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Hi,

I'm a new to this site and camping, really wanted to go camping so brought my first tent, four man tent, royal beach i think its called jeselo 4. i also have my first camping holiday booked going to haven. What stuff will i need to take with me? do i need to lay something under the tent?

Also i tried putting up my tent yesterday, it is a dome styled tent, i put the big set of poles through the middle and the shorter poles on the outside (the two poles on the outside are for the two rooms) is there any easy way to pop up the tent if there is only one or two people helping. when i was doing it the clips kept coming off of the poles and i really wasn't getting anywhere, has anyone got any tips?

Thanks in advance

Kane

Hi, I'd reccommend that you get a tarpaulin and cut in just short of the size of your tent so that it can't be seen when its pitched. This will keep the groundsheet clean. Because the ground is so saturated at the moment, the tent's groundsheet may not be able to cope with it and so an extra layer will help. We use plastic backed picnic rugs (tescos have the large ones) inside the tent and these can also be put under airbeds to aid insulation.

As for pitching, get the poles into the pins first then clip it. Put one end of the pole in, then bend it up, then put other end in. Clip it after.

Hope you have a good trip!

Here's a useful checklist.

I put picnic rugs under blow up mattresses to provide some extra insulation

yes agree that its eaiser to get someone to support the middle of the ploes from inside while you clip the poles into the rings

As for what you need to take you have to fill your car to overflowing no mater what size it is

Have a look through this group there was a very good post on minimal camping list about two/three weeks ago but you must pack your sense of humour

Hi Kane & welcome to the forum

You do need a decent airbed - most people on here recommend the Coleman Comfort ones. However, you don't have to lash out on sleeping bags before your first trip, you can use a fitted sheet & your duvet from home. Don't forget your pillows! You will need something like a fleece blanket between the airbed & the fitted sheet, otherwise you will be wet with condensation when you wake up.

If you have enough space in the car boot, take an extra fleece blanket to put on the floor of the bedroom pod - it's lovely an' cosy to step out onto in the morning, or during the night for a call of nature