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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think we should be able to fit a weeks work of camping equipment in a normal sized car

56 replies

PinkRollsRoyce · 28/07/2018 08:19

There are three of us, me DH and DD who is 1. We are going camping and trying to get everything into our VW Golf is a nightmare, I’m not happy having stuff on the parcel shelf in case it flies forward and hits DD in her car seat but DH insists on taking the worlds largest camping chair, which takes up about a quarter of the boot space and he also has to take a duvet and pillow because apparently he “can’t” sleep in a sleeping bag. I feel like maybe we should trade in the Golf for an articulated lorry and then we might just about be able to fit all our crap in Confused

OP posts:
Echobelly · 28/07/2018 09:25

You need a lot of stuff for even one night camping, let alone a week - I've found no, you generally can't get it into a normal car and I want to get a roof box before the next time we go camping for more than a night (we have 2 kids) as we can't get everything we need in our Nissan Note.

In the absence of one, I've found the best way is to not have any big bags, so you can cram things in any available space, eg keep the toiletries in one bag separate, small bag for kids' stuff, small bag for adults' stuff, small bag of food prep stuff. Then you can stick it in footwells, on laps, in small gaps between things etc!

WhispersOfWickedness · 28/07/2018 09:27

We have a Skoda yeti, trailer and roof box, and we still struggle Blush

FabricBug · 28/07/2018 09:28

Vacuum bags

Bechetdiagnosed · 28/07/2018 09:33

We take two cars!!

We do have a huge fridge and 45kg tent though and there’s 5 of us Grin

Hepzibahr · 28/07/2018 09:37

We have a place locally where you can hire a roof box. You could see if there is one near you. Well worth it in your situation.

frenchknitting · 28/07/2018 09:38

I fit a 2 week trips worth of camping stuff on stuff on my bike once. These days I needed to buy a roof box for a 4 day trip to centerparcs.

Dippysnowoman · 28/07/2018 09:49

Only me and dp but we do have a 6 berth tent. I can get everything including padded camping chairs,duvet,kitchen,carpet, massive electric ice box and non folding barbie in our focus without much hassle. He on the other hand cant.
Its about using every little available space.
We camp with extended family and are known as the ones who bring everything including the kitchen sink!Smile

PinkRollsRoyce · 28/07/2018 09:51

Thanks for all the suggestions. The foot wells are packed full, I’ve got vacuum bags but DH insists on a feather duvet, apparently he just couldn’t sleep under a man made fibre one (I didn’t realise he was so precious!) and yes it is a bloody moon chair! We’re hardly taking anything else except the travel cot which folds up quite small, an air bed, a small gas ring and 1 pan, we’re buying food when we get there.

I think we’ll have to get a roof box for next year, I just don’t understand how my parents used to take 2 kids camping for 2 weeks in a Fiat Uno in the early 90’s Confused

OP posts:
parteeesss · 28/07/2018 09:51

Roof box and big estate car for us. But you'll have more room with only one child taking up one seat space.

PinkRollsRoyce · 28/07/2018 09:52

And it was a 2 door Fiat Uno!

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parteeesss · 28/07/2018 09:53

Top tip. Get two single air beds instead of a double. You get a much better nights sleep.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 28/07/2018 10:47

You can't expect to keep the parcel shelf intact in such a scenario. In daily use, it's a neat thing to have and good for privacy, but it isn't compatible with gaining maximum capacity. Take it out and leave it at home, so you can pack up to the roof if necessary.

Obviously, make sure that things are jammed in such a way that nothing can fall forward over the top and hit your DD (or at least nothing harder than a duvet or pillow). Putting the larger 'half' of the back seat down will give you a much leveller area to work with. Again, obviously make sure that things won't fall sideways and hit your DD.

Apart from things like the tent, where you can't really help it, don't take suitcases or rigid-sided bags - you can fit so much more in if you have smaller, squashable bags.

Exploit the fact that your DD doesn't need to use her footwell yet and stuff it (along with the other one in the back) full - camping stoves, pans, tins and other heavy stuff are ideal to wedge in here. Also, don't overlook the area underneath the front seats before packing the actual footwells themselves - you can jam quite a lot of small things under there for a start (just don't forget they're there - especially if perishable!)

