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Hi all, I'm new on here and hope you can help!

I bought a very large tent (Sunncamp tourist 12XP) from a friend, and though we love the size of the tent, have decided it's just a bit too large for our family of 4! We plan to camp for long weekends, or a week at most, and don't want one which it too much hassle to put up (our children are 7 and 3).

We'd like to buy a smaller tent and would like flysheet-first pitch and 3 bedrooms, each sleeping two. A large living area for all our gear would be great. I've been looking online and have found the Gelert Satellite 6 dlx. It looks like it fits the bill, and I've found it for only £160, which seems like a bit of a bargain. Does anyone here have this tent, or know of another that would fit the bill...?

Many thanks

suffolk camper!

Our Sunncamp tent doesn't have a back door (it's a few seasons old  - maybe the new ones do), but the living area is massive. We've only used it in good weather, but I think if it's raining then such a large living area would be really useful, as you could easily fit table and chairs in. The bedrooms are big too, and the large porch area is good for cooking in as well as sitting in/using for storage.

I hope you find what you want!

It was a very popular tent for a few years (Halfords used to sell it), but you do not see so many now a days.

For reference Royal and Wynnster also make similar style tents, using just a single dome.

I have been in one and helped put one up - seemed a well enough made tent (do Gelert still make it?). My only comment would be the narrowness of the bedrooms - if I remember right (and this is from memory), they were very narrow and fitting in two single airbeds was a tight/problem fit. Worth investigating more.

Not saying don't do it, but a budget of £160 would give you quite a lot of options for a weekend tent for the four of you.

Thanks for the advice so far!

Having read Big Bunny's advice I've been having another look on the net and have discovered the Vango Colorado (600dlx and 800dlx). The 600dlx looks similar to the Gelert, but the Vango has a tub groundsheet. What are these like...? Is Vango any better than Gelert overall?

Suffolk Camper

PS Essex Paul - will have to pass on the offer of the tent. Thanks anyway!

They`re nice tents, but for ease of erection have you thought of a tunnel tent? I have the Vango TBS Oregon 600 as a weekend tent and it`s an absolute doddle to put up, even solo. Small footprint means it sits tidy on little pitches as well.

http://www.outdoorfocus.co.uk/tall_fibreglass_steel_tents/Vango/Oregon/Vango_Oregon600_info.htm

For a bit more storage space, there`s an 800 version as well.

Just seen your last post...I have a Vango Colorado 1200dlx...not dissimilar to your SunnCamp in some ways. I doubt that the 800 or 600 will take much less time than your Sunncamp to erect, I`m afraid. They`re all big tents.

Vango are an excellent brand though, and regarded as a bit superior in the pecking order to both Gelert and SunnCamp.

Val,

Thanks for the advice. Regarding time taken to put the tent up I thought it would be easier to have a fly-sheet pitch first, cos at the moment we have to erect the inner (with all its pegs), the do the outer as well, with just as many pegs, plus the guy ropes!)

I guess what's putting me off the tunnel tents is that I think they don't look quite as nice (call me shallow!), but the Vango Oregon does look very neat. You've given me something to think about - many thanks!