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Subject Topic: Anyone have a Little Big Top ? Post Reply Post New Topic
04/5/2013 at 10:53am
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View agelessamber's Profile View Profile   Reply to agelessamber Reply   Quote agelessamber Quote  
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Good morning

We are looking at buying a bell tent this year but need a big enough size to cater for 2 adults and 4 children.

I have just come across the Little Big Top from Canvas & Cast, just wandering if anyone has one of these and what they are like for 6 people, kids are young age 6 and lower but they will grow and I'm hoping we'll still be family camping when they are teenagers ?

Other than that would the 5m be big enough for us ?

Any advice will be gratefully received.

many thanks


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04/5/2013 at 8:51pm
 Location: Sunny Suffolk (West)
 Outfit: inflatable dome Palamos6 frame tent
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can't comment on the LBT but I do have a 5m bell tent and it all depends on how you expect to use the tent but it is possible to sleep 6 or more.

We have ours set for 5 = 2 doubles & 1 single campbed in half the tent (wouldn't fit any more) and living area in the other half. We also have a kitchen /diner tent.



05/5/2013 at 7:41am
 Location: Surrey
 Outfit: Alaska Bedouin 280 De waard & Jambore
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I have a 5M and an Emperor Bell (similar to the little big top in size). I would say for comfort the Emperor would be better, have you looked at the 6M Bells? They are enormous inside and would give you plenty of space!


05/5/2013 at 12:13pm
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View agelessamber's Profile View Profile   Reply to agelessamber Reply   Quote agelessamber Quote  
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Quote: Originally posted by jayner on 05/5/2013
I have a 5M and an Emperor Bell (similar to the little big top in size). I would say for comfort the Emperor would be better, have you looked at the 6M Bells? They are enormous inside and would give you plenty of space!



Thanks for feedback, no we haven't looked at the 6m bell but realise we do need space to be more comfortable, we'd all enjoy it more.

Your Emperor Bell that's the one from belltent? Do you have the sleep inners? How many people can sleep comfortably in them?

Don't suppose you have seen a LBT, how different are they to the Emporer in terms of usable space

Hope you don't mind me asking questions.

Once we have an idea we'll have to find somewhere to view before committing, don't want to make an expensive mistake.

many thanks and kind regards
Chel


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05/5/2013 at 2:40pm
 Location: E Yorkshire
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We found using a cooking tent along side and also for storing gear worked best for us.

-------------
Canvas tent, paraffin light, petrol stove. Heaven
I'd rather be kayaking.
Spent up, not pent up, just had my new tent up.


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06/5/2013 at 9:00pm
 Location: Swansea
 Outfit: Hobby 650 UFF
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I have a canvas & cast 4m bell, the tent I eventually ended up with is excellent but there were some customer service issues along the way - see my tent review on this site for details.

-------------
real men shouldn't be crying into their beer, they should be drinking whisky.


07/5/2013 at 12:22am
 Location: Surrey
 Outfit: Alaska Bedouin 280 De waard & Jambore
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I do use an inner but they aren't very big,they would fit a max of 3 Sims. I put a curtain across the ridge pole and create a sleeping area for my son that way. Haven't seen the little big top but I would imagine it's a beast as the canvas is heavier.
You could sleep 6 in a 5m,we have the inner and you can fit a double each side comfortably, add an inflatable sofa bed and you can sleep six and still have plenty of space.As Raf says, adding a kitchen tent is a great way to get more room.


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13/5/2013 at 12:01pm
 Location: London
 Outfit: Little Big Top
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I have an LBT and yes, it is a beast!

http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/chatter/display_topic_threads.asp?ForumID=32&TopicID=279138&get=last#3921860

Link above (if it works) to some pics I posted last year.

In terms of space, I think you'll be fine for the next few years, but might be cramped when the kids become teenagers, particularly if you use the inners, which do take up a fair bit of space.

We're a family of 5 (2 adults, 7yr, 5yr & 3 months). We used the inner and slept  adults on an inflatable double + travel cot on one side, the other side had another inflatable double and space for all our stuff.

A key point to note with inners is that they have a removal canvass divider down the centre of each pod, which effectively gives you 4 rooms. Important though, you can't fit a standard inflatable mattress into the pods when their divided. You could comfortably fit in two SIMs though.

Personnally, I'd say go for the LBT over a bell, as the vis-a-vis arrangement creates separation between sleeping & living areas. LBT 'v' Emporer - I'd go for LBT. The canvass is a bit more heavyweight and I prefer the door configuration.

Very happy to answer any questions.

Barney



13/5/2013 at 11:22pm
 Location: Surrey
 Outfit: Alaska Bedouin 280 De waard & Jambore
View jayner's Profile View Profile   Reply to jayner Reply   Quote jayner Quote  
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In case you needed them heres a couple of pics of the Emperor.

[/img]

Heres the bedroom pod, the curtains can be pulled to create a separate space if not using two inners and leave enough room for a kitchen/seating area.

[/img]

Here without the second inner in.

[/img]

The advantage of the Emperor is the extra height (2.5 metres) and the second entrance is on the side rather than the back (both sides have windows), plus the sewn in grond sheet that means the tent only takes about 20 minutes to erect as pegging out is simple.

[/img]

Post last edited on 13/05/2013 23:45:47

Post last edited on 13/05/2013 23:55:18

Post last edited on 13/05/2013 23:57:23


02/6/2013 at 12:16pm
 Location: None Entered
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Thanks for all your feedback. We will contact the sellers of these awesome tents and view them then make our decision....

Will definitely have a 2nd smaller tent though to support kitchen and storage, that makes sense.

many thanks
Chelle



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