I tend to load all the bigger/heavier stuff on the Thursday evening, nip to work on the Friday for a few hours, then chuck in the last few bits/coolbox/food etc before setting off around Friday lunchtime.
That has nothing to do with space, of course, but just wanted to say....
It's a good job we don't have kids, if they have to go in first!!
Saz, I'm afraid I can't tell you how we get on with the tent, because we haven't been out in it yet! We got it as a second hand bargain in October, but then the weather and my shifts didn't match up so we didn't go out.
I've got a Mondeo hatchback (couple of years old) and a 470l roofbox and manage to fit plenty in - Vango Infinity 600 plus carpet, groundsheet and awning, table, cupboard, 4 chairs, my Vango drinks cooler, airbeds, sleeping bags, cooker, gas, bbq, clothes for 4, kids stuff (football, cricket set, all the usual) couple of coolboxes and all the other miscellania you would expect.
Always a bit of a squeeze but it can be done.
I always take a photo of my boot and roofbox before I set off so I can remember where everything went!
We bought a roof rack and roof bag but have yet to need it.
Once we had been away a few times we learnt what we actually needed and what stuff we never needed so now everything has its place in the car.
My son still ends up surrounded by kit and ends up with his feet on the coolbag but its nice and cosy!
My tip is make sure that the tent, poles and pegs (don't forget the mallet!) is packed so its the first thing to come out when you arrive and conversly will be the last thing you pack when you leave, makes things a lot easier if its wet.
------------- A problem shared is a problem halved
we got everything in a citroen c4 hatchback 2 kids higear zenobia and porch 4 chairs, gas bottle, 2 ring burner , 1 double airbed 2 single airbeds, foldable table ,higear kitchen unit ,4 sleeping bags 6 pillows, 20 meter ehu,clothes for how ever long we go for ,cooler box, box of plates cups and cutelry and pans i think thats about it lets just say it was a tight sqeeze going for a week but could still see out of back window so we no own a peugot 3008 hopefully that should give us a liitle more room
------------- callow top june 3 nights
thornwick holiday park august 6 nights
porth beach tourist park august6 nights
We camp for 2 weeks at a time so take a big tent and LOTS of stuff.
We have 2 boys too.
We push all the seats as forward as possible before we start. Then we put the middle seat down between the boys and push the tent into this. Means the boys can't see each other but as its big it is 100% secure wedged tightly in. We can then get all of the considerable camping equipment into the boot. Plus a big bag of clothes.
But, as we camp for 2 weeks and the boys want body boards, I like my halogen oven in case we have tons of rain, i take a bag of food so i dont spend the first day shopping, and DH insists on his weber BBQ and his bean to cup coffee machine we also have a roof box. There is no space we don't fill! If we dumped the total unnecessary luxuries we'd be fine.
However, we get a puppy soon who will come with us next year and that is going to mean either a huge trailer. Having priced up said trailer new and on eBay, towbar, locking hard cover and struggled to find any way to insure it and its contents adequately, I've given up on that idea.
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: Will it all fit in the car?
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