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 Topic: What can I do to make it easier?
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13/9/2017 at 8:59pm
Location: Colchester Essex
Outfit: Kampa Hayling 4 AIR Tent
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Joined: 08/6/2009 Standard Member
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Pookienoodle, I've been camping the last few years with my 13yr old niece and 9yr old nephew, solo adult. I put the tent up, the kids are my back up crew, providing pegs and mallet. Then they have a competition pumping up the airbeds and they make the beds whilst I set up the table and camp kitchen. Like others, I store gear in plastic storage boxes which are then stored under the little prep table. I no longer take water canisters but buy a couple of 5L bottles from the supermarket. First night in camp is now always takeaway night and the kids choose so they look forward to this treat.I have 3 tents; newest being a Kampa airbeam, quicker to inflate but heavier and larger pack size. A Sunncamp poly tunnel style one with fibreglass poles, for which I favour putting poles through sleeves whilst still flat on the ground, raising front arch first using guy rope as an anchor point the erecting the others after that. The last entry is a small tent, ideal for a one nighter or for 2 people. Main thing is, happy camping and creating special holiday memories for you and your son ☺⛺
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27/9/2017 at 3:40am
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A couple of hours getting the tent up, stuff unpacked and settled in, wouldnt be an unreasonable amount of time.
Theres limits to how quickly you can pump up an air tent compared to poles slid into place, and everything else is just unpacking what you've taken.
I have a rucksack already packed which contains all my kit so I can go camping with the clothes on my back. Everything I need like tent, stove etc is all in there so all I have to do is sort out clothes & food which will be variable depending on weather and where we might be headed.
So like others have said, just take what you need, a couple of boxes with all your gear in might be a worthwhile alternative to having a rucksack ready to go.
It is tempting to be over prepared in some areas but for some, part of the fun is going without non essentials.
In time, you'll also become familiar with what food works when camping so you'll food shop accordingly as well.
All in all, part of the experience is finding out what works, what doesnt and making changes for next time so dont stress.
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28/9/2017 at 12:21am
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Quote: Originally posted by DeborahTurner on 27/9/2017
Bob, I am fascinated to know how it can take you 2 hours just to pitch your tent!
It is packing stuff up that does my head in. Fold the tent, filter the footprint, fold the porch extension, fold the porch groundsheet, rolling SIMS (twice to get all the air out).
So if the weather is due to be dry I don't bother with footprint or porch extension.
Well, I don't know either - lol - but I don't rush. I place the footprint first and peg it all round with mushroom pegs making sure it is flat and taut and leaving plenty of room all round for the tent and guy ropes. Depending on how windy it is or whether I am having a good day or not, I may have to adjust this a few times until I get it right.
Then the tent goes on top and I temporarily peg the rear corners nice and straight so the rear of the tent just overlaps the footprint.
Then I pull the tent out straight making sure it completely covers the footprint. I then make up all the poles and place them alongside the tent where I will need them before fitting the roof poles, and on my tent they clip into brackets already fitted to the roof of the tent.
I then fit the front legs and pin them both sides. By now, at least 15-20 minutes has passed - lol - and I may pop over to the water tap to fill up my container because I am starting to get hot and sweaty.
Then, I grab a couple of tent pegs and two guys fitted to the front pole (or on my tent it's the front porch guys) and raise the front pole, temporarily pegging the guys to hold it up.
Then, I go along and fit the other legs and pin them both sides before going to the rear of the tent and pulling everything straight and taut and make sure the tent is still sitting nicely over the footprint (on a bad day I may have to reposition it if it hasn't gone right - lol).
Then, back to the front of the tent and fit the porch pole (it's taken me 10 minutes just to write this far  )
To cut a long story shorter, I then do things like closing the doors, making sure the guys that hold the porch up are equal both sides or the porch goes skewiff and open the vents.
Then there must be at least 20 or 30 pegs to hammer in all round the flysheet and the guy ropes making sure the guy ropes are all pretty equal in length etc; so the tent sits straight (I told you I was a little obsessive )
Anyway, once I am satisfied the tent is erected well lay the carpets in the living area and the bedroom. Then comes the campbed and sim (although I have recently gone back to an airbed again). Then my bedside table, the main living room table, my box of camping stuff, bag of clothes and bag of food all has to go in. Then the EHU cable has to be threaded through the slit and plugged in plus the mini fridge (which by now is getting a bit warm in the car).
Then my sleeping bag, fitted sheet, pillow, blanket, chair, coffee table, microwave, kettle, toaster, heater all has to be set up...knives, forks, spoons, mug, glass, plate...and last of all, bottle opener comes out of the box and onto the main table ready for use.
Then the car has to be parked nicely next to the tent and finally I get to sit down hopefully with a cold beer from the fridge
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04/10/2017 at 2:36pm
Location: Rugby
Outfit: Vantage Sol Motorhome
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I went to Homebase got three big black boxes with lids, all my kit is in them, just load up the car its all in there clean no messing, I would invest in a top cool box Coleman very good dump the EHU, get eight cool blocks four in use four in the site freezer, that's how to camp, keep it simple, you don't need heaters fridges, tv,s, and all that crap, on thing I use is a good hot water bottle. Job done.
More free advice from Belper Bloke.
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Andy Vale from Belper.
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10/10/2017 at 4:42pm
Location: Wonderful Rural Yorkshire
Outfit: VANGO-CAPRI 500 Airbeam (2018)
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Joined: 02/7/2010 Diamond Member
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Just read this.....we have pitching down to a fine art...speed to bar ration 15 minutes!
We currently have A Decathlon Seconds Base combination, but are about to switch to Vango Airbeam (Capri 500)....so quick and easy. We have only changed because we want more space in the car and the Quechua tents take up too much room.
We've been camping since the early 90's together...me since I was 12 :)
MY OH is a perfectionist, so it has to be spot on, no creases, gaps etc before we leave it.
Since we've had the Quechua we've had NO arguments pitching....we always argue when we pitched the Outwell Hartford XL.....so wish us luck. Ligfe is too short to have a canvas bungalow.
As long as I can stand up when I get dressed I'm happy.
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CAT
Favourite site:
Camping Nanzel, Limone, Lake
Garda..perfect for MTB, Kayak, SUP and fell running training.
Favourite areas: Provence, French Alps, Savigny (as a stop over for Southern France: Rhein valley as a stop over for Italy. 78
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