The Camping Thread #2

Yay, I love when this thread gets going, it's exciting to hear what everyone is up to.
We finally bought a caravan. The tent was just too hard in fickle weather and the van is sooooo awesome. We got it the day before Father's Day and have been away 6 times already!! Taking advantage before the kids have weekend sports commitments. It's been mostly 4wd stuff, and its been great.
We are taking 2 whole months next year and driving from Melbourne to the top end and then back again. So excited. The tent would have been too hard.
Guess I should add a picture. Oh, I'm on an i-thingo so ill put a picture in later.


Question - does anyone have a dream pot or some kind of thermal cooker? We are going 4x4ing over cup weekend (no van :( ) and I think they look awesome, but would love some advice.

Lenny, that trip sounds awesome! I'd love to just take off for an indefinite amount of time, just drive and see the country. I don't have any experience with the cookers, sorry. We bought a vacuum sealer thingy so we can cook food at home, seal it up and then we can just pull it out to heat as needed when we're away. Congratulations on the caravan! How exciting!

So the fun and games begin with the new caravan lol. We have to park it out in the paddock, which is fine normally. Our old one was out there for months. The other day we were towing it out and one of the feet got caught somehow on a tuft of that spiky grass stuff that grows like a weed. Ripped the foot off. We were driving slow too Grrr. Then we noticed that the front padding had holes in it. Upon further investigation, noticed the trailer plug had been eaten. Poddy calves!!!!!!!!! They've eaten the plug and their budding horns are ripping the padding......laugh away ladies! It's frustrating but I can see the funny side. Shame DH can't though....

That is funny! Until you've had them you don't really realise how cheeky calves (and cows) can really be.
In saying that i wouldn't mind a paddock for our caravan - we are very cramped for space now.

Hi ladies - I'm in and looking for advice.

Looking to do some family camping with our DS who has just turned 3. Starting off we will probably stick close to Sydney and just do a night or two and depending on how things go we will venture further afield for longer. We've got a couple of other friends with littlies the same age who are going to join in the fun too.:D

Questions

- need to get a new tent. Make and/or model that you would recommend? DH was used to serious survival type camping from his early days in scouts and adventurers in UK but don't think we will need anything that can survive gale force winds or sub zero temps like he did. Saw one (think it was called a Huntsman) which had 3 bedrooms and central area which looked okay as was thinking one room for DS, one for us and another to stash stuff away leaving central area free if we wanted?

- air bed type matress or self inflating number from Dune or similar manufacturer? From pre kid (and I think even marriage) time we got an enormous one that was self inflating but seriously it literally needs its own trailer to be taken anywhere so we need to downside - I think it might even had been a queen! Air bed matresses I was concerned if there was any stones etc they could puncture. The self inflating numbers still seem to be quiet big. Would you recommend a double for DH and I or two singles or just go the matress.

- Any essential items you think are a must have?

Will have to go through camping stuff in garage to work out what we have since last time we camped - 6 years ago I'd say - and what still works lol!


Really looking forward to it. Will be fun and loving the idea of introducing it to DS and his friends. Want to make sure they don't grow up to be just "city" kids.


Cheers

Now we're 3 - Not sure about the tent but with the mattresses I'd be inclined to get single air mattresses on stretchers so you're off the ground. We had a double but we found whenever DH moved at night, I'd bounce around! Once we were on singles it was better. We only had one puncture too but that was on a really old mattress. We just made sure we had a couple of repair kits on hand.

We have a blackwolf tent and I highly recommend them. We got it second hand on eBay much cheaper. We also just use self inflating mattresses which we all sleep on. They do the trick even in winter in Victoria. Although we do have good sleeping bags. The girls have black wolf ones.

I think what you need depends on how long you go for and what facilities they have where you go.

We have Dune 4x4 mattresses that semi inflate and although they take up huge amounts of space they are so comfy and you don't have to worry about punctures etc. If you have room for them I would use them!! Otherwise I agree with being off the ground, makes a difference with the cold. We have a 3 room Coleman tent from Anaconda that was great - I think if you are looking a dome type one most within the price range are very similar unless you jump up to canvas! We are weird campers though and take all our doonas and bedding and not use sleeping bags :rofl:

Lol Tanstar I don't think it's that weird to take doonas, I do! But then again to get a sleeping bag as comfy and warm as my doona would cost a fortune. :)
Also because we are on such a tight budget we bought the tent and then went camping with what we had (have been buying other stuff slowly).
I must admit our matresses are the ones from Kmart. My DD has a single on her bed permanently as it helps her asthma.

Can't wait until DS3 is a bit older so we can go camping again.

