The Camping Forum

[skhavis]

Hi everyone,

Well we decided (really I decided and bullied dh into agreeing) that we would set up our new tent and sleep out in the garden last night!

Now some might say setting up camp with brand new kit for the first time with two tired children after a full day at chessington world of adventures isn't the best time to try things out but I thought it was perfect. We were all tired, cold and ratty after a full 12 hour day out (isn't that the very condition we will be arriving in the south of France in? well hopefully less the cold bit!).

Our tent went up nice and smoothly (vango Icarus 600) but it took about an hour rather than the estimated 40 mins ... still not bad for a first attempt though and in fairness my husband had to do the majority of the pitching alone as I am recovering from having had a broken femur for 15 months.

Anyhow, biggest challenge was blowing up our double height air mattress. ... it took forever and how anyone can say that is a king-size is beyond me .... imagine it .... dh and I actually had to touch each other we were sooo close (we have a very large super Californian king at home). mind you it was so blinking cold we had to huddle up for warmth!


We were slightly disappointed with the room divider as it is nothing more really than a piece of fabric that hangs between the two sleeping pods....our 2 year old found it particularly fun that he could pop his head around the divide whenever he liked and say "hallo mummy".

Our two sons, Oliver 6 and Noah 2 slept on a double air mattress the other side of the room divide and the 6 year old went out like a light...not a bother about him. Our darling 2 year old however was a different matter altogether. He spent hours calling me despite my being right next to him (albeit the other side of the divide) and also having been at Chessington during the day he had learnt a new phrase (my fault) so constantly shouted out “was you have fun mummy?” ... being my fault because every time he came off a ride with daddy and big bro I would ask him “did you fun”. He thought this was hysterical right up til midnight .... my thinking it was fun stopped after the first 10 mins. Anyhow in the end he went to sleep hugging the wind up lantern whilst I shivered in the pod next door! Dh got up for work at 5am this morning and I braved the cold for 2 more hours until the kids woke up and we made a rapid dash for the warmth and comfort of our nice warm house!!!

Good news is we all stayed dry and the tent didn't fall down on us. Air mattress were fine and we are seriously considering camping out again tonight ... maybe even cooking dinner in the garden.

xx Siobhan xx

[OutdoorRambo]

Sounds like you had fun Siobhan

I'm surprised you were so cold, especially this time of year. Did you have insulation between the ground and the airbed and between you and the airbed? ie a waterproof backed picnic rug under the airbed and maybe a fleece liner under your sleeping bag as otherwise you'll just be sleeping on 'cold' air which your body cannot heat up.

[KLCG]

Siobhan, that sounded brilliant! Our first time camping last year with our nearly 1 year old, had him screaming for 7hours! we were on an actual campsite too. It was bloomin freezing! This year we are going in hopefully warmer weather! Wish our back garden was big enough for our tent

[Wayne]

Nice post. But I am wondering why you were so cold. I think we can help get you warmer with a few tips.

What did you have under the blow up beds and did you have any additional fleece blankets.

[Wayne]

Sounds like you had fun Siobhan

I'm surprised you were so cold, especially this time of year. Did you have insulation between the ground and the airbed and between you and the airbed? ie a waterproof backed picnic rug under the airbed and maybe a fleece liner under your sleeping bag as otherwise you'll just be sleeping on 'cold' air which your body cannot heat up.

Sorry Pete missed your post and just repeated what you said in my post above.

But it shows we are both thinking the same thing

[Camp Moose]

Good news is we all stayed dry and the tent didn't fall down on us. Air mattress were fine and we are seriously considering camping out again tonight ...

Looking forward to tomorrow's instalment to see how you got on.
Sounds fun.

[skhavis]

both boys were brats just before bed so as a punishment they didnt get to camp out! I forgot all about the recommendation to have an insulation layer between the floor and the air matresses. Do you think I will need that when camping in the South of France or just UK?

Also, I asked already but not sure if anyone replied about camping gas. Can I take it with me (travelling via the euro tunnel) or do I need to wait and buy it once I arrive?

xx Siobhan xx

[Camp Moose]

Have a look at this page on Eurotunnel website.
http://www.eurotunnel.com/uk/site-information/lpg/

Scroll down to bit about gas containers under the bit about LPG.

Transport of gas containers to power domestic services* for caravans, campervans, vehicles fitted out as a campervan are restricted as outline below:

Mobile gas container
•If your vehicle is fitted with a “mobile” gas container the quantity of gas is limited to 47kg (or approximately 93 litres) for a single container and is limited to 50kg (or approximately 99 litres) in the case of several containers.

Fixed gas container
•If your vehicle is fitted with a “fixed” gas container the quantity of gas is limited to 47kg (or approximately 93 litres) for a single container and the maximum filling rate is 80% (or approximately 73 litres). In the case of several fixed containers the quantity of gas is limited to 50kg (or approximately 99 litres) on the whole with a maximum filling rate of 80% per container (or approximately 79 litres).

Both mobile and fixed containers
•If your vehicle is fitted with a combination of mobile and fixed containers the quantity of gas is limited to 50kg and rules previously described applies.

Note: Containers must be easy of access by our staff for any check.

This filling rate will be checked via the gauge. If no gauge is present, the vehicle will be refused.

When travelling gas containers must be switched off and connection systems must be in good condition.

Opening container tap or using domestic services are strictly forbidden until the unloading on the opposite terminal.

*cooking, refrigeration, heating, water heaters...

In case of non compliance with these conditions Eurotunnel Le Shuttle reserves the right to cancel your journey.

[Vicks2112]

As already stated insulation under the airbed is paramount, maybe not required in the South of France but I did need the extra insulation about halfway down France.

My recommendation is to use cardboard. Just get it from the nearest shop when you've pitched up, ask behind the counter for their biggest cardboard box, they're usually delighted to get rid of them. Opened out, it makes the perfect insulation and you don't see it under the airbed. It's free and can be recycled after use. I sometimes use foam roll mats but the cardboard is a good emergency backup if I forget to pack the mats.

[livsnana]

Insulation under your airbed is a must! We have two roll out mats that we use, then on the airbed, we have a fleece and sheet and our sleeping bags, nothing worse than being cold, at least if you are two warm you can take something off! We are out camping at the moment and haven't been cold yet.

Have fun