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Topic: New tent size, too big?

DanL

26/2/2019 at 1:50pm
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Hi everyone, my first post here :)

I've been looking at buying a new tent over the last few weeks. I'm set on getting an inflatable one and have narrowed the choice down to Vango Taiga 600XL or the Vango Valencia 600XL

The main negative with the Taiga is the front porch area has windows all round it with no blinds, meaning anything left in there would be on permanent display. Not very secure. This got me looking at the Valencia which aside from having a few more features, also has blinds on each window in the porch area.

Now onto my dilemma ..
The Taiga is 725cm long, the Valencia is 750cm long.
I'd prefer to buy the Valencia.

My first committed camping trip of the year is to Silverstone for the British Grand Prix (F1) in July. All the pitches are 8mx7m. Am I biting off more than I can chew with the Valencia? IT would be pitched along the 8m length but approx 50cm to extend the front and rear lines doesn't seem enough, or is it? I can probably get away with sneaking a few extra foot towards the front of the tent. the side guy lines won't be a problem as there will be metres of space either side.

Grateful for a few points of view before I decide to hit the 'buy' button.

TimCESmith

26/2/2019 at 9:23pm
Location: London
Outfit: Karsten 350 + SE CA EA RA FW & ZIG

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Hello DanL and welcome to the forum. I don't think an extra ten inches or so is going to matter much on an 8 metre pitch, but it'd be worth asking the organisers. If you can't get a response from them, try social media for photos of tents at previous years' events to get an idea. Pitch restrictions are most often stipulated by the insurers to ensure there's a fire gap (typically 6m) between units, and those don't include guy lines or vehicles.

Regarding security, I'm careful to keep valuables out of sight at festivals and the like, but - touch wood - have never had a problem at a regular campsite.

DanL

27/2/2019 at 9:53am
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Hi TimCESmith, many thanks for your welcome and response :-)

I've camped at the venue for the last 8 years so know the tent itself will fit on. The question is more around how little I can get away with extending the guys/lines at the very front and back of the tent without compromising stability on such a big inflatable tent.

I think I know the answer already, it's not going to be enough without exceeding my allocated pitch a little, which I think I can get away with by a couple of foot.

Still haven't hit the 'buy' button though... still thinking..

TimCESmith

via mobile 27/2/2019 at 2:46pm
Location: London
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Ah, I see. I’d bring the side guys of the front beam forward a bit and make sure all the pegging points are well pegged along the bottom of the front wall. You could also bring the front beam up towards the upper end of its pressure range so it’s as rigid as possible.

TimCESmith

27/2/2019 at 8:35pm
Location: London
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Another thought: you can shorten the guy run by using a stand-off, a bit like this.

DanL

01/3/2019 at 11:54pm
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Thanks :) definitely an option! I am still on the fence though.

The advice the shop have given me via email is i need 1.5metres either end to peg the straps out to support it properly ..which is disappointing. Popping along to see these tents in person tomorrow though to get a better idea and maybe i'll see something more appropriate too.

lou bee

via mobile 02/3/2019 at 9:11pm
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Hi with regards to Silverstone are you on an electric pitch or non electric? We have done both and with non electric you get the length of your car plus width wise really depends how quick you pitch and how big the person behind you tent is. Electric are marked out and last year we got a VW Transporter van , a Higear Enigma elite 5 tent and a tarp covered seating area so quite a lot of room and the only check they did was that you couldn’t park over the front pitch line. Hope that makes sense.
Sorry just edited to say that I missed your post saying you knew Silverstone well.

-------------
finally camping in term time

DanL

03/3/2019 at 2:00pm
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Hi lou bee :) I'll be on family electric at Woodlands, so the pitch is 8x7m. Been there many times, generally don't need to park my car on the pitch either. Usually space along the hedgerow.

All sorted now though. I visited a Attwools camping shop yesterday and saw the Valencia in person and instantly realised it was far too big for our needs.

Ended up looking at lots of other tents there and saw the Vango Edoras 500xl ... a full metre shorter than the Valencia with the possibility to add a porch door. Only problem is it wasn't as wide as we'd like so the bedrooms would have been a bit of a squeeze with 2 adults and 2 (growing) kids.

Got home and did a bit more browsing around and found the Edoras 600xl .. same length, 3 quarters of a metre wider. Just bought it! :)

TimCESmith

03/3/2019 at 7:22pm
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Congratulations DanL. Happy new tent!

Hedgehugger

04/3/2019 at 1:02pm
Location: Wirral
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Sounds good - the Vango my daughter had was very sturdy and served them well. Had a little chuckle at the name of the one you've bought - wonder if Vango is using 'Lord of the Rings' names this year? Must check their website. Edoras is the stronghold of Rohan in the books.

DanL

08/3/2019 at 10:56pm
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I like the Lord Of The Rings reference! Makes me even more pleased to have bought it! :) .. all delivered now, test pitch is tomorrow, weather permitting! :)

DanL

15/3/2019 at 10:58pm
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For anyone vaguely interested! :D

I did attempt to pitch the new tent in my garden last weekend. My garden isn't big enough to peg it out and the wind was that bad our recycling boxes were launching themselves at me and the tent! It was up for approx 10 mins before i lost my nerve and pulled it down. First impressions though, it will certainly do the job, just anxious to pitch it properly!

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