Now we're three - we also have the same blackwolf as Nai. They are very good. A bit dearer to start with but robust and no flimsy stuff. Makes it a bit heavy (for lifting up onto the roof rack) but worth it.

Everyone - where are you all going this long weekend? Weather in Vic looks ok.

Staying home Lenny. I've seen so many caravans on the road this morning, very jealous! We're off in two weeks though so shouldn't complain!

I would love to go camping but we have a corolla and two kids - anyone think that if we had one of those roof capsule things we would have enough space? I am thinking once rid of stroller maybe? Bedding alone takes up so much room, have found when staying in cabins on caravan parks (always pay for bedding now). When on a working holiday years ago we had a Yaris and no kids very small tent and in QLD and managed just but everyone on campsites would say "Oh your the ones with the tiny car" - so any small car campers out there?

We have stretchers with air mattresses for the kids it's just to cold to be on the ground. No camping for us this weekend as we are flying out to Fiji Tuesday!

Have fun in Fiji, BR!

Wysiwyg - been thinking about your small car question. Our neighbours drive a Honda Jazz and they bought a tradesman trailer style to tow and have all of their camping gear in that. Simply hitch it on and drive away. But I guess that would depend on if you've got somewhere to store it. I don't know how much those pods actually store.

PRMG - you are right a trailer will prob hold more. Trailer could go in garage I would think. Would need to work out towing capacity of a corolla - I wonder if could pull a trailer tent. In Europe they have Eurocamp where you go and tent already there - is there anything similar here do you know? Not luxury camping - I have seen a few of those just sort standard family tent types.

DH is not a camping fan and would struggle to convince any monetary outlay on gear towbar etc (is all pie in sky till I get a job anyway) so something like eurocamp would be great to convince him.

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need to get a new tent. Make and/or model that you would recommend? DH was used to serious survival type camping from his early days in scouts and adventurers in UK but don't think we will need anything that can survive gale force winds or sub zero temps like he did. Saw one (think it was called a Huntsman) which had 3 bedrooms and central area which looked okay as was thinking one room for DS, one for us and another to stash stuff away leaving central area free if we wanted?

- air bed type matress or self inflating number from Dune or similar manufacturer? From pre kid (and I think even marriage) time we got an enormous one that was self inflating but seriously it literally needs its own trailer to be taken anywhere so we need to downside - I think it might even had been a queen! Air bed matresses I was concerned if there was any stones etc they could puncture. The self inflating numbers still seem to be quiet big. Would you recommend a double for DH and I or two singles or just go the matress.

- Any essential items you think are a must have?

Will have to go through camping stuff in garage to work out what we have since last time we camped - 6 years ago I'd say - and what still works lol!


Really looking forward to it. Will be fun and loving the idea of introducing it to DS and his friends. Want to make sure they don't grow up to be just "city" kids.


Cheers

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I thought that till last weekend.. We went away.. Was expecting a storm, but we had strong winds all night.. The tent was blowing in on us all night.. 2 nearby campers even packed up and went home in the middle of the night, haha..

I am joining this thread.. We took DD (5 in a few weeks) and DS (just turned 3) for their first camping trip last week, and they loved it, despite the gale forced winds.. We are in the market for a new tent as ours has done a few desert trips with dh and his mates, and is a tad small for the whole family.. DH and my brother are going to transfer our trailer into a camping kitchen and storage for the tent and stuff over the christmas break.

Wisywyg - we have a mazda 3 (so similar size to corolla) that we tow a trailer with no hassles. And while we are doing civilized camping (campgrounds on sealed routes), we will continue to use it.. We do have access to a 4x4, but for just getting away for the weekend with the kids, it isn't worth the extra fuel, IMO..

Thanks ladies some great information and feedback here.

LOL about not using sleeping bags - I'm definitely a "taking the doonah" kinda girl - in fact when we used to go camping previously I actually had a doonah set that was spefically used for camping!

Will defo go the single bed line but am torn between the Dune and air matress. PO'd with myself as Annaconda has a brill sale with 40% off Dune which we just missed (ended last Sunday) so might go the air matress while we see whether DS actually likes camping before I shell out full price on the self inflating - that or wait another few weeks and check out the next sale!

Do have a question you mentioned about it being better to have the stretcher with the air matress as it would be too cold. Would this really be the case during summer? If so would be best of space and probably price wise just forking out for the self inflating? Starting off we will only be doing fair weather camping and for 2 nights max. As DS get older we can go for longer and could then "up grade".

Anyhoo will check out what else we need and then head to shops to start the purchasing! Thanks again

PS Doing my best - not going to let DH see your post lol - as otherwise he will be buying all the extreme gear in a flash!

