The Camping Forum

[virus]

Hi everybody, i have been a camper for a few years now and my small family has grown over time. I have a vango diablo 600 at present but last summer found it was too small for my family of 6. I have decided to but a new tent this year but i am stuck on what to buy. It is a toss up between the outwell arkansas 7 and the hartford xxl. I have read mixed reviews about both tents, but i thought i would ask you guys as i am very open minded about both tents and would like to know the pro's and con's for the 2 of them.
many thanks Neil....

[merlin1973]

Hi Neil

Welcome to the forum

We are a family of six and have a Hartford XXL with Canopy.
This tent is superb for what we need. The bedrooms have a high ceiling and using airbeds have morethan enough room for two and the usuall debris the kids bring with them and we then have one spare for all the bags, the main thing we like is that with the littleones and us seperated into different pods there is more privacy and they do not disturb each other as much.

The living space in the middle is airy and bright and has lots of room (we have had 13 in on a rainy day). The sewn in ground sheet keeps everything wind and bug free. I would always suggest the canopy as this means that you have plenty of room to sit outside when it is raining and can also have the door open when it is raining without the tent getting wet inside, we also use the canopy to house the cooker (i know you shouldn't).

We had our first season with the tent last year and found it easy to put up (2 of us - 45 mins) and when packed away it actually fits back in the bag. At Shell island las year we had a day and night of thunderstorms with torrential rain and winds gusting to 45mph and we had no leaks and everything stayed put.
I have included some pics.


I love this tent and will struggle when it eventually comes to the end of its life to find a replacement.
I did have an issue with a couple of poles breaking early on its life but after consulting with Outwell they decided there may have been a problem with my one pole and they sent me a full replacement set and i have had no problems since.
Well thats my opinion on my tent, i cant vouch for the Arkansas 7 as i have never had one but as it is an outwell tent it will be good, it's just a matter of what you want and need.

[virus]

Thanks for the info on the hartford xxl it does look like the kind of tent i need.
The two bad things i read about it was the poles breaking and how long it took to put up but to be honest it looks pretty straight forward to me. Defo going to get the canopy if i get this tent aswell as the footprint and the carpet.
Once again MANY THANKS........

[merlin1973]

The secret to putting up the tent is a sweeping brush.

The centre of the tent is very high and if the person going in to the tent to push the poles up, uses a brush to push them that little bit higher then there is no strain on the poles and the tent flies up.

We have the footprint, canopy and carpet and can be boiling the kettle within 45 minutes so i dont think it would be too bad.
Get one and come to our campout this year

[Andy]

Hi everybody, i have been a camper for a few years now and my small family has grown over time. I have a vango diablo 600 at present but last summer found it was too small for my family of 6. I have decided to but a new tent this year but i am stuck on what to buy. It is a toss up between the outwell arkansas 7 and the hartford xxl. I have read mixed reviews about both tents, but i thought i would ask you guys as i am very open minded about both tents and would like to know the pro's and con's for the 2 of them.
many thanks Neil....

Best advice you can give anyone looking for a new tent.

Check both out on display at local store/yeomans display event/show whichever is an option.

Its also well worth asking the sales person to show you both models in a packed up state. usually they will just pull one from from stock. Don't be afraid to ask them to place them one at a time in the boot of your car especially with the larger tents.. as you need to worry about how much space that will take.

Yeomans are usally good for displays as they usually put furniture in the tents which allows you to see what usable space is available. (well are local one has done in the past that is) but again if they have not. you can always ask they place table and chairs or anything else they have on display. The space always seems larger than it is when empty.

Good luck

[merlin1973]

Its also well worth asking the sales person to show you both models in a packed up state. usually they will just pull one from from stock. Don't be afraid to ask them to place them one at a time in the boot of your car especially with the larger tents.. as you need to worry about how much space that will take.

This is very good advice ....

These tents are big and heavy when packed up so be prepared.

[virus]

thanks for all your advice people. i am defo going for the hartford xxl with all the extras, just need to find the best deal on the web.
once again many thanks....

[Andy]

thanks for all your advice people. i am defo going for the hartford xxl with all the extras, just need to find the best deal on the web.
once again many thanks....

Just had a quick google. those offering 2010 models wont have stock yet. mid febuary to mid march. those with 2009 stock although they show in stock they may not have.. age old sales ploy get the call sorry all sold now can i interest you in the slightly more expensive 2010 model? we can pre order for you..

http://www.worldofcamping.co.uk/shop/ou ... _2010__905

£469 tent only

http://www.outdoorworlddirect.co.uk/aca ... rdxxl.html

£459 tent only

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Outwell-Hartford- ... 2a04758d23

Second hand on ebay £400 with Canopy (2007 model so pretty high price for age!)

http://www.camperlands.co.uk/store/outw ... 017-0.html

£433 tent only


http://www.megacheapspecials.co.uk/prod ... XL_TENT_Y9

£399 tent only (2009 model still new just last years design. not sure if their were any changes this year?)

http://www.outdooraction.co.uk/acatalog ... 2009_.html

£424 tent only (2009 model again)

[merlin1973]

found this if it helps

http://www.outdoormegastore.co.uk/acata ... _Tent.html

Tent XXL 2010 model 469.99
Front Extension 84.99
Internal Carpet 89.99
Footprint Groundsheet 47.99

[virus]

Me again guys n gals, right a am getting my hartford xxl in a couple of weeks. What i want to know now is, is there any difference between the 2009 model and the 2010 model including footprint, carpet and extension, why i ask is because the 2009 model is a little cheaper but if the new model has any extras then i will go for the newer.

many thanks, neil.