Also, if you have bulky but light items, you could consider one of those soft roofbags that strap to the roof or even a car backpack (yes, they exist!), which don't require a huge amount of storage space when not in use like a rigid roofbox. If you happen to have a towbar, but don't want the hassle of actually towing, you can get something that's like an extended bike rack (might not be cheap) that attaches to the back and could fit a few light-but-bulky bags on safely, with plenty of bungees to keep it all safely tied. In fact, a rigid big suitcase or two possibly WOULD be better if you went down that route.

You'll probably be fighting a losing battle as your DD gets older - especially if she has any siblings in due course. Yes, she won't need all of the massive baby stuff (although any siblings might), but you'll lose the footwell and she'll naturally replace it with loads of older-kid stuff - as well as wanting stuff to entertain her on the journey instead of just sleeping. Yes, it's good to pack minimally, but it seems a shame if she has to go on holiday and leave a load of her favourite toys and games behind.

Ultimately, wonderful though VW Golves (plural?!) are, you're probably not going to easily manage with it as your only/main family car - especially if you go camping - and you might need to swap it for a bigger one (maybe a Golf estate?!). If the car suits you for the rest of the year, you might need to look into a compact caravan (it obviously won't tow a big, heavy one). You can have an awning to maximise space, which will travel in the caravan, along with duvets, bedding, moon chairs(!) etc.

Alternatively, a folding camper, trailer tent or just a small trailer might be worth considering. Of course, that's assuming you have somewhere to store it or can afford to pay for storage.

Whatever you do, happy camping! And however stressful the packing and journey may be, keep telling yourself how much fun you'll all have once you're there and set up Smile

Munchyseeds · 28/07/2018 11:04

Don't think we could have fitted all our stuff in a golf, we always had scenics
I remember struggling to fit the kettle in packing up!
Never had the parcel shelf in although we were careful how we packed things...got a 2nd hand roof box in the end
The feather duvet I can understand (they pack down small anyway) but he needs to ditch the moon chair.!
Hope you have a great time

IGiorni · 28/07/2018 11:06

We had a Citroen C1 and managed to pack stuff to camp for 2 weeks in it. Bloke in the next tent said it was a “thing of beauty” watching my husband re-pack afterwards Grin

aperolspritzplease · 28/07/2018 11:07

And this is why we have a fugly Zafira!

CalmConfident · 28/07/2018 11:15

Take parcel shelf out, golf has split seats so the and fold down the 2/3 back seats. Makes a real difference

Bunnybobtails · 28/07/2018 11:28

We go with an estate car, trailer and two roof boxes and it's still a squeeze! We don't do basic camping though, I like a few Home comforts (including my hot water bottle for bedtime! Grin )

Magicstar1 · 28/07/2018 11:30

Lol we bring a huge four man tent, double air bed, blanket, duvet, pilllows and clothes most weekends to bike rallies....on two motorbikes.

PinkRollsRoyce · 28/07/2018 11:42

@Magicstar1 how!?

OP posts:
Birdsgottafly · 28/07/2018 11:46

You will need a top box for next year.

I'd also look at a trailer.

We had a VW Estate with top box and trailer. We saved money by taking everything with us and it was a proper, home from home when we got there.

PinkRollsRoyce · 28/07/2018 11:46

@aperolspritzplease I’ve just looked up the Zafira and showed it to DH and he said “I’m not driving that!”

@webuilt if we have to start buying caravans it won’t be a cheap holiday anymore!

OP posts:
mrsjackrussell · 28/07/2018 11:51

Yes I think you could if you are economical with the packing and use every spare space the foot wells etc. Take the parcel shelf out and put hard items underneath and soft stuff on top for safety.

I went to Cornwall with 4 children for a week . Mind you it was an estate car but managed to fit everything in and one of them even brought a suitcase Grin

Bbbbbbbb2017 · 28/07/2018 11:54

I managed to fit everything for a week in my little nissan almera. Takes a woman's packing skills ;)

RedneckStumpy · 28/07/2018 11:59

We always travel as light as possible, sometimes we don’t bother with the tent if it’s only one night.

All our kit, including clothes sleeping bags, tent etc fits in a walking rucksack each, plus a cooler for food

flubbadubble · 28/07/2018 12:01

A roof box I think, and lots of practice. We (2 adults 2 kids) used to go to France for two weeks camping and hillwalking in Volkswagen Polo (old one) when I was young. Sure I remember a tarpaulined package on the roof. But dp and I struggle to get enough stuff in an estate for the 3 of us for a long weekend Hmm