After my new tenting breaking on it's first outing, now in the process of returning & getting a refund, as amazon don't have any stock. I've now got my heart set on a bell tent. Probably going to get it from either soulpad or bell tent uk. I am thinking of getting the model with a ZIG, as I camp solo & think it will make the tent easier to manage. My questions are is there a way for the electrical hook up to go in or does it have to be run though the door. I'm sure I've seen pictures of a bell tent that ground sheet at the door unclipped & could be flat or is that only certain makes/ models. Would be good for me as I do tend to fall over things easily.
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I don't have EHU but you would certainly be able to run a cable in at the side of the door where the door zip meets the wall zip. Just found an old post here where someone else asked the same question.
Hi, I have the 5m Soulpad Hybrid Genie, there is a place at the back of the tent (nearly opposite the door) where you can unzip and put your EHU unit through, as I do.
Re weight of tent, I find this tent very heavy (am female, 5'4") and can't carry it due to its weight and packsize, I have to sort of hoist if from the ground into the boot of the car. However, I don't remove the ZIG, so if you decide to unzip, you wouldn't have this issue, and you may be stronger than me too!
I'm 5'9" female and find the 5m belltent with zig very heavy, I can manage to get it in and out of the car but struggle to take it any distance. we store it under the kids bed when not in use and getting it upstairs is a job and a half. On the other hand it is well worth it as its easily the nicest tent we have.
You can put the cable for EHU either side of the door or through at the back where the zips meet as described by Humbird.
Newer models from belltent also have the drop down section on the door groundsheet. Ours purchased last year doesn't do this but our parents tent bought this year does, although we never take the zips apart far enough for it to disconnect.
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Both Bell Tent and Karma Canvas sell bell tents with a drop down bit at the door and this allows EHU cables to go in either side of the door but still allows zips to be done up as normal keeping it watertight. I opted for the Karma Canvas 2012 version as it was £140 cheaper and had mesh on the door and use the Bell Tent inner as it has a room divider. Would recommend both companies and their products. As previous people have mentioned it is heavy to drag about (much easier if you separate the ground sheet) but I can put it up no problem and I'm a shorty!!
Quote: Originally posted by johnmarie on 31/8/2012
I'm 5'9" female and find the 5m belltent with zig very heavy, I can manage to get it in and out of the car but struggle to take it any distance. we store it under the kids bed when not in use and getting it upstairs is a job and a half.
Out of interest, Johnmarie, are you talking about the weight of the tent, groundsheet and poles altogether, or do you struggle with the canvas on its own? I have them in three separate bags and the 4m canvas isn't bad, but I just wondered how manageable the 5m is (just in case I ever get one. )
When I take the tent down I unzip the ZIG to keep the canvas separate from any wet or mud on the groundsheet. Once everything is dry it's too much bother to reattach them, especially indoors where space is limited. I did put them back together the last time, thinking it would make pitching quicker but then spent ages struggling to get it into the bag, so it wasn't really worth it. I used to have to lay the carpet on the groundsheet before attaching the canvas, which is why I always kept them separate, and now it's just habit.
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Topic: Bell tent questions
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