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Presently own the Wynnster mercury 9 tent, which I have to say is excellent, easy to pitch, stands up to mega winds, we also take along a day tent for a cooking/eating tent.

BUT. . . .

looking to go larger as grandma and grandad now coming along camping with us

We are a family of four, 2 adults, 2 children, including 1 disabled child, plus mama & grandad. We like home from home camping, take all but the kitchen sink - all packed into a large trailer - namely our boat!

Usually if 4 of us camp us and kids use 5man bedroom, use 1 room for toilet, storage of towels etc, have 1 bed spare for other stuff for boat, manual and power wheelchair, walking frame, etc.

The one gripe we have with the wynnster mercury 9 is the front door pitch, you get wet if its raining because you have to lean all over the front to get down to the zip.

The camp site where we usually go for a month in summer is at Cornwall - Pentewan Sands - highly recommeded - just had our third visit and will contine to go back every year its so fantastic. This is from a family who never visit the same place twice usually !!

ANYWAY - AS WE SAID - LOOKING TO GO LARGER.

Got a shortlist of tents seen on the internet

Sunncamp Tourist Plus 20XP (400 quid) - been told of a place that has sale for 289quid

Wynnster Antares 17 (500 quid)

Khyam Dakota Family 15 (400 quid)

BUT - as they are all large tents, found it impossible to see any pitched - and all places on net selling them only give outside view - need to see inside really to 'see for ourselves is they are suitable'

Anyone with any advice, preference, information, etc ?

Waiting in anticipation!

Lesley

Hi Lesleyb

Haven't any experience of the tents you've listed but did go to see the Antares 9 at Garforth, Leeds. We were dissapointed with the tent - not as big as we thought it would be and certainly smaller than our Vango Vista 800 dlx.

Sorry can't help with any of the others.

Hope you find what your looking for.

Why disappointed?

The 9 is def too small for us - but can you tell me anything else about them - we particularly like the look of them as you appear to be able to stand up in the bedrooms - also currently own a Wynnster and are impressed with it but next tent is best to suit our needs, not just sticking to a brand. Did the tent look stable?

Your Vista looks very similar to our Mercury 9.

Thanks for info

Lesley

xx

We have the Antares 9 and the headroom in the bedrooms is excellent, we can stand up in any part of it. There is a large amount of space in the living area between the bedrooms.

After returning from France last weekend we had to re-erect the tent as it had rained the night before departure and the tent needed to be dried out. Over the weekend we experienced a number of squally blustery showers and the tent remained perfectly stable and dry despite only having been roughly erected.

Have you considered taking 2 tents ? This might give you greater flexibilty in fitting the tents to the pitch, provided of course that the campsite charges per pitch rather than per tent.

Quote: Originally posted by Tisso on 21/8/2006

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We are a family of four, 2 adults, 2 children, including 1 disabled child, plus mama & grandad. We like home from home camping, take all but the kitchen sink - all packed into a large trailer - namely our boat!

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Agree with the possibility of two tents.

As you like all your creatuer comforts why not get a canvas frame tent to go with your Mercury. This would alllow you to do your cooking inside and make it more like home from home, than with a single or two synthetic tents.

You could even think about a trailer tent to go with your Mercury.

I regularly camp with 4 to 6 tents as a group and have not had any problems with sites.

Used to have a MASSIVE Lichfield 8 person frame tent - trouble is too heavy. Trailer tent not an option as we have the boat to tow. Really love our Mercury 9 tent and will still keep it for shorter camps and will definitely still keep the Day Tent for a Kitchen/Cooking tent - saves everything smelling of cooking. Just want something with more room when we camp for a month really - seen some inside pics of the Sunn Camp inside and have found out it is being fazed out - not sure about inner pitching first plus looks like bedroom compartments don't have bottom zips so swaying towards the Antares at present. JUST NEED TO SEE ONE!!     

Tisso, I have added a picture to my gallery showing the 2 smaller sleeping compartments from the Antares 9.

Each compartment is big enough for a double airbed but our boys had one each with plenty of room to leave clutter and mess around them.

To give an idea of scale in order to hang the pods from the tent I have to stand on tiptoe and stretch. You can walk right to the back of each pod without having to stoop. If you put the beds towards the outside, more sloping area you will have plenty of headroom.

Hope this helps.

I have just ordered the Antares 13 from tents direct, it had a discount on it and was £359, don't know if there may be similar on the 17.  Like you I have Wynnster tents and can't fault the quality of the ones I have, decided to stick with what I know.

Kate