Hello everyone. This year i am brand new to tenting as i have always holidayed in either a touring caravan or statics around france and italy. Does anyone have or can recommend a good tick list to have for going away as iam sure there are handy things to take away that i wont have thought of untill its too late. Any help gladly appreciated.
------------- Yesterday is already a dream and tomorrow is only a vision, but today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope.
Ayup p2ent. Can't beat the link above but I suggest that you start by doing your own check list with the equipment you already have (First on the list = first into the trailer or car,so heaviest at the top of your list), then the more you camp the more you will be adding to the list. We for example have expanded our checklist over the years so when we pack up to go anywhere we simply take it out of the garage and just tick it off as it goes into the trailer (Heaviest at the bottom).
ok so you have bought or are getting everything, the list of items above is pretty comprehensive. But the essentials are along the following lines
Tent
pleanty of pegs (min double required)
sleeping mats/duvets/airbed
sleeping bags/duvets
night lights
table
chairs
cooker
GAS (for cooker)
saucepans
fryingpan
sharp knife!
scissors
plates/cups/glasses
cuttlery
TIN OPENER!!!
first aid kit
Most of the above can be stored in boxes with nice big wrighting on them i.e COOKING.....BEDDING. This way you know everything should be in the boxes and its just a case of pop them in the car/trailer.
The following will be more a hiderance if forgoten but not essential
Towels (pleanty of)
washing up bowl, good for a lick and a promise!
baby wipes, again good for a lick and a promise and a whole load of other uses, cleaning dirt spots on clothes!
Toothpaste/soap/toothbrush/flanel (best to get a bag for everyone if you have kids)
UMbrella
There are probably a whole load of other things that are non essential which i have forgoten about now, so will probably add to this in a couple of days.
but the more items you can keep seperate for camping and in a safe place (see boxes above) the less stressful it will be when your getting ready to go.
I have only been camping once so im far from an expert, but i did know to test run loading the car before the day, have everything ready and make sure it all fits in!
I went camping with my mother and my daughter, we went in a little Hyundia Accent, so not the biggest car in the world and we managed it without a trailer! and we had pretty much all the above items! You would be amazed at what you can fit in an average car without being squeezed up against the steering wheel or having kids moaning about playing sardines.
I think the best tihng you can do is when the weather gets a bit better find a nice local site and just have a weekend away there, that way if you have forgoten something or find you really need something, your not a million miles from home and can just pop home and get it, instead of trying to find a shop far from home and hoping they have what you want.
I hope this is a little help to you and enjoy
ROB :)
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(='.'=) the bunnies are coming!
(")_(") THE BUNNIES ARE COMING!!!!!
We went for the 1st time this year and camped reasonably close to home, about 30 miles or so away.
We forget things and took some things that didn't work, but I was able to come home a couple of times to get it right.
We packed most of the essential stuff away for next year so that we'll be ready to go as quickly as possible.
We ended up buying loads and loads of stuff before we went and I was worried that we wouldn't like camping and would have to try and off load it all on eBay, but we absolutely loved it.
The children had a whale of a time and so did we. We didn't do a huge amount, but just getting up at a leisurely pace and cooking breakfast was a real treat. In fact, just doing the washing up was relaxing! I think using this site helped immensely though, not only choosing kit but also in choosing a site.
We came back feeling so much better, more relaxed than we have for yonks.
The one thing I hate to forget is a large bag for going to the shower which will take my clean clothes, wash bag and towel so it can be hung up in the shower cubicle-an essential if you are unlucky and have dirty showers!! We also include flip flops or similar to wear in the showers.
We always went camping with friends who smoked so it was great when we lit the bbq, only last year we went with some other friends who like us don't and once we had everything ready we realised we didn't have a light-the people in the next tent thought it was hilarious but after a good laugh did light the bbq for us!! Hence matches on the list!!!
As much as I keep reminding myself I ALWAYS forget to take a bloody tin opener! The amount of times I've tried to open a tin with a blunt knife! lol
Dan
We now have a complete set of cutlery (stored in a very handy carpenter's bit roll), utensils, crockery, pots, tea towels, washing up bowls etc that are permanently stored in a plastic crate, with a lid, in the loft. We have a second one that holds all other the indispensable camping stuff - mallet, clothes line and pegs, gaffer tape, tent pegs, torches and lanterns etc - also in the loft. Makes packing to get away a damn sight quicker!
It might sound a bit extravagant, but the mugs were 50p each in Sainsburys, the plates came from charity shops, the cutlery is spare stuff out of the drawer in our kitchen, the pans are old ones that would otherwise have been thrown away, the tea towels were about £2 for 4 in Tesco and the utensils were very cheap in Ikea.
The crates are brilliant too. The lids keep the dust out while they're in the loft and mean they can stay outside the tent even if it rains. I think they were about a fiver each, and worth every penny.
All we have to pack is our clothes, food, stuff for the dogs (who seem to need nearly as much as we do), tent, table and chairs, stove, bed and bedding, and we're away.
Hi Fran. Sorry for the late response I didn't click the button so I was emailed of replies - only just seen what you've posted.
It's funny you say the because yesterday I went around the house and collected all my camping bits together, and organized them all in the front spare room ready for next time I go away - will make things so much easier! I now have a box that I have stored all my plates, cups, cutlery etc in. I've even put a tin opener in there!
All my other bits, roll mats, mallet, tent pegs etc etc have been left in a nice neat pile in the room.
So next time I go away I can just throw it all in the boot and pack some clothes! Problem solved!
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Topic: camping list
