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Topic: Quick & Easy - family Tent advice??

cardiff boy

16/5/2015 at 11:30am
Location: Cardiff
Outfit: TBC

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Hi all,

Long time camper over the years.
I sold last year our trailer tent. Was looking a bit old.
But mainly it was the time to get the thing set up and packed away. And not a sown in ground sheet.
So looking for a large family tent (2 adults, 2 kids lots of stuff!), which is within reason quick to set up.
Ideas so far:
Vango Airbeam Evoque/infinity 800
Cabanon Stratos/biscaya

We like the trailer tent set up, and funds permitted would go for cabanon Mercury. Are there any other trailer tent options with sown in ground sheets and quick set up?

Sorry for all these topics, but looking to spend a bit of money on this, and I know there are lots of people on this site who have a range of experiences.

Thanks very much
Rich

quick to set up

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PaulaMB

16/5/2015 at 1:30pm
Location: North Yorkshire
Outfit: Albatros-Safir 7-Trisar 3-Octapeak F8

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We had a stratos for a couple of years, we bought it new and the reason we sold it was that it took too long to put up and we felt it was just too big to deal with.

We sold it last spring and bought a Dewaard Albatros and Brenderup 1205 or something like that (4 x 6 whatever that is) - it is lovely, much easier to deal with.

The stratos took us an hour to put up, even after two years. Such a big beast.

Can you go and look at one somewhere? We expected it to suit us for a long time but it didn't.

Sorry I don't know anything about the others you have mentioned.

Post last edited on 16/05/2015 16:51:32

Campernic

16/5/2015 at 2:23pm
Location: Northern Ireland
Outfit: Bell Tent Vango Coleman and Quechua

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If you are looking quick and don't mind a heavy and big packsize then the airbeams are a good consideration. I saw a three 'poled' one being put up at a campsite and was very impressed with the set up time. Obviously the more poles the longer it will take.

I think the airbeam technology is at a good stage now, after a couple of years of ironing out problems.

The only thing I would say is that the cost of them is so significantly higher than a pole and sleeve tent, that would an extra five tent minutes of threading a pole through would be worth the extra £'s. Up to you really.

RichJean+Ellie

16/5/2015 at 2:57pm
Location: Telford Shropshire
Outfit: Kampa croyde 6 Series 3

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Have a look at the Kampa Croyde 6 Air, we have the steel poled version and it's a great roomy tent. The Air would be very quick to put up.

Kampa's are good quality tents and the Croyds 6 Air can be had for £945 including carpet and footprint (familytentshop.com)

Failing that the Kampa Hayling 6 Air can be had for £725 again including carpet and footprint, another good quality spacious tent.

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May 2015 - Arrow Bank 4 nights
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CamperStoke

16/5/2015 at 9:23pm
Location: Stoke-on-Trent
Outfit: Vango Asante 500 & Coleman Instant 4

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My old man has a Camp-let trailer which is quick as to pitch, no sown in ground sheet though although he has one that clips in and some form of "skirt" that goes along the folded out edge inside (under where you climb up to the beds) to stop drafts. Its draft and bug free inside.

Literally fold it open, pull a strap at the front towards you and clip one or two poles into place. Peg out and done. However, the drawback is they cost a small fortune in my eyes!

I reckon the majority of tents are quick and easy to pitch once you know what you are doing. My pitching time for my Vango Samara 600 is considerably quicker than when I first got my Coleman Cobra 2 backpacking tent!

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April 2015 - Castle Camping, Staffordshire
June 2015 - Castle Camping, Staffordshire
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cardiff boy

17/5/2015 at 10:12am
Location: Cardiff
Outfit: TBC

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Hi

Thanks all for taking the time to reply.
Good suggestions, like the Kampa options.
And food for thought if maybe just taking an extra 30mins for poles set up is OK compared to 40% -50% extra for an air product.

The Outwell tent range looks good so I am going to see if I can look at some of these.

Cheers

RichJean+Ellie

17/5/2015 at 11:15am
Location: Telford Shropshire
Outfit: Kampa croyde 6 Series 3

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The Outwell tents are nice tents but you do tend to pay a premium for the name. When we bought our Croyde 6 we were also looking at the Montana 6p, the Kampa was about £200 cheaper for the equivalent package for a similar quality tent.

You are always going to come across fanboys who prefer a particular brand, best advice is look at a few in the flesh before you make a decision.

-------------
May 2015 - Arrow Bank 4 nights
July 2015 - Manorafon 4 nights
August 2015 - Piccadilly Caravan park 3 nights
August 2015 - Wheal Rodney 11 nights

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

Campernic

17/5/2015 at 11:51am
Location: Northern Ireland
Outfit: Bell Tent Vango Coleman and Quechua

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If you are starting to consider pole and sleeve tents (and no I don't think you'll need as much as 30 minutes extra for pitching time) how about what is arguably the deal of the year which is the Vango Orava 600 XL package deal from Cross Camping.

Bear with me. I know you were looking at an 8 berth tent for four people plus stuff. But this 6 person tent actually has sleeping room for 6 people plus it's heavy on the living space.

It also has an integrated front awning area where you can place your kitchen equipment.

youtube link

There's an airbeam verson of this tent called the Vango Tiaga

Frazzle-

17/5/2015 at 5:19pm
Location: Hampshire
Outfit: Outwell Montana 6P tent

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What about treating your family to a non camping time at a large campsite? Could you hire a pod for the weekend?

You could all do some research on what looks good and watch others putting up/down their tents. Laughing at others and their family/couples arguments about putting up a tent is not allowed

Then decide what to buy and go shopping.

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