Hi. I need some advice. We used to have a Vango Diablo 600 and ended up selling it because we didn't like the layout - kids too far away in the other "bedroom" to sort them out in the middle of the night. I don't like having to get out of my sleeping bag!
Anyway, we sold it and bought a little Vango Oregon TBS 400, which is fine except a fine mist comes in when it is raining hard, plus it has a very badly fitting bathtub ground sheet (which seemed a good idea at the time as I thought it would be good to be able to take it out and shake it). Anyway the rain runs in over the groundsheet so there is nowhere to keep stuff dry. We had a lovely long weekend in it over the first bank holiday, but it was bone dry, so no need to go in the tent except for sleeping.
So I'm trying to convince my husband that we need to get a new tent, but he is very skeptical as I was the one who convinced his to downsize from the Diablo. He will not be happy with me if we fork out for a new tent and it is still not right for us. He doesn't believe that there is a tent out there that will keep us dry and comfortable even if it is heaving down with rain - there are four of us, two adults and two kids (nearly 7 and 3.5).
So, I think I know what we need; A 5 man tent (don't really want anything larger), bedrooms that can be one whole room or split into two (as I want to be able to sort out the kids if they need me without getting out of bed!), a "living area" (with a SIG) and a porch where we can set up a camp kitchen.
I think an Outwell Florida 5 would be perfect, but I really don't want to make another mistake (especially as that would be an expensive one!). Any other suggestions?
My husband seems to be particularly hung up on pitching time so any advice on that would be good.
Thanks for your help.
Sarah
------------- Sarah
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I sold my Diablo for much the same reason and got an Outwell Montana 6, fantastic tent and I would still have it, but I introduced my mother to camping and needed another bedroom, got a Outwell Hartford XL, only had it a few weeks and decided to sell as it was to much like Diablo.
Now finally I have Kampa Pendine 8, larger that what you are looking for, but 2 kids in one room, granny in the other and me and OH in other with en-suite facilities now. and large living area for rainy days, bought the porch for storage, cooking etc. very happy with it.
But I did really love the Montana.
------------- I'm working class, I do what I have to do, to get by.
Just a thought, but have you considered a Bell Tent? A 5 meter bell would be ideal, I can get it up in 10-15 minutes and I have a disabled/crap hand....
You can get an inner tent, I think soulpad do one that splits in two although I'm not certain.
Anyway, its a very different style of camping but a very beautiful one. So why don't you have a look at either Bell Tent UK or Soulpad, you can get SIGs and ZIGs depending on preference....
We sleep 5 and a dog in ours, thats me, the wife, 2 teenagers, a 10 year old and a fat dog.
I know you dont want anything larger than a 5 berth but a Kampa Croyde 6 seems to tick all your boxes, fairly quick and easy to put up (we do it from start to finish in about 45 mins), large living area, porch to cook under and the main bedroom divides into two.
------------- Debs
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I hadn't thought of a Kampa tent - they passed me by completely - and the Croyde 6 looks great.
My friends have a 4m Bell Tent. It is absolutely lovely, but I think we'd need to add the inner (otherwise the kids won't go to sleep!) and that cuts down the space inside quite a lot.
Some other friends of ours had a Maritsa 700. Another great tent - hasn't realised they come in smaller sizes.
The 5 meter bell feels a lot bigger than the 4 due to the extra height, so may be worth looking at a bit closer... but its like anything, it suits some people and not others.
Another vote for a Kampa tent or an Outwell Nevada
------------- Experience enables you to recognize a mistake when you make it again.
Everything has been said before, but since nobody ever listens we have to keep going back and saying it all over again and again and again
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