We take EVERYTHING cos we would hate to be without something. And we're adding all the time.
We have a Camplet so basically most is already packed. It sits in the garage with the car roof box on top, containing a lot of the larger stuff we take. The Camplet storage box contains tarps, mallet, pegs etc, everything we need access to straightaway. We've brought large plastic storage containers, and these contain most of everything else we need.
With a long check list checked off the night before helps. All we then have to do is pack the right clothes and food.
When camping we want to be warm and comfortable, none of this hardened camper malarkey.
Yep our kit level kind of peaked a couple of years back, I try and keep it all under control, just replacing old stuff with better versions of new stuff.
Recently the melamine crockery went, replaced by Corelle crockery.
So with Trailer, Trailer RoofBox, Trailer Tongue Box and car RoofBox along with 8 of those "Really Usefull" 43lt strong plastic box's sadly numbered 1 through to 8 we kinda have a system, it's all on a stupidly long check list, which gets printed of about a week before we go.
It is all madness really, but it is all part of our holiday, which we only do once per year, for our 3 weeks away to the South of France in summer.
I go with very minimal kit. I used to pack everything, but then took up backpacking... changed my view of what I needed. Too old for that now so back in the car, but I still keep a lean kit.
I prefer the minimal kit now, and love the ease of packing
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But, that's my kit, we all have our own tolerance for what we need for it to be fun.
If you have a ways to travel to the car the giant ikea bags are great for collecting stuff together and saving multiple trips.
Similary we have an 84l storage box from Staples that we use to store literally dozens of smaller items. It stays packed and we just take the whole thing on the back seat with the tent on top. Things don't get forgotten and it makes packing so much easier
We do take a lot of "stuff" but I have cut back on clothes for us all. I have taken so much stuff back un worn in the past. However, every time we go away, I Work out how much a "cottage" would cost for us and hey-we save loads. I love camping, so do my boys-my husband hates it but comes with us. I remind him how much he's saved when we come back!
I drive an L200 and this year have invested in roof bars to use the roof box I had for my Freelander! Eeek, that's a lot of room but two happy boys in the back with lots of room now!
------------- 2015 7 weeks booked! Roll on Easter to start.
The last few years we have taken loads of stuff to make our big tent more 'homely'. Then we go out all day and only come back to sleep spending hardly any time in the tent! So this year we're planning on taking a small tent, less stuff and travelling about about a bit. Let's see what happens and whether the 4 of us cope!
------------- 2015 April: Polstead, Suffolk. May: Two Acres, Ely. Waveney River Centre and Whitehall Farm, Norfolk. Aug: Howstean Gorge / The Quiet Site / Fron Farm / Cae Du / Trevayne Farm - BOOKED!
We get everything we need in the back of a Passat estate. All the cooking stuff except for stove and gas bottle fit in a storage crate about 2'6" by 1'6", all our camping odds and sods (mallet, lanterns, spare batteries, windbreak, pegs for every eventuality, gaffer tape and so on) fits in another. The airbed, pump and blankets are in an Ikea big blue bag, sleeping bags and pillows are used to wedge everything else in and stop it rattling around.
We take 2 small holdalls each as it's easier to cram in several small bags than one large one, and we use a cool bag rather than a box as it's less bulky. We have a small folding table for eating at and a folding camping kitchen, plus 2 chairs.
We have another bag full of "dog stuff" - towels, bowls, spare leads, tie-out stakes etc and a big dog cage that goes in the "living room" of the tent for them to go in if they're spooked by thunder or anything, and they travel in cages on the back of the folded-down rear seat.
We're determined to resist getting a roof box, and are going to do a comprehensive audit of all the kit before we go away in June. I reckon we can downsize a bit.
Not using EHU really cuts down on what you need/want to take.
Totally agree, monster and me miss the simplicity of no ehu camping but no way will a 9 year old fully wired daughter consider camping any other way. Shame because she was fine with it for the first few years.
Well, as in all things, different strokes for different folks. Apart from Jelboy, you do have my sympathies - 7 flights of stairs - wow - I am so glad that you do enjoy your green stuff when you finally get there after your olympian effort to get ready
Arrived in the rain and wind and finally got the tent up and ready to "live in" but the last couple of days was absolutely glorious and guess what - all those things we needed in the first couple of days weren't needed but other stuff was brought out for the sunshine!!
So perhaps we do need all that stuff after all! As OH says, "it does depend on the weather as to what we actually use" and in our great British climate...who knows!
------------- May - Dorset
July - Saundersfoot
September - S. Wales
October - S. Wales
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: Do we really take all that stuff??!!
