I'm embarrassed to have to take two cars...

[Asleeponasunbeam]

We're only going to the next county. Tried a weekend last weekend and managed one car, but that was without dcs bikes and we'll need them. 2 DC (5&2), 1 large dog, lots and lots of stuff.

Last year we took both cars. Having a second was useful for quick trips to the shop etc...

We don't have a roof rack. I might get a trailer next year. Although wouldn't fancy Cornish lanes...

We had to cave in and get a trailer after we had our 4th dc, our boot is teeny (vw touran) and a trailer was cheaper than a bigger car! It's handy though because we leave it packed in the garage.

Don't be - this is my life. Four kids and too many dogs means I take the truck everywhere an DH follows in his stupid little car. I even have to take two cars to MiLs at xmas (though it is tempting to throw DH in the back of the pickup)

A trailer sounds like a great idea!! We were considering that or a roof box to pack everything in and we have a reasonable sized car

I have a massive car - Audi A6 - but it's just not big enough. I like the idea of a ready packed trailer in the garage! Just need to clear a big trailer sized space in there...

I think for a weekend with 2 kids you might be able to cut down to one car if you can put the bikes on the roof. For longer I wouldn't worry abut it. There are 7 of us so we always need 2 cars: one for kids and one for kit :-)

The weekend was just one car, but no bikes. But thanks for not making feel too weird!

We take a van and a car.
Nowt like a bit of comfort.

Four DC. Camping in two weeks for the first time for any length of time with all the children.

DH currently ringing a place to come fit a towbar next week.. trailer time! Looks like you can rent trailers which is what we'll do this time until we've cleared enough clutter from our garage to store one with the camping stuff in it permanently.

Really hope driving with a trailer is not hard We're going to Wales and the roads to the campsite are not the best..

Our trailer stays packed in the garage too. We took it down a few cornish lanes last week and it was fine thank God I didn't have to reverse although our elderly car really struggled with the hills. It isn't hard to drive with the trailer at all, although ours is quite small, not on the scale of a trailer tent or anything like that, you just have to make sure you leave more time to brake because of the weight behind you, and watch your speed because it is easy to forget you are towing it!
I would like to be able to take my bike, have been wondering if there is some way of fixing it to the back of the trailer.
The trailer is definitely much much better than the roofbox we had before. I was glad to see the back of that.

Um we have a trailer and a roof box!!
(Perhaps we should loan one out and free some space in the garage?!)

I'm searching eBay now...!

I am absolutely dreading reversing. We got parking sensors on our current car and I feel like I can reverse like a pro now.. I've become so dependent on them I am going to feel bereft without their reassurance I'm not about to smash into something.. and that's even WITHOUT the drama of the trailer behind as well. Erk.

But hopefully the trade-off is worth it. Best part is presumably just unhooking the trailer once you're there and you're free.....

(and we can now justify an Icey-Tek which I've just ordered scraping in before midnight last night - had no room for a coolbox before!!)

Oh I can reverse the car fine on its own, but with the trailer on I just can't get my brain to understand which way I have to turn the wheel, and since I only use it once or twice a year I never get a chance to practice. If we get stuck in too tight a spot then Dh gets out and unhitches, I turn the car round and he hitches the trailer back up. It's cheating but it works!
The hardest thing is finding somewhere with room to park (and get out again!) when you want to stop en route for a bite to eat or the toilet.

Oh Pixel you should try my truck with the livestock or horse trailer (complete with animal kicking the shit out of it in temper). Trick to reversing is do the opposite of what you would normally do when reversing without a trailer.

I have to say reversing sounds like a complete nightmare! I can reverse fine without sensors I am sure, but with a trailer, um, I guess we will see. Must try and practice on our cul-de-sac a bit before we go.

I am hoping we don't regret our decision to choose a campsite which is a few miles down a single track road with few passing places.. thank goodness we'll only need to make the journey there and back with the trailer attached!

In my defence, when we booked it we had intended to hire a VW Caravelle but despite being assured it would "probably" be available to hire so long as we rang up start of August (wouldn't let us book it any sooner), turns out it wasn't after all . So plan B = trailer, which is far better value for money in the long term anyway.

Good tip on unhitching in tight spots, I can see this happening plenty. It had also occurred to me the issues with finding places to park at services etc.. hoping we can find double spaces to drive straight through. Slowly and carefully..!

Don't be embarrassed. We take a panel van, for just the two of us on a weekend trip. If two cars means comfort and ease during your trip then why not?!

We have a caravan. Towing is a 60mph speed limit - not sure if this includes trailers, something for people to check out. Also, make sure you know your max towing weight for your car as this will affect braking etc. Police can pull you if you are overweight.

Also, most service stations have a caravan section for parking - just go in there if you cant get parked elsewhere.

I know Lally but I seem to have a problem with co-ordination or a mental block or something. I still struggle with diagonal aids . No wonder my horse is easily confused!