Hi all - just back from our first ever camp at Clippesby Hall, Norfolk. Absolutely brilliant, loved camping can't wait to go again. Also the site was brilliant and can't rate it highly enough. The trip has given us a few areas where we would like some advice though.
1. We are wondering if we should get our tent and camping accessories insured? Do we do it through our household insurance or are their insurers that specialise in it?
2. We did not have an EHU this time and found that our ice blocks in our coolbag defrosted very quickly and we found that our bacon, sausage etc could not be kept in it too long before going off. So we are now thinking to run a freezi box on the electric would be a better way to go. Some weeks ago some posts were put about what type of EHU to buy and that one site had some really good prices. Can anyone advise what to go for and know of any sites offering EHU at a good price at the moment as we want to get one now ready for going away again.
3. Unfortunately the car was packed to the gills (we couldn't use all of the space as we had to keep some room for the dog), so the OH is thinking about getting either a top box or one of the smaller trailers that can be put on their side and stored (we only have our garage where we could store it so it would have to be one we could put on its side otherwise we won't be able to get the car in. We don't want to get both so any advice as to the best way to go - top box or trailer (we have a Kia Carens).
Look at competitions tab on here and there's something called the Handirack and Handiholdall cheaper and less space needed than bars and box (deff not car specific so no more bars to buy when you change cars).
Waiting for answers to my post asking if anyone has experience of them but we are strongly thinking of giving it a go.
I would recommend a small trailer, much more robust that a roofbox and can hold more. Just noticed you are in stevenage - if you want a small trailer (4x3) I have one that you can have for free! Its all steel and in pretty good nick - I just dont need it anymore as I use a caravan now. Let me know if you want it
------------- hawk
"Laugh and the world laughs with you, snore and you sleep alone"
I have the body of a greek god - its in my freezer
We decided to go for a trailer as you can buy extension kits later on if you decide you need more camping stuff. (which you will ).
I would recommend looking through the free ads rather than ebay as we picked up a 3 x 5 galvanised steel trailer in excellent condition with spare wheel for £90. Minimum that size was going for on ebay was £250. As has been said on here many times get the largest trailer you can afford as you will always fill it.
The most expensive part for us was getting the towbar fitted (cost twice the price of the trailer).
An alternative to EHU would be an Icey Tek coolbox. I've just ordered one (the 25 litre at £75) as while I am far too soft to try the dig-your-own-loo, catch-your-own-food sites (I think they are referred to as CS sites), I would prefer to avoid going down the whole EHU/heating/cooling fans/ TV/Toasters route which feels like going too far in the other direction.
Or for half the price and 5-6 days cold there are Colemans and Igloos, I have just taken delivery of a 40l Igloo Max Cold and will report back on how good it really is after Latitude Music festival!
somewhere down the page is a post re cheap ehus with a few sites linked. Have a look there. Advice on here from the experienced campers is always to avoid ebay ehus.
So pleased you enjoyed your first trip. they only get better.
------------- Oh am loving the tin tent after campaining against it..........I was wrong.
in relation to the cool box you can get ones that run off a ciggarette lighter, if you don't want to go along the EHU route just yet. Here's one.
plus there are campsites that offer freezing facilities for ice blocks, so you can freeze some spares whilst your others are defrosting, so that may be worth looking into.
Hi Generalhawk (didn't know of any other way to make contact with you)
Thanks for letting me know about the trailer. I will discuss with OH and get back to you on this post and then if we want to go further with your offer maybe we can communicate via our and your email address.
Was in same situation regarding bigger roofbox/trailer decision, trouble is that most roofboxes are only rated to about 50-75kgs as are most car roofs (see back of car handbook) so I got myself a trailer then went out and got myself a big coleman extreme coolbox cos I now had the room for it...see how all that extra space disappears
hi have been reading your report from clippsby, thanks for the hello, hope you had good trip home, we are going away this fri/sat/sun and mon to kelling heath, will let you know how we got on,