please could someone enlighten us!! we are wanting to purchase a tent for family fun with our 3 children and dog but we are unsure which sort to get. i have been looking at frame tents and also trailer tents on ebay?? any suggestions or anyone wanting to sell ??
Where do we start - it depends on so many things - budget being one, how comfortable with towing you are another. - I've camped in small ridge / dome / tunnel tents, large frame tents and trailer tents.
Personally I'd go for a trailer tent in preference to a frame tent, (and probably in preference to one of the new large dome/tunnels, though I've not camped in one) 'cos they're quicker to pitch, and don't take up any boot space! (beds can be comfier too!) New they're more expensive, but you can pick up second hand bargains.
Don't forget to consider storage as well. Somewhere you have to store a trailer tent, preferably under cover, though some, like me, keep theirs out all winter under larger covers. A tent you could put away in the roof or at the back of a garage. I have an FC and naturally would always recommend one, but I too have tried everything from boy scout tents to tin tents.
------------- Steve
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I like the odd drink. Five is odd, seven is odd, nine is odd...........
We as a family have camped in everything from pup tent to folding camper, - but not the TT. Even so, given the choice you have - the trailer tent has to be the better idea. Ok it involves towing but even with the tents we had we ended up with a smallish trailer. The TT comes with everything integral and if you are looking for overnight stopping I would guess it's easier to put up a TT simply beacuse the beds are already up - and talking of which - your a***s are therefore off the floor. The additional thought on a mercenary basis is that TTs hold their price better than tents.
Welcome to ukcampsite.co.uk Lianne and girls, Been a while since we had either but would go for the Folding Camper or trailer tent for reasons already stated. If budget was a bit tighter then a Frame tent like me sisters would be prefered to many of the other types, more headroom and can be erected by one person if needs be although 2 people is makes it easier!
ChrisAmy's (me sister) Frame tent pitched together with her daughters Dome tent.
Welcome to the UKCS! You'll always get plenty of help on this great site so don't be afraid to ask questions, even if you think them silly, as they probably are'nt!!
I started off with a TT Conway Camborne. Lots of room as the awning is pretty big, comfort of not sleeping on the ground, takes a bit of time and practice to get a TT up but it's not that bad.
Due to having back problems, I fairly soon found out that sitting in an awning in the evenings sometimes getting chilly and perhaps a bit damp, was playing havoc with my back. We had to re-think so now we have a FC Conway Cruiser.
If your budget will go to a new TT you could probably get a good secondhand FC for the same money. Have a good look at both. FCs have the advantage that you don't have to put the awning up and you can just use the main unit. They are also quicker to put up too even with the awning.
As eskimosailer says, think about where you can store your unit. I keep my Cruiser on the drive all winter although if any sunny weather appears we quickly put it up so it can have an airing! We've had some pretty awful weather here but the canvas is fine.
Hope this helps and good luck with your search. Hope you get your ideal outfit.
Like previous advice I would def recomend a Folding Camper. We started off with a 6 berth frame tent (was really heavy!) then bought a relum kios king plus 10 man dome tent, fab tent, folds really compact with loads of living space and its staying in the loft for another outing or 10!). But our eldest daughter is 15 this year (god help me!) and is at that fussy 'im not sleeping in that' stage!For past cople of years we hired a static van for the 2 weeks in summer but got fed up paying over £1000 for a 2 wk getaway. We bought our 5berth Dandy plus awning from Ebay last year and its brill..even the teenager loves it and cant wait to go away on Sunday!! Very self contained and so easy to put up (roughly 5 mins for unit and 25 - 30 for awning). Tows easy and is easy to move around.
Good luck
Loopieloo
------------- need a smaller unit for smaller car..boo hoo
Oh sorry, meant to add that we keep ours in tha back garden! Usual precautions (brakes off, up on axle stands) over the winter but not a trace of damp and boy was the weather crap!!! As Jazzy says sunshine for longer than 10 minutes and hubby had it off the axle stands and we popped it up to air it.
Loopieloo
------------- need a smaller unit for smaller car..boo hoo
I would also recomend the Dandy for previous reasons, as well as the fact that this was the first time that our dog has not been out nosying in the morning. As the Dandy has a wooden door she can't do her usual trick of using her nose to push the zip up, sneak out, and sneak in as soon as she hears us stirring. Found the ability to be able to stand upright inside the unit excellent (no, nothing to do with alcohol), and our old Dandy 5 has enough room for 6 people to sit inside - 3 on the settee and 3 on the wee locker. Very easy to tow with our 1.8L deisel Fiesta.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: novice needing advice
