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ooh that rhymes!

Ok, so we're new to this camping lark. We had a few trips planned last year but didn't actually get away (our son has Autism and we didn't really plan very well- now he's diagnosed we have more ideas on how to make it stress free for him). So, what would you take with you for a 4 night break? (Thinking Whitsun onwards- 2 adults and 2 children who are 6 and 7).

The usual sleeping arrangements, kitchen set up, hob and cadac will be packed. But should we take dining table and chairs as well as inflatable sofa? Should we take the extra table to allow for more kitchen prep space? Should we take the awning or the extension for the Monty (or neither?!)

I don't mind putting it all up, I just don't want to spend hours on the last day taking it down and attempting to pack the car...but we need to be comfortable or we'll put the kids off for life.

We don't plan on ever having EHU (partly because our son won't put his flipping DSi down if we do but with out the EHU we have a very good excuse for him to only have it in the car as it'll run out of charge) and so we need chilly box suggestions- is a normal cold box sufficient or should I be looking at alternatives? We've got a big car  but I'm not sure how well a big cool box will fit so it needs to be absolutely necessary to find the extra space really.

Any advice from seasoned campers appreciated...and anyone who camps with an autistic child who has any tips, we'd appreciate those too!

Thank you for your feed back. I think I'll go down the route of packing the essentials and then seeing what else we can get in...

DK, I love your set ups- espeically the canopy that covers the tent in the first picture- brilliant idea.

I like to be comfortable when camping. Unless it's a one nighter, I would take the same gear as for two weeks. After the second day, it just becomes hard work and a drag. If you have the space, then better to take the extra time setting up etc, than spend it missing out on home comforts. I don't go camping to rough it, I go to relax.

The biggest deciding factor for me, is which tent I am using. I have gear that is designed for different tents, so not usable in all of them. But there again, I would not take a small tent for a four day trip.

Quote: Originally posted by witsend79 on 29/1/2012

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DK, I love your set ups- espeically the canopy that covers the tent in the first picture- brilliant idea.

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We have a weekend set up that doesn't feel any less luxurious than our week setup. We are a family of 3 with a 5 year old boy. The only difference is the room available to spread out - which we don't miss for a weekend as we dump our son's bed in our inner tent and put a rug down so that he has a play room. He has a folding toy box with his entertainment in, otherwise its just holdalls for clothes and wash bags, a folding box on wheels (which holds a couple of backpacker tables, UFO lights, 2 suitcase stoves, a griddle for the stove, emergency kit, head torch, fire blanket, etc. etc.), a large tupperware box with all the kitchen type items plus a smaller one holding the nest of saucepans, folding colander, splash guard etc, a folding washing up bowl with water carrier, a couple of folding buckets and washing items, a roll up table, chairs, a tent carpet, a large dry bag holding all the bedding and the airbeds. The stoves go on the backpacker tables outside or a picnic table if available and we cook whilst sitting. We have a vango tarp, which we pitch if its raining, but its not been needed that much. Its all compact but we don't miss anything.

If we go in the big tent for longer, the only real additions apart from the bigger tent, carpet, footprint etc, is the Campingaz Kitchen Extra stove which has integral legs, shelves etc., the windbreak and the larger table. Just not needed for a weekend.