I am a beginner at family camping in big tents. I have sort of sorted out what kind of tent I will buy but now I need advise on what kind of equipment needed for a family of 4 - 2 adults and 2 kids.
I am at least planning to camp where there is current available.
I know the essential eating, cooking, chairs, table but what more is really needed? and what is really clever to bring?
There is 6 of us, 2 adult and 4 children 12 - 16 of age.
Our basic set:
Tent Outwell Utah 8
Outwell grill
Trangia
Outwell halogen lantern 220v
couple battery lantern
Outwell basket for laundry and dishes carrying
electric cord, long enough 20 - 30 m
adapter for different countries
table and chairs
Cooler box
Airbeds and electric pump
2 plastic box with lid, fitted by car,
can be used as an extra desk in tent and very useful for packing small stuff
Allso bags are fitted for our car it's smarter to get few smaller than one huge
proper sleeping bags
travel pillows
extra rope for washday and whatever
slippers that you can get of easily saves your groundsheet
That's about it
We don't use gas cookers or heaters but those are handy too.
We have one extra bedroom for storage and dressing.
Sometimes we take box on the roof but for shorter trips just those 2 extra box actually 3 one is smaller for drinks
Basically everyone has own bag to take care off
we managed with a fairly basic set up for years. Airbeds/bedding, one camping lamp, plus one plug in lamp, a cool box that could run on 12v or 240, an electric hook up (ok last two not that basic) one set of folding table with chairs attached and a camping cooking with gas of course, two burners and a grill. Added in a set of camping pans and plastic plates and bowls. From home we would also take the frying pan and a couple of boxes to put things in. That was it for years and did fine.
flip flops are very useful both for showers and for using in wet dew if not taken the wellies lol. Plus the hot weather that appears one day a year of course.
Quote: Originally posted by smogz on 21/1/2011
Hi!
I am a beginner at family camping in big tents. I have sort of sorted out what kind of tent I will buy but now I need advise on what kind of equipment needed for a family of 4 - 2 adults and 2 kids.
I am at least planning to camp where there is current available.
I know the essential eating, cooking, chairs, table but what more is really needed? and what is really clever to bring?
That's it! We started with nothing except bedding and cooking equipment but now have folding stools and a table. Folding crates are great for keeping stuff in and a trug is really versatile, too (can use as a washing up bowl, ice bucket, general storage). Lighting: a lantern or 2, a UFO light or 2, some head torches for reading...
Hopefully copying and pasting this will work. Below you should find our checklist.
Items that are in Brackets need to be added before we set off, everything else is already packed away ready. Items that are NOT in bold are stored in item above it that is in bold.
So just for clarity the spare tarp (not in bold) is stored in the bag that the carpet goes in. the Fire Bucket has the tent pegs etc in it.
Probably would have been easier to say that anything that isnt in bold is transported in something that is....
Tent
Misc Box
Sleeping Bags
Dustpan/Brush
Self Inflating Mattresses
Lanterns
Roll Mats
Torch
Cooker
(Phone Chargers)
Gas Bottle
Spare Batteries
Folding Table
Duct Tape
Cooker Stand
First Aid Kit
(Pillows)
Painkillers
Table
12v pump
2kw Fan Heater
Toilet Roll
Canopy
Wet Wipes
Chairs
Hot Water Bottles
Carpet
Spare Tarp
Kitchen Box 2
(Sieve)
Fire Bucket
(Pans)
Mallet
Water Carrier
Pegs
Peg Extractor
12v Cool Box
Electric Hook Up
Ice Blocks
Cool Bags
Kitchen Box
Gas Lighter
Washing Up Bowl
Rubbish Bags
Washing Up Liquid
Matches
Dishcloth
Kitchen Roll
Tea Towel
Crockery
Cutlery
(Rucksacks)
Veg Peeler
(Towels)
Travel kettle
Glasses
Portaloo
Bottle Opener/Corkscrew
Chemicals
Kitchen Knives
(Toys & Games)
By the way our lives are usually dis-organized - except for when it comes to camping and my Sports coaching....
------------- April - Strangers Home, Essex
Aug - Chy Carne, Cornwall
I'm fairly new, and perhaps a little paranoid, but we always have a sharp penknife in the bedroom should anything happen in the night and need to get to the kids and need to get out.
apart from the actual camping items you will need, dont forget things that you think of as clever, especially seeing as you have 2 kids
I always take ...
paracetamol & calpol
plasters
an all round cream such as germolene, savlon or sudocrem (daughter is forever grazing knees)
pro plus - kids like to be up early whilst camping lol
Penknife
corkscrew
tin opener
duct tape
baby wipes
Batteries
hot water bottles
Hello smogz.
I tend to use the KISS principle. Keep It Sensibly Simple.
Basically take the minimum required.
Less to lose, less to go wrong, less to forget.
That is, if you can do without many of todays items of desire. e.g. Television, Radio, Music Players, Microwave Cooker, Electric Heater etc.
But you state Quote:- I am at least planning to camp where there is current available.-: Unquote
So you need some home comforts powered by EHU (Electric Hook Up)
When I went to Sweden I wanted a 'back to nature' experience, so it was more like 'Back-Packing'.
My friends in Stockholm also preferred this type of camping.
You do not state the ages of your children, therefore 'type specific' replies may be awkward.
Perhaps a short trial outing would help to determine your needs.
Kind regards James
------------- In the beginning there was darkness.
Then I bought a tent.
I'm not destitute, I'm just poor.
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: Minimum equipment needed?
