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Subject Topic: Back from first ever camping trip Post Reply Post New Topic
PersonTracy+Charlie
04/6/2011 at 6:04pm
 Location: Cheltenham
 Outfit: Shogun & Swift Challenger or Tent View Tracy+Charlie's Profile View Profile   Reply to Tracy+Charlie Reply   Quote Tracy+Charlie Quote  
Joined: 07/8/2006

Silver Member
Silver Member

Forum Posts:   191
Site Reviews Total: 27
Site Reviews 2024: 1  
Site Reviews 2023: 5  
Site Reviews 2022: 6  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 1  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 5  
Site Nights 2024: 3
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Site Nights 2018: 5
After caravaning for 7 years I decided we needed try camping - and we've just got back from our first trip of 6 nights and here are our thoughts:

Cons
1. After a whole day and night of rain (plus 15mins of hail)we had a small puddle in tent. Our own fault as we didn't get the mudflaps under the groundsheet by the door (no sig). Soon rectified, no damage, learning curve teething problem .
2. Air bed had a slow leak so we woke each morning on hard floor. Our own fault, should have checked the 15yr old airbed before we set off!!

Pros
1. We keep caravan in storage 6 miles away so have to collect it, bring it home then load it approx 4hrs intotal, with camping just loaded up car approx 1hr in total.
2. Fuel consumption much better as not towing.
3. Got to site quicker as not towing and could stop anywhere for a break without having to consider where to park with van.
4. Arrived at site stress free as not towing
5. Set up took approx 2 hrs (including airbeds etc) caravan and awning takes approx 1hr but thinking back to first caravan trip took approx 2 hrs so probably no difference
6. When leaving the site we packed up car then headed to the beach for the rest of the day before coming home, can't do that with caravan as nowhere to park van near beaches.
7. Arrived home unpacked car and glass of wine within 1 hr, with caravan we unpack it, clean inside and out then have to return it to storage approx 4 hrs before we manage to get our glass of wine!!!

So what I don't understand is why so many tenters seem to be moving over to caravans this year!!! Don't get me wrong I'm not going to get rid of our van cos we love winter caravaning, but I think it will be getting a lot less attention in the summer.


PersonRossco
04/6/2011 at 6:13pm
 Location: Central Scotland
 Outfit: Outwell Idaho XL View Rossco's Profile View Profile   Reply to Rossco Reply   Quote Rossco Quote  
Joined: 26/3/2003

Gold Member
Gold Member

Forum Posts:   308
Site Reviews Total: 3
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
Site Nights 2024: 0
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We started with a tent - moved on (or so we thought) to a tin one - came back to the tent!

Got loads more space in the tent, feel more in tune with the outdoors in one - rather than sitting in a wee tin box in the rain with a tv on (better off at home IMO)



-------------
Cheers
Rossco


William Wallace country


Personduracellqueen
04/6/2011 at 6:16pm
 Location: Kent
 Outfit: Coleman Coastline 4 View duracellqueen's Profile View Profile   Reply to duracellqueen Reply   Quote duracellqueen Quote  
Joined: 29/6/2008

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   12
Tent Reviews:   1
Site Reviews Total: 3
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
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Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
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We started with a van then for all the reasons you've already stated, tried a tent. Much better! I agree with being more in tune with the outdoors. We spent most of our time sat in the van whereas now we enjoy the outside space!

 

Lynne


PersonZeelees
04/6/2011 at 7:04pm
 Location: Ashford mx
 Outfit: vango Calder 500 View Zeelees's Profile View Profile   Reply to Zeelees Reply   Quote Zeelees Quote  
Joined: 30/8/2009

Diamond Member
Diamond Member

Forum Posts:   1645
Tent Reviews:   6
Site Reviews Total: 8
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
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Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 0  
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So glad you enjoyed your first experience of camping.

-------------
March- Padstow
April- Forest Glade
June-Grizedale
July-Jedburgh
and lots more besides


Personandycwb
04/6/2011 at 7:37pm
 Location: Berkshire
 Outfit: Oztent RV4 View andycwb's Profile View Profile   Reply to andycwb Reply   Quote andycwb Quote  
Joined: 16/8/2006

Gold Member
Gold Member

Forum Posts:   336
Tent Reviews:   3
Site Reviews Total: 5
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
Site Reviews 2023: 0  
Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
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Site Reviews 2018: 0  
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Welcome back from the dark side!


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Personmark e
04/6/2011 at 7:59pm
 Location: Rhondda Valleys South Wales.
 Outfit: Gelert Beyond Corvus 6+2. View mark e's Profile View Profile   Reply to mark e Reply   Quote mark e Quote  
Joined: 14/4/2009

Standard Member
Standard Member

Forum Posts:   55
Site Reviews Total: 0
Site Reviews 2024: 0  
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Site Reviews 2022: 0  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 0  
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Site Reviews 2018: 0  
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Yeh glad you enjoyed. Just sold motorhome for £15,000 after having it nearly 4 years and paying £18,500 for it. Doh.

Bought a galvanised trailer today with a 50cm extention, £400 and buying a 8 berth tent with all the trimmings for about £600 on monday.

Going to brean sands area next friday, CANT WAIT !!!!!!!!

Check my signature. Haha.



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Pup tent > Family tent > Caravan > Family tent > Motorhome > Tent Beyond Corvus 6+2 + trailer


PersonTracy+Charlie
04/6/2011 at 9:19pm
 Location: Cheltenham
 Outfit: Shogun & Swift Challenger or Tent View Tracy+Charlie's Profile View Profile   Reply to Tracy+Charlie Reply   Quote Tracy+Charlie Quote  
Joined: 07/8/2006

Silver Member
Silver Member

Forum Posts:   191
Site Reviews Total: 27
Site Reviews 2024: 1  
Site Reviews 2023: 5  
Site Reviews 2022: 6  
Site Reviews 2021: 0  
Site Reviews 2020: 1  
Site Reviews 2019: 0  
Site Reviews 2018: 5  
Site Nights 2024: 3
Site Nights 2023: 22
Site Nights 2022: 23
Site Nights 2021: 0
Site Nights 2020: 3
Site Nights 2019: 0
Site Nights 2018: 5
We bought our 8 berth tent from ebay for £67 carpet from a thread on here for Royal carpets for £18 everything else we already had from the caravan



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