Anyone else looking at a list and wondering how they will fit all that into their boot?

[CoffeeMad]

I am going this weekend for the first time and cannot believe the stuff we need to take...how do you manage?

[WhereTheWildThingsWere]

No idea and I'm off on friday!

Where are you camping coffeemad?

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

Perhaps if you give post a list we can judge help you to prune it back?!

[Blandmum]

Roof top box or I can't manage it!

[mumtofour]

Don't know if you already do this but we unroll a couple of the sleeping bags and lay them on back seat for kids to sit on, saves having them all rolled up and needing extra space. Them like martianbishop we use a roof box also. You will find as this is your first time going you will have way to much and next time you will probably take less stuff as you realise there is stuff you can do without.

[CoffeeMad]

I am going to Port Kemys in South Wales ... so not too far in case it all goes pear shaped with the kids.

Here is my list:-
Money
Toaster
Kettle
EHU
Sharp knife
Paper towels
wipes
nappies
sacks
chpping board
dustpan and brush
spare dishcloth
dettol
earplugs
food in coolbox
freezer blocks
camera
one change of clothes each (except underwear!)
Tent!
sleeping bag
ready bed x 2
wardrobe/larder thing
cooking station (we have no stove yet!)
ground sheet
windbreak
mallet
pegs
table
chairs
headtorches
toys
PJs
wellies
waterproofs
crocs
blank ets
towels
dishes
plates
cups
knives
forks
spoons
kids cutlery
wooden spoon
pans and lids
flask
mirror
deoderant
foil blankets
plastic backed blankets
knitting
hats
sweaters
raincoats
beakers
mobile phones & chargers
toilet paper
rubbish bags
plastic bags
washing up bowl
tea towel
dishcloth
washing up liquid
bucket/potty
doormat
lanterns
kids table and chairs
lighter/matches
suntan lotion
sunhats
first aid kit
pocket tissues
soap
flannels
s/poo
toothpaste
brush/comb
toothbrushes
bobbles/clips
makeup
razor
shaving cream
hair dryer
beer
wine

In addition to all that kids and Dh have to fit in too.

Is this excessive?

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

will peruse after dinner (or maybe in morning, just back from camping am shattered and starved) but I'd probably leave dh behind - that'd save loads of space

[FourArms]

Money
Toaster - unnecessary IMO
Kettle - could live without if electric use smallest pan with lid
EHU - could live without
Sharp knife
Paper towels
wipes
nappies
sacks
chopping board
dustpan and brush - could live without
spare dishcloth - I'd prob have one per day
dettol - could live without
earplugs
food in coolbox
freezer blocks - freeze milk or juice instead
camera
one change of clothes each (except underwear!) - for how long?
Tent!
sleeping bag
ready bed x 2
wardrobe/larder thing - could live without
cooking station (we have no stove yet!) - could live without if v.short on space, but agree useful with kids
ground sheet
windbreak
mallet
pegs
table
chairs
headtorches
toys - limit strictly
PJs
wellies
waterproofs
crocs
blankets
towels
dishes
plates
cups
knives
forks
s poons
kids cutlery
wooden spoon
pans and lids - take perhaps two and a frying pan
flask
mirror
deoderant
foil blankets
plastic backed blankets
knitting
hats
sweaters
raincoats
beakers
mobile phones & chargers
toilet paper - just one roll
rubbish bags
plastic bags
washing up bowl
tea towel
dishcloth
washing up liquid - decant to small bottle
bucket/potty - pack stuff inside this
doormat
lanterns
kids table and chairs - could live without
lighter/matches
suntan lotion
sunhats
first aid kit
pocket tissues
soap
flannels
s/poo - if just 1 w/e, decant everything into smaller bottles
toothpaste
brush/comb
toothbrushes
bobbles/clips
makeup
razor
shaving cream
hair dryer
beer - buy locally
wine - buy locally

How big is your boot? Is a roof box an option? You can get lots in footwells / between kids. If just two kids, could you sit them together and fold down one seat? Unless your tent is huge / car is small, I expect you'll get all that in the boot. I would I think.

[FourArms]

Also, could you sit in the back and have the whole front passenger seat for equipment?

[OhYouBadBadKitten]

ok - things I wouldn't bother with are:
Toaster
EHU - unless its for kettle (i use gas) or fridge
chpping board - chop on a plate
dettol
hats - in summer?
ready bed x 2 = pont kemys is fine for these but anywhere with a slope and they roll over
wardrobe/larder thing - just keep in bags
cooking station (we have no stove yet!) - we use a single burner stove on floor outside
windbreak - not essential
wellies or crocs - don't need both
mirror - use car mirror or ones in loos are fine
foil blankets - not in summer!
doormat - just take shoes off before go in
hair dryer - fairly sure they have them in loos but if not then just dry naturally
beer - buy when get there
wine - ditto

Tis def hassle when you have loads of stuff - you have to spend half your time sorting it out. Camping isn't about recreating home - its about just gentle chilling out.

Good luck

[VickyPea]

Hi,

I have a tip for other people with a similar problem, not sure if it will help you but here goes.

Vacusacks.

We've just come back from two weeks in Devon and had to take our duvets, pillows and all the bedding, beach towels, normal towels etc. I bought five vaccusacks from the pound shop (like poundstretcher) popped them in, sealed them up like sandwich bags and sucked the air out of them. It was a bit easier for us as we were on a site that loaned out hoovers for the caravans so we could pack to come home, but if you are camping somewhere like that it might be a solution?
Have a fab holiday

[FourArms]

My electric pump (runs off car battery) will deflate as well as inflate, so I think it would be able to deflate the vacuum bags. It was only £6.99, so not too much of an investment, and fab for airbeds too!