Home

   Log in or Register



Insurance Quotes
forums Campsite Search Comp Directory tips virtual brochure Profile
Tent and Awning Reviews Competitions Caravans and Motorhomes For Sale Shopping Diary Advent Calendar

Advertisement

Message Forums
Welcome Guest Register Login Search The Forum Posts Since Last Visit
 Reception - All Forums
   Camping under canvas -  Tent talk. Advice, info and recommendations 		Share   Post on X / Twitter  Share on Facebook  Email  Printer Friendly Version Print
Subject Topic: FAO Canvas Frame tenters! Post Reply Post New Topic
Personbananaman
26/5/2011 at 6:12pm
 Location: Shrewsbury
 Outfit: Vango Oregon 400 View bananaman's Profile View Profile   Reply to bananaman Reply   Quote bananaman Quote  
Joined: 11/4/2005

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   66
Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0
How much space do family size canvas frame tents take up in a car? We have a Ford Focus Estate - would one take up the whole of the boot? We plan to get a roof box for bulky stuff which would free up some space in the boot, but we don't want to tow a trailer as we have a tow bar mounted bike rack. Any advice would be great..

Thanks.
Sarah

-------------
Sarah


Don't forget to leave a review of all tents you've used, for a chance to win fantastic prizes

New! Please upload a photo of your tent to the Tent Showcase!


Personduffs54
26/5/2011 at 6:34pm
 Location: Cambs
 Outfit: Ford Duetto Autosleeper View duffs54's Profile View Profile   Reply to duffs54 Reply   Quote duffs54 Quote  
Joined: 25/6/2009

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   2333
Tent Reviews:   4
Site Reviews Total: 29
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 1  
Site Reviews 2022: 2  
Site Reviews 2021: 1  
Site Reviews 2020: 1  
Site Reviews 2019: 5  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 2
Site Nights 2022: 4
Site Nights 2021: 2
Site Nights 2020: 3
Site Nights 2019: 31
Site Nights 2018: 0
We have a 440x750 polycotton tent it does take up quite a bit of room, we have a volvo v70 estate and a roof box.

We can fit it all in and leave half the rear for our dog. It is a struggle but with a bit of patience we can do it, sometimes we can see out of the rear window and sometimes we can't lol!

Our roof box is quite big though!

We can't have a trailer as we have nowhere to store it.

So this combo suite us at the moment, hope that helps, you will get more experienced canvas peops along soon no doubt!

These are the poles, groundsheet and tent, the blue bag is the sun canopy poles! Quite big isn't it



Post last edited on 26/05/2011 18:53:11

-------------
Duffs54      


Personbananaman
26/5/2011 at 6:45pm
 Location: Shrewsbury
 Outfit: Vango Oregon 400 View bananaman's Profile View Profile   Reply to bananaman Reply   Quote bananaman Quote  
Joined: 11/4/2005

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   66
Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0
That sounds quite hopeful then, thanks.

Another quick one. Is a frame tent suitable for weekend camping trips or is putting it up too much of a palaver to make it worthwhile?

The majority of our camping trips are long weekends rather than weeks..although that might change if we had a better tent!

-------------
Sarah


Personduffs54
26/5/2011 at 6:56pm
 Location: Cambs
 Outfit: Ford Duetto Autosleeper View duffs54's Profile View Profile   Reply to duffs54 Reply   Quote duffs54 Quote  
Joined: 25/6/2009

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   2333
Tent Reviews:   4
Site Reviews Total: 29
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 1  
Site Reviews 2022: 2  
Site Reviews 2021: 1  
Site Reviews 2020: 1  
Site Reviews 2019: 5  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 2
Site Nights 2022: 4
Site Nights 2021: 2
Site Nights 2020: 3
Site Nights 2019: 31
Site Nights 2018: 0
We have the groundsheet on the floor of the estate folded flat, with our carpet on top and his double duvet on the top, this saves space as well.

We wouldnt so a weekend in ours yet, maybe when we are quicker at pitching etc, but I am sure some people do.



-------------
Duffs54      


Don't forget to leave a review of all tents you've used, for a chance to win fantastic prizes

New! Please upload a photo of your tent to the Tent Showcase!


PersonPigletandTigger
26/5/2011 at 7:02pm
 Location: Dorset
 Outfit: Lots.mainly Cabanons! View PigletandTigger's Profile View Profile   Reply to PigletandTigger Reply   Quote PigletandTigger Quote  
Joined: 20/5/2004

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   7019
Site Reviews Total: 1
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0
Size wise, in Cabanon terms (other frame tents are available ) you have a couple of options on "family sized".   

The Andorra is 4 person (one inner with half/half divide), the Antigua is 5 person (two inners - one 2 and one 3), however I would say that the Andorra would fit 3 max and the Antigua would be 3 comfy and 4 at a push if it was two littlies in the smaller inner.

The Athena/Aruba size is bigger again, 6 person (two inners, one 2 and one 4), it also has double the amount of living space so is a bigger tent with a bigger pack size.   I'm hoping to get ours out over the weekend so if I get chance to measure or photograph it I will.

We moved to a trailer when we went to a frame tent.   You could put the poles of a frame tent alongside your roofbox as long as you are strong enough to put them up there and as long as you don't exceed your roof weight limit.

-------------
Piglet


Advertisement



PersonPigletandTigger
26/5/2011 at 7:04pm
 Location: Dorset
 Outfit: Lots.mainly Cabanons! View PigletandTigger's Profile View Profile   Reply to PigletandTigger Reply   Quote PigletandTigger Quote  
Joined: 20/5/2004

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   7019
Site Reviews Total: 1
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0
Ohh forgot the second part of the question.

