Advice for a first time camper in a mk1 MX5

[Rids64]

I've chucked in the towel at work and decided (with the good lady's approval) to spend the summer driving around Europe - just me and my Eunos. The plan is to camp as often as possible to keep costs down but I have had nothing to do with tents/camping since my student days (and that was almost 30 years ago!).

Any advice on tents, stoves and other camping essentials would be much appreciated, bearing in mind the limited luggage space I will have to work with.

[The Tea Boy]

Hi having done a 2 week 3k mile trip in my last mx5 I can highly recommend a boot bag, don't pay what some companies are asking, buy a waterproof bag, some non slip material and 4 3m luggage straps (about £20 all in) and that way you are doubling you asking space.

Also if your solo, pop the passe get seat out and leave it at home


Matt

[AlfaPapa]

Ditto on the boot bag.

My other half and I spent two weeks in the Alps last summer. The boot bag we used consisted of a waterproof mountaineering kit bag, a piece of anti-slip rubber and four ratchet straps. As long as you use it for light things like clothes you'll not even notice it's there.

We had plenty of space for the tent, trangia, jet-boil, sleeping bags, roll mats plus all the mountaineering kit (two ropes, boots, crampons, ice axes and all the other paraphernalia). Granted, we had an audience when packing up at the end of our fortnight as they couldn't believe we were able to fit all of our kit into the MX5.




In terms of kit, my absolute must-haves are:

• A really good roll mat (I use a thermarest neo air, packs to the size of a coke tin, amazingly warm and comfortable. Sounds like an empty bag of crisps when you roll over, but as you're going on your own you won't disturb anyone)
• Decent stove (depending how you're planning to eat, we can cook just about anything on the trangia, but the jetboil is very useful - again both are compact.)
• Take your own tea bags if you like a decent brew

I'm very jealous, have an amazing time!

[Rids64]

The Tea Boy said:

Also if your solo, pop the passe get seat out and leave it at home

The wife is flying out to join me in mid August and coming back with me in the car so I guess I had better keep the seat in situ.

Is a roll mat an ample substitute for an airbed?

[Lanby]

Rids64 said:

Is a roll mat an ample substitute for an airbed?

No - for that length of time you will be grateful for a comfy bed

[cheddar]

Spent 3 months camping in a Mk1 - 2 up, 4 man tent, gas bottle, stove, pots and pans, 2 mattresses but no kitchen sink.

We used Therm-A-Rest beds - tiny, lightweight, comfy, brilliant.

[BigBob]

My first thought when I read the title was the best advice would be to take a bigger car

Might just be me getting old though.

Have a great time

BB

[chopper602]

Rids64 said:

The wife is flying out to join me in mid August and coming back with me in the car so I guess I had better keep the seat in situ.

and also, bang goes using the front seat area for extra storage for tent etc. If you're going to be travelling mostly hood down (no other way IMHO!), then it's difficult to use the space behind the top of the seats for things like tent, chair, themorest . . .

[MX51ROD]

Alternative to boot bag , I did a 3 wks tour around France , albeit in hotels , I bought a second-hand boot lid ( ebay) and bolted a second-hand boot rack (eBay) that way I could load up without fear of damaging paint finish on the original boot lid ,as the second-hand lid was wrong colour for car I went totally different sprayed the lid white and had a union flag stick on film fitted ,looked great

[Truckosaurus]

MX51ROD said:

Alternative to boot bag , I did a 3 wks tour around France , albeit in hotels , I bought a second-hand boot lid ( ebay) and bolted a second-hand boot rack (eBay) that way I could load up without fear of damaging paint finish on the original boot lid ,as the second-hand lid was wrong colour for car I went totally different sprayed the lid white and had a union flag stick on film fitted ,looked great

Genius Thinking!

[MX51ROD]

Truckosaurus said:

Genius Thinking!

Cheers ,there ya go


Gorges du Verdon 0700 hrs

Edited by MX51ROD on Tuesday 3rd June 19:18

Edited by MX51ROD on Tuesday 3rd June 19:33