Member Since: 04 May 2013
Location: Stalybridge
Posts: 575
Tent advice
I'm thinking of buying a tent as SWMBO and the kids have never been camping.
Just wondering if anyone on here has any advice as to the best tent to get?
I've been looking at the Outwell tents and like the look of the Hartford and some of the tunnel tents but I've not really had any experience of the tents these days.
I like the look of the Polycotton tents, but I'm just not sure if it's worth the extra cost.
Any advice is welcome.
Lee
D3 TDV6 HSE, Bonatti Grey, 7 Seats, Dual Climate, Heated F&R Seats & Screen, Fog's , Auto lights & Wipers, SAT NAV, Harmon Kardon, Cruise, many rattles, occasional leak
D2 3.9 V8 supposed to be Green, was mainly rust. Gone but not forgotten.
4th Jun 2014 11:31 am
Pelyma
Member Since: 06 Jan 2005
Location: Patching, Sussex
Posts: 15496
Get one made of tin DS3 TDV6 HSE - Silver with Alpaca (old one) Gone
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D4 HSE Lux - Montalcino Red Gone
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4th Jun 2014 1:19 pm
Comusat
Member Since: 04 May 2013
Location: Stalybridge
Posts: 575
unfortunately I can't roll a tin tent into a bag and put it in the garage or loft.
Lee
D3 TDV6 HSE, Bonatti Grey, 7 Seats, Dual Climate, Heated F&R Seats & Screen, Fog's , Auto lights & Wipers, SAT NAV, Harmon Kardon, Cruise, many rattles, occasional leak
D2 3.9 V8 supposed to be Green, was mainly rust. Gone but not forgotten.
4th Jun 2014 1:21 pm
Seeby
Member Since: 22 Jun 2011
Location: West Sussex
Posts: 197
We bought an Outwell Wolflake 7 last year. Great tents but flippin heavy and bulky. The bag and poles virtually fill the boot of the D3. The smaller ones are probably better.
The polycotton is good. It's a bit cooler in the sun and warmer at night. Tends to not flap too much in the wind.
The new ones with the inflatable tubes instead of poles are worth a look. Expensive but easier to put up and lighter as no pole bag.
4th Jun 2014 1:31 pm
patoir
Member Since: 10 Nov 2013
Location: Cumbria
Posts: 143
I've got an outwell polycotton, worth every penny, much more comfortable than a synthetic tent. But make sure you have the means to transport it as very large and heavy!
4th Jun 2014 1:32 pm
chalky
Member Since: 21 Aug 2008
Location: Yorkshire
Posts: 3145
Another for OUTWELL I've got a bear lake 6
I always get an electric hook up ! And I have a carpet for the base.
Then you can use a fan at night to warm it up a bit before you get in your maggot, and I usually take a toaster !
The smell of toast on a camp site always raises eyebrows !Only dead fish go with the Flow !
Polycotton out performs cheaper nylon alternatives in all situations as said above, if your going to do it buy once and buy right Altox GSM FBH controller thread
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4th Jun 2014 1:59 pm
Discogaz
Member Since: 17 Mar 2014
Location: Bracknell
Posts: 1399
But, if you're not 100% sure that they will take to it, laying out close on £1000 for a tent, albeit, one of the best might just be a gamble too far. It also depends on how many of you there are.
You can always check our Fleabay for used cotton tents.
2 adults and 2 kids, then something like an Outwrell Nevada ( I have the M ) will be sufficient, or, get one of the cheaper Outwells that Argos sell for not much more than £100.
If they like it, then I agree, a polycotton/canvas tent is the best ,very heavy but if looked after (essential it's dry before packing away), they will last many many years and keep their looks.
The problem with the lightweight nylon tents, and I include mine, is that after 4-5 years, the fabric starts to become brittle, less flexible or as I put it, crispy and you will get snags and rips very easilly, they also fade in time and can look tatty.
Bssically, you cannot go wrong with any Outwll tent, they're all very well made but in the end, you gets what you pays for so if you are going camping 3-4 times a year or more, then the higher quality tent will last better.
Personally, I'm the wrong side of 50 and still love camping and fortunately, SWMBO is the same but we only get out 2-3 times a year and the Nevada is plenty good enough for us.
If the bug bites, you will get tent envy and end up with high end kit.
Good luck
Gary
4th Jun 2014 2:42 pm
Mr Kington
Member Since: 12 Dec 2011
Location: Scottish Borders
Posts: 1552
Wolflake 7 is the nuts.
