The Camping Thread #2

[~Phoenix~]

We have once & it ran our waeco fridge, lights & charged phones no problems. We aren't taking portable panels on the big trip, my hubby did something he swore he would never ever do - bought a generator but that does mean I can take thermomix lol

[OceanPrincess]

Hey guys! So, I'm new to camping. DH and I have been looking at tents and camper trailers and trying to work it all out. We'd love a camper trailer for the apparent ease (apparent???) of rolling it out and away you go but we prob can't afford it right now. So we are looking at tents - so much to choose from!

What should we look for? Where do we start??

ETA: wysiwyg if you are down Wye way again let me know - we've just come back from Apollo Bay

[wysiwyg]

Hey guys! So, I'm new to camping. DH and I have been looking at tents and camper trailers and trying to work it all out. We'd love a camper trailer for the apparent ease (apparent???) of rolling it out and away you go but we prob can't afford it right now. So we are looking at tents - so much to choose from!

What should we look for? Where do we start??

ETA: wysiwyg if you are down Wye way again let me know - we've just come back from Apollo Bay

Will definitely be there again - when I don't know (DH is mostly away from FEB to APR) and then will be job hunting and I don't know what I will be doing either so near term trips down there are off the cards - but when the campsite is open next season will try to do a few trips.

I don't have a tent - (we beg and borrow when need one currently) but given how often we seem to change our mind about what we need I would go for something that have flexibility of different configurations - the black wolf turbos I like the look of, for several reasons - 1, I bought a black wolf rucksack in 2002 when was over here and it is still going strong and has been used and used and gone all over the world and subjected to rough treatment - it is the best bag I have ever bought, 2 - you can buy all sorts of attachments and I like that idea yes they are expensive but I don't like the idea of having a cheaper tent and then needing to ditch it to upgrade or if want a different configuration. 3 - I have borrowed a few of friends cheaper tents and they have been quite badly designed, good in theory but then when you come to use them, don't have enough ventilation or quite enough space in the rooms. 4 - The black wolf tents seem to hold their value pretty well (from what I have seen of second hand market) meaning people aren't getting rid of them quickly.

As for camper trailers - mum is sometimes envious of caravans (they have spent 12 of last 15 months living in a camper trailer round Australia) - she thinks they look a lot quicker to set up - I think their camper trailer is reasonably quick to set up (especially if only need to set it up for the two of them), but for a two/three night trip to one location from Melbourne I would probably choose a tent - as I think some tents can be quicker to set up, and all the features of the camper trailer are not necessarily required. Longer trips and road style trips they are great for I think.

[Astrid]

Hey Ocean Princess!

My advice go for the quicker set-up and if that means spending a bit more, then do so. See if you can get demo's on tent set up and camper trailer set-up. Watch You-tube clips of ones you are interested in. Go to the Expos, lots to see in the one place, sometimes there are deals, but make sure you know pricing before you go. Also you can hire. So it may be worth hiring a camper trailer to see how you go.

Also work out what camping do you want to do? Lots of driving and one night stops? If so, then a quick compact set-up is better. Do you just want to stop once and set-up for 2+ nights? If so, then you can go for the ones that take a bit more to set-up, but have a bit more comfort.

We found our old tent a pain to set up, so it was turning us of camping. We originally looked at getting a quick set-up tent and refining our kit, but ended up splurging on a camper trailer that is well built and quick set up.

I find there is always the "envy" that goes on now with camping, we check out other peoples set-ups Sometimes it reaffirms our choice, we can be set up in 15 minutes and sit back and watch those still going after an hour. Other times we jealous of the ones who pull up, pull out the awning, the chairs and are done in no time. Every set-up has its pros and cons.

We need to refine a bit more. So this weekend, I will resort the tubs. We are debating an Oz Pig. They look awesome and think it means we can have a fire more often as it is enclosed (will need to check that out though)

[OceanPrincess]

Oooh expo, now we are talking!!!!

[turtledove]

we have the Coleman Instant Up 4 tent... Love love love it! We used it for six weeks straight while camping around Australia. Held up well in all sorts of weather.

That was a year ago though. No camping for a while now, with a newborn that I wasn't able to exclusively breastfeed

Maybe in another year, in a caravan park, not bush camping.

Happy to talk camping gear tho!

[Foss]

Hi ocean princess. We just bought a black wolf turbo 300 extra lite and love it. The first time we put it uq, it took 15 minutes, which included resetting tent pegs and repositioning the tent. It took me 10 minutes to pack it up. Not tge cheapest around but it is great for a quick one person setup, especially while the other person looks after the kids.

