Home

   Log in or Register



Insurance Quotes
forums Campsite Search Comp Directory tips virtual brochure Profile
Tent and Awning Reviews Competitions Caravans and Motorhomes For Sale Shopping Diary Advent Calendar

Advertisement

Message Forums
Welcome Guest Register Login Search The Forum Posts Since Last Visit
 Reception - All Forums
   Camping under canvas -  Tent talk. Advice, info and recommendations 		Share   Post on X / Twitter  Share on Facebook  Email  Printer Friendly Version Print
Subject Topic: New Campers, recommendation required Post Reply Post New Topic
PersonMarkc939
21/6/2018 at 2:19pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: None Entered View Markc939's Profile View Profile   Reply to Markc939 Reply   Quote Markc939 Quote  
Joined: 21/6/2018

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   4
Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0
Hi,

My wife and I are considering camping with out 4 teenagers and two dogs, could anyone recommend a tent (I’ve been advised 8 man might be best) ideally we would like separated bedrooms and a sewn in ground sheet and easy to put up, I quite like the idea of the inflatable type, but not prescious about that.

Would like reasonable quality as planning on taking camping up over the next few years

Thanks in advance
Mark


Don't forget to leave a review of all tents you've used, for a chance to win fantastic prizes

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


PersonAldi Fan
21/6/2018 at 4:05pm
 Location: Newton-le-Willows
 Outfit: Many tents and a Dandy. View Aldi Fan's Profile View Profile   Reply to Aldi Fan Reply   Quote Aldi Fan Quote  
Joined: 02/10/2015

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   69
Tent Reviews:   1
Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0
Have you considered a frame tent ? Cabanon is recognised as one of the leaders in the field. There's three Cabanon Espaces on ebay very reasonably priced. They are huge tents. They have 4 *bedrooms*. I watched one chap erect an Espace on his own one afternoon....He didn't seem to struggle very much. YouTube is a good source to see what they are like and have pitching instructions.

-------------
Getting old isn't fun but the alternative is much worse.


PersonMarkc939
21/6/2018 at 4:19pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: None Entered View Markc939's Profile View Profile   Reply to Markc939 Reply   Quote Markc939 Quote  
Joined: 21/6/2018

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   4
Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0
Thanks, I’ll have a look


PersonTupik
21/6/2018 at 6:05pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: None Entered View Tupik's Profile View Profile   Reply to Tupik Reply   Quote Tupik Quote  
Joined: 13/8/2017

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   78
Tent Reviews:   2
Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0
Vango Illusion TC800XL would fit the bill perfectly as would similar options from Outwell such as as the Pheonix or Vermont.

We plumped for the Vango and have zero regrets. It's a fabulous tent but it may limit the type of site you visit as it is very long, like the others.

If serious about taking it up, best advice I could giver would be to go straight to a polycotton air beam tent. You'll need more room than you might imagine to cart a tent this size about as packed, they're around 80 x 60 x 60cm and can weight in at well over 100lbs. The alternative may be to go to two separate smaller tents, for when only a few of you may be going away. That's the way we started, with one 3 or 4 man bell tent and one ridge tent some years back.

Whatever you decide, nothing beats getting down to your nearest tent superstore and checking out all the tents together, plus working out just how much space you have for transporting everything.

Despite having a large SUV, the three of us still needed a very large roof box to get everything in (it was that or a trailer).


Don't forget to leave a review of all tents you've used, for a chance to win fantastic prizes

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


PersonMarkc939
21/6/2018 at 6:32pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: None Entered View Markc939's Profile View Profile   Reply to Markc939 Reply   Quote Markc939 Quote  
Joined: 21/6/2018

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   4
Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0
Thanks for the advice, loving this forum already!


