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If you have a 13 year old then as far as pitching a tent is concerned - your not on your own!!!  They will be able to help you pitch whatever you get.

As there are only 2 of us I am not much help with a tent for a family.  Think about what you need from your tent - ie - how many bedrooms?  Then trawl the camping websites and see what matches both your requirements and your budget.

Good luck - there are tons out there!

Oh nearly forgot to say welcome

I have a Sunvalley 8 (you can also get a SV6) although the 8 is approx £399 I would highly recommend it - we have 4 kids too and the living space is brilliant with the sv8 there is a a 3rd sleeping pod which is easily removed for day time space.  The two main pods easily fit 3 children in or 1 adult +2 kids (these are the only 2 sleeping areas in a sv6).  If this is your first family tent I would suggest buying something cheaper (maybe from argos) they are good quality and once you've been out in it several times you get an idea of what space/size/needs are important to you personally and upgrade as nescessary - this is exactly what we did, a £99 tent to start then after getting the thumbs up to camping from the kids we decided the living space was essential with 4 kids (especially when it's raining!) and plenty of space for equipment which you also figure out what is and isn't essential through trial and error.  I'm hoping the SV8 was worth the money and will work for us as a family for many years (when my 15 year old decides that camping with parents is far too uncool - we can dispense with 3 bedroom completely), but for now he is useful with helping put it up - fairly easy with 2 people (adults or teenage children) in about 30 minutes

Good luck

I've just bought the Sunncamp Typhoon 1000 which I am very, very, impressed with.

See my other post.

http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/chatter/display_topic_threads.asp?ForumID=3&TopicID=74417&PagePosition=4

I bought this off ebay. Delivered the next day for £299+£12.95p&p. These normally go for anything between £399 and £459 so this is an excelllent price.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=8820159198&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT

My wife and I were able to put this up and she is 5'3" (although I am 6'3").

But beware, it is a very large bag and will need both you and your 13 year to carry it as I can just about walk with it.

Steve

£350 will buy you a fine tent and you could easily spend less.

The best thing is to go to your local camping shop or show and look at the various tents on display and make notes of what you liek and don't like. Look at the way the groundsheet fits; are the bedrooms next to each other or seporate, what is the height like; is it light and well ventilated... etc. Tell us what you liked, and did not like, and the experienced people here can give you a good shortlist to bargain hunting with.

With a bit of help from your kids, especially a 13 year old you should be OK with most tents. However, I would recommend you look at the tents packed, as well as errected - some of them can be monster space eaters in your car and dificult to transport.

For starters look at tents like (there are others equally as good): a Khyam Indianna 6, Outwell Montana 6, Vango Diablo 900, Vango Aurora 800 Dlx, Sunncamp Vario, Coleman Michigan 9, Wynnster Antares, Sunncamp Oasis. I sugest these, just as examples of diferent styles and set-ups.  Let us know what you like the look of.

Hi Mandy

We have had a Wynnster Condor plus 6 - absolutley enormous - 3 beds - large living area and dead easy to put up - cost about £250.00. Take it to France every year and love it. It's that good that my next door neighbour has bought the same tent.

Happy Camping

ColinB

Hello mandy

Try this

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10151&storeId=10001&productId=204635&categoryId=31512&langId=-1&parent_category_rn=31512&crumb=33937&varient=&CarSelectorCatalogId=&CarSelectorGroupId=

Out of stock online but maybe avaiable in store. It is also called Gelert Satellite 6 by other shops. If you shop around you can probably find one for a similar price to Halfords.

Good Luck

David