Campers

[matty198111]

This is really for anyone who goes camping as im looking for some advice on it.

My kids have been asking for sometime now to go camping, and weve never got round to it.
I did buy a tent a year ago 6 man two room tent so tent is sorted.

This year i maynonly do a couple trips for 3 or 4 days but next year we will go for a week probably a few times weather permitting and i have a few questions if you would be so kind as to answer them for me

What is the best way of cooking? All i have at the moment is a single burner that the canister screws on to so i know that wont be enough, but a friend has a trangier that i can have but not sure if they are suitable for 2 adults and 3 kids, would a double burner be better with gas bottle.

When do you start camping?
I think november maybe to cold for the kids lol but roughly how many months are ok for camping per year, obviously depends on our unpredictable weather but just a rough idea.

And what food do you take?
Is it easier to eat out or is it more fun for the kids to have the bbq etc and bacon butty in morning.

Oh 1 more
Is there any tips you may have that i wouldnt know about that would make it easier or mjore enjoyable.

This will be our first camping trip so we have no idea what we need or to expect

Many thanks all

Mat

[boo]

Ive just come back from 2 weeks camping in Cornwall, I love it and we go every year

If possible, go for a site that allows electric hook up, makes life far easier to have electricity!!

As for what too cook with, we take full advantage of the electricity and take a proper mini oven/grill/hotplate thing, but failing that something like this (gas) set up will be good

i1254.photobucket.com/albums/hh604/BTSB/NamethecelebrityAAEC2.jpg

If possible go in September early October, before the nights get REALLY cold!

Take hot water bottles for the kids

Nope, not easier, and definately not cheaper to eat out.

As for what you buy/cook/eat- pretty much anything you can cook at home can be done. Obviously microwave and oven (unless you go electric oven route) food isn't possible.

For your first camping trip, id pick a site which is fairly close to home, so if it the weather becomes too unbearable you won't have far to go, lol.

Can't remember what else, oh, apart from wellies, warm clothes and waterproofs! If I think on, i'll post again.

I know all of the above sounds pretty dismal - its not, honest! As I've said we go every year and love it.

[matty198111]

Thanks boo

But the link is a picture of name the celebrity lol

[boo]

oh ! LOL

Dont suppose you want to take him camping with you then?

Try this one

www.google.co.uk/products/catalog?hl=en&q=camping+cooker&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&biw=1338&bih=557&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=3119548646667543499&sa=X&ei=ey89UJTEGcHK0QXpuIH4Ag&ved=0CD0Q8wIwAA

[matty198111]

Thanks boo

[domesticextremist]

Put the tent up first in the garden.
Firstly so you know how to.
Secondly to find out if any bits are missing.

Also worth spending a night or two out there - each time you have to
visit the house for something, add that to the list of things you need
to take with you.

[Bluefish]

You will at least a double burner stove, with a largish gas bottle, start camping mmm, april through to sept should be no problem, food take either tins of all day breakfast, we like them and or buy sausauge bacon eggs etc, lunch out, and whatever for tea, pasta, barby. Unless you have a refridgerated box you can't really buy a lot of food all in one go, so it's a case of popping to the shops evry day to top up, take tins of soup etc.

One of the main things is what will you be sleeping on? Airbeds, double/singles campbeds, we have used the beach lilo things befor, to save space, should be ok for kids, if you get these you need ones with a seperate blow up pillow section, otherwise when you lie on them your body forces all the air up to the head part so it becomes rock hard, and you wake up with a headache, not good.

Are you using an electric supply on the site, with kids depending on their age i would think this is a neccesity, cost an extra 4 quid-ish a day, you need your own electric cable to plug in, would make life easier for charging devices, especially mod batts.
depending on when you go, sunscreen, mozzy repellant, apparently skin so soft is good for this, make sure sleeping bags will be warm enough for the time of year, lying on an airbed draws the heat from you pretty quickly, a mat for the living area is good to save dragging grass water into sleeping accomadation, Table and chairs, you need these, that's all i can think of at the mo, ask away if any more questions.

[matty198111]

Thanks for all the advice guys

I asked my lad what we need to take, his reply was

The tv
Playstation
My bed
Dunky ( his teddy )
His plastic sword and nerf gun to fight of the crocodilles and dinosaurs, apparently a major problem down south
And the roof of the house so we dont get wet

With good advice like that i reckon we will be fine

Mat

[violetblade]

Hiya Mat I love my camping but I have camped since I was 2
I have a double burner stove with small gas bottle + single burner portable stove with gas canister but the single burner is really a back up.
I camp between May and September but it can be cooler at nights in May so we do take the Season 5 sleeping bags at this time of year but June/July/August is better at night but if you have room it never hurts to have too much cosy blankets I buy the cheap fleeces from primark I usually get them when they are half price then I don't worry about kids trailing them behind them or getting them dirty.
I usually make a chicken curry on the first night sounds hard but its not my cheats chicken curry is
1 Onion cut into large pieces
1 bag of pre cooked and chopped chicken breast from Iceland
2 packets of chips shop curry sauce mix usually from Home Bargains but I'm sure Morrisons do the harry ramsdens one a little more expensive but just the same.
I make mince at home a few days before going away and freeze it that usually does us on the second day but really anything you can do in 2 pans at home you can do camping. I've even gone to the supermarket and bought a cooked chicken and we have had a roast dinner. Other staples are super noodles, cup a soups, wraps, bacon, eggs it all depends what you have to take it in.
Make sure the kids have something to keep them amused and a pack of cards or similar for the adults its always nice to have something if the weather isnt good.
Most importantly have fun and don't worry too much the shops aren't usually a million miles away and long holidays you really do need to shop daily for food unless you have a really nice campsite that will freeze your cool packs or have an electric cool box.

I hope you have as much fun as me

[timnowvapes]

Deep Discharge 12v battery + charge unit
Mains Inverter
Vaping gear

The tv
Playstation
My bed
Dunky ( his teddy )
His plastic sword and nerf gun to fight of the crocodilles and dinosaurs, apparently a major problem down south
And the roof of the house so we dont get wet

Pretty much agree with what everyone else has said, just make sure there are plenty of things to amuse if it is wet.

Do a test run first!

Have lots of fun

[booblay]

only been camping a couple of times, but guess what's easiest..?

you nip down tesco and buy a few disposable bbqs, 2quid a pop, and some firelighters...

then all you need is lots of baps (no, you dirty bugger, the food kind) and some ketchup and a cooler bag full of beers/soft drinks....

easy peasy

[alanfinal]

When we went to Oulton park most of us all found double burners going cheap in camping shops,I mean less than a tenner,there really are some camping bargains after this rainy year,google is your friend

[lobeydosser]

If you do decide to use some disposable BBQs for cooking on, on no account bring them inside your tent.
Even if you are sure they are extinguished, these are highly toxic and several campers have been killed in recent years, bringing these thiings into tents, thinking they had gone out when indeed they had not.
BBQ's, disposable or not, are for outside use only .

Camping is a great pastime, but common sense is the best piece of camping equipment that you can take with you.