I think there's quite a few tents now that would suot your needsthat you can get up in about half an hour.
Practise at home with no pressure.In thepast ive made a list of my own instructions in case its a while beteeen trips
I find buying massive bags for the bits of the tent saves time putting away.You dont have to worry about folding things exactly just roll up and stuffin a bag
To keep warm at night a cheap but warm quilt under sleeping bag is cosy and warm and you dont have to pump up.
When you get there have a rest.To avoid setting up kitchen take a flask and then when you arrive you can either get out your chairs or sit in car.When youve had a little relax then start putting up tent.If you can do it single handed its much better cos then one of you can explore with kids while you get on with it.Some kids can really help bit othrs are best kept out of the way.
For packing up maybe some stuff can be done day before you leave.
I spent my bonus on one of these. An absolute joy. I'll be camping every year for the next 20 years so worth the investment. Ifor Williams
Get an air tent you can put up yourself and send mrs to the site shop while you pack unpack. Also we always try to drive at night, when they are sleeping.
Also, I now keep all my gear in the trailer in the garage. Apart from anything mice can chew. Tent is big and heavy but with practice can be erected in 30 mins solo
Post last edited on 28/05/2017 22:43:49
------------- Happy Days
Carnac twice the years before
Garangeoire Vendee 2 weeks july16
Garangeoire Vendee 2 weeks June 17
Strathclyde march 18, Anstruther Week April, Blairgowrie, May 18
Chateau de Lez-Eaux Saint Aubin Des Preaux 2 weeks 2018
Loree du bois Les Mathes 3 weeks jul19
Belhaven Bay 1 week july 2020
I wouldn't be keen on erecting an easy piych tent like the Khyam Chatsworth single handed in windy conditions...
A bell tent can be erected single handed, and it can be pegged down all the way round before erecting it, so it will not take off like a big balloon at the slightest wind. Some years ago I managed to pitch my 3 m poly bell tent in 15 minutes - and that was even while I needed a crutch when walking!
When I was camping as a single Mum with 2 kids I could pitch my Montana 6 single handed - but only when there was no wind at all! And it took about 2 hours until the tent, the airbeds and all the other stuff where in place. I ended selling the Montana 6 and kept my (loads of) easier-to-pitch tents, but the damage had been done - my oldest daughter had lost all interest in camping, because she was tired of Mum shouting, swearing and breaking down in tears at the start of the holiday (my youngest daughter even wrote a text at school -"Write about your holidays" citing my language when pitching the tent - very embarrassing!). Not to forget the end of the holidays with things going on in reverse order and Mum breaking down twice - when everyting was packed down at the site, and when it had to be unpacked, dried, and stored in the right places at home.
I know, it is no option for you, but since last summer I have a little 3 bed caravan, a minimum of things to load or unload, and my daughter, now 17, has become a happy camper again! I kept few of my smaller tents though, for my solo camping trips (hope I'll have time for them!).
So my advice is to buy a tent like a bell tent or a pyramide that is easy and fast erected by one person - and to downsize the equipment!
------------- Proud owner of a 1987 Sprite Alpine 370 EK, a cheap popup tent and a beloved retro Trio frame tent from the early seventies, called Giraffen.
we had many years of happy camping. we have four kids and yes it was hard work, we went through the lot, even changing the car at one stage for a vw van to fit all the gear in, but we would not have changed it for anything. we found some fantastic places and have some superb memories, our two older kids are now 21 and 19, and holiday abroad with friends. our younger two 16 and 14 and don't want to camp anymore, so we now have a few static holidays each year, we're both 45 now and have a savings plan in place to buy a motor home when we are in our early fifties, once you have been a camper its in your blood!!
theres nothing like it. gaz
------------- "sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy"
I quite like the look of the air go horizon 4,although a little on the small side I envisage erecting it in minutes,had a look in go outdoors yesterday and the time on the ticket was 5mins to erect,air go 6 was a bit too big and a lot more expensive,only thing with the air go 4 was no proper porch canopy to cook under.
We have been through all the various stages of camping. After the cubs and scouts camping as a kid I used a two man blacks tent and a single campingaz burner for years. Once the family came along we moved onto bigger and heavier tents and more and more stuff. We went through exactly the same as you with the tent, fighting with a outwell sunvalley 8 with an extension for years. We got sick of that and someone offered us a cabanon jupiter trailer tent for a great price. That last about 3 trips. Although the main unit was a pleasure to put up the awning caused divorce/breakdowns every time we put it up. Hated not having the sewn in groundsheet too and the beds were just uncomfortable. We sold that and bought a Vango Maritsa 700. We thought metal poles might be easier to put up. It was still hard work and always caused a row. Heavy too. The poles were stupidly heavy. We also got camping beds to try and be more comfortable and various other bits. It took forever to put it all up and pack it all away. At that point we gave up for a couple of years but we missed it so had a rethink and decided to go back to basics a bit.
