Great forum here, and with great advice too. My family and I are taking to camping for the first time as a family and would appreciate some advice on tents. After reading many of the topics here I realise how important it is to make the right decision when selecting manufacturer and style. I had set my heart on the Vango 700dlx for size,comfort and ventilation. But I had'nt considered how much effort it would be to erect such a beast especially when just popping off for a weekend jaunt. The tent must have two functions therefore weekend sortee and HQ for 1 or 2 weeks. Any advice?
------------- No worries!
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You don't say how many people are in your family. Assuming you are 2 adults, 2 children, something like the Sun Valley as mentioned above would be ok. For ease of erection, you really need a tunnel tent. Anything like the Diablo's with their pods that shoot off in every direction is going to take a fair bit of putting up.
If you have a larger family, then look at something like the Outwell Montana ranges (they do up to a 12 berth - it's quite a monster but takes only 1/2 an hour to put up and about the same again to do all the guy lines). Outwell are also bringing out another new tunnel tent this year - the Vermont, and that looks great too.
Good luck!
------------- Claire x
Jan 2013 - Skiing, Kühtai, Austria
May - Swiss Farm
Fforest Ffields
Aug - Saumur, France
Oct - Somewhere...
Jan '14 - Skiing, Les Houches
We are 2 adults and 2 children (4yrs and 2yrs), so the easier to erect the better as losing the children the first night cos we were too engrossed in setting up would'nt be a great start.
------------- No worries!
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More thumbs up for the Sun Valley 8 - we, too, are a family of 4 (2 adults & 2 10 year olds). We found it to be the only tent that fulfilled all our requirements and is really roomy and easy to erect (even in the pouring rain!).
Quote: Originally posted by hairpiece on 17/1/2007
{snip..} The tent must have two functions therefore weekend sortee and HQ for 1 or 2 weeks. Any advice?
Consider, getting a tent for weekends - i.e. with just enough living area, but good bedroom size - and then take away a seporate day-room tent for longer stays.
Although this may incurr a bit more in site charges, it does have some big advantages, such as a seporate place to cook and in the evening, somewhere to sit inside at night and not be right next door to the kids and are better with ventilation if it is very hot
------------- Big Bunny
Robens Valley Lodge & Cabanon Pyramide 6 "... kids you distract the bear, while I run to the car...."
Don't forget to leave a review of all tents you've used, for a chance to win fantastic prizes
We've just got an Indiana 8 for 249 from go-outdoors. If I hadn't gone to look at tents I would have bought something completely different and probably regretted it.
We have just ordered a Montana 6 as both our weekend and long stay tent. Its easy to erect and roomy full SIG etc and this way only have the one tent to keep packed at all times in the trailer.
Thanks for all your advice. I have picked up some great points from your postings and find the forum simply the best with some very nice people willing to help and share experiences, Thanks again to all who have posted and I will let you know of my purchase.
This is the OUtdoor Revolution VRX Scenic 6.2 which is available for the great price of £200 on this site. I bought one last summer and am absolutely delighted with it. It has two seperate bedrooms and a huge living area, which is ideal for when the weather turns nasty. It is also extremely stable in the wind. Only takes an hour to errect.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Family tent for wkends and main break
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