Should I just buy a tent ?
Discussion
I’m looking into camping at this years moto gp, I had found someone who will deliver a caravan and set it up except Silverstone don’t allow this you have to use there preferred supplier who is full booked.
I have looked into Motorhomes but it seems £900 is the going rate for 3 days. So I have started to look at tents, specifically air beams. The question is what’s a reasonable amount to spend on a tent and what else are the essentials needed,
I have looked into Motorhomes but it seems £900 is the going rate for 3 days. So I have started to look at tents, specifically air beams. The question is what’s a reasonable amount to spend on a tent and what else are the essentials needed,
The mondeo is big enough to sleep in, I think up to £600 is reasonable for the time of year but tickets and camping alone are £550.
I’ve been offered a Mazda Bongo for £550 but i’d rather sleep in the car and it would probably be cheaper to buy one and sell it afterwards. I’ve even toyed with the idea of buying a camper and renting it out myself
I’ve been offered a Mazda Bongo for £550 but i’d rather sleep in the car and it would probably be cheaper to buy one and sell it afterwards. I’ve even toyed with the idea of buying a camper and renting it out myself
Is it just yourself? Do you want to cook or will you be 'fast-fooding-it' all weekend?
We toyed with renting a camper to see if we liked it. At the time, renting one equated to 15% of our budget - so we just bought one. Seven years later not regretted the purchase at all.
I have tried sleeping in a car for a few nights whilst touring Europe. I was younger at the time - but it was the worst few nights of sleep I have had - and we eventually slept during the day in a park for a couple of hours! (don't ask, we were young.....
). It might ruin the weekend.
Why do you fancy an airbeam? Ease of construction?
We toyed with renting a camper to see if we liked it. At the time, renting one equated to 15% of our budget - so we just bought one. Seven years later not regretted the purchase at all.
I have tried sleeping in a car for a few nights whilst touring Europe. I was younger at the time - but it was the worst few nights of sleep I have had - and we eventually slept during the day in a park for a couple of hours! (don't ask, we were young.....
). It might ruin the weekend.Why do you fancy an airbeam? Ease of construction?
Air beam would be as you mentioned ease of assembly, at the moment i've found another motorhome for £750 for 5 nights which i'm tempted by. Breakfast will be cooked in the van, takeout for everything else. I was going for electric hook up but it looks like its pointless as its only 8 amps and won't boil a kettle. You cannot even take wine bottles in ....
I've hired one of these now
http://www.elddis.co.uk/elddis/autoquest/autoquest...
£750 for up to 5 nights, it comes with a bike rack, awning and gas, no hidden extras. I just need to book the campsite now. Its between Woodlands and Litchlake farm now.
http://www.elddis.co.uk/elddis/autoquest/autoquest...
£750 for up to 5 nights, it comes with a bike rack, awning and gas, no hidden extras. I just need to book the campsite now. Its between Woodlands and Litchlake farm now.
Tents are very good and not very expensive, better night's sleep than a car or race trailer, easy to do decent cooking in the back of a car, and you can have a good mattress. Before now I've even taken a big lead acid battery to run phone chargers etc from to save flattening the car doing a week at Great Dorset with freinds. I've never had an issue putting up a any tent, I've also grown up with it, but I'm sure anyone could do it.
However you can also rent a camper and we've toyed with this but not yet done it.
I'm sure you can hide a bottle of wine or four?
Daniel
However you can also rent a camper and we've toyed with this but not yet done it.
I'm sure you can hide a bottle of wine or four?
Daniel
stevemcs said:
Air beam would be as you mentioned ease of assembly, at the moment i've found another motorhome for £750 for 5 nights which i'm tempted by. Breakfast will be cooked in the van, takeout for everything else. I was going for electric hook up but it looks like its pointless as its only 8 amps and won't boil a kettle. You cannot even take wine bottles in ....
A 1kW kettle will work on 8 amps. Our tent takes about 20 minutes to put up and take down between the two of us (see picture in previous post). This includes putting electric in, setting up a cupboards with crockery/ cutlery etc, electrics, blow up sofa and airbed. So don't be too worried about using a cheaper, traditional tent.
