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Hi Fellow Campers

We are looking for some advice. We are a family of 6 (mum, dad, and 4 kids aged 14,13,9 & 8) and currently have an Outwell Hartford XXL (2006). Since buying it we have camped every year and it has been fab but we are thinking of upgrading as you can't get awnings or carpets to fit the old style.

Open to suggestions about tunnel tents vs dome tents and have read lots of reviews on here which confuse me even more.

Don't want to go mad with the cost, needs to be under £300 realistically.

We like to have our table & 6 chairs inside that doesnt need to moved all the time plus space and pockets for all the kids stuff. Also like a porch or somehwere to put the loo at night and the millions of shoes. Our Outwell has been great in really bad weather and wind etc so want something as good as that.

Look forward to hearing from you all with some of your great ideas.

Cheers

Susie  

I have no real suggestions except could you look at a 2 tent combination? That way you could put the eldest 2 kids in the "pup" tent and have a greater selection of tents for the rest of the family.

Mike

Khyam Ontario 8 with sun porch and carpet would be ideal.

The bedroom pods in the Ontario can accommodate 8 airbeds/campbeds rather than just mats and the living space takes our table and 6 folding chairs with room to spare.
Your 2 older children may like their own pup tent which would give you more space in the main tent.

Have a look at the Khyam Ontario 8 here:
http://www.khyam.co.uk/detail.asp?p=373

We love ours (now 4 years old and still like new) and you get a lot of excellent qulaity tent for the money.

We love our Royal Pescara, usually can be found online for around £350, I was a bit worried at first but after reading the reviews on here we went for it, it has 2 double bedrooms, a annix for a loo, a massive porch extension included which most tents you have to pay extra for, and we went camping in it last year on 6 outings and it stood up to some heavy rain

http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/articles/view.asp?id=186

there are other reviews on this website also

Pete

may be stating the obvious,but why noy get a newer(not brand new) HartfordXLor xxl

and get the carpet and awning.at least you know what you will get.

regards

Wow thanks for all the help and advice folks.

I didnt want to get a new Outwell Hartford XXL as we didnt really like it. Dunno why, maybe being too fussy. Plus it's too expensive.

My main problem with our current XXL is that I dont like having the wall of the bedrooms sloping down so much. If you are next to the door its fine but if not then it is in your face, literally.  Also dont like having to climb over other person when you want to get up in the night. So I like the pods where you sleep lengthways.

We will keep our tent but it's frustrating seeing all the new things they bring out every year and you can't get it to fit the old tents (all revolves around money making of course).

The Royal Pescara looks good Pete, i'll read up a bit more on it.

The Outwell Montana looks perfect but this camping lark is meant to be cheap! Couldnt afford Center Parcs at Christmas (the cheap week before Christmas!!) if we bought that !!

Like the look of the Khyam Ontario 8 too and Vango Tigris 800, so will look into those a bit more.

Anyway, great to get good advice.  Keep em coming.

Cheers

Susie

Try Kampa Pendine 8 - just bought one, they are around £299, and you can add on porch for about £90.

Steel poles - straigh sides, 2 x 2 bed on one side (2 kids per room) and 4 berth with zipped dived down, for you and OH in one half and clothes etc in other, large living area in middle.

Add on porch for cooking equipment, muddy shoes.

You can spend hours going round the camp shops looking at tents to find the right one, then come on here and check out the reviews.