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Topic: Fitted carpet, general carpet or a rug?

lynniep

25/3/2014 at 3:51pm
Location: Cambridgeshire
Outfit: None Entered

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I'm a bit bombarded with camping decisions at the moment, having just bought a new tent (Maritsa 700)

I knew there wasn't going to be a carpet available, and I have been mulling over whether to invest in one that 'almost' fits (the nadina 600 carpet is the right shape but will be smaller in size)

Its also £69, which is ok, but still a lot of money when I'm forking out on other stuff too.

Will I regret not buying one that covers most of my living space?

There is a gelert carpet on sports direct that is only £24.

Its 235 x 320, so still a substantial size. It would fit down the middle of the tent like a runway with about 80cm gap on either side. Having seen pics on this site, and the floorplan of the Atlantis 5, I think the carpet will be tapered (in a similar way to the maritsa) rather than rectangular but I'm not sure.

There is also a waterproof backed rug on ebay for £20. Its 220cm x 300 so a bit smaller than the Gelert carpet. Probably lighter too. Possibly wont last though and therefore not worth it?

Please help me make my mind up!

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spiritburner

25/3/2014 at 3:59pm
Location: NE England
Outfit: Citroen Dispatch Campervan plus tents

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Waterproof will get condensation underneath IMO. We just have an old rug for most of the living area. If we didn't we'd maybe buy one from Ikea. The OH likes it the most - I'm not bothered either way.

Mucker1884

25/3/2014 at 4:10pm
Location: Derby.
Outfit: Karsten 350+Awnings

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I thought most, if not all, tent carpets had a waterproof backing. PE or similar? We lay ours directly onto our waterproof SIG, which will have another waterproof layer below that (footprint). All PE or similar material. Cant say I've noticed any condensation between carpet and SIG, nor between SIG and footprint, when we de-camp.

I'm also under the impression that a fair number of picnic blankets have a similar backing too?

Spiritburner said "IMO", I said "I thought..."

Anyone have any facts on this? Or further thoughts/opinions?

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lynniep

25/3/2014 at 4:14pm
Location: Cambridgeshire
Outfit: None Entered

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Am a bit concerned with size too. Having seen the size of the tent when it arrived this morning I just thought OMFG its a good job I bought a roof box. Im guessing a maritsa/nadina carpet will be mahoosive even when folded.

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Jukie999

25/3/2014 at 4:32pm
Location: Dorset
Outfit: Outwell Vermont XLP Vango Icarus 500

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Some carpets roll down quite small, others are thicker/more bulky.
GoOutdoors quotes the Nadina 600 carpet as 'Packed size: L40 x H24 x W24cm'
Maybe check it out in person in the shop..... you will then be able to imagine how to pack the boot of your car

Personally I don't think it matters if the carpet doesn't go quite to the edges, but with small children you might not want the edge of it to be in a tripping zone !

Sarah

Francais

25/3/2014 at 5:26pm
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For our Cabanon, in order to protect the ZIG in the living area and SIG in the bedroom pod, I got 2 Outwell carpets, which were on end of season sale at the time.

To get a perfect fit, I took some measurements and a lady on our local market who does clothing alterations sorted them for £10 each.

Bob61

25/3/2014 at 5:31pm
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Due to the size and shape of most tents nobody walks right up to the side of them so why carpet right up to the side?

You may well have tables, boxes, and other bits of equipment along the sides of the tent anyway and they don't need carpet underneath.

At the doorways you may well want small doormats for blotting wet boots and shoes.

I have always used waterproof picnic rugs and never noticed any condensation. They can be bought on ebay for less than a tenner each and being smaller than a full tent carpet and more manageable can be washed in a washing machine.

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Francais

25/3/2014 at 6:36pm
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Hi Bob61.
The reason I went for wall to wall fitted carpets, was partly due to the fact that the internal poles of our tent hold the carpet in position for the living area, so the carpet never shifts.

The SiG in the bedroom pod somehow keeps that carpet in position as well.

The carpets I used were the Minnesota 6 for the living area and the Wolf Lake 5 for the bedroom pod, both Outwell carpets, got them back in 2009 thought I would mention that for any other Cabanon Biscaya 370 owners that are looking at getting carpets.

spiritburner

25/3/2014 at 6:55pm
Location: NE England
Outfit: Citroen Dispatch Campervan plus tents

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Quote: Originally posted by Mucker1884 on 25/3/2014I thought most, if not all, tent carpets had a waterproof backing. PE or similar? We lay ours directly onto our waterproof SIG, which will have another waterproof layer below that (footprint). All PE or similar material. Cant say I've noticed any condensation between carpet and SIG, nor between SIG and footprint, when we de-camp.

I'm also under the impression that a fair number of picnic blankets have a similar backing too?

Spiritburner said "IMO", I said "I thought..."

Anyone have any facts on this? Or further thoughts/opinions?

I've seen condensation on groundsheets under SIM's, karrimats & other things such as storage boxes. Plus from this thread

Quote: Originally posted by mrs jubbly on 12/8/2008
Def sounds like condensation to me. What i discovered for the first time this last week was condensation under the silver backed thermal picnic rugs we used as tent carpet. It was deffinitely condensation as it only appeared where the rugs had been lying. I panicked at first thinking we had a leak from underneath! But I guess it was the warmth of the rugs against the cold of the floor.
Clare

Dubstepper

25/3/2014 at 7:10pm
Location: N.Wales
Outfit: Gelert Ottawa 4

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we have 2 old cotton throws my MIL got from a boot sale. one in the bedroom, one in the lounge. Easier to wash cos if you camp when its muddy then they will get messy.

arsenaldes

25/3/2014 at 7:15pm
Location: Aston Clinton
Outfit: Kampa Holkham + Outwell Yukon River*

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All our Outwell tent carpets, and weve had quite a few, have had a heavy duty PVC backing so one assumes this is a waterproof material. On decamping Ive never seen any evidence of condensation under any of them. Vango have as Mucker has said a PE waterproof, non-slip base which as its stated on their website must be waterproof.

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Everything has been said before, but since nobody ever listens we have to keep going back and saying it all over again and again and again

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Mucker1884

25/3/2014 at 7:23pm
Location: Derby.
Outfit: Karsten 350+Awnings

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Hmm... Interesting, spiritburner!
I wonder if the silver backed had a bearing?
I wonder if our permanently open vent(s) are sparing us?
I wonder if we are helped by the fact that when it's minus 2 outside the tent, it's normally minus 3 inside, despite the fan heater!!

I'm certainly gonna make a point of lifting the carpet now and again, just to check. I will, of course, report back, if there is anything to report.

-------------
2024: 38 nights thus far...
2023: 47 nights
2022: 40 nights
2021: 30 nights
2020: Just 24 nights
2019: A personal best 50 nights
2018: Just the 30 nights
2017: 34 nights
2016: 32 nights
2015: 38 nights
2014: 34 nights
2013: 36 nights
From July 2012: 23 nights

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