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I've not seen any mention of this make of tent on these boards but looking at them on various camping websites they look really nice tents with nice high sleeping areas.

Does anyone own one of these or have any experience of them e.g. ease of putting up, general overall opinion?

Went to see a 'display' today but there were only about 6 tents up - all Gelert.  Going to Mitchells in Wakefield next weekend as they have a really good outdoor display.

Thanks

Trace x

Litchfield was a very good make in its own right up to when it was bought over by Vango about three years back. I used to have a Litchfield Catalan 12 man dome (can`t recall the number) and it was a very sturdy tent. We sold it to friends only because we bought a Vango Colorado 1200 DLX last year, which is a bit bigger.

I see the Litchfield Cascade 6-man is in the Argos Extra catalogue at £229.99. I presume the nine-berth will be the same general design with a third pod out the back. HH is 2000, thus OK, and it doesn`t look a particularly complicated design with flyshet first pitching, so probably quite simple to put up.

My only thought is that it`s not that cheap, considering Litchfield is now supposed to be  Vango`s leisure market range. (The Vango website appears to be down at present, but here`s the link. http://www.vango.co.uk/ ) For that price you could have quite a wide selection of tents to choose from, including the Vango Colorados, which have a higher HH at 3,000.

http://www.outdoorfocus.co.uk/tall_fibreglass_steel_tents/Vango/Colorado/Vango_Colorado1200DLX_info.htm

You can get a Colorado 1200 DLX on Ebay from a good camping store local to me, BTW. I got one at their start price of £199.99, and I see they`re still selling them.

Thanks for that Val.  I've just had a look and found that Vango Colorado 1200 on ebay.  I have looked at these before, but being new to camping (only camped in eurotent for first time last year) was a bit concerned that it looked huge!  There are four of us and I must admit the thought of the extra space is lovely - kids could have a bedroom each, would save lots of arguements!  How is this to erect?  There is dh and me and the kids are old enough to help (8 and 11) and also do  you ever have any problem finding pitches big enough?  I don't even know what the average size of a pitch is having not booked one before!

Sorry, lots of questions, but as a newbie any advice much appreciated.

Thanks

Trace x

The Colorado 1200 is a big tent, yes, but it "only" footprints at about 24 feet each way plus guys, which means it will fit on a 30` x 30` pitch OK, unlike several of the other monster tents around. Remember if you have a cruciform tent you can pitch it diagonally as well, unlike the more hemisperical ones. I`ve never had a problem with it anyway, nor the Litchfield which was almost the same size. But if you always have the tent dimensions to hand to tell them when you book, you shouldn`t have a problem. Not all pitches are the same size, btw, and often the tent field is pitch where you want unless you need a hook up. Asking is best.

I think it`s a pretty straightforwards tent to pitch...it goes up fly first, which is usually easier, and just has a central dome, four side of dome poles and then one in each pod/porch section. Ten poles for a tent that size is good, and once you get the dome up the hard bit is over. You need two folk for the dome and poles, but after that you really can manage with one. It has tension straps at the ring and pin fixings for the poles which makes life a lot easier...you slacken everything off to get the poles in easily, then pull taut. Simple.

But have a practice run in the garden first!

The bedroom pods are big, with a central dividing curtain so you could use one for storage and the kids could have their own space but share a pod. The pods really can sleep four, unlike some tents. Or give them a half pod each and partition off the other side for storage. You really do need space out the central area to put stuff in any tent.

I like it anyway, and it`s the tent that Hubby and I were meaning to buy for quite a long time except we got a loan of a trailer tent instead for two years. I couldn`t resist the price though...it used to sell for about £385 at the start of last year. And we`re intending to go away in it for four or five weeks this summer, and I expect it to be great for space and sturdyness.

The downsides...it doesn`t have a sewn in groundsheet. I think that`s an advantage, but some folk hate loose laid groundsheets. It`s a personal preference thing. The other is that it`s not ideal as a one or two night tent as it does take a while to pitch...under an hour with practice though, and you`ve got big kids to help with all the tedious carrying equipment in. Buy a second tent for weekends!

Incidentally the seller on Ebay , Tentking, is the Ebay persona of my local camping emporium, Camping Ecosse here in Scotland. He had a stack of these tents in his back shop. Can recommend him if you decide to buy from him.

HTH.

Thanks for all that Val, much appreciated.

Trace x

I have a cascade 6dlx.  Very simple to put up Can be a bit of a pain on your own but possible (I did it took 1 hour )

The steel main fram makes it very sturdy and makes it that little easier to errect the build quality is not to bad and with the windows at the to of the dome you get plenty of light. 3 door disign is handy to plus with 2 kids you have the added bonus of been able to seperate them so less night time fighting and arguing...lol

All in all not a bad tent but will be able to say more in a few weeks holiday for a week soon and using it

but if you have a small car you will have a bit of trouble transporting it it comes in 2 parts (poles and tent seperate) the pole bag is about 6ft long andthe tent bag will take up the boot space of a chichento

Hi. Used to have a Khyam Tourer 400 but that wasn't quite big enough so we bought a Lichfield Cascade 6 DLX. Have only put it up once but I have to say it is very very spacious and seems to be well made. Will let you know more after our 2 week hols next month!

The poles and tent are in seperate bags but I think this works well to be honest.