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Topic: Connecting or XL Bell Tents-BCT-advice?

izzyfizzy

05/6/2013 at 9:22pm
Location: None Entered
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Hi all,

We are 2 adults + 3 kids looking at buying a very large traditional canvas tent, but want something extremely roomy! Was thinking of the Emperor at belltent, or maybe the XL 7m at boutiquecamping, has anyone had experience of either? I am looking to have a zip off inner tent so we can have a little privacy...but concerned about not having much room left.

My other option was to buy 2 5m bell tents and some how connect them, so we have 1 living area and 1 sleeping area, does anyone out there do this?

I would like to see some in action but I live in West Yorkshire, the closest to me is BCT Outdoors - does anyone know much about these?

Any help or advice would be massively appreciated !!

Sarah

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jogl

06/6/2013 at 5:08pm
Location: Bradford
Outfit: Gelert Corvus 6+2

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Just over a year ago we bought our 5m bell tent from BCT.

As far as I'm aware they do not have any kind of show room, but as far as I'm concerned any tent from BCT are of great quality. In the past we always bought patrol tents (Scouts) from them & we never had any issues.

Before we bought out tent I compared BCT against Belltent, Karma canvas, Canvas & Cast etc. Yes, the tent does weigh more but has a thicker canvas, thicker ground sheet & also comes with nice touches such as rope guys & wooden pegs.

As for putting to tents together, why not:)Although I'm not sure how you could connect them. You could have the doors facing each other & attach a canopy between.

armchaircamper

06/6/2013 at 5:30pm
Location: Aberdeenshire
Outfit: Several tents and a hammock

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I have a ridge tent from BCT and it's excellent quality. Their service was very good too.

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

Tynxuk

06/6/2013 at 10:19pm
Location: Sunny Suffolk (West)
Outfit: inflatable dome Palamos6 frame tent

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We are a famiy of 5 and have a soulpad 5m bell tent, half is used for sleeping in and half for living area with a seperate tent for cooking & eating in and canopy which we will try to connect the two with next time we use them.

Just remember that some sites will charge more for two tents or extra large tents.

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jayner

07/6/2013 at 8:16am
Location: Surrey
Outfit: Alaska Bedouin 280 De waard & Jambore

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I have an Emperor and use an inner for privacy, also use curtains on the ridge pole to enable a more private sleeping area for DS. This leaves a massive space at the other end for living. You could fit 3 sims in the inner and use the curtained area for yourself as a double would easily fit,

Living area

However I have seen a 6M in the flesh and it's an enormous size (bigger floor space than the Emperor)and would easily accommodate 5 so the 7M would be a beast. If you want an inner tho I don't think you can't get them for the 6 or 7M at the moment so something to be mindful of if you aren't a talented crafter! The advantage of the Emperor is the ability to add a Bell tent to the side door if required in the future and the back wall which is quite straight so gives loads of useable space.

Arledge

04/7/2014 at 4:32pm
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I would advise strongly against any bell tents from BCT.

My experience is based on buying 10 of them. 5 tents had to be sent back straight away due to issues in construction (toggle sewn backwards so rubbers fall out, toggles for vents in the wrong locations etc). They were also supplied missing guy ropes.

Since then we have had several tents where the poles have gone through the roof. BCT were not forthcoming in fixing and we had to fix ourselves.

The tents are not all of the same size, with panels out by quite a way. As a result they don't erect the same and front door poles don't always fit.

BCT used to be a company of reputation, but the quality they pride themselves on is now lacking.

Overall I am quite disappointed in them.

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