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Subject Topic: advice on buying 1st tent Post Reply Post New Topic
12/5/2009 at 8:31am
 Location: None Entered
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Hi, this is my first time on any forum.  We're looking to buy our first tent, it seems a bit of a minefield, we're hoping to make camping a regular thing. here's the problem we're a large family 2 adults 5 kids and the dog(black lab). we're currently looking at vango albany 800 and wynnster hawk 8. Any suggestions would be recieved gratefully. Thanks xxx


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12/5/2009 at 9:05am
 Location: Nottinghamshire
 Outfit: Coleman Evolva
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Welcome to the forum!!

Yes it is a minefield -you can start off being almost certain and then leave ,a quivering wreck of indecision!! Such are the oppinions here. I would not see a large number as a problem , as many hands make light work , even with the youngest of children . Counting your dog as one , an eight birth tent for eight would at first appear right . However , as you will find out, you probably require a tent for at least 10 ( possibly 12 ) . Scour the site and manufacturers websites . Have you a set budget ? Prioritise your spending - shelter ,sleep , substanance , seating . Other things can come later . Also ,do not be affraid to borrow items as you set up .

A few suggestions - Gelert Meridian 10 , any large Outwell and we are getting good vibes about a new comer , Kampa also . Money well spent now is money saved in the future . And do not rule out last year models and second hand .



-------------
Be seeing you!!

Numbersix


12/5/2009 at 9:27am
 Location: The Love Shack
 Outfit:  BearLake 6 and a hot water bottle.
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I will second what numbersix has said,the Gelert Meridan is a lovely tent.We saw one a couple of weeks back and was very impressed.
Its a good price as well...around £299

Gelert Meridan 10

-------------
Sue & Phil
--------------------- I Love My AeroBed    


12/5/2009 at 9:30am
 Location: Nottinghamshire
 Outfit: Coleman Evolva
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I forgot that good additional room can be had with a decent extension awning , which Gelert do provide .

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Be seeing you!!

Numbersix


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12/5/2009 at 9:47am
 Location: Aberdeen
 Outfit: O well Nebraska XL; Nevada M; Oklahoma
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Outwell Nebraska XL.  Not produced anymore, but you can still pick them up from a couple of places (cheaper than originally) - outdoor action £390.

4 bedrooms, big living area, massive porch.  Main tent has fully sewn-in groundsheet and fully zipped doors so the dog won't escape.

Downsides - it's BIG, so some campsites won't take it (but you're probably going to have that problem with any 8 man with decent space).  It's BIG, so packing it in the car is more problematic and oh, it's BIG, so putting it up is a job for at least 2 of you and will take a while



-------------
almost always Mel

Fair weather camper for 2013!


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12/5/2009 at 11:16am
 Location: swansea
 Outfit: Avondale corfu sunvalley 8
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How old are the kids? if they are all quite young, you could get away with 3 little ones on a double airbed, or in one bedroom with foam mats. standard double airbeds are about 140cm wide, so you need to check the bedroom sizes.

the wynnster hawk will be too narrow to fit 8 people in and not alot of room in the living area with the bedrooms not being big enough for storing anything else.

The khyam ontario or kansas is wider than the vango, and less than £250 if you are trying to keep the cost down.

If your kids are youngish, then the sunvalley 8 might be big enough for you , now discontinued but available on ebay at the moment for £399 brand new.

also look at the royal toledo , similar in style to the sunvalley and available for less than £300, but has metal poles so pack size will be bigger.


-------------
Debbie


12/5/2009 at 11:19am
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: None Entered
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Thanks to everyone for repling, we got to keep budget quite low he says less than 250, i think it should be more.  kids are 11yr, 8yr, 4yr,3yr and babs who's 6 months.


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12/5/2009 at 11:31am
 Location: swansea
 Outfit: Avondale corfu sunvalley 8
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the wynnster titan 8 has good reviews and is only £179 here.
you should be able to fit airbeds in these bedrooms and it has a large living area .
sensible to keep budget as low as possible for your first tent, the titan is a discontinued model .
With small kids like yours , you should be fine in one of the previously recomended tents. When I camp with the family, we get our young nieces and nephews all wanting to sleep in each others tents and they just all huddle up like puppies.
then maybe next year if you find that you love camping , you will want to upgrade to something bigger and more expensive.

-------------
Debbie


12/5/2009 at 11:47am
 Location: swansea
 Outfit: Avondale corfu sunvalley 8
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Actually , just realised the titan is inner first pitch , which might put you off, as if its raining when you pitch the inside gets wet. and pitching takes a bit longer than flysheet first tents.

The vango oregon package which includes the canopy , carpet and footprint might be a better buy,
here just over your £250 budget , but the canopy and carpet are well worth having , for the warmth for the kids to crawl about on and the shade of the canopy , which you can also use to cook under.

-------------
Debbie


12/5/2009 at 11:47am
 Location: Nottinghamshire
 Outfit: Coleman Evolva
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Right-budget busting large tents!!

Vango Killington 900 - 9 berth multipod dome £257.50 JR Leisure or Somerset Camping

Coleman Matrix x9 - 9 berth modular dome very high quality £199.99 Charlies Direct ebay shop

Wynster Titan - 8 birth £179.99 Clearance Tents .co.uk

Royal Biarritz 9- Great Outdoors

Enough there to get the ball rolling. IMO the Matrix offers best value , but it is down to personal taste and experience .



-------------
Be seeing you!!

Numbersix


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12/5/2009 at 6:06pm
 Location: Salford Knutsford (what a contrast)
 Outfit: Bailey Ranger 520 4
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Go see them in situ, then buy cheaper off internet>


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12/5/2009 at 6:21pm
 Location: Nottinghamshire
 Outfit: Coleman Evolva
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Sound advice ! May be difficult with some clearance and scarcer tents though .

-------------
Be seeing you!!

Numbersix


12/5/2009 at 6:33pm
 Location: None Entered
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If you don't mind not having up to date colours the Gelert Meridian (2007 model) is here for £199.

http://www.jacksonscamping.com/?pc=/product/3251/

Might be worth checking if anything has changed between the models but it looked a good price.



12/5/2009 at 6:34pm
 Location: Nottinghamshire
 Outfit: Coleman Evolva
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That will be £50 towards sleeping bags then !!

-------------
Be seeing you!!

Numbersix



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