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Quote: Originally posted by force ten on 11/8/2008

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ther biggest beginers mistake is buying the wrong tent, after your first trip you always come back saying I want an outwell out of this world or a vango vandango

   

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Lol - my sentiments exactly!

Just had our first trip out this past weekend. All went quite smoothly thank goodness, but just don't forget your wellies....!!

This thread had me in stitches....

My advise would be to get to your campsite before sunset, not much fun erecting a tent in the dark.

Quote: Originally posted by force ten on 11/8/2008

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ther biggest beginers mistake is buying the wrong tent, after your first trip you always come back saying I want an outwell out of this world or a vango vandango

   

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Didn't happen to me thank God, but did to my mate - when you pack your tent, make sure you've got the poles!

Hard to improvise that one away!

Not our first tieme out but this time we forgot to tax the car and had to turn round go home and start again - added 2hrs to journey but we had set off first thing so got there before tea time. (just after taxing it we did go through a police check area so very glad we remembered all-be-it late)

We packed tent in middle of the back seat between the girls so we could get at it as soon as we arrived - poles pegs and mallet last thing packed in boot.

The first time we put our tent up we had a practice run, we took it to my parents house as thier back garden is fairly big with no obstructions like washing line posts or trees..

We get the instructions out and read them carefully following every single step, we have the tent up in no time and all looks well.

We sat down for a cuppa and to admire our new tent in all its glory.. i read the instructions again just to be sure and i see.....    Insert the pins of the pin pegging system..

Hmm.. what pins, what pin pegging system?? 

We agreed not to worry about it as the tent looked great, stable and big enough for what we wantedit for..

So... our first trip with the tent... we arrive at the site at around teatime, we put the tent up and set it all up with sleeping bags, inflatable beds etc.. we have something to eat and drink and then we go to the showers and get ready to go to the pub on the site.. we had a great night in the pub and staggered out around 1am.. Made it back to the tent, went inside, got in the sleeping bags and went to sleep..

We got up the next morning and had breakfast, got ourselves ready and headed out for the day.. when we come back there was a group of people stood next to our tent and the tent was flat!!!

We decided to take a walk around the site and check out several other similiar tents to see what we had done wrong and... yep, you guessd it.. the pin pegging system was more important than we thought!! 

Quote: Originally posted by baymaster on 13/8/2008

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Pot noodle's and dry socks - you cant go wrong......

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lol what a great thread

We have been camping for a few years now and I have a list on the computer which I print off everytime (how sad am I) and usually don't forget anything.

Our last trip in May my husband had packed the laptop before I did my print out, I thought its okay I know what I'm doing.

Go there, set up tent etc hadn't forgot anything....... until we went to bed and I had forgotten to pack PJ's for myself and my husband, ah well I thought thats only minor until I realised I had forgotten to pack any underwear aswell!!!  Fortunately there was a town close by and we bought pants.

As said in previous messages, buy a decent tent, to did loads of research before we purchased ours and became complete tent anoraks we eventually settled on a Vango Colorado 600DLX and we practiced putting it up beforehand - pin and ring system... sorted and understood!   We don't have a SIG but the bedroom pods do, we have never had a problem so far.............

We keep adding to the quantity of things we take each time we go, this trips addition (if we go in this weather) is a utility tent for cooking and doubt we will be able to cook outside at the moment.... ah well I'm hopeful

If you are looking to change your tent to a new quality tunnel 2-3 berth tent, please look at my advert placed on 8/8/08 for a Sprayway Valley 4

I had it erected in the garden to verify it did not leak, and was looking forward to using it, but the family rejected my proposed return to tenting.

In an earlier posting it was mentioned that this kind of tent is not for overnighting, I wholeheartedly agree, but when erected it provides a great base.