Squeezing all the camping gear in to the car
Discussion
We have a nine month old boy, and this year for Le Mans, we just about managed to squeeze him, the mrs, all his gear (including steriliser etc.) and the camping equipment in to my Mercedes Estate with roofbox.
This last weekend, we took the M-i-L camping an hour up the road (she's hinted at wanting to come away with us next year) - we took two cars for a couple of other reasons, so I didn't bother with the roofbox. However when coming home I tried to pack the car properly (just threw everything in there on the way out there) and even though we'd have the roofbox for a longer journey, I seriously doubt we'd have room for everything whilst retaining the rear seats.
Any thoughts on how we can save space given this is our rough provision. I appreciate that some of the bits will disappear as the littlun gets older.
Tent (8-man - we like our space!)
Aluminium camping table plus couple of chairs
Camping kitchen plus gas bottle
Box of various odds and sods including hook-up, pots and pans etc.
Picnic bag incl. cutlery (we usually fill this with food as well on the way out)
Coolbox (240V)
Duvet and pillows (were in vacuum bags)
Airbed
Clothes (for us and baby!)
Travel cot
Travel high chair (folds to about 18" x 8" x 10" or so)
The only thing I can think of is switching the duvets for sleeping bags, and of course not taking the M-i-L!
This last weekend, we took the M-i-L camping an hour up the road (she's hinted at wanting to come away with us next year) - we took two cars for a couple of other reasons, so I didn't bother with the roofbox. However when coming home I tried to pack the car properly (just threw everything in there on the way out there) and even though we'd have the roofbox for a longer journey, I seriously doubt we'd have room for everything whilst retaining the rear seats.
Any thoughts on how we can save space given this is our rough provision. I appreciate that some of the bits will disappear as the littlun gets older.
Tent (8-man - we like our space!)
Aluminium camping table plus couple of chairs
Camping kitchen plus gas bottle
Box of various odds and sods including hook-up, pots and pans etc.
Picnic bag incl. cutlery (we usually fill this with food as well on the way out)
Coolbox (240V)
Duvet and pillows (were in vacuum bags)
Airbed
Clothes (for us and baby!)
Travel cot
Travel high chair (folds to about 18" x 8" x 10" or so)
The only thing I can think of is switching the duvets for sleeping bags, and of course not taking the M-i-L!
Is a vacuum bag the same as a compression sack? If so, ignore. If not, get these:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Exped-Waterproof-Compressi...
Much better than the bog standard compression sacks that come with sleeping bags.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Exped-Waterproof-Compressi...
Much better than the bog standard compression sacks that come with sleeping bags.
muppetdave said:
Trailers - euch!! To be avoided at all costs, even if it is the sensible answer...
It does seem to be the sensible answer though; a small un-braked trailer can be bought cheaply whether it is new or second-hand. It requires little maintenance and many can be stored in an upended position. They can also be used for trips to the tip, so your car doesn't get dirty, and are generally handy for moving things around. Well, to save space you need to ditch some of the kit!
Go through it line by line and decide if you need it.
Do you really need a steriliser? In France the recommendation is 6 months. We stopped with ours at 9 months to save space for a camping trip. If you really need to sterilse, consider using boiling water or milton?
Do you need a picnic bag and a cool box? Can you take the esentials and buy food there?
Do you really need a coolbox? Cravendale will keep for a weekend without a fridge, as will bacon, sausages, butter, cheese etc.
Sleeping bags normally take up less room than duvets
Do you really really need an 8 man tent for 3 of you? We gas a 4 man tent for 2 x adults + 2 x 9month olds
Don't know what's in your camping kitchen; we normally take a small box (one of those old tesco blue boxes) which is about 24x12x12", where we squeeze everything from condiments to utensils, burners, matches, crockery, cutlery, mugs and wine glasses, tea cloths....
Bottom line, if you want to camp, you need to compromise on the luxuries. If you want caravan levels of luxury, get a caravan
Incidentally, ours are now 3 years old- they sleep in an inflatable airbed/sleeping bag thing; sit at the same folding table without a high chair, don't need nappies, don't need sterilising.... it gets easier! Last winter we went walking / camping in Snowdonia for 4 days; squeezed 2 adults, 2 children, camping stuff, walking stuff, those frame things to put the boys into, ice axes, crampons, ropes, sledges, into a 3-series estate + roof box
Go through it line by line and decide if you need it.
Do you really need a steriliser? In France the recommendation is 6 months. We stopped with ours at 9 months to save space for a camping trip. If you really need to sterilse, consider using boiling water or milton?
Do you need a picnic bag and a cool box? Can you take the esentials and buy food there?
Do you really need a coolbox? Cravendale will keep for a weekend without a fridge, as will bacon, sausages, butter, cheese etc.
Sleeping bags normally take up less room than duvets
Do you really really need an 8 man tent for 3 of you? We gas a 4 man tent for 2 x adults + 2 x 9month olds
Don't know what's in your camping kitchen; we normally take a small box (one of those old tesco blue boxes) which is about 24x12x12", where we squeeze everything from condiments to utensils, burners, matches, crockery, cutlery, mugs and wine glasses, tea cloths....
Bottom line, if you want to camp, you need to compromise on the luxuries. If you want caravan levels of luxury, get a caravan
Incidentally, ours are now 3 years old- they sleep in an inflatable airbed/sleeping bag thing; sit at the same folding table without a high chair, don't need nappies, don't need sterilising.... it gets easier! Last winter we went walking / camping in Snowdonia for 4 days; squeezed 2 adults, 2 children, camping stuff, walking stuff, those frame things to put the boys into, ice axes, crampons, ropes, sledges, into a 3-series estate + roof box
Pints said:
The wife and I, plus the HalfPints (aged 2 & 4) and large tent and 4 camping chairs and food and sleeping bags and BBQ, etc. all in a mk5 Golf.
It's all in how you pack it. As my mother says, "did you not build puzzles as a child?"
That's some going.... I suspect your definition of a large tent, and the OPs, differ slightly It's all in how you pack it. As my mother says, "did you not build puzzles as a child?"
Is that for a weeks camping?
We struggled in the octavia and a roof box. But then I freely admit my wife doesn't understand the concept of travelling light...clothes for every eventuality for her and the kids.
doolie said:
That's some going.... I suspect your definition of a large tent, and the OPs, differ slightly
Is that for a weeks camping?
We struggled in the octavia and a roof box. But then I freely admit my wife doesn't understand the concept of travelling light...clothes for every eventuality for her and the kids.
Fair enough - it's a 5 man tent, something like this, for a long weekend.Is that for a weeks camping?
We struggled in the octavia and a roof box. But then I freely admit my wife doesn't understand the concept of travelling light...clothes for every eventuality for her and the kids.
If I left the packing of the car to Mrs Pints, we'd never fit any more than a tent and duvet.
I have been reading the posts - and yes I like a slightly roomier tent ;o)
Some good packing in need by the sounds of it - I'll have a few practice runs in different configuration next year as I'm sure we should be able to make it fit much better. Littlun should be much easier to deal with next year - obviously no steriliser (wasn't one when we went in Sept.), we know we don't need a highchair etc. and we're hoping that come next year we can perhaps get him on to an inflatable mattress rather than the travel cot (useful for containing him though!)
Some good packing in need by the sounds of it - I'll have a few practice runs in different configuration next year as I'm sure we should be able to make it fit much better. Littlun should be much easier to deal with next year - obviously no steriliser (wasn't one when we went in Sept.), we know we don't need a highchair etc. and we're hoping that come next year we can perhaps get him on to an inflatable mattress rather than the travel cot (useful for containing him though!)
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