Hi, weve got the 3 plug ehu unit from go outdoors.
We use it for: the tent light (outwell caster light), the fridge (outwell coolbox fridge), the heater (quest fan heater), charging our phones.
We take (as our car is small - and this is for a family of 6):
tent
poles (in our case a separate bag of steel poles)
foot print, carpet
Pegs kit etc
6 x camp beds, 6 x sleeping bags, 6 x fleecy blankets, 6 x pillows
Clothes and pjs for us all,
5 x lanterns (small hanging lights for different compartments), 3 x torches
camping table with benches, one main chair, blow up sofa
camping stove, gas bottle, cooking stand, collapsible cupboard, small bbq.
that's it - it looks a lot when its written there - but looking at others set ups its the basics haha
------------- June 2015: seaview international 2 nights
July 2015: little winnick 2 nights
August 2015: lower polladras 5 nights
august 2015: tollgate farm 5 nights
august 2015: oakdown 3 nights
September 2015: tregarton park
family of 6 with young children
I've got to disagree (respectfully) with the sleeping bag advice: if you have a good airbed you can just use proper sheets on them and bring blankets and/or a duvet! Why go to the expense of buying sleeping bags?
Not only are they pricey, but you can't wash them and they sit for most of the year in storage or a garage! Not so fresh year after year.
I used to use sleeping bags but now have the most beautiful toasty sleeps on my airbed with my familiar freshly laundered bedding. Unless you are backpacking, sleeping bags aren't necessary at all - a quality airbed (IMHO) definitely is.
Down the years on this site I have seen new campers buy everything that is recommended to them, and then they report that the whole business of preparing, loading and setting up is so huge that they have not enjoyed the experience in the end. Think carefully about the load your vehicle can take, and what kind of camping breaks you want to have.
I have gone through a period of downsizing, and getting rid of special camping furniture I used to have because it took so darned long. For example, I used to take food and kitchen gear in collapsible crates, and a folding camp kitchen unit. So I would then unpack the food and gear to the unit having built it, and reverse the process when packing up. Then I realised I could buy a 3 drawer plastic unit that holds all the kitchen kit permanently, which is compact enough to stand upright in the boot of my estate car, so it just lifts in and out without packing and re-packing.
The essentials are: something to sleep on, warm bedding ( duvets etc are fine, again it depends on your packing space), lighting, something to cook on, pots and crockery and kitchen gear ( again you can use what you have in your kitchen or buy camping dedicated stuff) a water container, a table or other kind of flat surface for prep and serving food, and chairs.
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: Help!! First Time Camper