We now have an inflatable tent and electric pump which I can easily put up AND take down and pack in 15 minutes on my own without breaking a sweat, a couple of camping chairs, a cooker, frying pan and kettle, a little table, some 7.5cm self inflating mats and sleeping bags, a hookup cable, a little outwell coolbox and a lamp. Its quick and easy for a couple of nights trip but will do for a week too. it all fits very nicely into my little 4x3 trailer and most importantly, no rows, no stress, takes half an hour to set up and a leisurely 45 mins to pack away. Going back to basics a bit has made it fun again rather than a huge stress and it allows me to take the kids on my own if my wife doesn't want to go sometimes. It is easy to get sucked into the "I need all this stuff" mindset but it can make it more hassle than it is worth. Worked for me anyway :)
The only thing i would say is be careful of weights with inflatable tents. Mine is 25ish kilos and I wouldn't want to be dealing with some of these that are 40-50 kilos. I'd be back to hating putting the tent up!
I have packed my car for the trip tomorrow. As going Estes daughter is going to a birthday party, we are driving down in two cars, putting up the tent then OH will drive back, pick up daughter and back to site. Each journey is 1.5 hours. We have had to pack, will unpack, pitch, cook and you know what? It will be worth it for some family time.
I think lots of good advice above, agree the packing away is the worst side of camping, but if you do a two week stay it's not too bad.
we are just 2 adults and a dog, airbeam, electric pump and its a sort of breeze, its mostly pop up furntiure now, the longest is putting c.lothes away etc.
Takes us hours as we stop have a drink, chat walk dog before tent goes up, we just love that side of it.
It is a whole different ball game with young children. Also, I note that it is MsBearLake who is most put off. All families are different, but depending on how a household runs any self catering, and especially camping, can feel like all the same parenting load with twice the work.
In our house all parenting and domestic is split 50/50, and when we are camping we cook over a fire (corrrction I cook... other half is mostly a camping refusenik) and that IS the fun. Because we like to do it. Me, and the kids who are now old enough to properly help, as well as go to the toilet block / shower unaccompanied, etc etc.
I did camp from when mine was 3, minimal kit, long weekends.
The line between fun, relaxed, chilled, and bloody hard drudge can be a fine one, with small kids.
We have a Maritsa 700 for our big tent, and that's heavy enough, but I don't think it's as heavy as the bear lake.
We have a trailer, that always makes me slightly nervous, just in case anything happens.
And we have two children, one with special needs and setting up can be challenging to say the least! I've tried to reduce the stuff we take, but I'm not sure what else I can reduce - we have a table, beds, four chairs a small kitchen unit and a stove. But we are still at about 3 hours for set up.
Last time, what we did that worked for us, is we got the tent and poles done together (which means mainly me doing stuff, and him holding things), the main guy ropes done so it won't fall down or blow away.
Then, I take the kids out somewhere. Anywhere. While my husband does the rest of the pegging out, and setting up. Then when we get back (bringing beer with us) he has a shower, while I make tea! That worked so, so much better because we weren't yelling at each other the whole time. Yes, more work for him, but he swears he prefers that to me nagging at him!
I can see that an air beam would help a lot, but whatever tent you've got, it still needs pegging out - and that's the bit I really don't like.
Young kids love camping with mum n dad, that's worth the hassle. Letting them run about with other kids while you prepare the al fresco food (that they like) with no timetable,under the stars, is the payback for the hassle. Kids can have a great time at a Spanish hotel with a pool. The camping trip is on another level, for us anyway. :-)
------------- Happy Days
Carnac twice the years before
Garangeoire Vendee 2 weeks july16
Garangeoire Vendee 2 weeks June 17
Strathclyde march 18, Anstruther Week April, Blairgowrie, May 18
Chateau de Lez-Eaux Saint Aubin Des Preaux 2 weeks 2018
Loree du bois Les Mathes 3 weeks jul19
Belhaven Bay 1 week july 2020
We've had a 3 year break from Camping, living abroad, must of forgot how crap the weather can be.
Just got back from Scotland, where we had good time, but of course it peed down the night before we left.
I hate packing up in rain and mud. Then got home, had to get everything out again to clean and dry and re-pack!
We've had trailer tent/folding camper etc in the past and found that the same.
Think we'll be looking for a small caravan next.
It's not just putting up the tent, ours goes up in minutes, it's setting all the other gear up, which I have got down to a minimum. I find it exhausting, need a holiday to get over it! Lol 😂
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Lost the will to live with tent camping
