Last year we only ended up going camping a few times due to work but the main annoyance for me and my girlfriend was the packing/unpacking of all the gear, and the storage of it all, especially as our house is very small, with not much spare space and no shed or garage. I want to make a full go of it this year but ive been looking at the idea of getting a caravan, mainly to aleviate this problem, as everything can just be left in the van, and parked at my mum and dads, but the whole thing of getting a caravan is just so expensive, even a really old cheapy. How do you guys cope with storing everything? especially as some of the pics ive seen on here, you have LOADS of stuff!!
The majority of my stuff is in our little box bedroom, On the box. Also have a few things under the table in there. It's quite a pile still considering I got rid of some bulky items recently. Oh I have some in the loft too, don't you have a loft/? you have to be creative, prioritize the camping stuff. :)
If space is an issue then go compact. There is no point getting a large tent if you cannot dry it, so opt for more compact options and keep the set up to what you really need (use holdalls rather than camping wardrobes for example). There are a number of very comfortable standup height tents that are compact. Then you can store things in the loft (but keep fabric in a stable environment) or at the bottom of a wardrobe or on shelves at the top or in boxes on top of a wardrobe, under the bed, in a wicker chest used as a coffee table, on shelves in a cupboard... Use plastic boxes and holdalls/dry bags to store things so that it is easy to grab and go. We have friends that added shelves in their hall and a curtain to hide the contents.
We actually store our stuff in the bottom of wardrobes with the majority (not sensitive to temperature changes) stored in the side loft of the house alongside our bedroom.
------------- Love our set-up and need no more tents or gear, so trying to stop looking!
How about getting a trailer, one with a lockable hard top?
Load it up with the camping gear, and leave it locked and chained up securely at your parents until required.
Cheaper than a caravan I believe.
DK
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ive boared out loft. it only 1mtr high. but enough height to crawl about. i also got some carpet from the skip, just to make crawling easier on knees. and iv started to leave item home that ive stopped using, even though i always say to wife - its better to take it and not use it than to not take it and of need it.
I used to find the biggest problem with packing was making sure I'd got everything. Either keep a list on your PC so you can print it off each time, or keep a set of kit all ready to use so you don't need to bother. I do the latter. It's kept in the loft and in a trailer and always sorted out before it's put away so when we go again, I just pick the relevant box, hook up the trailer, add a bag of clothes and food and we are ready to go.
The more you take the less you go, look at your gear sort into two piles, what you need and what you want. Take the what you need, and put the rest in your mum and dads attic.
------------- 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.
we got a folding camper after packing for a trip using our tent, only to abandon at last minute due to really bad weather. It had taken me ages to find everything around the house and pack it all, only to put away again without going anywhere.
It is no quicker to pitch than your average tent once on site, (have timed against SIL putting hers up and down) however before we go we just have to sort clothes and food so do get a quick get a way. They can be left outside on a drive if need be.
A trailer tent may be a cheaper alternative as you can leave many of them on a drive (if you have one) with a lot of basic stuff you need inside. You can also move them into a smaller area like a front garden too. You do need somewhere to dry it out though if packing away wet so would only recommend a small trailer tent.
I keep all non mildew sensitive stuff in there, so the stove, cartridges, a box full of kitchen ware, the portable loo etc etc go in there.
The chairs, tent and sleeping bags come into the house. I'm lucky to have a large built in wardrobe in the spare room which holds everything, but if I didn't have that I'd probably go up (loft) or under - under beds, tables, or if it comes to it, in a neat pile with a blanket thrown over the top of it.
We have a decent sized 3 bedroom house but the camping gear takes up lots of space and thats really what has stopped me buying any more. Even if you have a garage or a shed I worry about stuff getting damp so I try to keep it indoors. Currently I am a bit concerned about the loo which is stored in the greenhouse, hope the frosts havent damaged it!
Our stuff is spread around the various cupboards in the house but we keep a spreadsheet listing all our camping gear and where it is. We try and keep similar things boxed together.
Could your Mum and Dad store some stuff for you if they live nearby?
At the end of the day it is possible to camp with a minimal amount of stuff and you maybe just need to look at having the basics.
Thanks for all your advise guys. I think i will probably go down the tent route, but get a small trailer and keep most of it in there. I have a very slim budget of max £300-500 and getting a decent caravan or trailer tent for that money in nigh on impossible!
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: What to do!
