could any please give me advice on what to take and what not to take, i have got all of my stuff out of the loft tonight ready for our camping trip in a couple of weeks and to be honest i dont know where i am going to put it all there is just too much stuff but i dont know what if anything i can leave out... if i take it all i will need a day either way to put it up and take it all down again..... like i said HELP...
Can you write a list of what you've got? Then post it up if you're brave! At least then you'll identify if you're taking too many of the same thing etc.
Know exactly how you feel! I had started to panic before we went away last week, as up until then I'd been buying stuff happily, without really giving a thought to how we'd get it in the car (a Golf)!
We did exactly the same as you, got it all out to really go over what we'd got.....but we, well I, found there was nothing we (I) wanted to do without......so......we condensed, big time.
It's amazing what you can get in little spaces! We have a suitcase table with two small folding stools inside, the spaces inbetween their legs took our micro fibre towels (bit like drying with a chamois leather, but so, so small), the nesting saucepan set had a toilet roll tucked in with them, the bag for the EHU had enough room for the Delta pegs, the sleeping bags squished up and made room for the small pillows, the airbed had enough room to fit a fleece blanket in with it, the (clean!) pee bucket housed shoes, and so it goes on. We took travel sizes of deodorant, shower gel etc - Boots have got some great stuff in at the mo.
Granted it doesn't cut down on the weight you're carrying but it does give you more space. Hope this helps, Anita
My advice is take the minimum, you have already seen a major downside to "glamping". To be honest if you just weigh yourself down with equipment you will just turn it into a chore. Yes some people defend it, but you can bet your bottom dollar they only go away a few weeks a year. But everyone to their own. Myself i want the car packed and tent erected and everything done with a combined time of about 45-60 mins. That way i manage to get away at least 25 weekends in the year if i want to, sometimes considerably more. I prefer to get away more often rather than being bogged down with equipment. But only you can decide what you are willing to leave at home. But take the basics and you will survive and you will have a better idea of what you really need.
Lee, off track sorry but did you sell the Biscaya in the end? Glad to hear you havent given up camping.
We used to take far too much with us but this year I've sold loads of it (all the wardrobes/ big kitchen stand, etc etc) as the packing at home and then to come home drove me mad. I never minded setting up camp. Tbh we havent missed any of it.
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We got all our stuff out at the weekend too - what a shock!! We had a caravan last year and could just load it up, this camping malarkey is a whole new board game . Having said that we love a challenge and have now packed (and filled!) the trailer with the tent, awning, inflatable mattresses, sofa, moon chairs and numerous other bits n pieces - my lovely dh is fitting a rack to the top of it to hold the lightweight chairs and tables, he has fitted a roof rack to the car (lwb Pajero) which will hold the holdalls for the clothes and the fridge, tv etc will go in the back of the car. We are hoping to still sit teenage son in the boot as three on the back seat will be bad news on a 6 hour journey but we will have to see when the time comes. I'm afraid we are most definately glampers and we'll be the one still arranging the furniture at midnight
My family keep telling me I've got too much stuff, & I admit I have enough stuff for 2 people, even though I'm going on my own. But I packed the car this evening (sailing off to France tomorrow morning for several weeks) & I've still got room for a passenger, that's including £62 worth of shopping from Tesco! & it's only a small(ish) car.
But, having read through this thread, I've realised I forgot my pillows!!! Does anyone know the French for pillow???
Stop at the nearest supermarket - just like Tescos, Sainsburys and Asda they have 'household' departments - the pillows will be obvious! although why not just chuck one in the car now
The one good thing about France is that it isn't Outer Mongolia - I can't think of anything you can forget that you couldn't just get over there (finances allowing of course)?
That's pretty much what I figured. I'm not at my own place tonight, & they don't have any spare pillows here, so I will have to get some. Can easily manage without for a day or so.
My budget is really tight, & I mean REALLY tight, so it's annoying to forget such items. Better than forgetting the tent or stove I suppose!
(& I'll have to get pillow cases as well! Bugger! Maybe I will find an alternative, I've got enough kit, shouldn't be difficult)
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Topic: HELP!! Taking far to much
. Having said that we love a challenge and have now packed (and filled!) the trailer with the tent, awning, inflatable mattresses, sofa, moon chairs and numerous other bits n pieces - my lovely dh is fitting a rack to the top of it to hold the lightweight chairs and tables, he has fitted a roof rack to the car (lwb Pajero) which will hold the holdalls for the clothes and the fridge, tv etc will go in the back of the car. We are hoping to still sit teenage son in the boot as three on the back seat will be bad news on a 6 hour journey 