[~clover~]

My stuff is pretty much all cheap & dodgy. I don't have the money to spend at the moment, but what I have is usable til I can afford bigger & better.

I had 2 tents all along. We did the nullarbor - WA-NSW-WA 2 years ago, so had a simple dome tent, air bed & butane stove in the back of the car. Quick & easy for the one night stops. I also bought a 2 room, 8 man tent from big w for longer stays. I then bought a huge tarp & extra ties & pegs when I realised during a storm that it wasn't water proof at the ends :/ The tarp has taken care of that for now though.
For christmas DS got an Oztrail pop-up tent, so he & DD1 sleep in that, the other 2 in the big tent with me. Then I've got the room inside for kitchen set up. (Large black tub - holds airbeds/pumps/extra pegs/ropes etc, then doubles as a table, 2 butane stoves, fold out table & stove top kettle for non power)

I'm dreaming of the day I can buy a 4wd & camper trailer. I recently used mum & dad's 16ft caravan & it was great having space in the car because the van has so much room, but uses so much in fuel. To be able to actually go shopping at the end of the trip & have somewhere to put it is great! (No coles/woolies etc here, so make the most of them when travelling). The tent & accessories take up space, but don't cost around 30% more in fuel. Tent does take time to set up though, with beds etc.

I just got back from Margaret River & have decided I need to ditch my tent. Its basically a screened room with a fly. The wind picked up on day 3 & was horrible for the last 3 days. We got home last night & I'm now feeling fluey, and I suspect it's because I'm run down from lack of sleep worrying about the tent ripping apart in the wind, or the tarp letting go & flying off across the park :/ I took the trailer this time & will probably do that more often now. Towing a trailer is nothing on the van & I can put DS in the 3rd row seats to break up the fights in the car.

I'm thinking a good tent that's big enough just for us all to sleep in, then DS's tent, & a walled gazebo/shelter for kitchen/living area. The few I've seen handled the winds better than I expected. That way there's enough room in one tent for the over nighters, but space for longer stays as well. Then of course I'll have my camper some day...

My parents live in their big van & have done for over 2 years. My brother bought a van, but now is trying to sell it for a camper. It's a bit each to their own I think...


Ha ha, & I'm always trying to get a look at other's set ups & getting jealous of their space/set up time/quality/accessories etc. But although my stuff is cheaper, it's taken us to quite a few places & we would never have seen half the sights we've seen without it. Especially the well hidden places when we've hitched a ride in a 4wd The WA south coast is amazing & mostly untouched. I hope it never changes.

[luna moth]

I think we previously had the same as clover - mesh with fly. Great for hot weather, terrible in wind. We copped some storms at 1770, and we think it weakened the seams, and now it leaks. It definitely wasn't up to Snowy Mountains!!

We just bought a BlackWolf Turbo 240 plus. It's better as a two person set up, but not impossible to do alone. We got the canvas model, so it's big and heavy, but we have been doing a lot of camping and need a good all rounder.

[Astrid]

We find the camper trailer does not add much to the fuel cost thankfully.

When we used tents, we had no room in the 4wd, the kids would have stuff at their feet, stuffed all around them (bedding, so at least soft). We were always stressed about what to fit in, especially if we were taking the dog and/or wood with us. We would always forget something, like plates or pillows.
Just love having most of the storage handled by the camper trailer. It holds just about everything we need. All we have to do is pack food and clothing, top up the water tanks and we can go. We check things when we get back, and reload with fresh things as we unpack.

[~clover~]

I also have a roof rack basket on my car, so load that up too a lot of the time. Especially with our big dog. Our jack russell fit easily in with the rest of us, but he found a tiger snake christmas day Silly bugger.

Chairs, tent etc all go up there usually. But the trailer was so much easier. Everything fit & no climbing around the car trying to secure the roof, lol.

I have wondered about set up with a camper on my own. The kids help with the tent & DD1 is almost my height, so handy But she's not very strong. And I'll likely have a very basic, soft floor, lower priced second hand one that might be harder to set up. I'm actually looking to just buy the tent & having it fit to my trailer, then doing the kitchen set up later on.

There were a few people with roof top tents when we were there, all hired vehicles completely set up, but they looked like a PITA. Having to pack the tent up to go do anything. Good for over nighters I guess.

[Livinthedream]

Clover, my sister has a soft floor camper trailer setup and she does it herself no worries.
We have a jayco pop top with the beds that slide out the end, and I can do that myself no worries.
Sorry to hear about your dog

We are back in Qld, it's hot and humid and not super nice, but good to be home.
We are thinking of going to the beach for a couple of days over Australia Day weekend.
Maybe Bribie Island.

