I know a lot advise that these are not a necessary item and crates / bags do the job well, but I am a bit of an "organised" freak (lol!) and with 2 young children in tow I would feel better having a specific place to put things on longer holidays. We have the space to accommodate one.
I just wanted to ask for any advice re: any particular brands that are easy to put up and sturdy or if there are any types to avoid. Are they relatively quick and easy to put up or are they 100 poles and half hour job despite looking straight forward enough? I would not be popular with my hubbie if it required too much time to assemble lol!
I've just sold my two that needed the poles threading threw, they drove me mad. I'm trying to decide between the Outwell Bahamas or the larger Aruba at the min.
------------- Thistledown Easter
Nantcol June
Domaine du Verdon Castellane and Etoile d'Argens Frejus Aug
I bought a Sunncamp one for £3 at a bootsale recently, the fella said it was a nightmare to put together. Not the best sales pitch but for 3quid thought I would give it a go. It is quite heavy but a compact bag.
Will probably try to use it in France in August, hope its not too bad to put together.
for hanging we use a normal hanging rail argos or ebay.for shelves a royal easyup storage unit like the outwell 20 pound cheaper and goes up in seconds.
What tent do you have? If it's a frame tent, you can buy hanging wardrobe bars to fit to a suitable pole. A couple of loops of J-cloth and a stout piece of dowling also works.
As to the other kinds of wardrobe well, some of them take more time than others to put up but they do all take significant time. Take six items each needing 20 minutes assembly and that's two hours out your life, plus time for the tent erection of course. And it all has to fit in the car. It really is worth trying to work out a more streamlined system, if only for the weekends. I agree, you have to keep a tent organised otherwise everything will deteriorate into a muddy guddle within hours but there's a middle ground between guddle and trying to keep stuff organised the way you would in the house.
Incidentally my OH and I have a deal. If one of us wants to take a specific piece of kit and the other doesn't, you're the one responsible for assembling it and cleaning it etc. It cuts things down quite a lot, belive me! So when looking for this wardrobe, ask yourself if YOU want to have the job of assembling it. It will concentrate the mind wonderfully.
Quote: Originally posted by Valk_scot on 26/4/2010
Take six items each needing 20 minutes assembly and that's two hours out your life, plus time for the tent erection of course.
I think that's one reason we don't bother with lots of furniture. I just want to get pitched and then explore and relax! My kids are 10 and 6 and they know which holdall their clothes are in and where the dirty stuff goes. I don't want to spend my holiday doing the same old chores as at home, because lets face it, it would be me doing them. One of you will have to keep the LO's busy while you're setting up too.
Thanks so much for the replies folks. Have decided that I do not need a full on camping wardrobe! Very wise words about assembly time for multiple items and entertaining the kids.
Great idea about the clothes rail - duh! never thought of that and we already have a reasonable sturdy one so no expense required. It can go in the spare sleep pod area. Will team that with a set of folding shelves as suggested which look much simpler and quicker to put up.
I just love this forum & everyone is sooooo friendly!
I must admit I was in the why bother camp, but recently purchased a small pyramid storage thing and a larger 2 shelf storage unit that packs flat. Not the quickest thing to put together but will only go with the largest tent for the longer holidays. Will take the other one normall, just to keep some essential stuff in.
Thanks everyone - you've made me feel better now. Went out at the weekend with a view to buying a lighter tent - went home with a 60kg + polycotton. Have been thinking of things that could be left behind and we will definately be living out of holdalls and collapsable boxes this summer