The Camping Forum

[lesley1978]

Hi All,

I'm Lesley and I have decided that I would love to give camping a try. Any advice would be gratefully appreciated. I need to know what the essential equipment is. There will be me and partner, my 4 yo daughter and our dog! I must admit that I have never really fancied it (don't like the idea of access to toilets) but the more I think about it the more I am liking the idea of just waking up and saying let go camping for the weekend and being able to take the dog! The thought of being away from Playhouse Disney for a weekend is becoming very appealing!

Anyway, look forward to speaking to everyone and I really am hoping that once we do it I will be a convert!

Lesley x

[Gillsy]

Hi,
You could always take your own loo, hubby just needs to empty once a day It's great being able to get away for weekends.

[Wayne]

Hi Leslie and a very warm welcome to the forum, I'm sure between us all we can help you get the right kit.

We just invested in a chemical toilet. I thought we might be able to smell the chemicals, but no, nothing. Its a really good investment for the kids and the OH. Something that can come a little later if you decide your converts

OK back to the very basics, going to avoid information overload;

Lets start with the tent.

We'll assume the following and tell us if any of this isn't what you want.

You want a tent with two sleeping pods (cabins) and also an area where you can eat and socialize (and the dog will also sleep here) and possibly an area where you can cook and keep the cooking equipment dry. We'll also assume you want to stand up in the tent.
We'll assume you want a tent with a minimum static head of 3000mm (how waterproof it is) and with a SIG (sewn in groundsheet)

Some questions:

What's your budget on the tent

Are you bothered if you have a dome or tunnel tent, I think its personal choice here (I prefer Tunnels but Merlin prefers Dome), my opinion is tunnels are easier to put up and take down. But f your open on this it gives you more choice.



DOME TENT



TUNNEL

And how do you want to sleep vis-a-vis or adjacent or not bothered.



ADJACENT



VIS-A-VIS

[Rob-merlin1973]

Hi
I agree with wayne as the tent is the first thing to get right.
Some friends of mine (couple, 1 child and a dog) just purchased a Corado 4 tent and they were well impressed with it .


You need enough room for when the weather gets poor and a good hydrostatic head and a sig. You also need to be able to fit it in to your car.

After the tent you then need to start looking st sleeping arrangements, cooking and general bits and pieces.
When are you thinking of taking the plunge?
My friends are taking the plunge with their first time camping at our Campout in september, so that there will be plenty of people to talk to and ask about camping.
All are welcome so if you are ready by september come and join us

[Wayne]

All are welcome so if you are ready by september come and join us

The more the merrier, it promises to be fun and down to earth.

The Corado ticks all the boxes doesn't it (except the "Is it an Outwell" box" )