I've now been on here for 12 years 1 month. I think every trip we've done with our caravan since I joined has been after research on here. It's definitely my first go-to when looking for a site to visit.
Not been any major change in our setup, apart from one change of caravan and a couple of changes of tow-car. We did buy a couple of reclining chairs a couple of years ago but otherwise virtually everything is the same. If it ain't broke, don't fix it is my motto. Our latest car does have a sat-nav but I rarely use it and I always still take a map-book with me. The sat-nav is normally only used for the last 2 or 3 miles of any journey anyway.
Quote: Originally posted by tentguy on 07/12/2025
I wonder how people's camping setups have changed since they joined
Just thinking of the Argos dome tent, borrowed folding chairs, no lighting and huge gas stove I had for my first trip
Oh, and printing off AA Route maps to try and find the campsites in my M reg fiesta :-)
Now thinking of all the LED lights I have, ehu, new tent, lithium powered stuff lol
I have been through a couple of cycles of expansion and back to minimal, and eventually posts on here convinced me to get a cotton canvas Dutch Storm tent. My sleeping arrangements have become more comfortable, now I do less family camping I have abandoned cooking directly over a campfire with Dutch Pots, Pie Irons and so on.
Quote: Originally posted by tentguy on 07/12/2025
I wonder how people's camping setups have changed since they joined
Just thinking of the Argos dome tent, borrowed folding chairs, no lighting and huge gas stove I had for my first trip
Oh, and printing off AA Route maps to try and find the campsites in my M reg fiesta :-)
Now thinking of all the LED lights I have, ehu, new tent, lithium powered stuff lol
I started off as a tenter, improved my set up along the way, had a break between September 2018 and 2020 due to various issues, and then switched to a PVC in April 2021.
The PVC is here to stay and I am very happy with it.
DK
------------- Apple The Campervan - A Van For Work, Rest & Play!
- 2027: ? NL+DE+FR
- 2026: FR+DE
- 2025: 17/77
'24: 10/49; '23: 9/47;'22: 8/46; '21: 9/34
* Ex-tenter
* Treat life events like a dog: if you can't eat it, play with it or hump it, p1$$ on it and walk away!
Goodness, I’ve just checked and I joined in 2003! This is always the first place I look for site reviews and the first place I go to ask for help. Since joining we have had a series of tents, then a trailer tent and we now have a caravan. Lots of very happy years.
Ah, map books. I always take an atlas and can read maps easily, thanks to Dad. For some reason my nephew by marriage seemed incredulous that I can do this. Have drawers full of maps but if course not really needed now they are online.
Quote: Originally posted by Mrs. Bonce on 31/12/2025
Have drawers full of maps but if course not really needed now they are online.
Online only works if you have a signal, plus a live battery. Not advised for hill walking.
I use my OS maps as a tool: I’ll write “narrow bridge” on a C-road that the MH was almost too wide for, or mark up a walk that we’d enjoyed, or highlight something particularly interesting (there’s tiny Ruthwell church near Annan in SW Scotland with a spectacular 5m medieval carved cross inside, yet it’s not ‘blue hatched’ on the map). Each map is almost a diary of a camping trip.
I love my paper OS maps for walking, I don’t think you can fully ‘read’ the landscape from online maps. And it’s irresponsible to go up into the fells, IMO, without a map and a compass that you know how to use.
And for driving the various SatNavs are great for getting you to a destination but without fully understanding where you are or how you got there. I always carry a road atlas in case of The Unforeseen.
Quote: Originally posted by DeborahTurner on 31/12/2025
I love my paper OS maps for walking, I don’t think you can fully ‘read’ the landscape from online maps. And it’s irresponsible to go up into the fells, IMO, without a map and a compass that you know how to use.
And for driving the various SatNavs are great for getting you to a destination but without fully understanding where you are or how you got there. I always carry a road atlas in case of The Unforeseen.
But I just love maps.
I never go anywhere that I haven't been before without a road atlas. New technology is great, but it has an uncanny knack of going wrong just when you need it most. I've had it happen more than once!
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: 10 years on the forum
via mobile 07/12/2025 at 11:05am