Disagree it fills the boot (it is massive to be fair but we stack the bags on top of each other and strap it to the dog guard. With the dog guard in place we can load the boot right to the roof.
You can buy a used 2011 / 2012 Wolflake 7 for circa £500 on ebay.
The new ones are all blow up jobbies, quick to pick up but also a lot to go wrong (valves leaking etc) and are very expensive. Outwell are great, if they rip get busted then they have lots of repair places and customer services are super.
Do agree it could be wise though to spend £200 on a tent, try it first and then invest in better kit.
We have been camping with the kids in France and I cant stop buying new things each time we go.
Latest investment has been a bike rack for the tow bar to carry 4 bikes. The roof already has a road bike and a huge roofbox too.
Our kids enjoy camping and it is what the D3's are made for.James favourite hobby is writing in the third person.
4th Jun 2014 3:06 pm
Comusat
Member Since: 04 May 2013
Location: Stalybridge
Posts: 575
Thanks for all the replies,
I agree that the D3 is a perfect motor for camping
I know there's a risk in buying a tent and SWMBO deciding it's not for her, saying that with the electric hookup she'll have somewhere to plug in the hairdryer so that should keep her happy
I think the polycotton from the bay is the best place for the first one. Few hundred beer tokens for a reasonable tent and see how we go.
If they don't go for it, at least I can put it back on the bay and get rid of it. If they do like it then everyone's a winner.
It's nice to know that at least I'm looking at the right ones.
Outwell just seem to be the best to buy.Lee
D3 TDV6 HSE, Bonatti Grey, 7 Seats, Dual Climate, Heated F&R Seats & Screen, Fog's , Auto lights & Wipers, SAT NAV, Harmon Kardon, Cruise, many rattles, occasional leak
D2 3.9 V8 supposed to be Green, was mainly rust. Gone but not forgotten.
4th Jun 2014 3:15 pm
lespes
Member Since: 17 Sep 2009
Location: Sitting Down
Posts: 2232
Khyam quick erect tents, had mine 5 years now, very sturdy in the wind, most are 5000mm hydrostatic head, never had mine leak yet and it has been tested.
Easy peasy to setup and take down, and that on its own saves a whole of stresses, takes a little longer but I can have it set up in 15 mins with just myself doing it.
I have just ordered the Khyam screen house tent to use as a gazebo and hoping rear of Disco will tuck nicely up to it. Fed up of the usual gazebo setup not even lasting a whole week in the wind.D4 Landmark MY16 Santorini Black THE LAST
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Range Rover Sport MY06 HSE Buck Blue: Gone missed!
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Discovery D2 TD5 Cobalt Blue: Gone Missed!
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Discovery D1 Avalon Blue First LR! missed!
Now demoted to a VW
4th Jun 2014 3:30 pm
Miesmacher
Member Since: 21 Oct 2009
Location: Lucerne
Posts: 73
If you really want a high quality tent, with tons of space, easy to erect, then a Karsten tent from Holland is the way to go. The downside is that they're hugely expensive (but cheaper than, say, taking a mobile home to Iceland or renting one there - so it was ok for us) and hugely heavy and hugely huge.
I wouldn't buy something else. (There's a picture of one next to my old Disco 3 in my gallery...)
Not sure about which type for the size but look interesting
the Zirkon Light seems to tick most of the boxes...
if any one has one of these I would lim to know just what they like / dislikeBREXIT - done properly.
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29th Jun 2014 12:49 pm
A13x
Member Since: 19 Jan 2012
Location: Staffs
Posts: 27
We have a tentipi, Safir 9 and think its great. Quick to go up and down, plenty of space and can stand up in it
No separate rooms and if you have a the stove like we do, it's sits in the middle which has the issue of a very hot item bang in the middle, even more so if have young kids. That said, there aren't many tents that allows a stove in a tent
29th Jun 2014 2:38 pm
Miesmacher
Member Since: 21 Oct 2009
Location: Lucerne
Posts: 73
Yes, we also took a long look at those tipis - but my wife was uncomfortable with the thought of hving to fuss with the floor. And I always think it's nice to have a tent that stands on its own (without pegs) and just needs securing...
Cheerio,
Thorsten
PS: And stoves in tents can be nice, but also deadly and I like to err on the side of caution, even if it's wimpish. Too many confident people die...
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but we stack the bags on top of each other and strap it to the dog guard. With the dog guard in place we can load the boot right to the roof.
