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Subject Topic: Car Camping Post Reply Post New Topic
22/3/2016 at 11:56am
 Location: Scotland
 Outfit: None Entered
View trincee's Profile View Profile   Reply to trincee Reply   Quote trincee Quote  
Joined: 15/8/2012

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Hi
I was after a bit of advice. My partner and I were planning a camping road trip round the north of Scotland in the next couple of months. We have a large tent set-up, which suits us well if we base ourselves in one place for several days. However, we used to have a camper van, and I miss the sheer get-up-and-go approach to trips away. Simply pack the van and head off, rather than the process of setting camp. We don't have budget this year to purchase a van, so I have became curious to the concept of car-camping. We have a VW Passat estate, and I reckon if we were to find the right sort of tent, we could fully utilise the rear of the car. Has anyone out there used such a set up? I'd be keen to hear of experiences, tent brands, pros, cons, or anything else. Many thanks


22/3/2016 at 12:39pm
 Location: Ayrshire
 Outfit: Auto-Sleeper MHs
View Fiona W's Profile View Profile   Reply to Fiona W Reply   Quote Fiona W Quote  
Joined: 10/4/2007

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Try www.caranex.com (also .co.uk which has slightly different content) - it goes over the tailgate. Advertises in the C&CC magazine. The website opens with a photo of a Passat. There are some YouTubes about it too. Centuries ago, we used to car camp but slept on the front seats, wound down. Not comfy!

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2024 = 20 sites / 41 nights. 2023 = 9/23. 2022 = 13/35. 2021 = 11/29. 2020 = 4/20. 2019 = 13/35. 2018 = 20/33. 2017 = 10/22. 2016 = 19/33. 2015 = 15 sites / 27 nights. Didn't count 1976 to 2014.


22/3/2016 at 1:13pm
 Location: Shropshire
 Outfit: Toyota Granvia (Wellhouse)
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Joined: 30/9/2007

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Maybe try googling for "tailgate awnings" etc

We've seen quite a few smart, modern looking ones, used with the likes of Berlingos etc
.. eg http://www.khyam.co.uk/detail.asp?p=1225
(the caranex, always strikes me as being a bit "old fashioned" and heavy looking now)

To be honest, apart from maybe being able to sleep in the car when the seats were down, I'm not sure just how much of an advantage over a (much cheaper!)stand-alone tent they'd really be...?

Of cause, one problem with a tailgate awning, is filling it with fumes every time you start the car up..


Post last edited on 22/03/2016 13:19:48


22/3/2016 at 3:32pm
 Location: Lichfield
 Outfit: Coachman Amara 450
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Joined: 15/5/2008

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Quote: Originally posted by Fiona W on 22/3/2016
Try www.caranex.com (also .co.uk which has slightly different content) - it goes over the tailgate. Advertises in the C&CC magazine. The website opens with a photo of a Passat. There are some YouTubes about it too. Centuries ago, we used to car camp but slept on the front seats, wound down. Not comfy!




Here is the link for you.


Here


22/3/2016 at 7:37pm
 Location: Kent
 Outfit: 5m Bell Tent & Olpro Pop Tent.
View geoffprinter's Profile View Profile   Reply to geoffprinter Reply   Quote geoffprinter Quote  
Joined: 27/6/2012

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I looked at this when I had my Roomster. Perhaps they do one for the VW. link
God knows the cost, but does look neat


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22/3/2016 at 7:42pm
 Location: NE England
 Outfit: Citroen Dispatch Campervan plus tents
View spiritburner's Profile View Profile   Reply to spiritburner Reply   Quote spiritburner Quote  
Joined: 02/8/2004

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We have a Berlingo. Seen all sorts of clever things you can put inside or add on but once I've seen through the ingenuity & novelty, a standalone tent & regular gear has always struck me as fitter for purpose & more versatile.


22/3/2016 at 8:49pm
 Location: West country
 Outfit: Mondeo
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I would have thought a small 2 man tent to sleep in would only take a few minutes to pop up and down. An umbrella style gazebo for sitting under and cooking under if needed.

That leaves the car to store stuff in and use by day if you want to.


22/3/2016 at 11:43pm
 Location: Aberdeen
 Outfit: Coachman Pastiche 460 VW Tiguan Moti
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Joined: 26/8/2007

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VW Passat estate, so much room. When we used to camp everything was laid out in an area of the garage so when the time came back door open everything chucked in and we where off, no problem. We then got a camping trailer which was left fully loaded so hitch up and off. Then we went trailer tent, same thing left fully loaded. Then we bought a caravan, BLISS.

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Robert (BoB)


23/3/2016 at 9:01am
 Location: Scotland
 Outfit: None Entered
View trincee's Profile View Profile   Reply to trincee Reply   Quote trincee Quote  
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Thanks for the responses. Some interesting ideas, although the price of the Swiss Roombox is eye-watering!

I'm inclined to agree that a stand alone tent and a very organised rear in the car is the way to go. Just need to work on the organisational skills!


23/3/2016 at 11:45pm
 Location: North Yorkshire
 Outfit:  Lichfield Cotswold & Sunncamp Villa
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We did this a couple of years ago, I built a chuckbox to have the kitchen permanently set up in the rear of the car and used a tarp over the tailgate in wet weather.

As there were four of us we couldn't sleep in the car so we bought a quick erect tent that we could have completely set up, beds in etc within 20 mins and we each had a holdall with our own clothes, toiletries, books etc.

It worked really well, we did 12 days stopping at 5 different sites, one of the best trips we've ever had.


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24/3/2016 at 12:46am
 Location: Northern Ireland
 Outfit: Bell Tent Vango Coleman and Quechua
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Joined: 28/4/2013

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I have gone car camping although I'm still tweaking my set up, and I replaced my Estate (407) with one of the last Lagunas and it's a hatchback.It does have fold flat seats with a clear 2m of space so I can't see why it wouldn't work for me. What I did before was use a tarp over the opened boot which gave me room to cook under (in bad weather). I used a Coleman Mini table for keeping the stove on and used a soft coolbag for holding all my 'catering' set up (plate, mug, nesting pan set, gas cannister, single folding stove etc etc).

I prefer to split things in to kits. So I have a 'personal' kits which is a bag with clothes, towel and toiletries (including meds) and then the 'Catering' bag - as above. The Extras bag then a torch, a first aid kit, ear plugs eye mask and book, phone charger etc.

I would advise keeping a set of jump leads under one of the seats as sometimes you can go too far with charging the phone, or other devices and run the battery down. It isn't likely to happen though, it's just in case.

I think if you are looking for a quick erect tent for travelling around you couldn't go far wrong with a Quechua Base Seconds from Decathlon. A lot of people use these for camper van awnings. You can buy an inner for it to turn it into a sleeping tent. It's stand up height throughout and 2.5m squared.

I use one as a utility tent.


Here's some additional info about sleeping in a car from a blog (American - sorry!) but good pics in it.


Hotel Prius



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