[Lenny]

Clover - whenever we see those rooftop campers having to pack up just to go on a day trip we always think 'no way'!

Op - Nai has a Black Wolf. I believe they really like it. FB her about it.
We had one too, it was very sturdy and robust and a good big space. Good for camping where you go somewhere for 4 days or so. Not so much when you move on every day.

Astrid - DH chopped the top 1/3 off an old LPG bottle and that's how we have a portable fire if we need to. It fits a wire grill in the top, and even our really big camping frypan. He saw it on YouTube. We even use it outside at home in winter sometimes.

[wysiwyg]

Off camping tomorrow for a couple of days - just to Indented Head on the Bellarine - 4 mums, 7 kids. I have just about finished packing - man I hate packing even though we have mum and dads Prado so far more space than normal. Hope weather is kind - the tent is untested for sleeping in!

[wysiwyg]

Well the tent (is really just a shade tent) was fine for the three of us - but wouldn't be much good if colder or windy. We did have a great time though - the site was right on the beach and weather fantastic - everyone got on great (I knew everyone but not all the others had met before) and kids all want to know when we are going next.

A question - my grandma lives in Darwin, my idea is that in Melbourne Winter we can head up there stay with her a couple of days and then also camp in Litchfield or Kakadu - so for a tent - would you buy a tent that is suitable for use down here and up there? (June, July time up there) - and then take the hit on the luggage on the flight flying it up there? Have a tent for up there and leave it up there? When we were in Litchfield before we were in the annex on the camper trailer which is canvas and was comfortable for sleeping - would polyester be likely to end up too hot? I have slept up there in just a swag before but some nights were fairly chilly and the kids seem incapable of staying in bags. (Some of the other camping related stuff we would borrow or buy up and leave in Darwin)

Are there people who fly and camp alot and what sort of tents would they use?

The way jobs are for DH and I, driving to some of the places we want to go to and visit people etc just takes too long (and neither of us are that fond of long car journeys) - but I really like camping, and am sure must work out cheaper long-term.

[turtledove]

Wysiwyg - glad you had a good time away. Would love to go camping again ourselves, but too busy enjoying newborn snuggles and smiles to be worried at this stage.

Can't answer your question about flying and camping, we have always drove. Drove Vic - Darwin (via Dubbo/ Sydney/. Brisbane/ Townsville/ Uluru, after 4 weeks road tripping in NZ. Then on to Broome, and down the west coast. Ultimate pre-kids holiday, can't believe we did it now!) in Nov/Dec last year. Yes, Darwin in December. Not recommended!

Litchfield is awesome. So is kakadu, but Litchfield should get more recognition.

We had our Coleman instant up tent, which is vinyl. When it's hot, it's just hot. You really don't think of the tent material. Going mid-year should be much more pleasant. Having a vinyl tent, as long as it has ventilation, shouldn't be a problem.

[wysiwyg]

Wysiwyg - glad you had a good time away. Would love to go camping again ourselves, but too busy enjoying newborn snuggles and smiles to be worried at this stage.

Can't answer your question about flying and camping, we have always drove. Drove Vic - Darwin (via Dubbo/ Sydney/. Brisbane/ Townsville/ Uluru, after 4 weeks road tripping in NZ. Then on to Broome, and down the west coast. Ultimate pre-kids holiday, can't believe we did it now!) in Nov/Dec last year. Yes, Darwin in December. Not recommended!

Litchfield is awesome. So is kakadu, but Litchfield should get more recognition.

We had our Coleman instant up tent, which is vinyl. When it's hot, it's just hot. You really don't think of the tent material. Going mid-year should be much more pleasant. Having a vinyl tent, as long as it has ventilation, shouldn't be a problem.

Yes I have been to Darwin in November with a 5 month old, it wasn't pleasant - I remember thinking how do people have babies up here - you must have to stay inside all the time. I really like Darwin in June July though and I agree that Litchfield should get more recognition - far easier on a day trip from Darwin (which we have done a few times as well as camping). We have family in Berry Springs which is between Litchfield and Darwin so Litchfield is always likely to work well for us.

So your Coleman instant up - do you think has good ventilation??

[~clover~]

What is WA like North of Perth does anyone know? How isolated. I have crossed the nullarbor 3 times alone with the kids, but that was after a lot of BB reassurance from people who'd already done it. So anyone who's done Perth - Broome? I've always wanted to see Broome. I'd drive right to Darwin, but I can't see myself going that far with my tribe I think that'll possibly be my first trip away when they're older...

I really enjoy just driving to where ever I get & stopping where ever I feel like stopping. I have loads of plans for when the ferals become more dependent