Posts filed under 'Camping Tips'

Tents, Caravans and Motorhomes

Tents, Caravans and Motorhomes
By Johan Nickson

When camping the tent pitching process is often a source of amusement, agitation and argument. Screaming children, complaining wife and the dog going wild. All this usually happens within a fore nine gale. A recent development in camping equipment is the pop up tent. These tent are sprung so when you open the bag, it flicks into place leaving you the easy job of attaching it to the floor with a couple of pegs. Couldn’t be easier.

Luckily most self-erecting tents of the dome type are extremely strong, and in fact are among the strongest tents you can buy in terms of being able to withstand high winds and other bad weather. Another important consideration is the size of the pop up tent. Depending on the size of your tent, you probably only you need about a 10 x 10 foot area of relatively clear ground, which we can make here very easily. You may need to replace tent poles which appear weakened or even visibly cracked. Some pop up tents are three season tents, and are not suitable for extremely wet weather. Take some time to do a little research of the various model and you are sure to find a pop up tent to suit your needs from the many tent suppliers on the market.

Personally I am a caravan fan, as they are ready for almost any weather even in the winter season. Caravans are a lot more comfortable than a tent. However the added luxury comes at the price of convenience and portability. For instance you could take a small two person tent with you in a back pack, and cycle to your destination. I have yet to find a caravan than you can fit on your back.

Another advantage of the tent is storage. Storing your caravan can be a difficult task, if you don’t have a driveway, as most garages are not tall enough for a caravan to fit into. A tent you can just place into your attic when not in use. Many caravans however contain, cookers and showers, or at least a sink. This makes life easier in my opinion.

Last but by no means least we are left with the motor home, or Winnebago as the Americans like to call them. The Term Winnebago is actually a brand of Vehicles, not a type. However they have become so associated to the type of vehicle the name tend to apply to all these types. Much like the term ‘Hoover’ in the UK.

The Motor home takes the idea of a caravan and mates it with a bus. Basically, a caravan with and engine and steering wheel. The added advantage is you don’t need a car. The down side is that they are usually much more expensive than a caravan.

I believe there will always be room for both of these Great British institutions, on and off the camp site. For many people married with children a tent is possibly a horrible prospect, a caravan makes for usually a much nicer holiday in these situations. A group of lads on camping trip would undoubtabily prefer a tent, I suppose it’s the grubbiness of sleeping out in a field.

Gordan Warre is a Caravan expert, who has been in the trade for 25 years. Johan uses a Touring Caravans and Caravan Storage

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Johan_Nickson
http://EzineArticles.com/?Tents,-Caravans-and-Motorhomes&id=1089205

Add comment April 7th, 2008

Pitching your tent sucesfully

Before pitching your tent, be sure to read and understand the instructions that came with your tent. Familiarize yourself with all parts of your tent before proceeding. Once you have all parts set out and ready to assemble, follow the guidelines carefully in the instruction manual.
Choose a suitable site for your tent. A level grassy area is best. Start by clearing the area where the tent will be located. Remove twigs, branches, broken glass or anything that could damage your tent. Begin setup by rolling out or unfolding the tent. Lay out your poles in the proper areas. Be careful not to step on the poles as this can bend or break the poles. Stake one corner of the tent and proceed to the opposite corner. Pull tent taught, but do no stretch tent. The tent floor needs to be able to flex and you should not get this too tight. Proceed to the remaining corners and stake these. After all corners are staked, stake all other loops being careful not to stretch to tightly. Now you are ready to install all the supporting poles. Follow your instruction guide to assemble as required. Be careful not to stretch the tent to tightly when extending the poles as damage to tent loops and fabric can be damaged. Open your tent and look it over to make sure everything is setup correctly. Now enjoy your new tent and follow these tips to make every camping trip a success.

  • Always find the most level and softest area to setup your tent.
  • Clean area to prvent damage to tent floor.
  • Never stretch to tightly the floor or walls as this may result in damage.
  • Always use all stake loops.
  • Always use guy wires if included with your tent.
  • It is preferable to use your rain fly if so equipped, this protects against sudden storms and provides tent with shade.

    Complete selection of camping tents

    Add comment April 7th, 2008

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