Could I be a caravan-to-tent convert?

[Grumpla]

Having been seriously tempted by the Outwells we finally went for this one, the Coleman Mackenzie Cabin 4. Husband is 6'4" and this is the one he could properly stand up in through the whole living area (most of the others he could only stand up in the middle). We put it up in my parents' back garden this weekend and it was easier than I thought it would be. We'll be living in this for over 5 weeks this summer with our son who will be 1 by then! I'm SO EXCITED!!!

I will really miss our caravan, but it's over 30 years old and we decided it might not be a good idea to tour around Europe in it in case something falls off halfway up an Alp. Plus DH has never driven on the wrong side before. But I will miss the electrics. And the grill. And the comfy bed. I spent a LOT of time as a kid in tents, followed by YEARS of disastrous festival-under-canvas mudbaths and I really am a bit nervous about returning to tents. Even one the size of a small bungalow.

So now all I need is some sort of cooking device... and a proper big airbed... and possibly a roof rack to fit it all in... woohoo!

Is it worth buying a Cobb? Or should I put my paranoia to one side and transport a gas canister in the car? I already have a small gas barbeque so that and a one-ring burner for the kettle would be fine. But it would take up a lot of space.

Does anyone have any recommendations for a light source? I have a crappy LED windup lantern on the caravan but it's not bright enough to read by. Should I go for a paraffin lamp or is that total madness?

Nice tent!

I have a gas lamp so I can read and multiple torches.

Cooking, one of those double burner gas thingys. I find you can do most things in a frying pan or disposable bbq that you can do on a grill. We have yet to blow up the car in many years of transporting gas canisters in the boot.

I recommend self inflating sleeping mats rather than airbeds (lots of threads about these.

The car does get rather full (there are 5 of us) and we now have a large roof box on top of our bus.

But I love camping in a tent and always feel a bit sorry for those shut away in caravans, even when it is raining.

% weeks. You lucky things

definitely take gas cooker thing. we used a 2 ring when tenting. we never really got the perfect lighting. gaz lamps are good but the filamnet thingy always broke and they do make you nervous. head torches are good for reading but tbh we just drank and fell into bed in semi darkness.

Lovely tent .

We have a double burner with grill and transport our gas bottle in the car. We also have a 'notebook' barbecue which is great as it folds flat.

For lights we have a rechargeable lantern (which we recharge in the car) and two head torches (from Tesco - much cheapness).

Getting everything in the car is a logistical nightmare and has caused a lot of grief. We have a Volkswagen Bora and a big roof box but still struggle to get it all in. We have a small DD so still have a buggy, travel cot and highchair to go with us which obviously take up lots of room.

Fat Airics are our choice for sleeping - very comfy and cosy.

We also have inflatable loungers - luxury!

Hope you have a fab trip...

"tbh we just drank and fell into bed in semi darkness." haha yes I think there will be a bit of that involved but given that we are going away for so long I'd like to think I might read a book or two (perhaps)

I went to the garden centre and had a look at some of those fancy dan gas cookers - think I might go for a one-ring butane fingy and a very small BBQ - then we've got the best of both worlds. I just don't think we're going to have the space for a massive gas canister.

Have to go now as my DH is being a bit attention-seeking...