We happily pitch our frames for weekends and long weekends - we use an Andorra with utility (toilet) annexe.

The tents themselves take very little time to pitch - I think Cabanon say 20 minutes for Andorra/Antigua sized and for me that's realistic. The frame goes together quickly, pegging is probably the most time consuming part of it.   

As usual it depends how much "stuff" you take - the tent is usually the easy part!

-------------
Piglet


Personbananaman
26/5/2011 at 7:09pm
 Location: Shrewsbury
 Outfit: Vango Oregon 400 View bananaman's Profile View Profile   Reply to bananaman Reply   Quote bananaman Quote  
Joined: 11/4/2005

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   66
Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0
Blimey that is big. Reckon we might get away with it though.

-------------
Sarah


Don't forget to leave a review of all tents you've used, for a chance to win fantastic prizes

New! Please upload a photo of your tent to the Tent Showcase!


Personbananaman
26/5/2011 at 7:22pm
 Location: Shrewsbury
 Outfit: Vango Oregon 400 View bananaman's Profile View Profile   Reply to bananaman Reply   Quote bananaman Quote  
Joined: 11/4/2005

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   66
Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0
Wow, 20 mins is great - I guess you must be very well practised. Would one of the 6 berth ones be ok for two people to put up. The kiddies are only little (3 and 6!) so wouldn't be much help!

We travel fairly light compared with some as at the moment we don't have a roof box so everything has to go in the boot. We have only just bought ourselves a basic camp kitchen - we don't have any storage units, wardrobes or the like. We would definitely get a roof box if we bought a frame tent though.

-------------
Sarah


Personcathyh
26/5/2011 at 7:42pm
 Location: 
 Outfit:  View cathyh's Profile View Profile   Reply to cathyh Reply   Quote cathyh Quote  
Joined: 04/6/2006

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   1058
Tent Reviews:   4
Site Reviews Total: 11
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 1  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 3
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0
I was pleasantly surprised at how quick a frame tent is to pitch. Put the poles together (much quicker if all colour coded or labelled with a dymo labeller thingy)
Keep the poles at half height, then very easy with two of you to walk the canvas over the poles. Then with one of you at each side, raise the legs to full height, two at a time to keep things even. And peg.
No putting flimsy poles together, or threading them through channels. Very quick and simple.


Personrochford6
26/5/2011 at 7:58pm
 Location: norfolk
 Outfit: Hypercamp Esvo Cabanon View rochford6's Profile View Profile   Reply to rochford6 Reply   Quote rochford6 Quote  
Joined: 06/3/2009

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   2046
Tent Reviews:   2
Site Reviews Total: 5
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0
to give you an idea of size i recently purchased a Cabanon Aruba and the pack size was 110cm x 46cm x 46cms for the canvas and pretty similar for the poles. total weight was 63Kgs

We also have a Hypercamp canvas tent which weighs 54KGS total length is the same as the Aruba pole bag is roughly 20cms x 20 cms, but the canvas is more like 50cms x 50 cms

-------------
Brian


Advertisement



Personbananaman
26/5/2011 at 8:06pm
 Location: Shrewsbury
 Outfit: Vango Oregon 400 View bananaman's Profile View Profile   Reply to bananaman Reply   Quote bananaman Quote  
Joined: 11/4/2005

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   66
Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0
Thanks so much. This is all really useful information.

-------------
Sarah


Don't forget to leave a review of all tents you've used, for a chance to win fantastic prizes

New! Please upload a photo of your tent to the Tent Showcase!


PersonPigletandTigger
26/5/2011 at 8:18pm
 Location: Dorset
 Outfit: Lots.mainly Cabanons! View PigletandTigger's Profile View Profile   Reply to PigletandTigger Reply   Quote PigletandTigger Quote  
Joined: 20/5/2004

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   7019
Site Reviews Total: 1
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0
An Aruba/Athena would be fine for two to pitch, the only tricky part is lifting the canvas onto the frame as it's heavy and with two of you that will be fine.   

As Cathy says Frames are really straightforward to pitch, no bendy poles, no feeding poles through sleeves, just connect the poles together (colour coding helps), add canvas, put up to height and pitch.   Easy peasy

An Aruba/Athena would be a lovely size for you as it has more internal space for your littlies.   You could fit into a 4 or 5 berth but would probably find the internal space a bit tighter - you may find like most of us you end up with a couple of tents - an Aruba/Athena for longer camps and perhaps an Antigua for shorter weekends where you expect better weather or intend to be out and about a lot.



-------------
Piglet



In order to post a reply you will need to register, or if already registered please log in here

Prev       Next
Quick Links - All Forums - Tent talk. Advice, info and recommendations - Top of Page

Printer Friendly Version Printable version      Share   Post on X / Twitter  Share on Facebook  Email


Latest News, Discounts and Competitions  see all...

4124 Visitors online !

Free UKCampsite.co.uk Window Sticker  -  Recommend to Friend  -  Add a Missing Campsite

[Message Forums]  [Caravan Sites & Camping]  [Company Listings]  [Features / Advice]  [Virtual Brochure]  [Shop!]
[Reception]  [Competitions]  [Caravans & Motorhomes For Sale]  [Event Diary]  [Contact Us]  [Tent Reviews] 



Please note we are not responsible for the content of external sites & any reviews represent the author's personal view only. Please report any error here. You may view our privacy and cookie policy and terms and conditions here. All copyrights & other intellectual property rights in the design and content of this web site are reserved to the UKCampsite.co.uk © 1999 - 2024


Advertisement
Advertisement


UKCampsite.co.uk
2024 Advent Calendar

Advent Calendar

24 Daily Prizes PLUS a Christmas Day Star Prize worth £999

Request a Reminder