ours ended with a caravan , bought and sold countless tents, tables, cooker stands etc etc. Expensive I know but now hoping I will be able to stop the endless buying of anything and everything to do with camping. I know some will say going away in the caravan isnt camping but to us it is just with a decent bed for my bad back!
------------- Thistledown Easter
Nantcol June
Domaine du Verdon Castellane and Etoile d'Argens Frejus Aug
so, so, glad its not just me every trip i say "is there something we don't need and I can leave at home?" the answer is always "No!" So on we go, cramming everything in. What amazes me is that you'd think there'd be more room on the way back after eating and drinking everything.... not for us???? Its still always as cramped.
Still its all great fun and i get so excited planning the next trip
I was most suprised when both me and the other half both agreed we didn't need anything else for our trip this year should I book an appointment with the doctor?????
Bob
------------- Retired and living the dream touring Europe
Welcome to my world lol! We did the same as you probably - oh just buy a tent, go a'campin' ......
1 year later we are 3 tents on, a new car for the boot space, roofbox and bars, towbar and bike rack, plus all the regular stuff (cookers, kitchen, carpets, sleeping bags, heater, EHU, fridge, chairs ....) the list goes on and on.
Our first year camping has cost (including the car upgrade) in the region of £8.5k ................
It has to end when the next step is divorce... that is unless you prefer your camping gear to OH!
I came to a halt with my camping equipment when I realised our lovely open Aztec Galeria was getting cluttered. One of the reasons I go camping is to escape the suffocating clutter at home, and I was mortally afraid my camping trips were going to go the same way.
Also we only have a Renault Megane, which isn't a big car, has no towbar, and doesn't like the huge weight of the equipment we take already. OH was adamant we weren't going to go down the path of roof-racks or trailers, so the camping goodies collection had to stop. I occasionally still pick up the odd Very Small And Very Useful Thing, but I don't even think about larger items. I love the setup as it is, with our 30-year-old kitchen unit and 20-year-old stove and other vintage stuff, and wouldn't want to update.
The only thing I would be tempted by now is a smaller, easy-erect tent with stand-up living space for an overnight stay. The Galeria is like a ballroom, and lovely for a weekend or longer, but a bit much to take on an overnighter.
Otherwise, we're done!
Remember - you go into the shop for a mallet - just one mallet - and you come out with a bell-tent, with carpet, footprint and awning, two sleeping-bags, a set of rock pegs and a firepit! You have been warned...
It has stopped for us, simply because we dont have room to store anything else at home and we have reached the point where buying anything else now is simply for the sake of it.
We have been camping for 20 years. We have a full set up for weekends and shorter trips (small tent and airbeds) a set up for longer trips (big tent and camp beds). A toilet tent with toilet and battery shower. An EHU set up with electric lights, heater and cooking. A non-EHU set up with gas lights, heater and cooking. Oh and every possible accessory you can think of.
There is a lot of appeal in taking the kids for one night with just the absolute basics but I do kind of feel we have got it all sorted now and I try not to look at any more camping gear!!!
Just when I thought we had everything we needed, 9iron bought his Guadaloupe and Raf48 showed us his Eldorado.....now we need canvas!!!!
YESSSSSS!!!! Go for it Helen. You know you want it. You can only deny yourself for so long And when you do get your canvas I'll see you at MBP and this time I'll bring the malt to toast its first pitch
Finances are a bit tight at the moment as the new car arrives next month.....however, I have a cunning plan!!! I have tons of shoes and designer handbags that I never use, so they are going on e**y this weekend and any money I raise is going straight into the tent fund!!!!
We did exactly the same. We started modest with a small 3 man tent and a couple of mats that saw us around Europe for a holiday. We upgraded to a small frame tent, then a larger tent, then once the kids arrived we invested in a huge Khyam the size of a small village. Other tents have included a Jamet Roma, a Sunncamp Evolution, a Gelert pop up for festivals, a lovely Bell Tent and now....a VW Campervan.
With the Khyam we also had every gadget going and found it could easily take 4 hours to set up camp for the weekend. We set stuff up because we'd bought it rather than because we needed it and it all got quite ridiculous. We actually then tried leaving something at home each time to see how much we missed it...there were few things that were essentials.
The bell tent is fabulous and easy to put up, but then of course it wasn't the same unless I took the fur covers, wind chimes and everything else that created the "ambience"
As I camp nearly every weekend, I finally got fed up of the packing and unpacking and last year invested in a VW T25 Campervan. I really don't know what kept me so long to be honest, she's packed and ready to go at any time and has totally brought the spontaneity back into camping - no hours spent making lists or packing. Now I just have to fight the urge not to spend a fortune on gadgets I don't need for the van....
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: Where does it end!!!!
, bought and sold countless tents, tables, cooker stands etc etc. Expensive I know but now hoping I will be able to stop the endless buying of anything and everything to do with camping. I know some will say going away in the caravan isnt camping but to us it is just with a decent bed for my bad back! 
every trip i say "is there something we don't need and I can leave at home?" the answer is always "No!" So on we go, cramming everything in. What amazes me is that you'd think there'd be more room on the way back after eating and drinking everything.... not for us???? Its still always as cramped.
I occasionally still pick up the odd Very Small And Very Useful Thing, but I don't even think about larger items. I love the setup as it is, with our 30-year-old kitchen unit and 20-year-old stove and other vintage stuff, and wouldn't want to update.
And when you do get your canvas I'll see you at MBP and this time I'll bring the malt to toast its first pitch
