I need a bigger car...

[Ellbell]

OMG! I am packing to go camping next week and have just realised we have waaaaaaay too much stuff. The boot is pretty much full with all the camping stuff, and I haven't got any clothes in there yet. The wellies and the electric cool box are in the footwell of the back seat. AND (this is the really worrying bit) the dds are at their grandparents' with a small case each, a box of toys, coats, shoes, two (folding) scooters and assorted other bits and bats. Oh, and of course I also need to fit the children in.

We have a roof box but haven't ever used it on this car so don't have the relevant fixers to fix it on. I have a Picasso. I thought it was big, FFS.

What do I do?

(a) Go to Halfords and try to buy roof-box fixing things?

(b) Take stuff out? (Could leave behind things like emergency bucket to pee into, chairs, kitchen stand... but nothing massive.)

(c) Tie dds to the roof/pull them along behind on scooters?

Current solution [lazy] is to fill car and hope for the best that we'll squeeze everything in once we get to grandma's. Dds may have to fit on sleeping bags or something! Does everyone else have roofboxes or trailers or something? Or am I the world's worst packer?

[Ellbell]

sit on sleeping bags

[BBBee]

i go in my tiny yaris

if i was you i would repack and cut out all the bulky extras if possible. Repack suitcase into big blue ikea bag or similar so it can be stuffed into places.

then just wodge them all in!

[expatinscotland]

the ILs gave us a wee trailer. excellent for occassions like this!

[Ellbell]

I have got wodgeable bags, BBBee (still to go in, though ). The dds went to grandma's a week ago with their little cases (pull-along ones which they love). Good idea to repack those though (into bin bags perhaps) the better to wodge them in. Good suggestion.

If that doesn't work, then we may have to get a little trailer when we are at my parents' (and put the dds in it???).

[BBBee]

it will be okay though - i always think it won't fit. Get children to sit in car and then pack in all round them!

have a lovely time!

[ilovemydog]

It's so ridiculous - DP got a station wagon last year, and all it meant was the dogs had more space in the back

So, he had to get a roof rack!

And we really don't bring much stuff - but with 2 dogs, 2 kids, there just isn't much room.

[Ellbell]

Dds can sit on sleeping bags and wear coats and wellies!

I would take less stuff, but dh does love his gizmos and gadgets (hence the kitchen stand, etc.).

[Bluebutterfly]

We always need a roof box when we camp - and we only have one dc! But we do take our dog, who uses up alot of boot space... Might be worth a trip to Halfords, me thinks...

[twinsetandpearls]

Lots of people use roof boxes but I do think you are taking too much stuff. If is is you dh and two kids you should be able to get it all in your car.

[Ellbell]

Right... off to decide what to leave behind...

[Dh?]

[Heartmum2Jamie]

Ohhh, I hear you on this one! We also have a Picasso and decided very last minute to up and go camping this weekend gone, the car was full to the top and that was with a seat in the middle taken out. I think I may have to invest in those space saving bag things for the duvets and pillows because the amount of room they take up is beyond silly. Next time we plan on packing as much into stackable boxes as possible to at least make it look tidy in the car and will be useful for storage in the tent. Heaven's knows what we will do next year when we have a baby as well, so have to put the extra seat back in and take all the baby related paraphenalia.

[Indith]

We filled our Zafira for 2 weeks camping in France That would be us and just the one child