Non biking related which tent

[Poseidon]

Greetings.

Having spent a great deal of time on my own in a tent, wifey and I are in the market for a family sized tent. The idea being that the 5 of us can head away for long weekends/short breaks around the UK and europe, without having to spend over a months wages for somewhere to stay.

As such, we've been to tent showrooms, read online reviews and generally debated over the relative merits of what's available. The problem is, we can't decide between two styles of tent.

Tent the first:
vis-a-vis tunnel type. Wifey and I at one end, kiddiwinkles at the other. Bonus being 8 man variants are well within price range (vango stanford 800 for example). Kids are well away from our room, should we "fidget" a lot on the air mattress (thus keeping them awake/inviting unwanted questions). There's bags of room for everyone and maybe even the dog.

Tent the second:
Standard tunnel type. Something like the vango iris 600. All the bedrooms are at one end, thus meaning kiddiwinkles will be but a thin sheet of fabric away from our room. Also, the three man bedroom looks a little cramped for 3 people. Not a problem right now, but as they get older, the extra space may come in handy. Bonus is, smaller overall size with a freaking mahoosive living area (which lets face it, is where we'll be spending most of the time when staying in) and they let in so much light. They generally feel bigger and airier.

I'm seriously torn between the two styles. Please share personal experiences of family camping with smallies (7, 4 & 3) and how they/you got on in whichever type of tent you used. I'm after pros and cons, in case there's anything I haven't factored into my decision. I'm properly on the fence between ideal living space and ideal sleeping space.

Cheers

Vis-a-vis

https://wmcamping.co.uk/uploads/images/Vango_Stanford_800_Tent_2015_Floorplan.jpg

Standard tunnel
https://www.newquaycampingshop.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/thumbnail/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/i/r/iris-v-600_2_.jpg
____________________
1977 Honda CG125
2002 Ducati Monster S4 (currently restoring)

[The Shaggy D.A.]

If you holiday mostly in the UK, living space gets my vote as that's where you'll be spending most of your rain soaked time. With the smaller tent you've shown, half the floor space isn't usable as standing room because of the slope. Some sites can struggle to accommodate 7m tents though, so last minute getaways might be an issue.
____________________
Chances are quite high you are not in my Monkeysphere, and I don't care about you. Don't take it personally.
Currently : Royal Enfield 350 Meteor
Previously : CB100N > CB250RS > XJ900F > GT550 > GPZ750R/1000RX > AJS M16 > R100RT > Bullet 500 > CB500 > LS650P > Bullet Electra X & YBR125 > Bullet 350 "Superstar" & YBR125 Custom > Royal Enfield Classic 500 Despatch Limited Edition (28 of 200) & CB Two-Fifty Nighthawk > ER5

[t121anf]

Top for me, but 5 people I'd make sure it was extendable.

On our recent trip the couple next door (1 child) had a y shaped one, which then had at least one possibly 2 extensions on the front. Plenty of space.

Be prepared to spend some serious monies though.

[Poseidon]

[Serendipity]

I’ve got an old Blacks Serpens 4 man tunnel which is like your second option, but 2 to a room rather than 3. Purchased in 2009 it’s had at least 2 outings a year. Sometimes it’s used as an extra bedroom when visiting relatives, but we usually do one “proper” camp per year. When visiting relatives the living space isn’t that critical, but when camping it can be a holiday saver.

We can get a folding picnic table in ours along with a couple of chairs, kitchen stuff and various storage bags. If we sling the table outside there’s plenty of room for 4 chairs. We’ve had a few rainy days and the living space came in handy.

For a better night’s sleep or quieter “fidgeting” take a look at the big self-inflating mattresses like the Vango Comfort 10 or Comfort 7.5 which are a revelation after years of blow up beds. Total bitch to roll up and take up a lot of boot space, but best sleep you’ll get in a tent.

Our tent was dwarfed by all the mahoosive Outwell and Easycamp monsters at a few places we’ve been, but packing up 16kg of tent and throwing it in the boot beats killing yourself heaving 50kg of canvas into a trailer.
____________________
2016 CBF1000F - Commuter heaven | 1994 CBR600FR - Awaiting defibrillation

[t121anf]

You may not be in a position to buy now, but Millets have a 15% off deal that ends tonight.

Just bought the footprint for my tent with it.

[Poseidon]

[Robby]

The floorplan pictures make it look like you're building a portable morgue to contain an outbreak of something nasty.

How about a smaller tent for the kids, and a hotel room for you and the wife?

I hate camping.

[Poseidon]

No spirit of adventure in hotel rooms. I love camping... Firing up the little stove to make a brew, frying bacon in the morning and listening to the rain pelting the fabric. It's almost magical.

I think we're pretty much decided on the Vango Avington 600 with an additional awning on the side. Tonnes of living space and it's bright and airy inside too.

https://www.worldofcamping.co.uk/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/l/a/langley-600d.jpg

https://wmcamping.co.uk/uploads/images/Exceed_Side_Awning_Tall.jpg

Of course, that will change as soon as I think about the sleeping arrangements.
____________________
1977 Honda CG125
2002 Ducati Monster S4 (currently restoring)

[stinkwheel]

Neither.

Get a couple of canvas bell tents.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[Poseidon]

[Ariel Badger]

For ease of erection consider an inflatable pole tent, not cheap but worth it IMHO for convenience.
____________________
Bikers make great organ donors, get 115 on your licence today.

[Poseidon]

[G]

I'd keep an eye out secondhand.

