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Subject Topic: How much stuff?!! Post Reply Post New Topic
22/8/2010 at 1:19am
 Location: Surrey
 Outfit: Gelert Olympus 8
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..is 'okay' to take? I ask, as my OH likes the idea of minimal camping- we are going for a trial run in our new tent next week, with our pre-schooler... and i like the idea of things like an electric cool box, hook up for travel kettle etc ( especially for longer trips next year).. games and things for little one to do.. but Oh wants to be basic.. normal cool box, minimal 'extras', hardly any clothes... so I envisage next years bigger holiday spent washing everynes clothes!

We don't have a big car.. just a hatchback- but I am contemplating either a trailer & tow bar or a roof rack & box for next year, any advice on which is best most welcomed!

How do you camp..minimal or not.. with kids..??!

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New to camping... all advice welcome before we embark on our first trip with a 4 year old!


22/8/2010 at 5:04am
 Location: Wales
 Outfit: Vango Maritsa 700 (2011); OBI Cairo
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We have 2 kids (7 year old and 3 year old). I don't think we do it "minimally" but we don't have a trailer. We drive an Audi A4 Avant so decent enough bootspace (ad we have a roof rack). I guess it'll depend on how much campage you have, size of tent etc (we have an 8 man tent, porch, footprint and daytent so that takes up a large amount of the boot). We have ehu, but have never used it, and tbh I'm not sure that we ever will lol!!

Games - we don't bother with much. The kids make their own fun most of the time. We'll usually take a ball or something, but they can only play with it if we're on a site with not many tents (the last site we went to was a field with 3 tents in - they were fine to play footie there lol!). They enjoy a kite too! It's amazing the things they can think of to play when there's no DS/compute/TV around.

Clothes - I *always* unintentionally overpack but usually end up wearing the same things nearly everyday (unless of course it gets really dirty). We tend to live in shorts and cropped trousers.

HTH a little :-)


22/8/2010 at 8:47am
 Location: East Yorkshire
 Outfit: Hyundai i800 Jamet Arizona TT
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For us it depends on how long we are going for and where, and the weather we can expect!
In Britain we are quite minimal - normal cool box, no ehu, plenty of warm clothing and bedding though but we only go for up to a week! When we go to France we do the full works! But of course less clothing and bedding! Never go for less than three weeks - and I always end up doing washing (but I din't mind that bit - get to spend time on my own with my book!!)

I suppose you'll find your own way really - what works for you!


22/8/2010 at 10:06am
 Location: Keswick
 Outfit: Bailey
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As much in the Van so that its weight is just below the MTPLM (to allow for error) and as much in the car as possible whilst still being able to see out of the back window.

 

Phil



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If you're not on a fell your wasting your feet and for 2014 it's.......Feb Castleton Mar North Yors Moors; Apr Sutton on Sea; May Thirsk; Jun Clapham/Riverside (Lakes); July Wharfedale; August Crakehall; Sept Knaresborough; Oct Wirral Park/Clitheroe    


22/8/2010 at 10:40am
 Location: A quiet pitch with a lovely view
 Outfit: Cabanon Noumea
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If you're going for a trial run then you might be best off going for the simplest compromise you can both agree on. Camping isn't for everyone and you don't want to lash out a lot of money on kit which might only be used once. Equally, everyone does their own version of camping so one person's essential item would be completely irrelevant to another.

Ime, for a trial run at this time of year buying an electric hook up lead is not essential and that a standard passive coolbox and hob kettle would be absolutely fine.

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Tackling life the Western District way


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22/8/2010 at 10:48am
 Location: West Yorkshire
 Outfit: Vango Aspen 700
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We have three kids, a massive tent and a small car boot. We also have a small roofbox and manage everything - just. I am hankering after a new car though

I think whatever space you have you fill regardless.

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16th-18th July Llwyn Celyn Bach, Llanberis
12th-15th August Fisherground Campsite, Lake District
23rd-30th August Manor Farm, Norfolk
17th-19th Sep - Sherwood Forest somewhere?

April 2011 - Callow Top, Ashbourne
July - Swiss Farm, Henley
August - Greenacres, Somerset


22/8/2010 at 11:00am
 Location: Sunny south coast
 Outfit: Columbia 600 Bude 4
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We don't regard our set up as minimal (as each item does its job well) but by some it is.

A good double burner stove with integral kitchen stand - Campingaz Kitchen Extra plus back-up single suitcase stove in case run out of gas, both with griddle plates. Use trangia nested saucepan and kettle set, plus ready packed crockery etc that has been collected for compactness and usefulness over the years. Disposable BBQs.

Nice Coleman Comfort airbeds (with Wilkos fleecy mattress covers and 350 rated sleeping bags for warmth plus blankets) and Kampa Whirlwind 12v/240v rechargable pump

Eurohike umbrella collapsing chairs plus aluminium roll-up camping table, 2 x small backpackers tables plus Outwell Baffins stool/table combo (modified for added table top stability) which our 3 year old uses as a stool at the main table or we all use as a table for the smaller tent or games.

2 traditional coolboxes - Coleman 24hr Icetime ones (1 for tins and dry stuff and 1 as a cool box). Keep outside under reflective insulation in the summer hence prefer animal proof.

Folding Sunncamp washing up bowl with pockets and long handle to use as a bowl or carry stuff to washing up area. Houses collapsable water carrier and washing bits during transit. Also have a useful collapsable bucket from Wilkos.

