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As I have said many times before the only way is a big Volvo estate ... however we have had to add a trailer for this season !!

Quote: Originally posted by dezzie on 06/1/2011

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Its good that folks have got their own ways of getting cars packed, but just be aware that if its overloaded its no longer safe and also its breaking the law. Last year there were reports on here of the police on one of the Motorways (The M4 I think?) pulling over badly packed cars! I've seen some very badly packed cars over the years and the results can be the difference between life and death. Something landing on you at 50mph upwards can and more than likely will kill you - especially a child. So just remember to be safe! Its not worth trying to squeeze things in that arent absolutely essential. If you dont have the space or the need for it, just leave it behind.

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Quote: Originally posted by tinny001 on 05/1/2011

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We have a edrde 122 trailer with homemade high sides and abs lid,

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Would love to see how you combined the high sides with the abs lid - bought a erde 142 with abs lid and could still do with more room!!!!

Any pics?

Our camping set-up partly reflects the vehicle being used and how it can be loaded. Basically rather than packing being a matter of getting everything into the car, the camping set up has been chosen to fit the vehicle. We've camped using an old mini before now, but now there is 3 of us our vehicles are a bit bigger.

Normally we use the Volvo V40 and I have a restriction imposed by the OH and safety concerns of not packing above the top of the rear seats and having nothing that could slip sideways on one half of the rear seat. If possible we like to still use the boot cover so that things aren't on display.

For weekends and touring we use the Kampa Bude 4 (plus Rock Springs 4 overnighter - optional) with the compact camping set up that can't be added to unless it meets the loading requirements above. For a quick pitch it is ready packed in a wheeled crate and dry bags/holdalls anyway and only unpacked as needed at the other end once in the tent. The back seat has only the tent and bedding dry bag sat alongside each other, wedged by the cool box in the footwell.

For longer stays we use the Vango Columbia 600 and the Daxara trailer and V40's boot, but we have still a relatively compact set up compared to some I've seen on the forum - i.e. no wardrobes, kitchen units, windbreaks etc. Toys, buckets, spades, body boards and wet suits tend to be the bulk adding items. Surprisingly the car boot has the same stuff in it as for the weekend set up - as its all core and fits to a tee - with only the addition of the Coleman double stove unit which we don't want shaken around too much. The tent and rest fits in the trailer with only a holdall and the bedding dry-bag again on the back seat if we have all the beach holiday extras with us. The back seat is clear otherwise.

I do have another loading challenge - the vintage soft-top Landrover that we take on vehicle rallies. Here our camping set up has to all fit in a lockable wicker hamper in the back. So then its the Coleman Rock Springs 4 tent, footprint, tarp, airbeds, pump, bedding bag, picnic rucksack/coolbag, picnic blanket, one small holdall for clothes, folding bucket with UFO light, head torches, emergency kit (in pencil case) etc and the cook bag (a digital camera bag that holds 2 solid fuel stoves, 2 mini windshields, 3-mess tin set, sporks, folding cups, compact utensils, washing up stuff, basic ingredients and a baby bottle warming flask (flask with removable useful plastic container) and a silicon lid that vacuums to the plastic container).

If we hadn't already got the trailer for my husband's work, I'd have had to meet the same packing requirements as for long weekends - probably a smaller fibreglass poled tent.

Helen