I suppose it also depends if you are trying to save money or money no object? There are quite a few accessories you will want to buy if camping in a tent too, so the price of the tent is not the only concern. Lights, camping stove, gas, electric hook-up, fridge (or powered cool box), airbeds, crockery, seating, pumps etc all add to the costs - and if for only one weekend you might be better going the camper rental route with everything provided.
Can you take a wine box in??
Mike
I’ve had motorhomes for years some very large ones down to the smallest being a VW , but as we have got older we sold the large motorhomes because of the costs, then bought a VW but found that too cramped so now we are back into tents.
Having had both Air Beam and pole tents, I now prefer a tent with poles.
The reasons being Pole tents are just as quick to put up as air, poles are much more secure and solid in strong winds.
Air Beam tents are quick to put up depends on the size but our Vango Galli on the VW took about 30 pumps on each beam.
The biggest problem for me was actually getting all the air out properly to get it folded up and back into it’s bag as they are a really tight fit..
All the best for what you decide to buy.
Having had both Air Beam and pole tents, I now prefer a tent with poles.
The reasons being Pole tents are just as quick to put up as air, poles are much more secure and solid in strong winds.
Air Beam tents are quick to put up depends on the size but our Vango Galli on the VW took about 30 pumps on each beam.
The biggest problem for me was actually getting all the air out properly to get it folded up and back into it’s bag as they are a really tight fit..
All the best for what you decide to buy.
If you think you will use the tent again, it would be a better idea to probably spend a bit more but Vango make decent tents at various price points including Airbeam. The defacto choice for beginners would be something like the Icarus 500. I'm not a fan of fiberglass poles but that was due to some extreme weather in Skye which resulted in a reasonably expensive Outwell tent going in the bin. Robens tents are all alloy poles AFAIK so if the budget will stretch, they would be a good start. My Airbeam is easy enough to put up (solo) and as alluded to above, they can be a pain to expel all the air out to fit it in the bag but it's doable. I think Aldi have an air tent on special this week.
When it comes to sizing, as a general rule add one person to the size rating so if there are two people, get a three person tent.
Get a decent mat (Alpkit, Vango, Mountain Equipment, Thermarest) and a 3 season bag. I recommend 3 seasons, simply because if it's too hot, open the zip but for general UK use, a 3 season bag should cover you for all but the most extreme of conditions.
Decathlon, GoOutdoors would be a good place to start. GoOutdoors usually have their tents on display outside so you can walk around them and get a feel for the space and quality of construction.
When it comes to sizing, as a general rule add one person to the size rating so if there are two people, get a three person tent.
Get a decent mat (Alpkit, Vango, Mountain Equipment, Thermarest) and a 3 season bag. I recommend 3 seasons, simply because if it's too hot, open the zip but for general UK use, a 3 season bag should cover you for all but the most extreme of conditions.
Decathlon, GoOutdoors would be a good place to start. GoOutdoors usually have their tents on display outside so you can walk around them and get a feel for the space and quality of construction.
Edited by Blink982 on Wednesday 26th June 02:29
Blink982 said:
.... defacto choice for beginners would be something like the Icarus 500....
.... if there are two people, get a three person tent....
....Get a decent mat (Alpkit, Vango, Mountain Equipment, Thermarest) and a 3 season bag. ...
... GoOutdoors usually have their tents on display outside so you can walk around them and get a feel for the space and quality of construction.
Cant fault any of that. I've got a Alpha 300 which must be getting on for ten years old (link to what I have below, later version seems to be out now) only used on average maybe one twice a year, more earlier when I was single and going to various car/boat events but less these days with project house and gf, for the price point you cant fault it at all, genuinely amazed they can make it for the money..... if there are two people, get a three person tent....
....Get a decent mat (Alpkit, Vango, Mountain Equipment, Thermarest) and a 3 season bag. ...
... GoOutdoors usually have their tents on display outside so you can walk around them and get a feel for the space and quality of construction.
With the mat, don't get a 'elite' or 'premium' on the assumption its better, as usually these are the more compact versions, which if you slinging it all in a car to go mini-glamping then its not what you want. Pick a nice quality 50-75mm thick version. Often we then take the feather duvet and pillows off the bed if we have the space.
Used Icarus 500 linky (£190)
https://www.ebay.co.uk/i/173935123516
Vango 300 linky (£35 old version, new version about £60)
https://www.campingworld.co.uk/en/Vango-Alpha-300-...
Daniel
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