2 Wilkos battery UFO led lights for lighting plus head torches (my husband also has a beloved tilley lamp for atmosphere outside) plus wind up radio for weather reports.

Highlander folding toilet that doubles as a waste bin.

a Vango Adventure Tarp as a wet weather shelter. Beach windbreak that doesn't get used often.

Footprint and Carpet (latter for big tent only)

Thomas the Tank collapsing toy box with key toys and play mat, kite, football and beach stuff if relevant plus a couple of board games for us and reading books

We can't see the point of electricity,TV etc - the children find friends to play with very easily and we're out and about during the day. Just wrap up warm if its cold and make sure that we have enough bedding and hot water bottles if its really cold.

With the big tent set up need the trailer, but cope fine with the car for the weekend tent - although use suitcase stoves and smaller tables only then. No carpet either - but always take the overnight tent as well and the rest of the stuff as ready packed, bagged and crated. No roof box.

Helen



22/8/2010 at 11:06am
 Location: Scotland.
 Outfit: Conway Camargue Lots of Vangos. .
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There's a huge spectrum of "what to take....bare minimum at one end, full Glamping set up at the other. You have to work out what suits you for comfort, budget and packing space. Also you don't need the same kit for 2/3 night weekends as you do for the 2/3 week long trip!

I would suggest that if you're going on a first trip for a short time (?) you don't worry too much about taking every last possible want but just work with what you've got, within reason. A normal coolbox is fine for a couple of days and as long as you take warm clothes and extra bedding you don't need heaters etc. You as adults don't need huge amounts of extra clothes but take plenty of spares for your little one. As to games etc they don't need a lot...a ball, a few favorite  figures or trucks, basic drawing kit. Plenty for a weekend. If you run short of something, remember the local charity shops! I've picked up some really useful emergency bits out of charity shops.

Take a notepad and pencil too and as you progress make a note of anything you don't have that you really should take next time (First aid kit? Better frying pan?), a note of what you brought that you didn't need and a list of "would be nice" items. This last should be treated with caution when you get back...yes, an electric kettle is nice but if you have a gas stove then a kettle is not an essential. On the other hand a 3-way fridge might really work for you and save you hours and hours of shopping and meal prep time.  Taking enough clothes for 3 days is easy, taking enough clothes for two weeks is just silly. Most bigger campsites have washing machines so enough clothes for one week plus a couple of washing loads works for me.

Incidentally I've got two kids and have camped with them since they were tiny. I'm well known here for being one of the more minimal family packers but I can assure you I've never sacrificed comfort or convenience for this. I take EHU, 3-way fridge, good bedding, toys for the kids...what I don't take is all the extra bits that only do one job, get only used once a week and which duplicate another piece of kit in many ways. take your time building up your kit and really think about it...often spending a little more will buy you a better quality item that performs better, packs smaller and saves you having to take something else as well to add to it. Sleeping bags are the No1 example of this last btw!

I can shove all the kit for the four of us and a one week trip into the boot of our Mondeo estate btw. No trailer or roof box required and I don't even need to put items on the back seat with the kids. For longer trips we take our trailer tent so a lot more space but even then, I try not to take too much. It all requires packing + setting up time + cleaning + disassembly + repacking time. It's not just about having the room to take it, you know!



22/8/2010 at 1:24pm
 Location: Polesworth Warwickshire
 Outfit: Bailey Unicorn III Valencia (LR Disco)
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Quote: Originally posted by cwdc56768 on 22/8/2010
As much in the Van so that its weight is just below the MTPLM (to allow for error) and as much in the car as possible whilst still being able to see out of the back window.

Phil


This sounds a bit like us, Phil, but I do like to keep the car as empty as possible.  Whatever I carry in the van, it has to be out of site - under beds, in cupboards.  I like to be able to, pull up and get in and use the van fully without moving stuff first - nothing at all on the floor of the van, but the rest is packet tightly - not a bad thing IMHO - if it's all packed in it ain't moving anywhere in transit..

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David


22/8/2010 at 4:24pm
 Location: Deepest Derbyshire :)
 Outfit: Vango Orchy 600 + Premium Extension
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We take a camping trailer 4X3 with all our gear in, we put the footprint,tent,extension & electric cool box in the car.

If your going for a test run you soon realize what you want to take with you when you go for longer.

We chose a trailer to carry our camping gear as we can use it to carry other things as well like the new table and chairs we just bought, I collected them myself with the trailer and saved £20 delivery cost. Got the trailer out of the local paper £100..

I only have a ford focus but if you have a estate car it should be fine..

-------------
Have Tent will Camp...

YNWA
JFT 96


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22/8/2010 at 5:45pm
 Location: East Sussex
 Outfit: None Entered
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I'm utterly resistant to having a trailer and have nowhere to store a roofbox, so everything has to fit in the car (Mondeo estate).

Although there are only ever two people going, the two dogs in their crates take up the space where the back seat is folded down, so we have the same amount of luggage space as a family of 4 or 5. Plus the dogs need a surprising amount of stuff of their own (beds, towels, toys, food, bowls, rope, dog stakes and a water from home so they can be switched over gradually to local water), although I concede they don't wear much in the way of clothing!  

I don't do EHU - see no need for it and prefer to camp away from the sound of tv's etc - and expect the temptation to take electrical kit can easily fill a car quickly.

This year, we fitted everything easily, despite having three tents on the way back after I managed to break a bit of the Khyam and had to make an emergency purchase (Vango Icarus 500).




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