Hi all, I've been lurking for a while and felt the need to jump in, so HI ALL!!!
We are thinking about starting to go camping with our little boy and the dog, we've done a few static van hols and want a change.
I've seen a post or 2 on here mentioning that some sites don't allow the really big tents, is this prevalent? We are probably gonna get summat waaaaay too big to start with as the missus won't do this unless there's plenty of room. The tent we are thinking about is around 7m x 6m, so not tiny, would we come up against many problems with sites not allowing this size of tent?
Welcome to the forum. If a site does not want your money in these cash struck times there are plenty that do so just find another. Use the site finder feature here to help but I don't think its a problem
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The missus is adamant she wants an airbed but I've already got 2 of THESE. I know wjho's gonna be more comfortable! Do many campers use the fishing beds or do they tend to rough it on airbeds etc?
`Camping and Caravanning Clubs website has a list of its sites which can accomodate "large" tents which they define as 5mx9m, so the one you are thinking of buying should be acceptable at all their sites and probably most commercial sites. Some, however charge according to the size of the unit. Also consider the size and weight of the packed tent and whether a smaller one would be easier to pitch. There have been plenty of classified adverts for "eight-berth tent, used once"!
Problems usaully begin once a tent is over 5m wide - many sites either won't accept you or will charge you 2 pitches. A 7m x 6m tent won't fit on a standard C&CC pitch, however they have introduced jumbo pithces at some of their sites. Remeber that you need to add at least 1m all the way round your tents footprint size to allow for guys so you would need an overall pitch area at least 9m x 8m for the tent you're considering. Guys are permitted into the 6m firebreak area.
Getting a larger tent can cause a few extra problems particularly if you want EHU and it may limit your choice of site and destinations but there are sites that will happily accommodate you - there is a list on the forum of sites that accept extra large tents.
For every site that doesnt like big tents there are loads that have no problem with them - Also the C&CC club now have pitches for Bigger tents, if you look on thier website you'll get a chance to look at the sites in question. Wouldnt worry too much about it. I think most sites are now seeing the error of their ways and realising that camping is being marketed to families rather than backpackers nowadays and adapting to suit.
If your not sure about camping I would start with a more modest 2nd hand tent, we started with a huge tent with sig, because I wanted the best with all that space, we used it once, it was too heavy and too big for our boot, and I couldn't afford a trailer or roof box, so I sold it on Ebay, thankfully I only lost about £20 quid on it, otherwise it would have been £300 quids worth of unused tent.
I quickly realised that the less space I have, the more I make do, the less equipment I take, the more leg room we have in the car, the quicker it is to set up and put away, and the more often I am likely to go.
Have you been to a tent showroom, 7m x 6m is to me a heck of a size, and would be a pain in the ass to put up - I'm afraid I'm all for the simple life :-)
Welcome to the forum. I do not wish to be too personal but maybe your OH was intending on sleeping with you not all billy on a lounger. You would not get me on one. I would "rough it "on a air bed any day. As for pitch size we do alot of C&CC sites and dont have a problem with 5x7m but if you go over the 5m wide they cough a bit and you are restricted to which pitch you have. If you book with the sites direct they will advise better as they know the lay out or their own sites. I have to admit though that a big tent for a first one and 3 + dog. Is it a pod one or a tunnel? Whichever you will be wize to have a practice first xxx Good luck
------------- Oh am loving the tin tent after campaining against it..........I was wrong.
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Topic: Newbie question
