Great Camping Hunt

Merrywidow

Sorry to butt in on your camping bonanza, really dont know how to start my own new thread. Was trying to book a hotel in Spain when up popped an ad for https://www.hospitalityclub.org - check it out. Sounds a great idea free swapping accommodation holidays. If anyone goes for it please report back.

flyingsnail

... don't you just hate that muddy groundsheet where it has been lying on the grass? All those worms and earth and stuff?

Take a (very thin) decorator's polythene sheet with you (about £3 for five); put it on the grass before you put the ground-sheet down. When you come to break camp - just put the polythene sheet for re-cycling and go home with a clean groundsheet (well, the outside, anyway!)

Doesn't save much money of itself, but it saves a lot of time and makes you more likely to go camping again (and thereby saving money!).:D

ecarliol

Hi

Lots of interesting suggestions and as ever a few dissenters. OK camping isn't for everyone - but take a look at this couple's tent
http://www.flickr.com/photos/redmann/221915005/
wonder if I'd get away with that at Glastonbury?
Thanks all

BillScarab

I must be getting soft in my old age, years ago I would have socffed at that. Now I'm looking at it thinking hmmm, where can I buy that bed!

SimJ

It's a bit late for this season but my advice is to buy a tent during the sales in February.:j

Most camping shops tend to have a good sale on then. For example: We bought our Vango 8 man tent that you can stand-up in with built in ground sheet :cool: form Go Outdoors for £200, mrsp £350 !

borntoshop

Gelert Alaska 8

Is this a standing room height, I saw it in a previous post?

Rosamundi

jamtart6 wrote: »

why do people think thin thermarest type things are better than airbeds? I'm intrigued?? I found in our smaller tents, the bedroom would stay nice and warm (with airbed) as it only fitted one double airbed in..our new tent fits 2 double airbeds in, has a vent in he bedroom, and i was flipping freezing last time....so any ideas to keep warm much appreciated!

Hi Jamtarts

For the 2 of us in our Cabanon Andorra (4 berth) we use a raised airbed which I bought from ebay last year for a third of the price (like this one http://www.simplyhike.co.uk/ProductDetails.aspx?StockID=34053) because they are larger than a double and higher from the floor we never got cold - in fact it was more comfy than our bed at home - we leave it pumping up from the 12V socket in the car whilst we finish pegging out and tarting up the inside so it's no extra effort to inflate.

Rosamundi

kirkie wrote: »

What sort of fridge/coolbox do people use? How do you keep things cool for a few days? Just thinking that if it was plugged into the car it would drain the battery or do people have a separate battery?

Hi Kirkie

The fridge is one of my luxury items - cost a small fortune even though it was bought in the sales and it's big enough to use as a small table - can't remember the make but it's a 3 way one - I cool it on the electric at home, fill it full of food, run it on the 12V in the car then when the tent is up I run it off the gas bottle (which also powers the cooker).
It's great because it means I don't have to keep going food shopping where I always buy more than I need.
If you have a straight 12V one it will drain the car battery very quickly but you can buy a separate leisure battery (I think Halfords sell them) to run it.

kirkie_2

Rosamundi wrote: »

Hi Kirkie

The fridge is one of my luxury items - cost a small fortune even though it was bought in the sales and it's big enough to use as a small table - can't remember the make but it's a 3 way one - I cool it on the electric at home, fill it full of food, run it on the 12V in the car then when the tent is up I run it off the gas bottle (which also powers the cooker).
It's great because it means I don't have to keep going food shopping where I always buy more than I need.
If you have a straight 12V one it will drain the car battery very quickly but you can buy a separate leisure battery (I think Halfords sell them) to run it.

Do you know the male and model?

Rosamundi

kirkie wrote: »

Do you know the male and model?

Hi Kirkie

Just popped to the garage to look - mine's a Sibir - it's about 6 years old.

I've done a quick Google and found one here http://www.springfield-camping.co.uk/Sibir/RC1100+Fridge/p but it seems that there might be a few 2nd hand ones out there too.

I think from memory Camping Gaz & Electrolux also make the as well.

HTH