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After many viewings, we've decided that our plan of buying a cheap camper for overnighters wont be happening (for what we could afford, £6-7k, it was all trash). But the thing that puts us off a tent is the whole hassle of putting them up and more importantly taking down again.
We have a Discovery commercial so loads of space to carry kit and not too fussed about the packed size
So, spec is:
2 people on fishing bedchairs
Fast / Instant erect and take down again
Hopefully a small awning/cover
Hopefully be able to stand up(ish)
WHYG?
In no particular order; 5m Bell tent / Trailer tent / Caravan / Boat & learn to sail.
Have a look at the Decathlon one. if its not over the van you can attach a tent
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/la-air-base-connect-fresh-id_8561168.html
Got one for our daughter for when she isn't with us and she rates it
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Yeah, I'm always considering a van but it seems a massive investment.
We inherited a trailer tent (Conway Challenger) and that seems to work well. We just use the cooking/sleeping space when we go away for weekends and it's up in maybe 10-15 mins.
If we go away for a week we use the awning.
All the camping gear can be left in it so no need to pack car. Lot's around secondhand.
Mick
Roof tent on the Disco. Easy to put up/take down + space in the back to sit when its pissing down. Add in a tarp type awning/sun-shade thing and you've got somewhere to sit out/cook etc.
Roof tent +1
I don't have a Disco though So have a Decathlon Pop-up tent. Just a small one so there's no way you'd get more than a standard airbed in there, but it does fulfill the requirement of being able to park up somewhere and be asleep in <10 minutes, and was ~£30. It's quick enough to throw up and pack down that I've never never been spotted "wild" camping with it. Drive somewhere after work on a Friday, arrive 11 ish, sleep, pack up as soon as I'm awake, swim in a lake for a wash, bacon sarnie on the beach with the trangia, park car somewhere, day spent riding in the Lake district, repeat somewhere else the next evening.
Yep, the bigger/better pop-up tents that the likes of Decathlon do are great. Think they're just refreshing for new season as they've all gone from their website. We've had a 3-man one for ages that's still great for festivals or a couple of us overnight.
Else the smaller end of airbeam tents are worth a look - I can get our big 6-man Vango one up in under 10 minutes easily single-handed. Footprint down, peg out corners, inflate beams, peg out the rest. Bit longer to take down just for being careful to ensure beams empty properly and everything folds away nicely back into the bag.
Take a look at the Berghaus Air 4 (there's always sales at Millets/Blacks to bring the price down), Eurohike Air 400 as a budget option, Vango/Outwell/Coleman do several depending on how you like your living space and front canopy,
A cot tent. Folds flat, and erect in seconds.
I use an Australian version of this. It's comfortable (I've camped for 3 months in a row in one)
Surely a caravan is the answer here?
Whatever the answer is, I'm pretty sure its not that atrocity posted 1 reply up ^
Coleman air Valdes 4, easy enough to put up on your own and plenty of room.
To echo Tracey and TINAS the Decathlon Quechua tents are brilliant, we got an Air Seconds 4.1 last year when they were on sale (significantly cheaper!) and can't praise it enough. The blackout works well and keeps it cool in the summer. Nice to see the van awnings are back on sale again.
Surely a caravan is the answer here?
Not a bad shout but last I checked the adventure campers are usually well over budget unless you get lucky.
Whatever the answer is, I’m pretty sure its not that atrocity posted 1 reply up ^
Conversely I saw that and thought it was a brilliant idea for solo car camping! Solves all the usual problems like camping on shingle/slate, or in car parks where you just want. Like a roof tent, without the need to mount it on a roof!
IMO you really need a decent tent so you do actually enjoy using it. this normally means more space than you think you need & metal framed* (Robens tents are great but expensive) so it really stays put if your'e thinking of using it in this country, once practiced it only takes 2 competent people 10 minutes to put up & slightly less to take down if you don't need to clean it up, if you do then the extra time depends on your OCD.
*disclaimer, I also have a new family sized metal framed tent for sale.
Look at Tuff Trek roof tents.
I have one on the disco 2 - takes 5 mins to set up and take down
You leave your gear in the disco sleep on the roof!
Hope alls well
IMO you really need a decent tent so you do actually enjoy using it. this normally means more space than you think you need & metal framed* (Robens tents are great but expensive) so it really stays put if your’e thinking of using it in this country, once practiced it only takes 2 competent people 10 minutes to put up & slightly less to take down if you don’t need to clean it up, if you do then the extra time depends on your OCD.
I don't disagree, although the OP didn't clarify whether it was intended to be a tent to just sleep in overnight and not hang around in (i.e. unobtrusive and lightning quick to put up and pack away). Or tents for 1-2 nights at a campsite, in which case it may as well be as big as you can practically fit in the car.
You could have a look here: https://www.khyam.co.uk/
They seem to be quick to go up.
I have no experience of them.
Rooftent for sleeping plus 270 Awning (with as many sides as you want) for living/cooking in?
