Quote: Originally posted by rombacca on 21/7/2008
I've just bought a Vango Yukon 800 (pitching area is given as 7.9m x 3.95m) I figured that if I am booking a serviced pitch which is also suitable for caravans and motorhomes then surely it will take a tent of that size. It was interesting to learn that tunnels are preferred over pods due to their relative narrowness though.
Hi rombacca
A tent that measures 8x4 meters will be accepted on the majority of camp sites. tents that measure 7x7m would be considered oversize due to its width.
regards
Rex
------------- "Be the person your dog thinks you are" (BM)
We have the Biarritz 9 our party consists of 2 adults, 3 kids (7,4,3) I have never been charged extra for my large tent and always explain that its a bit of a beast and have always been accomodated. I'm not sure I mind paying extra for my tent and I understand the argument against 2 people in a little 2 man tent etc etc, but also remember alot of sites are also beginning to charge per night and per person. This starts to mount up the price of camping, add on the extra 20ps a family of 5 need for a decent shower. Its a tough one in my opinion and I always bear in mind each site is different and offers us as a family different things.
I couldnt give up the space in my tent and just about to buy an Idaho XL 5 of us in the rain and occasionally 2 dogs and we'd be killing each other with tent pegs if we didnt have a large tent! :-)
Quote: Originally posted by Sam Coleridge on 18/7/2008
I've a horrible feeling I may have noticed some mention somewhere of a surcharge (for single people in large tents)in some of the literature about the site I've chosen. I read it as a single person's surcharge. They certainly adressed me at least once as "mr and mrs".
As it happens. their electric pitches are at a fixed spacing of 9 metres ...
I'm unfortunate enough to be camping alone in my late 40s, but have chosen a tent that is technically a 4 man tent, but in practice more suited to a couple.
Post last edited on 18/07/2008 18:46:06
Post last edited on 18/07/2008 18:46:56
Hi Sam
A pitch with a fixed spacing of 9 meters can only legally accept a unit of three meters to comply with the six meter ruling for caravans and motor homes. If it was all tents then the size would be acceptable. all units
must be six meters away from a caravan or motorhome unless the other unit is part of the main unit such as a pup tent. Tents can be legally pitched three meters apart
continuously or two meter apart if the campers are known to one another but after the 5th tent then a gap of six meters must be left before the sixth tent can be pitched.
These are the minimum spaces set out by local council, and some now insist the sites in their area leave bigger spaces between tents, so you will need to contact the local council to find out the pitching distance between tents at the site you intend to stay at.
But the six meter rule applies to all caravans and motor homes across the UK.
Regards
Rex.
------------- "Be the person your dog thinks you are" (BM)
Before we changed to a caravan we used to tent with either a Relum super 7 canvas frame tent (sleeps five on 1x double and 3x single airbeds) or a Wild Country Homestead 5. Both of these tents were large enough for 2 adults and 3 teenage boys, all of our clobber etc. The living space was larger and taller than most of the "pod" type tents on the market now. Can those of you that own these type of tents stand up fully in the bedroom area?
Being made of canvas it is very cool in the summer.
Oh! the footprint 4m wide x 5m long (the sun canopy added 1.5m to the length.
We've just purchased the 2008 Outwell Vermont XL for 4 of us. (2 adults, 7 year old & a 3 year old) I prefer the 2,3,2 layout of the bedrooms at the rear of the tent as we can be in the centre, the children together in the right hand kids room pod & the left hand one we'll use as storage / wardrobe etc
The wardrobe in the inner living area we're hoping to use as the toilet. We've got the carpet for the inner living room & the outer living room has a bath tub ground sheet so will be perfect for kitchen / table etc
We can sit at the table of an evening, not disturbing the children in bed at the end of the tent as there's the seperate living area between us. or when i'm cooking in the outer living space the children can play games, colouring etc in the cosy inner living area which is safer as I don't like children in the kitchen when i'm cooking.
It'll be here any day & we can't wait.
The only reason I didn't go for the polycotton versions was because I didn't like the room layouts and to pay that much more for something i'll only want to update in 2-3 years I don't see the point.
I agree the tunnel tents are ugly to look at but after so much research we chose this tent for the layout that suits our family camping holidays.
I wouldn't mind paying a pitch size based on the size tent, I think that is fairer than charging per person. What about the poor group of 6 squashed in a 4 man tent!
Hi. I think there is a bit of confusion between tents which offer a lot of internal space and tents which take up a lot of pitching room. The pod style of tent tends to occupy a disproportionately large amount of ground space in relation to the amount of sleeping/living space inside.
As to the relative good looks of different styles of tent, well - beauty is in the eye of the beholder! MT
------------- Tackling life the Western District way
As the owner of what must be one of the largest tents on the market (realistically needs a 10m x10m pitch) I'd like to put my bit in for big tents.
We live in the good old GB and so are prey to GB weather, i.e.4 seasons in a day. There is no way in this world I would go away with my children in a tiny tent if there was any possibility of rain. My Nebraska has enough room for my pre teen daughter, hyper active 7 year old son and even my au pair, leaving the OH and I a nice big pod for ourselves.
If it rains we can eat inside and cook in the porch.
I've never had a problem getting a pitch as I am quite happy to do with out EHU.
We do have a nice Vis a vis tent for short stays or when we KNOW the weather will be fine.
We are off to Mother Iveys bay tomorrow, so if you see a HUGE tent at the end of the row looking out to sea, come and say hallo :-)
Quote: Originally posted by heathercbell on 22/7/2008
We live in the good old GB and so are prey to GB weather, i.e.4 seasons in a day. There is no way in this world I would go away with my children in a tiny tent if there was any possibility of rain. My Nebraska has enough room for my pre teen daughter, hyper active 7 year old son and even my au pair, leaving the OH and I a nice big pod for ourselves. If it rains we can eat inside and cook in the porch.
I agree totally. We are for getting the kids out and away from TV, DVD's and playstation thingy's and doing what is really good for them. However, as said we live in the UK and the weather is never going to do what you want it to do, and having kids cramped up in small tents only leads to arguments etc and eventually giving up on camping.
Caravan have gone the same way, i remember family of 6 going away in a sprite that was no more than 15ft in total length, however how many 6 people family would be using one that small???? They'd be up there with the 4x4 towing twin axle models that need huge amounts of space.
I am looking at the Montana, but am now worried about this issue, but only if it meant being refused. If i got asked to apy a surcharge for it then fair enough, i'd hate to go away, get somewhere only to find they say" sorry it's too big!" and get turned away. Holiday ruined and probably put most off ever doing it again.
There is going to be for's and against, but is C&CC saying that Montana 6 and alike owners will be turned away from their sites????
We bought a Wynnster Pharaoh 4 tent this year and booked into a site in the New forest,the owner took one look at it and tried to put the price up from £9.50 a night to £13.00 a night based on the size...the thing is its 4 m w x 5m l but is a 4 person tent ,literally only takes 2x double airbeds..I think all he saw was the hight...7ft.. and lenght with attached canopy not the footprint to say it p****d me of is to put it lightly,its put me off ever turning up on spec think we will just go to our old faves...
Exactly the kid of thing that could easily put me off totally!! Hence sites need to make it clear that if you exceed this size that either a charge (fair one) be applied. Not by using blackmail to get more money.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: What is classed as a large tent?