Advertisement



Personduffs54
22/6/2018 at 11:06am
 Location: Cambs
 Outfit: Ford Duetto Autosleeper View duffs54's Profile View Profile   Reply to duffs54 Reply   Quote duffs54 Quote  
Joined: 25/6/2009

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   2333
Tent Reviews:   4
Site Reviews Total: 29
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 1  
Site Reviews 2022: 2  
Site Reviews 2021: 1  
Site Reviews 2020: 1  
Site Reviews 2019: 5  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 2
Site Nights 2022: 4
Site Nights 2021: 2
Site Nights 2020: 3
Site Nights 2019: 31
Site Nights 2018: 0
Definitely an 8 man tent, there's only 2 of us and a dog and we have a 6 berth .

We went from polyester to poly cotton to airbeam poly cotton and we love it, easier to put up, but still the same time pegging out etc.

I'd also go straight to polycotton, if you know you will be camping for the foreseeable future. Also factor in how long will your teenagers want to keep going with you. maybe look at pup tents for the kids, that way it clears the bedroom area for clothes storage etc.

We have a Kampa Croyde Air 6 berth, but Kampa do do an 8 berth tent too.

It's good to have seperate areas, especially if it's raining etc, dogs to like to shake in your tent lol!

Keep us informed and pictures to



-------------
Duffs54      


PersonRainMagnet
22/6/2018 at 11:07am
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: Karsten 350 View RainMagnet's Profile View Profile   Reply to RainMagnet Reply   Quote RainMagnet Quote  
Joined: 28/6/2017

Silver Member
Silver Member

Forum Posts:   185
Tent Reviews:   2
Site Reviews Total: 12
Site Reviews 2024: 2  
Site Reviews 2023: 1  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 1  
Site Reviews 2020: 1  
Site Reviews 2019: 2  
Site Reviews 2018: 3  
Site Nights 2024: 14
Site Nights 2023: 7
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 10
Site Nights 2020: 14
Site Nights 2019: 14
Site Nights 2018: 8
Karsten tents offer excellent versatility, start with a single pod then add additional pods / awnings / bedrooms to suit your needs.

http://www.campingtravelstore.co.uk/


Don't forget to leave a review of all tents you've used, for a chance to win fantastic prizes

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


PersonFlippyfloppy
25/6/2018 at 3:06pm
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: None Entered View Flippyfloppy's Profile View Profile   Reply to Flippyfloppy Reply   Quote Flippyfloppy Quote  
Joined: 25/6/2018

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   7
Site Reviews Total: 1
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 1  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 3
Site Nights 2018: 0
Hi, we're new to camping aswell. We are a family of 5, plus a dog. Kids are 14, 12 and 9 and all of them demanded they have their own space if we bought a tent!

We visited a few camping shops and eventually bought the vango illusion 800XL TC. It's an 8 berth polycotton airbeam tent with 4 bedrooms, a living area and a porch area. It's easy to pitch too. I'm a 5 ft 3 inch female and I have put this up on my own! We love it and although it was the most expensive on our short list, it feels built to last and solid in bad weather. The only negative point would be the weight when it's packed! It's very heavy and large but we bought a small trailer so it's not a problem. I would definitely recommend it if you can cope with the pack size and the weight!


Personmoonstone
25/6/2018 at 4:47pm
 Location: Greater London
 Outfit: Illusion TC 800XL View moonstone's Profile View Profile   Reply to moonstone Reply   Quote moonstone Quote  
Joined: 28/5/2011

Platinum Member
Platinum Member

Forum Posts:   1065
Tent Reviews:   3
Site Reviews Total: 9
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0
another thumbs up for the Vango Illusion 800XL TC...everything about it is quality...

-------------
"tereba nessa, kemer wyth"

.~*MOONIE*~.

Snowdonia - Peak District - Brecon Beacons - Lake District


PersonTupik
26/6/2018 at 10:12am
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: None Entered View Tupik's Profile View Profile   Reply to Tupik Reply   Quote Tupik Quote  
Joined: 13/8/2017

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   78
Tent Reviews:   2
Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0
Just added a sun canopy to ours...now a bit embarrassed by the size it takes up for three people LoL! Joking apart, when the weather turns bad, you'll never regret buying more space than you need when things are dry and you spend most of your time outside.

As for the tent size, we didn't want the hassle of a trailer so fitted one of the largest roof boxes we could find...job done, an extra 600 litres of space for all but the heavier items.


