Please help - we have just returned from 2 weeks 'Eurocamp' inFrance and have now got the camping bug!! Last weekend we visited a local camping show and after reading lots of advice on here bought an Outwell Idaho L (would have loved the XL but only got L in stock and too impatient to wait!)
Planning on our virgin 'trip' this weekend 'a la back garden' but wondered where to store the tent after? - Hubby suggested garage bit I am worried about it being a bit damp there. I suggested loft but it's to heavy so looks like we need to find space ina bedroom??
The garage is Ok so long as it's stored off the floor.
I have most of the big things in theoutside toilet, bedding on top bunk in youngest bedroom, tents (and other stuff) in the caravan or front room the week before we go and the rest in our back room.
I have a camping cupboard in the garage - old wood wardrobe, keep a couple of those moisture trappers in there, and everything stays lovely and dry! Mind you, the garage is... lovelya nd dry!
You are more likely to get damage to the tent from mice or rats if it is stored in an out building. I've had sleeping mats chewed and ruined after leaving them in the garage so we keep the tent inside the house now.
Storage is a similiar problem for us and have to store in the loft. it might sound a hassle but a few quid spent on a bit of rope and a lightweight pulley to attach to one of the roof supports directly above the loft hatch will help you lift the bag up once tied to the handle.
We store all our camping equipment in the house under the stairs now, after finding a family of mice chewing all my gear and raising babies in my mug, when we kept our gear in the garage. We have so much money invested in our equipment, the inconvinience of storage out ways the risk of damage. We live for our camping trips so every time i try to wrestle my coat out of an over-stuffed cupboard full of tents and sleeping bags I am remeinded that it is only 7 more months till i can go camping again.
I keep all our camping gear including the tent under my bed.
That way everything is in one place and we can load the car straight from under the bed, then when we get home again it all goes back under the bed, which means we don't forget anything.
We keep all the chewable things in the cupboard under the stairs having lost a couple of camping chairs to mice or rats. At least those were fairly cheap to replace.
Hi I have a storage rack in the loft for my camping gear but the tent well thats another story after numerous times trying to get it into the loft we gave up and it was then stored in a wardrobe in the back bedroom didnt fancy outdoor storage as i live near a railway line and have plenty of mice
Smandbensmum
------------- Easter: Forest Edge
May Bank Holiday: Southbourne
May Half Term: Verwood
August: Setthorns New Forest
August Bank Holiday: Arundel
and many weekends in between
we live in a first floor apartment so have to be quite ingenius in how we store things !
Tent hidden behind a chair in corner of sitting room - sleeping bags and pillows in airing cupboard, along with big cool bag that has all kitchen stuff / fiddly essentials so we just sort it when we get home and it is ready for next time. Foldong chairs , tables and airbeds in hall cupboard with the stove under the boys' bunkbeds. Gas canister is is our bedroom , making a quirky door stop !
BBQ and coals in boot of car , along with water carrier. Sorted.
------------- Meg xx
I'm not so shy now .Am colourful pyjama- wearing person who likes to say hello.
Minty - she's a girls best friend and Aurora and Colin keep us snug and warm.
Mice liuve anywhere that's dry and warm! So that could be the garage, shed, house loft...anywhere! Believe me, i live out in the countryside and theres no where the little beggers haven't got!! Just keep an eye out all year round, especially winter, where ever you keep anything stored! I leave traps set all year round. Try and stay one step ahead of the little blighters! Reading above, i'm going to pinch that idea of using them moisture things, You can usually find them in the pound shops, as we used them for the caravans we used to have, before we got back to camping!! Thanks...great idea!
------------- love shopping, love a bargain even more!
as of today (big sort out) most of the tenting stuff is now kept in storage boxes ready for our next trip when we get a trailer that is,5 boxes all stacked on top of each other in the spare bedroom,1 box with electical items,1 box with crockery and cooking stuff and so on,the tent and extension are on top of a large wardrobe again in the spare bedroom,chairs and cooker and the gas bottle are in the cupboard and everything is ready to hand ready for the next trip,i dont have a garage but my father does which is where the trailer will be kept.
also i dont fancy keeping any tenting gear in a garage as ive just bought a spare set of poles,zipped in ground sheet and inner tent for our tent off ebay for £15 and its only been used twice as the last owner had lost the outwell outer polycotton flysheet to mice in there garage...
------------- 2008 Bailey Pageant Champagne series 6 with a Dorema Daytona Awning + Nissan X-Trail + Outwell Trout Lake pollycotton tunnel tent
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: Storage Tips
Sue xxx
and its only been used twice as the last owner had lost the outwell outer polycotton flysheet to mice in there garage...
