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Hi!

Well we did it! We camped for the first time ever fro 6 nights, 330 miles away in Trevornick, Cornwall and loved it!

I have done a review on the site but just wanted to ask opinions on buying more stuff now.

We have a Gelert Albury 8 tent (same as the Quebec) and it was fab. I would still prefer bigger but for now this is fine, we had no bad weather to really test it apart from a bit of high wind on the last couple of nights which it coped with well.

We only had 1 table and a few picnic rugs so DEFINITELY need more folding tables, cupboards etc as it drove me MAD with everything on the floor in bags. Plus, our eldest, almost 3, was in her bedroom pod at first, us in ours with our youngest (3 months) but managed to squeeze her bed in with ours and but baby's moses basket at the bottom of the beds in the living area, so we could put all the bags in the other room.

This is a list of things I want-

Folding tables, cupboards. Have STILL got a 3 tier kitchen stand on order from April, which I am annoyed about but will probably keep it when it eventually turns up as want somewhere to put the food etc.

Heater- borrowed a small old convector heater which decided to break after 2 nights, it provided enough heat (and cool air in the morning when I was sweating in the tent getting ready!).

Tent Carpet- DEFFO want one of these, do they only make them for the living area or do they do a full set, one for each 'pod'??

Roof Box for the car! No way will we fit anything else in until we pack less to go with and get a roof box! Any rec's for ones to fit Vauxhall Zafiras??

Anything else? We only have a 1 ring gas stove which was ok as only used it twice!

Lanterns- took an old small bedside lamp which did ok but could do with some good quality long lasting lanterns to hang up.

Can't think of much else apart from hater, STORAGE, carpets and a roof box! Any help anyone for cheap options?

Oooh and a porch for it!!!

Thanks! x

I suggest you compile a packing list to minimise the risk of leaving anything behind.

If at all possible, dedicate a set of crockery, cuttery, utensils and kitchen gadgets etc. for camping use, and store them in a big plastic box as suggested by the others. You can then mark them off as packed on your packing list. However, you would need to make a note to pack the box into the car

I thought my packing list was sufficiently comprehensive to avoid leaving anything behind. I went to the fridge to pack the cool box, and still managed to forget to pack the eggs and onions for breakfast, doh!!!

Instead of 2 big plastic boxes of kitchen related items, I have to downside to just 2 bags and take up less floor space in the car.

Off again on Fri 10 Jul 09 for a 4d weekend near Chichester, can't wait!

DK

Quote: Originally posted by emma dawson on 28/6/2009

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I highly recommend putting things like cutlery, plastic plates and cups, bin bags, foil, oil, baby wet wipes, tissues, salt, sugar etc in a large plastic box or boxes that can be easily stored in shed/garage with rest of camping equipment. So that when you're ready to go camping, all you have to do is get some food and clothes together and load the car. It saves lots of time and allows us to camp every other weekend, without it being a hassle :)

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Ikea - their kitchen stuff is so cheap you can afford to buy it and keep it just for camping. Charity shops and jumbles are good for dead cheap china, if you don't mind having breakable crocks. We keep two plastic crates packed and ready to go, like many others. They have lids, so can be kept outside if you're short of space, or stacked, asnd their set up time is nil.

We use a carpenter's bit roll and chisel roll for the cutlery and utensils, they roll up nice and small and my OM is a chippy, so were tax deductible.<G> Little bits and pieces that are easily lost are stored in a tupperware type box in the crate.

Another Ikea buy was a hanging fishing net thing with 4 compartments for keeping lightwieght stuff in.  I think that was about £1.50, and it's very handy!