The Camping Thread

[Miss.September]

I always get confused with the camper trailer definition. Is it one of those trailers that you pull a complete tent out of, or a caravan style that winds up and the ends pop out to be the beds (like Jayco Swan/Dove/Eagle style)?

Mine is the latter, it's a 1977 Sunwagon. Lady at the insurance company said it was a camper trailer, but others have called it a pop-top camper.

[Tinks]

I agree with you about the definition, Ours is the type with a full tent. It's an off road one.

[black_rose]

Tinks we have one too, it gets easier to get up. We can get the main part up in 20 minutes and about an hour with two annexes. Love having it all packed up and all we need to get ready is clothes and food and off we go. We are heading to Jamesion labour day weekend and Orbost for Easter.

[Miss.September]

Can anyone recommend me a repairer/servicer that isn't afraid and can deal with old campers? We're very unhappy with the one we've just used. Ta

[Beach Mama]

Oh no PRMG that sucks hun - could you take it to a place like jayco where they sell new ones as well and see if they do repairs?? How was your trip to Adelaide? I don't even know if you are back because I have deactivated FB!!?? Hope you guys had a blast!

I love this thread - am mid packing for our little break to Warburton for the long weekend and keep forgetting what I need to pack and I come back here to remind myself!

Happy Labour Day all! xoxox

[Nai]

Yay tan! Have fun! We got a black wolf twin turbo 300 on eBay and we pick it up tomorrow. It will be awesome! No falling down in the wind tent anymore yay!

Our list now comes down to a Coleman dual fuel stove and a camp pantry, then we are all set!

[Beach Mama]

Yay Nai sounds awesome!!! Turbo sounds fierce Nothing worse than feeling like you are going to be blown away in a storm!
I want to get extra pantry storage too - when we go away for a week there is just not enough room for all the food,... actually who am I kidding - heading away for 3 nights and there is limited space once we get everything in there!!!

[toomanyshoes]

We're going away for our first camping trip as a family over Easter for 6 days!!! I'm already worried I'll forget something.

[Lenny]

Hi all, just sneaking onto BB. We are meant to be in Merimbula for a week. Camping in our tent (the same one as you Nai a black wolf turbo lite twin). 'Cept it rained solidly for 2 days and we got soaked and nearly washed away. And the tent eventually couldn't cope and started to leak. It's never leaked before and always held up excellently in wind - and we've seen some storms before. We had no shelter and it was just too much rain and wind. One good thing about the black wolf turbo is that it's quick to pack up - even in the pouring rain! All the other campers were super nice and offered to help us with the kids and with packing up. There was another tent couple giving up too. And some families in caravans w/awnings were moving into cabins too.
We are going to see if there is some kind of 'water-proofing' spray or something that we can put on the seams - just for next time we decide to camp in a flood zone!
Can't believe it. Our first time that we had to give in to the rain and come home. But seeing as Bega is being evacuated, it shows how much rain has hit the area.

Hope everyone has fun this long weekend!!
Good thing it's sunny here at home today so we can dry everything out.

[Tinks]

I love this thread - am mid packing for our little break to Warburton for the long weekend and keep forgetting what I need to pack and I come back here to remind myself!

Are you? That's where I live. Are you staying in the caravan park? It's beautiful up here, hope you have a blast!

[Beach Mama]

Yep Tinks! Just got home! SO beautiful! You are lucky to live in such an amazing place!!!! Had a lovely time! Kids were great! Not sure where to next!

[Tinks]

It was crazy there this weekend! My work was flat out, I am exhausted. Glad you guys had a great time.

[Beach Mama]

Harmony Festival was interesting! We also took a day trip to Buxton and Marysville and it was crazy there as well! Hope you get a rest in! xox

[Tinks]

I have no idea what the harmony festival was all about but it seemed to be popular. There are heaps of interesting things like that round here lol.

[Beach Mama]

We didn't actually go in! was a bit hippy spirity for DH and the kids! Wandered around town and the park and rode our bikes into town from the park! So fun seeing the kids jump in the river and float around to the other side!!!!

[Miss.September]

We got home from Adelaide yesterday, the drive seemed to take forever. Always does going home though, I guess. We set up differently this time, didn't keep anything inside the camper itself other than our bedding. We put up a trestle table in the annex and set up our kitchen stuff on there and it worked so well, we're going to do that from now on. We had a blast away, weather was beautiful and MummyNaomi and family came and camped with us for four days. I laughed so much it hurt We got laughed at by fellow campers, in not a nice way either, about the age of our camper, so that put us off a bit, plus we're not entirely happy with the repairs to the roof (it doesn't stay straight now and we needed timbers next to the roof poles to keep it even ) which caused DH to announce that he wants to buy a new one in the next couple of years. I think if we can find someone decent who isn't afraid of an old camper to repair and maintain it, then he'll feel better about our original plan of restoring it. The caravan park at West Beach is just beautiful, so clean and tidy.

Tan - I mentioned to DH about Jayco, we'll give them a ring and see if they can look at the camper/recommend someone to look at it. Thanks. Glad you had a good time in Warburton. Where are you off to next?

TMS - Have fun over Easter! You'll have a blast! Where are you off to?

Nai - Woo for a new tent! We got our camp pantry from deals direct - a four shelf one for $49 plus postage. It's great.

Lenny - Ahh I hate camping in the rain! The last time we camped in our tent, we had 50mm of rain overnight and the mud! Oh boy, we were sloshing around in it something chronic. Merimbula is on my list of places to visit, I like the look of one of the Big4's up there.

Tinks - Have you been away yet? There were so many trailers in the park, with set ups from tiny ones to whopping ones.

Our next trip is off to Eildon in May. DH is ringing to alter the date and request close proximity to a toilet as I'll be needing one during the night by then no doubt! It's a dark park and a bit hilly, so not easy during the night. After that, we're going to play it by ear until after bubby is born. Who has camped with a newborn and how soon did you feel comfortable going away?

[Lenny]

PRMG - we stayed at the Big4. It was great. I'd stay there again no question. Very posh compared to our usual haunts!!

I didn't camp with DS until he could walk, so i can't help you there. Our friends are about to have a bub and they are going camping soon after (in a tent too). We are buying them a KinderKot for the baby for camping.

[Tinks]

Prmg, we haven't been away yet. We've weathered it and finally registered it today ( I had to wait for dh to have a day off work be ause I can't reverse it ).

Whereabouts did you stay in SA?