Advertisement



PersonMitchamitri
28/6/2018 at 4:23pm
 Location: 
 Outfit:  View Mitchamitri's Profile View Profile   Reply to Mitchamitri Reply   Quote Mitchamitri Quote  
Joined: 28/6/2018

Gold Member
Gold Member

Forum Posts:   355
Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0
Depends what you are after - better quality comes with higher cost so Vango for example - but we went cheap and cheerful and bought a Kalahari elite 8 and we've had it years. Try to go for rooms at each end (most will be) so you can banish the kids to the end - OR buy two four man tents and set the kids the task of putting theirs up, if you explain to the campsite most will understand!!!!!


Don't forget to leave a review of all tents you've used, for a chance to win fantastic prizes

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


Personrichardh1905
01/7/2018 at 6:12pm
 Location: South Cumbria
 Outfit: Lightwave T10 Trek View richardh1905's Profile View Profile   Reply to richardh1905 Reply   Quote richardh1905 Quote  
Joined: 25/4/2016

Gold Member
Gold Member

Forum Posts:   273
Tent Reviews:   7
Site Reviews Total: 18
Site Reviews 2024: 2  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 1  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 9  
Site Nights 2024: 2
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 3
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 9
Hi Mark; welcome to the forum.

I would be a bit cautious about spending too much money on a mega large tent; teenagers have a habit of growing up and suddenly deciding that they want to do their own thing.

I would consider 2 tents, as suggested above.

-------------
wildaboutwalking on wordpress


PersonTupik
02/7/2018 at 11:16am
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: None Entered View Tupik's Profile View Profile   Reply to Tupik Reply   Quote Tupik Quote  
Joined: 13/8/2017

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   78
Tent Reviews:   2
Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0
Yes, that's sound advice from Richard.

Perhaps something like a Vango solace for you and the Mrs and a bell tent for the teenagers?   You can always add a sun canopy to the Solace or go for the slightly larger TC500XL which I would be happy to use for just the two of us as a weekend tent, especially if the weather turns bad but it can comfortably sleep 4 to 5 if needs be. The Solace, despite the 4 person tag, is really best viewed as very comfortable and roomy 2 person tent.

There are some great deals available on the 6 person gelert bell tents at the minute...perfect for 4 teenageers.


PersonMarkc939
02/7/2018 at 11:30am
 Location: None Entered
 Outfit: None Entered View Markc939's Profile View Profile   Reply to Markc939 Reply   Quote Markc939 Quote  
Joined: 21/6/2018

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   4
Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
Site Nights 2023: 0
Site Nights 2022: 0
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 0
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 0
Some good advice here thanks everyone, I’ll take it all on board, might be next year yet as missus has started looking at log cabins for this year now lol, but def gonna take the plunge sometime soon.



In order to post a reply you will need to register, or if already registered please log in here

Prev       Next
Quick Links - All Forums - Tent talk. Advice, info and recommendations - Top of Page

Printer Friendly Version Printable version      Share   Post on X / Twitter  Share on Facebook  Email


Latest News, Discounts and Competitions  see all...

6631 Visitors online !

Free UKCampsite.co.uk Window Sticker  -  Recommend to Friend  -  Add a Missing Campsite

[Message Forums]  [Caravan Sites & Camping]  [Company Listings]  [Features / Advice]  [Virtual Brochure]  [Shop!]
[Reception]  [Competitions]  [Caravans & Motorhomes For Sale]  [Event Diary]  [Contact Us]  [Tent Reviews] 



Please note we are not responsible for the content of external sites & any reviews represent the author's personal view only. Please report any error here. You may view our privacy and cookie policy and terms and conditions here. All copyrights & other intellectual property rights in the design and content of this web site are reserved to the UKCampsite.co.uk © 1999 - 2024


Advertisement
Advertisement


UKCampsite.co.uk
2024 Advent Calendar

Advent Calendar

24 Daily Prizes PLUS a Christmas Day Star Prize worth £999

Request a Reminder