Great Camping Hunt

Lizalu

shaveface wrote: »

Like many others I agree that, if you're going as a family, use a tent for more people than you're going to be sleeping and high enough to stand up. The numbers the manufacturers give are usually if you're all lying right next to each other with hardly any room to move. If one of you snores ...

If there's two or three of you, invest in a Trangia (or equivalent) stove set. It runs from meths and comes complete with pans and kettle. It will burn in any conditions and stacks inside itself.

I's certainly second these - we have a huge Coleman tent (i think it's a 10 man) and there's normally just 4 of us +dog. The extra space means less bickering from the kids as they have a "room" each, and we can all sit around and play cards if it's raining.

Also the Trangia, they're brilliant - I bought one for my OH last year and it's perfect if you're wild-camping. They're so small and light, no need to carry gas bottles around.

BillScarab

kirkie wrote: »

What are peoples opinions on petrol lights and cookers rather than gas?

I've used a coleman petrol stove in the past. They're good as they chuck out a lot of heat but they're fairly heavy and can flare up when you're lighting them.

I think this thread needs to splt into two really, one for family camping and one for lightweight, backpacking style camping.

Something like a Trangia for example is fine for one or two people but it's not much cop if you're trying to cook a proper meal for a family. For that a proper multi burner gas stove is better and is no problem trasnporting if you're in a car.

BTW Trangias arne't that light you want ot have a look at what some of the more obsessive ultralight campers use. See here for an article about home made meths stoves, made form pop cans. I made on out of two beer cans and it worked surprisingly well and was incredibly light. I used three tent pegs to support a pan over it.

alahol2

kirkie wrote: »

What are peoples opinions on petrol lights and cookers rather than gas?

I can't speak for cookers but we use a Coleman petrol lantern and it is brilliant (in more ways than one). It's usually the brightest lamp on the campsite and means everyone can eat or read in comfort. The only real drawback is that they are rather large and look a bit fragile. Having said that, we have never broken the glass on ours and only used 2 or 3 mantle silks in the last 10 years. Be aware they can flare up when you first light them so always do it outside the tent.
The only other problem for us is that we now have a diesel car so have to carry enough spare fuel .

WickedWitchoftheWest

Hi,
First time on here so hello everyone!
We love camping - even though as a teenager I had several bad experiences!

We have now upgraded to a folding camper which I love, but our best tent ever was a Robens Triple Dreamer. I would agree with everything everyone has said about size and height. This is a six berth and there's only 4 of us. The spare "pod" was used as our storage area. Height is really important. If you are confined to barracks for a week due to weather then you could end up looking like a hunch back! We still keep this tent - just in case we can't take the folding camper somewhere!

We have recently bought a 3-way fridge. Not cheap but got a deal at JustKampers (we have a VW camper too!) at their open day. It will run on 12v, 240v or gas. Quite versatile really. If you have a leisure battery (like caravans have) you could charge is up at home. We also got a solar panel charger so you could trickle charge that and it should run your fridge/cool box.

If you really can't keep warm/comfortable in a tent think about an upgrade. A trailer tent (still needs pegging out) or a folding camper needn't be expensive and I have to say they are so much more civilised! You don't need to have electric hook up either - you can still be as basic as you like, while still sleeping well!

Hope this is of some use to someone.:rotfl:

roughyed

kirkie wrote: »

What are peoples opinions on petrol lights and cookers rather than gas?

I use a Optimus Nova+ which will run on pretty much any fuel apart from gas. They can be a bit loud, can flare but they bang out lots of heat! Mine can boil a litre of water in just over 3 mins. I prefer it to a trangia mainly because it is hotter and easy to control the heat on.

Self inflating mats are better than a roll mat but are probably not as comfy as an airbed. They are however much lighter.

Another great back packing item is the Spork! A spoon, knife and a fork in one!

My main tips would be to get a good sleeping bag and a waterproof tent! Even the hardiest camper won't have any fun if they are cold and wet.

dad-of-4

alahol2 wrote: »

I can't speak for cookers but we use a Coleman petrol lantern and it is brilliant (in more ways than one). It's usually the brightest lamp on the campsite and means everyone can eat or read in comfort. The only real drawback is that they are rather large and look a bit fragile. Having said that, we have never broken the glass on ours and only used 2 or 3 mantle silks in the last 10 years. Be aware they can flare up when you first light them so always do it outside the tent.
The only other problem for us is that we now have a diesel car so have to carry enough spare fuel .

i got a coleman 2 burner dual fuel cooker just last week, and it seems realy good, only wish i had got the 3 burner, i bought a tin of coleman fuel, (smells just like lighter fluid), that lasted a couple of days, then the lady whos campsite we were on gave me some petrol wich worked equaly well, im realy happy with it,
not sure if its a good price but i got it localy here. http://www.singersoutdoors.co.uk/listsections.asp?parent=69&seq=24&retp=40&rets=23

being a bit of a messer, im happy to be incharge pumping it up a bit and getting it all glowing red hot. but its not nessasary, 35 pumps pressurises it enough realy.

BillScarab

You need to be careful using petrol as it has additives in and is not as pure as coleman fuel. Using just petrol can apparently lead to the jets getting gummed up. Lighter fluid is a good substitute for coleman fuel but is not cheap for a dual burner stove.

Ettenna

Fulham_Mark wrote: »

There is free camping in many parts of the Dartmoor national Park.
Check the areas at a tourist info place. Don't camp in other areas!

These places will be usually be in the hills so check the weather and be prepared but if camping in the wilderness, next to a gurgling brook and not being surrounded by other campers is your thing then it this is a great place to go.

I'd also recommend the old mines on the Dorset coast. These are cut into the cliff-face but accessible by footpath. Can't pitch tent but take v comfy roll-mat and a warm sleeping bag. Watching the sun set over the sea and hearing the waves at night ... perfect.

Beware that there could be many people there in summer plus the occaisional all-night party. Late autumn is best.

Where would I find information on these mines - they sound fantastic and just what my DH would like.

OhDrat_2

For those needing a large tent. Go on ebay and put the name 'tentastic' in the search bar. We got a brand new 12 man (3 roomed) Leben tent from them for £37 with an extra £13 for postage (Total cost £50) . You may need to wait a week or so for them to put on the tent size you need, but your patience will be rewarded.

Also, if you need a replacement groundsheet or want to make your own 'footprint' sheet. Go to a decent builders merchants and buy a roll of 'DPC' damproof course. At 10 metres wide by (I think) 25 metres long and only £30, they are cheaper than conventional groundsheets, it is also very tough (it would have to be with a house pressing down on it in conventional usage), and there is enough spare for dozens of other uses. (I have used mine as a water slide in the garden).

Savvysal

Strangie wrote: »

We've got a couple of small dogs and would like to go camping and bring them along. I don't think they'd be welcome in a camping site as they'd be barking at the proximity of other tents and campers.

Has anyone taken dogs camping? If so, where?

The Camping and Caravan Club sites are 'dog friendly'. Dogs need to be kept on a lead in the campsite and owners need to clean up after their pets of course and often a dogwalk is provided on site.

Whilst we no longer have a dog, me and the kids have met plenty of lovely pets on site who do their owners proud, so we've never found it a problem