a 2 man tent for the older 2, thiat way if the 2 older ones dot decide to come you still have a suitable tent for the rest of you.

there are loads of tent reviews on here and you will get loads of help...... if in doubt....... post

Welcome to the forum!!

Check out the campsite reviews here and campsites own websites for policies regarding larger tents . When you go away in your borrowed tent, make sure you talk to other campers, particularly those with tents that you like. Rember to take a camera and take pictures of them for research. When you get back , with any luck the first wave of sales will be on , and that will be a good time to dip your toes fir a purchase. Good luck in August !! It still might be a good idea to have a pup tent for that holiday if you can hold of one , pop up ones are great .

Hi madmum

we only started this year too, we bought a sunncamp shadow 800 it has 3 bedrooms and the large bedroom comes with a divider to make 4 bedrooms, all will take a double airbed and a large living area,  its very easy to put up (only 5 poles) and best of all it wasn't too expensive. happy camping!!!!

Hi and welcome.

I went through this same process earlier this year and, not wanting to blow my own trumpet, I wrote a long thread about it which may help (once you've decided on the tent) - click here.

Hi Madmum

We are a family of eight and bought a Khyam Ontario 8 last year and this was really spacious,we also bought the sunporch for it which we used as a kitchen.It has four rooms and a big living space.

It was not that expensive to buy and packs away quite compact and only took 20/30mins to put up and that was my husband and sons first time putting it up.

I would suggest looking at the tent reviews on this site as they are a big help as well.

Goodluck with your first camping trip you will love it .

Hi Madmum

Welcome to the threads.

I think if you got a medium sizes tent that would fit 4-6 people and a small 2-3 person tent for the older kids.Then they have a bit more freedom. If you and OH just want to go the medium size tent would be easier to put up. You would certainly avoid falling foul of some sites not allowing really big tents. On CC&C sites you could claim the small tent as a "pup" tent.

les D

We have got a Khyam Ontario 8 with the sun porch too and we went away earlier this year with friends and we got 8 in the tent easily. 4 Adults and 4 children. The living area is spacious enought and we have had no problem in pitching it. It's only a tiny bit over the permitted 6m x 6m but the wardens didn't question it.

Our tent was £250, the porch was £85 and the carpet was £50. I can't recommend the carpet enough. It really does make all the difference!

Hi all thanks for the replies.

We have booked our 4 day away in August. The maximum tent size they take is 7.3m. And they want an extra £3 a night for a pop up aswell, so i think we will be looking for a larger tent.

Spaceangel and Jump jet - the Khyam looks really nice, as does lingrays suncamp.

Yeomans have an outdoor display on at Ilkley, so will take a ride over there and have a look. - armed with a tape measure.

Nelmo - your other thread was really interesting, gave me some good ideas.

Went to gooutdoors wakefield last week...just to look! Anyway they have changed the  display and have some huge tents at the moment. I think the range now labeled hi gear is actually gelert btw and they are the starting point budget wise at go outdooors.

As for tent sizes its hit and miss with sites, we havent had a problem yet but opted for a tunnel 8 birth tent as they arent as wide as some. Most places are ok as long as your tent isnt wider than 6m (ours is 3.5m x 7.5m) so it fits length ways on a pitch. But we went to wook nook last week and our tent fit on the pitch sideways which was great!