Or convert the Discovery!!
https://www.landyonline.co.za/specs/discovery3_camper.htm
Inflatable tent? We have an inflatable awning and it really does save a load of time. But fundamentally tents are a faff, this is their main disadvantage. All three options - tent, caravan, campervan - have their pros and cons. Tent camping can be made easier by going for all the collapsable furniture etc - beds, kitchen, decent chairs and tables, wardrobe etc which it sounds like you could carry. Get over to Go Outdoors.
£6k gets you a really nice caravan tho, just sayin.
I bought a Kodiak tent (10ftx10ft) for $429 with a sale that was going on (orig $550). I'm not sure what the opinion is on this spec, but I'm very happy with the purchase. The tent is a different breed of tent, much more sturdy and rugged, but then that comes at an added cost of weight.
All very promising, but thinking the roof tent is the favorite idea so far - we like being able to show up and disappear as quick and easy as possible - have to see what the deal is with roof bars - we did a 'conversion' which works well but can be a bit cramped with all our gear and not ideal in the rain
thisisnotaspoon
Conversely I saw that and thought it was a brilliant idea for solo car camping! Solves all the usual problems like camping on shingle/slate, or in car parks where you just want. Like a roof tent, without the need to mount it on a roof!
Exactly why I have one. It's purely for sleeping in. Takes up virtually no space, especially when compared to a tent + folding bed. And they are comfortable.
We sold our campervan because it was too cumbersome. The amount of space taken up for sleeping really cuts back on the quality of the space for daytime stuff. I reckon a Transit sized dayvan and a pull out plus with a couple of these would be just as good as the 3.5t campervan we had, and a whole lot less money depreciating away.
I just wish it was lighter so I could strap it on a cargo bike and go bike-glamping. 🙂
I just wish it was lighter so I could strap it on a cargo bike and go bike-glamping. 🙂
I have a decathlon 2-person pop-up for that, it's just a bit of a faff when faces with the average gravel car park.
You could have a look here: https://www.khyam.co.uk/
They seem to be quick to go up.
I have no experience of them.
I had a Khyam quick erect awning and actually getting it up was quicker than the Vango air awning I replaced it with. Pegging it out felt like it took hours in comparison... And while it was a big awning, packed up it was still massive. And heavy.
I would look at pop up tents if the fast set up is your top priority
https://wildproofgear.com/best-pop-up-tent/
-Big entry openings perfect for bring stuff in and taking stuff out
-Includes rain fly (though haven’t had rain so can’t speak to its performance)
-Includes stakes (didn’t use these either since it’s pretty well weighed down)
-Back and front entries perfect for airing out, ventilation / circulation, and easy access
-Very lightweight and easy to take with you (not the most important for for a can camping but useful still)
After years in campervans and borrowed tents the only one I've been persuaded to buy is the Decathlon air seconds.
genuinely pitched in 5 mins and the blackout is a revelation. Not seen anything better for the money to date.
An inflatable roof tent?
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/rooftop-tent-van-500-fresh-black-2-p/_/R-p-313004
An inflatable roof tent?
From the photos it looks like it needs to be emptied and removed between each use.
So basically you are trying to put up an inflatable tent as you usually would, but with the added challenge of balancing on the top of a van.
Plus added wind and flappyness whilst trying to sleep.
Struggling to see what bizarre set of circumstances would make this useful, other than lions, which are rare in Europe.
Our bell tent is awesome. Flies up easier than any other tent we've used. It's even converted the misses as it's one big space rather than small sleeping rooms as she gets claustrophobic.
Also got a converted t4 for surf trips with the boy so got all bases covered.
Of you want luxury at the expense of more fuel, slower journey and less campsite choice (not that many but many of the best) caravan.
All of the above but a step down in comfort but still good, trailer tent.
Speedy set up blow up or pop up tent. Go big if you want loads of space and cook inside, small and lighter quicker if you're happy to cook outside.
Want to seem bad ass pretending you're crossing the serengeti climbing a ladder to bed still be cooking outside and lose access to some campsites. Get a a roof tent.
I’ve always wanted one of these, with a stove for winter trips. Single pole means it should go up quickly
Holy thread resurrection...
I’m not sure why somebody brought this back but we ended up going for a roof tent - has its pro’s and cons but been working well for us...
Nice one Danni bit nippy at the mo in that 🙂
Love our bell tent, but it’s 40kg and a pain if it gets wet the last day as there’s nowhere to dry it here, have had to just go camping the next weekend to dry it properly before! Pitched size can be an issue, 7m diameter with guys, too big for many pitches unless you leave the car off site.
That said, as a base for one or two weeks it’s marvellous- we often do the two Easter weeks in Cataluña where it can be freezing the first week and 30C the next, if easter falls early in the year.
Otherwise, there’s a well used and tatty 5 man Force Ten lives in the back of the van for shorter trips.
unless you leave the car off site.
All the best campsites require this