Best family tent

http://www.exploroz.com/Forum/Default.aspx?s=1&ky=family%20tent

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As posted by Scott above, that link certainly contains some excellent discussions already posted here on that subject which will be useful to you.
One thing I will say is to question whether putting everyone together in 1 tent is ideal for everyone. A you'll read in some of the links, most people (ourselves included) find its better to have 2-3 tents/swags for 5 people. We have a family of 4 - kids are 11 & 15. We have an OzTent RV4 with all the side panels and the Tagalong OzTent which connects to add another room (cheaper than buying 2x OzTents) but keeps a central area for storage etc. We put the 11 yr old into the TagAlong. We put the 15 yr old in a Boab double dome swag which she loves! We also setup a gazebo. This is for static camping however. When active camping - moving daily its 3x swags (plus ground sheets) and we usually still bring along the OzTent for backup (or a sense of luxury!)
Good luck. As others have said before, every family is different and the choice is yours.

Its always good to separate yourselves from the teenagers - give them their own tent and they can look after it :-)

I am.looking at Darche AT6 pump up tent.Easy peasy to put up ,strong pvc floor ,plenty of ventilation includes ceiling vent stops condensation at night 2 rooms plus awning just google it. Good luck with your choice.

Hi tracey, another reason to consider two smaller tents is that some campsites can be a bit irregular or sqeezie for one large tent. We have a tent by 'outdoor connection' . It was cheap by comparison, fabulously well designed (including the bag it comes in), and has survived numerous trips of various conditions. When choosing your tent consider also what size they are when packed as this may affect your ability to transport it along with your other camping gear. There is one brand i know of that folds down into a long cigar shape which lends itself to being carried on a roof rack rather than in the boot of a car. Happy camping.

2 tents are better than 1 for a number of reasons.

Easier to put up/ pull down; the kids can do their own, rather than Dad getting stuck with doing everything (.... yes, I was that Dad)

Easier to fit in the vehicle; you can pack the tents around stuff, rather than having to pack everything around the 1 big tent bag. They are also lighter to move to and from the vehicle. I have a 6 man tent, it is a 2 man lift and is in a bag about the size and weight of a punching bag. It doesn't get out much.

Easier to arrange the camp to fit the site. Not all camp sites will fit a big tent and have the vehicle near by, you have more ability to rearrange things with a smaller tent. If the teenage kids don't want to come/have a better offer and you have the 8 year-old along, then leave 1 tent at home.

Separation from the kids; they can chat and giggle 1/2 the night, while you can get some sleep.

Redundancy; Not having all your eggs in 1 basket so to speak, if 1 tent gets damaged, then you can all pile into the other one, or canabilise bits to make 1 serviceable.

Easier to sell if camping isn't for you; not many want a 2nd hand 8 man tent, but 3 or 4 man tents are easier to move on.

I have a roof top tent (a whole new discussion topic, lets not go there), an awning to cook under and swags for the kids.

Hi Tracey, we have a similar family. 15 girl, 13 and 10 boys. We bought a Blackwolf 300 Turbo Plus years ago which has been a fantastic tent and served us well. We are now looking at selling the Blackwolfe (if I can tear myself away from it) and replacing with an Oztent 4 or 5 and a couple of swags (like Michelle said). The Blackwolfe is not a huge tent, but the older kids need their own space now. I would not have believed it if you had told me I would be doing this years. Another thing is have a look at other people's set ups. I have seen people with the Oztrail Gazebos and a couple of smaller dome tents sent up around the gazebo. This is a cheaper option and if it's not right for you then you haven't spent a heap of money. Enjoy the research, it's fun!! Nicole

I agree with those who have suggested separate tents. Kids grow up, don't want to go with you or want to go camping with friends or school. Having a smaller tent that they are familiar with is a handy thing to have. I also agree with a central gazebo setup, I use a Coleman instant up shade/screen thingy with awnings on every side. Keeps the bugs out. Not everyone enjoys camping so no use buying the Taj Mahal on spec. I see plenty of kids in those instant pop up tents while the parents are in a better quality setup. The pop ups are light and literally go up in 10 seconds.