Don't try to buy everything before your first trip; you will inevitably waste money. Go with the very bare essentials and build up slowly as you do more trips and identify real 'need'.
Take a look at 2nd hand sales - eg Preloved. If you buy from them you might get a bargain, but even if you don't buy from then you will notice the avalnche of ads reading "everything you need for camping, used once..." Take this as a warning.
Then, large boot or not, prepare yourself for the towbar and trailer...
Finally what kit you'll want for a fortnight somewhere hot versus a possibly wet / cold weekend somewhere close to home might be very different - including the tent itself.
Quote: Originally posted by tentadventurer on 13/8/2013
Oh, and a collapsible water carrier.
I wouldn't bother with one of those, tbh. They never seem to last more than one season before they leak. Buy a big bottle of still water at a supermarket when you get there and refill it when it's empty, and put it in the recycling when you come home.
Wow! Thank you so much everyone for your replies. Loads of great tips and products to hunt down.
Yes, we will be camping both in France for 2 weeks next summer plus weekends in this country, starting with one in September this year then hopefully from April/May through til September/Oct 2014, so will hopefully work out exactly what we need for shorter trips vs our bigger holiday.
Any more ideas or suggestions please keep them coming.
I'm with fran on the water carrier I pick up 5L water in supermarket before we go and bin it at end of trip.never tastes right out of a water carrier.
There's a used once Vermont xlp on eBay at mo. although if you're planning on France you might want to look at polycotton as it will be cooler. There were times when we were in France I'd have hated to be in polyester. Also fridge/ cooler wise we have a 3 way fridge which takes up a lot of room some of our hotter days in France it struggled.
We started last May and have bought everything and more or less replaced everything, and we're now on our third tent. We've got through 8 SIMs, we're on our third sleeping bag each and have bought 7 chairs for 3 of us. We've had a cheap double burner, Cobb and cadac, and two suitcases. Cheap isn't always the way, but until you know it's something you'll stick with can you borrow things?
------------- 2013
Easter - Thorpe park tin tent
May bank - Saxdale
Whitsun - Nantcol
June - Studfold
July - Priests house, Barden's back garden ;-)
July- 4 vents Paris for euro Disney
Aug - Saxdale
Aug- high straggleton farm
Aug BH - Studfold
Sept - Stratford
Oct - Masons
NYE -saxdale (eeeek)
not much more to add except i would def recommend sim's for the children. my girls aged 7 and 3 just rolled off of their air beds lol. they still roll off the sims but at least they dont have far to go. we got outwell flowies (childrens ones)
we still like our airbed, just got a nice coleman one :) just make sure you insulate under everything to keep warm. so we use picnic rugs in the bedrooms, then fleece covers for the sims and airbed. i made my own from cheap fleece blankets (peppa pig and buzz lightyear!) and just stitched them up like a pillowcase.
i would love a double sim - but the pack space is very large compared to a double airbed, and space is our deciding factor on EVERYTHING!!
Great thread!
My top tips..
I love my double air bed, it's a Coleman and has two separate sections so roll together isn't an issue, I've also used it as a single by just blowing up one of the chambers. I use a thick fleece blanket as a bottom sheet and the last trip (in torrential rain) I took a king size 13tog duvet instead of sleeping bag and slept soooo well, I HATE sleeping bags, find them cold and cramped, and I have decent vango ones??
I also went EHU for the first time and in the rain the electric heater was a lifesaver. In fact I am certain I would have lasted 2 days not 5 without it!
I'd say a tent carpet is a must too. Doesn't have to be expensive and fitted, a load of cheap picnic rugs is just as good, but makes all the difference to your 'living room'.
Also buy some cleaning wipes, dead cheap from supermarkets, but great for wiping tables etc as you don't have a tap to wash out your cloth every 5 mins.
If you go EHU then a slow cooker is great to, especially with the kids, teatime creeps up on you quick when your having fun, and we all know when kids want feeding, they want it NOW! Chuck a sausage casserole in with some spuds in the morning and its ready and waiting!
Most important thing tho, wherever you go, especially with kids.....
WINE! 😏
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: New to camping...must have and must nots?
and just stitched them up like a pillowcase. 
