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Hi

We have just started on the camping trail, buying a tent for the family. On advice, we went for a Hartford XXL (it was in the sale) but I am worried it is too big!  It has a length of 7.4m, and I just don't know if it will fit in most camp sites.  We have until Saturday to return it, so if someone could either tell me I have made a mistake or put my mind at rest, I would be grateful!

Our 3 kids just can't wait to start camping (the youngest is 2, so I am sure I will not sleep well!).

Thanks

Hi Poveyt and welcome to the site.   If you go to the UK camping forum there is a whole thread about large tents.  You'll find it here

Good luck, whatever you decide

Stick with you tent.you'll be glad of a bit of room if the weather is bad (not that it's going to be)   and you're stuck inside with the kids.

Nice tent..Good luck

Quote: Originally posted by poveyt on 04/5/2006

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Thanks - I have booked at a great looking site (Merley Court) who claim that 7m is their max.  I will have to see if they will accept us if we not put up two of the bedrooms (we only need all four when the kids are a bit bigger).  Hope that works!

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Given the design of the tent I don't think you can miss a bedroom off - they are intergal to the inner and the pole structure etc relies on the design as a whole for its stability.

As others have said, plenty of sites do take larger tents, you just need to  ask when booking, and be prepared for maybe being charged extra. There is another thread about someone being charged for 1.5 pitches but it does make sense that a site may charge more if you take up more space.

I am sure you will find plenty of places to enjoy great holidays - so just go and have fun  in your new tent!

With the size of family tents now days, your one isn't too big.  I have had a lot bigger ( Sunncamp Manta which was over 10m x 10m and Sunncamp Marathon over 8m x 8m ).  The Manta was a bit of a problem but I didn't really have any problems finding a pitch for the Marathon.  I have no problems at all with pitches for my Montana 12 and thats 7m.  If you like the tent, then stick with it.  Any other tent you get that is in the same league, will be a similar size as well.  You will have plenty of campsites to choose from.

When they say 7m, they are also allowing a bit of room around the tent for Guy Ropes ( so the pitch will be a little bit bigger than 7m ).  You will probably find the extra 0.4m you will be able to get on with just a bit of clever pitching.

Hi

We are going to Beachside in Cornwall. checked with them as we have just bought  a Coleman Columbia which is 7mx 6m. There pitch is 10mx12m

Billy

have a look here for campsites that accept larger tents.

http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/chatter/display_topic_threads.asp?ForumID=4&TopicID=27296&PagePosition=1

Hi

Thanks for all the advice! We have booked into Merely Court - they have a car-park (asked when I saw the point from Piglet) and have said that we should be ok on the pitch they have allocated us (spoke to the warden who was helpful).  We are going in June, so will update with a review of the park.  The kids are really getting excited (except the 2 year old, who is always excited).

Tim