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Hi all. Finally convinced the wife that we need to take the kids camping. I loved it as a kid. We need a tent with a sewn in groundsheet and 3 bedrooms. Need a big tent due to the amount of equipment we need to take with kids around.

We were looking at an Outwell Hartford Xl or Montana 6 but are open to any suggestions.

Thanks all.

Hello Wayne,

I would suggest looking at tunnel tents if you're giving it a try to see if you like it.

They're easy to put up and have loads of room so the pitching will not be offputting and neither will the tent size.

There have recently been issues regarding campsites that have been unwilling to place tents over 5 meters in width due to the 6 meters minimal pitching distance to the tents in the vacinity rule and a lot of the dome tents with tunnel sleepers go over the 5 meter mark. Camp sites don't seem that bothered about the length though.

I won't reccommend a make because a lot of manufacturers make good tents and it's a matter of preference, I use a vango but thats just because I liked the tent design, just try to find a tent with a minimum hydrostatic head of 3000mm (it's waterproofness) and make sure you have some decent pegs (delta ground anchors are great).

If you intend to cook in the tent then make sure that there is a fireproof cooking area and this means fireproof not just fire retardent.

Finally don't go to mad in your chouice but rather find a tent that will fit you whilst you try your new hobby out to make sure everyone likes it.

I hope this helps you, if you have any other questions post again please.

Yeomans are doing a good offer on the hartford xl at the moment. Have a look at the outwell indiana 8 or the khyam ontario 8.....big tents with good offers at this time of year.

jans

I'd also advise not buying a tent until you've seen it up, so to speak.

No matter how carefully you study the plans, measure out the footprint in your back garden, examine every dimension, get out your trig tables so you can work out the exact headroom at any point and the angle of inclination of any of the sides, they're never quite what you expect when they're up (quiet at the back there, ladies!).

When you walk round a tent you'll often spot a drawback that you never even thought would BE a drawback until you saw it.

The Outwell Georgia XL is worth a look. 3 Bedrooms, large living area and large porch:

http://www.worldofcamping.co.uk/shop/Detail.asp?ProductID=1546

Tunnel tents are easy to put up but with kids a porch is really useful as when they're wet aand muddy you have somewhere to get them changed without making a mess in the main tent. We have 3 kids but only 2 come with us most of the time. We're looking for a new tent as the height in the bedrooms and the porch of our halo is an issue for tall hubby and high airbed. My current 'likes' are (all SIG):

Vango aspen 700dlx- good hh (4 or 5000), nice porch, good size.

Aztec falcon 8- good hh (4000), huge porch, and would give us one very big bedroom and the kids a decent one each.

Royal Pescara 8- 3000hh, decent porch, extra storage area at back (could be used as toilet), pretty much the same layout as the falcon but single skin.

At the moment, the falcon is in front because we camp all year and it has a higher hh than the pescara. The aspen bedrooms are smaller than the falcon (I think) and they're side-by-side so you don't get much privacy!

As has been said, try to see them up but at this time of year you're limited as there aren't as many displays. On the other hand, you'll get an end of season bargain this time of year so it might be worth a chance.

We have the Kyham Ontario 8 which has bags of room. It has 3 bedrooms (4+2+2) SIG, 5000HH and great head height.

You can buy a canpoy which is ideal for cooking under and drying off muddy kids and dog!

hiya wayne,welcome to the most adictive website in the world.I wouldnt look any further than the vango diablo 600xp.

http://www.outdoorworld.org.uk/vango-diablo-600xp-tent-free-vango-windbreak-p-1604.html?osCsid=9aaefdcdabde914ffaf7e450c17f570f

Or the outwell montana 6

http://www.outdoorworld.org.uk/outwell-montana-tent-p-1027.html?osCsid=9aaefdcdabde914ffaf7e450c17f570f

Both tents have pleny of room and should be accepted by all sites.The links ive posted have good deals on both tents.Hope this helps mate.

Quote: Originally posted by willshirew on 01/10/2007

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If you intend to cook in the tent then make sure that there is a fireproof cooking area and this means fireproof not just fire retardent.

 

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I've never seen a tent yet with a fireproof cooking area, willshirew, so this might potentially take some time?

All tents can potentially set on fire, so caution should be exercised if you plan to cook inside (I would only ever cook inside a cotton canvas frame tent with designated kitchen area, personally, but even that is only fire retardant - which basically means you have a very short time indeed to get out!).

Just think we should all be clear that tents are not fireproof, so let's all be careful okay?

Best of luck, whatever you decide.

I have an 8 berth, 3 bedroom, with sewn in groundsheet for sale.

It is the Por Action, Arizona, it has been listed on Ebay this week, but didnt sell despite having about 12 watchers.

There is one set of poles and two complete skins and inner liners, the first liner has a small hole (repairable) and one of the elastics on the bedroom liner has puller the fabric apart (also repairable) but I managed to get a complete new outer and inner liner.

Then tent originally cost me £149.00 and the new outer and liner cost me £80.99

The whole lot, is up for sale for the fab price of £100, will also throw in a mini fridge and two small size childs folding fishing style chairs.

If your interested you can contact me by email, at cottie34 at yahoo.co.uk

No sure where you are located but I am in Shropshire, about 20 miles from Shrewsbury.