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If you can get to Hampshire there is quite a good display of cabanons here

http://www.theforestcampingcentre.com/catalogue/index.php

Homebird

Just come back from 2 weeks in France in our Espace and it is unbeatable. The main problem is the size and weight of the poles and canvas which take up most of my trailer. Provided you can manage that it is wonderful. I just bought 2 groundsheets, one for the main section and one to go between the inners and it works fine.

I have a picture of mine in my profile and can email some more to you if you like

Tim

We're heading off to France on Thursday night with our Espace, looking for some sunshine and interesting places. 

I agree with Tim, ideally you do need a large trailer to transport the tent and all the other equipment you will want to bring.

If you decide to purchase the Espace you will also need a folding step because the tent is very tall in the middle.  We also have an Aruba and I can manage to put up the headlining and inners in this without a step (I'm 5'10")  but I can't manage without the step in the Espace.

Some people manage to put the headliner in when the tent is on its knees but I prefer my step.

I'd love an Espace but they're simply too big and to find a flat pitch on the "basic" sites I prefer would be a problem.

I have a PVC roofed Aruba and although you get a good bit of condensation under the the roof even with just me sleeping in the tent, it isn't really a problem because it dries out quickly and doesn't seem to drip on the roof lining.

As regards a ground sheet, I put a large sheet down in the living area but leave about eighteen inches of grass along the front of the tent so as to have somewhere to take off and store muddy boots and keep the ground sheet clean; also I hang wet coats etc. on the frame over the grass.

I always put a thin polythene sheet under the sleeping compartments to keep muck off them which I simply throw away at the end of the trip.

I've never been too sure how to locate the sleeping compartments.  Should they be pegged as far apart as possible and as close to the sides of the tent as possible?

I keep meaning to customise a ground sheet by putting eyelets in the groundsheet to match corresponding eylets in the mudflaps and the pegging points for the sleeping compartments but am doubtful about introducing the eylets into the mudflaps in case they damage the tent when it's folded up.

Take care.

R

We don't bother to peg out the bedrooms in the Aruba or the Espace we just lay them on top of the groundsheet.  When I have them hanging in place I get inside and push them into shape, once we have our beds in they usually stay in place unless there is an awful slope.  In the Aruba the sleeping compartments should have a wider gap at the top for the wardrobe rail but it then tapers towards the bottom so they are closer together.

I know what you mean about the size of the Espace and in the UK I agree the more basic campsites have a nice atmosphere.  We bought the Aruba new but the Espace cheaply second hand for taking to France as the pitch sizes are usually bigger and there is more choice.