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When I got my Kampa Khazi in the post I opened the box in horror wondering where on earth I was going to find the boot space for that! But it's worked out really well, just turn it upside down, with the inner removed, my Intex airbed fits snugly inside it and the smaller bucket is fine for carrying torches, batteries etc etc and is fairly small so it's easy to find a space for it.

Also I have plastic drawers, the narrow, tall ones. They fit snugly into the boot of my hatchback taking only the floorspace of an A4 sheet of paper. I noticed Sainsburys are selling a set that are slightly bigger than mine for £15. I have just returned from a holiday and found them extremely useful, although after the first few campsites I didn't bother taking them out of the car, prefering just to use them out of the back of my car instead.

Tried the plastic trolley this time and got on great with it. Was so tidy in the tent for all the kitchen stuff.

Kids packed clothes into small sports bag each but Dh & I simply put our clothes into sacks and literally 'stuffed' them in. Learnt for homeward journey that more, smaller bags was better tho than a big black sack each - easier to stuff into little spaces.

Oh, and the trugs I bought (3 in all - really useful) fitted inside each other with gas bottle and towels inside but still squishable to some extent to fit into 'different' gaps.

HTH

Quote: Originally posted by daisytent on 01/8/2010

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On our first trips, we took 2 towelling dressing gowns. Changed for 1 thin cotton one, saved loads of space.
Instead of a CD player, we have an MP3 player with those tiny hamburger shaped speakers which takes up almost no room at all.
Instead of a clothes rail with hangers, we have a trifold clothes airer which lies flat in the bottom of the boot and you don't know it's there :)
So, let's hear yours...

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Surely any other more necessary items of clothing would function in lieu of a dressing gown?

My tip - take only what you NEED. Your continued health and existence is guaranteed even without gowns, hangers and mp3 players.  You can trust me on this one.   (and none of the above are edible or serve any life sustaining function.)

I was a backpacker before I was a car camper and when you have to carry everything on your back, you make absolutely sure that you really need / want it.  I have carried a lot of space / weight saving tips over to car camping as follows;

• Down sleeping bags - packed in compression sacks, each takes up less room than an ordinary pillow.
• Backpacking mattresses.  Much more comfortable than airbeds and more compact.  Exped Downmats are the ultimate.
• Inflatable pillows or, for me, a drybag stuffed with clothing and covered with a Buff.
• Water bag.  Ortlieb make some very good ones.  We used to take a rigid water container but it is just dead space.
• Downsize that kitchen!  We used to take a 2-burner & grill stove, big gas bottle, kitchen stand, utility tent etc. but it was just overkill.  If the weather was good, we had a barbeque, if wet, we usually ate in the pub.  Now we take a portable Weber barbeque plus a single burner Primus stove with a 250g cartridge for drinks / breakfast.
• Decant toiletries / detergent / cooking oil / spices / sauces into plastic travel bottles.  You are never going to get through that 500ml bottle of olive oil in a week... 
• No electrical stuff at all other than mobile phones and a portable DVD player for our daughter for the journey (in camp there are much more interesting things for her to do).
• Easycare clothes.
• Travel towels.
• Small headtorches instead of bulky lanterns.
• Down jacket for chilly evenings - packs very small.
• Silk baselayer as pyjamas - try Patra.  Very comfortable and pack to the size of a grapefruit.

Everyone has their own way of doing things but the more you take, the more time you spend packing, setting it all up, re-packing etc and less time enjoying the outdoor experience.  We can get everything for a trip for 2 adults and 1 child (including her toys and games) into our Renault Scenic after removing one of the back seats, with nothing above the level of the parcel shelf.

When I see estate cars jammed to the roof with kit plus a roof box and maybe a trailer as well, I do wonder what some people are carrying.

Quote: Originally posted by fudgetastic on 01/8/2010

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What? you take more than one towel each? duvet? hairdryer? straighteners? dressing gowns??? I have one plastic box for all cooking utensils, plates etc. One box for clothes, One box containing mini cooker, kettle, Kitchen shelves flat box, tent last in, sleeping bag and pillow in large ikea bag, Dog stuff packed in any space available. Bed folds into small tube shape, dog bed too. Chuck windbreak on top. Large shopping bag for all girly bits, phone, brush, wipes etc. Buy a take away curry and freeze night before. Tent up, boxes in, heat up curry, glass of wine, seventh heaven!

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I have one box for food and utensils, one box for "useful stuff" (lights, radio, repair kit, first aid kit,waste bags, t-towels etc). I small rucsack each for clothes,towels wash kit. Coolbox, 2 small tables, 2 chairs, Tent, sleeping bags, I bag each for air bed, blankets and pillows. Bucket with lid contains gas bottle. and finally a couple of picnic rugs.  We are comfy!

Oops forgot cooker and stand!