Can also get very good or in need of slight repair tents for not much at all on ebay.

Considered a caravan with awning/tent for the kiddies?

Saves hassles with getting stuff set up etc.

If it's one big enough to handle the kids too, can camp for free in the right places - especially easy on the continent.

[weasley]

We recently took our first trip in our new family tent. 4 of us, kids aged 5 and 8. I agonised for ages over the tent and in the end opted for a standard tunnel style. We got a Coleman Da Gama 6 with the front extension, carpet and footprint. We've camped before in smaller tents but this was so much better. Soooo much living space, the wet weather never really bothered us. I chose the tent over many other 6-berths because it has a 3x2-person bedroom layout rather than 2x3-person, meaning each kid gets their own room and we sleep between them. I really wouldn't choose a tent based on the ability to 'fidget' comfortably, as this is either the last thing on your mind or, if not, you'll find time/space.

Our tent has steel poles which are unlikely to break, but make the whole thing heavy and bulky. We use a trailer - I doubt I could get it into a roofbox and it would take up a lot of boot space.

On the same trip my sister and her family had an inflatable tent. We never saw them pitch it but it was down and packed much quicker than ours. It also had a 3x2-person set-up with a large living room and small front porch area. The air beams are chunky units and can be repaired. I would happily have one if we hadn't just got ours. The beams can be inflated by hand or by electric pump, although apparently you need the right adaptor.
____________________
Yamaha XJ600 | Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat | KTM 990 SMT | BMW F900XR TE

[Poseidon]

Thanks folks. It's looking like we'll get the standard type over the vis-a-vis as the bigger and brighter living space is going have more benefit than the ability to sleep further away from the little ones.

As for caravans, or a tent that needs a trailer, the idea of the tent is that it will fit in the boot (we have a zafira) so we don't have to tow anything. Roof box will take various bits and pieces that'll fit. Boot will take the things too bulky for the roof.

Airbeam really does appeal. May have to bung a few quid more into the fund to get a decent sized one.
____________________
1977 Honda CG125
2002 Ducati Monster S4 (currently restoring)

[charlie74]

as an alternative if your still looking, we have been looking at the skandika range of tents, available on amazon/ebay

they get good reports on various camping/touring sites, seem on par with the better quality own brand tents/vango range but come in the old style room set ups

the models we are considering at the nimbus or turin 12man, sounds huge. and pretty much are. but its a handy design 3 separate bedroom "pods" round a central huge dome tent with a porch area too

only obvious downside is that the central area isn't a fully sealed ground sheet

but for a price of under £400 delivered for the turin, its still worth a look

[Poseidon]

Well, today was officially tent day. After a great deal of deliberation, we took what Shaggy said and went for as much living space as we could afford. The tent we bought has a sealed porch, so the living space inside the tent wont be cluttered with cooking gear etc, meaning bags of room for lounging around on those oft rainy British summer days. Managed to get the footprint and a carpet thrown in and a bit of discount on top too. I present you with our new holiday accommodation:

https://www.vango.co.uk/284173-thickbox_default/orava-600xl.jpg

https://www.vango.co.uk/282168-thickbox_default/orava-600xl.jpg

Went for this one as it's extra wide. The 4 person room will take three beds side by side for the kids and it has a seperate double room for the missus and myself. Taking it for a shakedown tomorrow to fit the bedrooms etc and learn how to erect it before we head off for any overnighters.
____________________
1977 Honda CG125
2002 Ducati Monster S4 (currently restoring)

[weasley]

Good choice! Just watch out for the length (oo-er Mrs) as some places charge more for long ones.

I believe you can get a side extension for them too, for when you need motorbike parking a utility room.
____________________
Yamaha XJ600 | Yamaha YZF600R Thundercat | KTM 990 SMT | BMW F900XR TE

[Poseidon]

[i.p.phrealy]

would have gone (and did go for) for the vis a vis tunnel personally. shove the kids up the other end out the way.
____________________
it is impossible to lick your own elbow...
and if you just tried you need professional help.
Finally allowed a big bike 19/03/14!

[Poseidon]

[Poseidon]

Had a go at erecting the tent today. It was a success. Aside from some minor profanities uttered in wifey's direction, followed by some moderate huffing and rolling of eyes at her, it didn't take very long at all.

Minor snag though... There's 3 different types of peg. And no instruction as to where each type should be used. The standard wire peg is in the majority and was put to use all over. But there are a few wire pegs that are a bit shorter with a complete loop on the head, rather than the bent over hook design. No idea what these ones would be for. Finally there's about 8 half round u-pegs. Uber strung jobbies that really dig into the ground (pic below). If anyone has any experience with a vango tent and can offer advice on which pegs go where, I'd be very grateful to you. Failing that, I'll fire off an email to vango and see what they say (there's no instructions of which pegs go where).

Pic of u-pegs
https://www.campingworld.co.uk/Images/Models/Full/187.jpg
____________________
1977 Honda CG125
2002 Ducati Monster S4 (currently restoring)

[Evil Hans]

Good choice of tent ... vertical main door with a built in canopy saves so much rain and crap getting in!

I have a Nadina 600 which is similar. We use the wide pegs for the major pegging points on the tent (the ones with the webbing straps) , the standard ones for the guys - the numbers seem to match up then! Not sure about the loopy pegs? But probably for pegging down the other bits of the tent - like the bottom of the poles. Push them into the metal loops?

Let us know how you get on!
____________________
Triumph Sprint ST 1050. And it's Red.

[Poseidon]