Wysiwyg I saw a trailer tent hire place (advertised on the back of a trailer) the other day called johnno's which I think is in the northern suburbs. Maybe renting one would work for you?

Nai - will check out Johnnos cheers, I had seen something similar previously but they didnt have any they said would be suitable for a Corolla and didnt want to have to hire a big car too.

Oh so quiet in here! How is everyone going - anyone heading away for Labor Day?? We are off to Warburton again, this time tenting it as we sold our Eagle outback (boo) should be fun but I am a bit nervous about being in a high risk fire zone with weather in the low to mid 30s all week and then looking like 35 for the 3 days we are there. Eeeps. Trying to think of what we are going to cook for 16 people too seeing as we are on dinner for Sunday night - especially seeing as it will probably be a total fire ban and we wont be able to use stoves - thinking we might bring a microwave seeing as we have a powered site!!

Off to stalk this thread for ideas and lists of stuff that I need to take! DH has been in Japan for 3 weeks and arrives Friday and we leave Saturday :rofl: our lives are not boring!

Wow Tan you will have to get creative for dinner! We are staying home for the long weekend but heading to rosebud at Easter which should be fun, we still have the camper but are thinking if swapping for a van soon.

Are you camping on the river Tanstar?

Sure are Tinks - same site as last year at the caravan park and our site is about 20 metres to the river! Was about 20 degrees each day last year so will nice to be able to swim in the river and cool off! Am I silly worrying about fires?? You live or work there don't you!?

I live there.

Um, like any fire prone area you just have to have a fire plan. If there's a fire you won't be able to pack up and leave, the road will be blocked off so you'll be stuck in Warby until they open it again. The schools are fire refuges but they're still getting them up to code so they're not usable yet. The footy oval is probably the safest place.

Yeah see that's the thing if we were Home plan is set but kind of weird when we are camping and the one rd in and out worries me a bit. Will have a chat to DH when he gets back from Japan... Day before we leave and will update my CFA for local warnings in the meantime as well.

I'm sure the caravan park would have a procedure in place too. Maybe ring them before you go if you feel you need to.

Oh good idea Hun, my anxiety makes my brain not work! Xxx

You'll be ok. :)

We are off camping this weekend at Waikerie (SA riverland). My brother has a boat so we'll spend a lot of time on the water, skiing and knee boarding, should be fun!

Next month we are off on a 3 week adventure, to Fraser Island, Gold Coast and then down the NSW coast over to Armidale (DH's mum lives there) and back home. I am seriously excited!

We bought a hard floor camper trailer a few months ago and it's fantastic, makes camping so much easier now :)

Have fun Jaycee!!! Sounds great!

Having an unexpected day off work - researching various camping things as my dad has finally decided to retire, and him and mum will do the grey nomad thing next summer - which means we will get to use their gear while they are in UK (so autumn winter) - he is planning on car plus trailer tent. I think he is going to come this winter and get the car and hire a trailer tent - so any ideas on winter camping? He has to make sure doesn't put my mum off :-)

Do they want to be cold or warm? I.e. are you looking for lovely wintery places or heading north/west for some sun?

We have only done a few winter camps, and we usually camp low in the high country (I.e. down by a river in Liccola) and then it's a shortish drive up to the snow for a play.

Or we go to inverloch/lakes and wander about on the sand, but in out beanies. I love the beach as much in the winter as the summer.

I can vouch for Invy seeing as I am a res now!!! :D It's amazing on cold, grey days!!! Plus lots of rockpooling and exploring can be done on non-swimming days!

Just popped in to say we had a great time at Warburton - my anxiety was ok even though you feel so enclosed and the thought of a fire made me want to pee my pants but the park did have an evacuation plan in place for an emergency so I felt better! River was the best place to be - kids floated down on blowup rafts and swam and generally had a fab time!

We only winter camped with our van with a powered site and had an oil heater in it!!!! They could head up to the river where it might be a bit warmer, Grampians or Wilsons Prom are great and lots of hiking can be done!! Depends what they like to do with their time, if they like hiking those ideas are good, if they like antique shopping/markets then somewhere like Bright, Daylesford/Castlemaine might be better, history - Ballarat (although it's freezing in winter!) but generally if you are well set up with bedding, clothing, wherever you go will be cold. Also look at campsites where you can have an open fire in a pit or container thing, would be nice to snuggle around at night.

The Upper Yarra Dam, which is about 20 mins past Warburton is good in Winter. There's a big hall with 2 Coonaras that you can sit around in the evening instead of being outside.

Warrnambool is also beautiful in Winter, I think it's whale watching season then too.

Thanks for the replies - it will need to be in VIC so those ideas are great. I think mostly will be a test run to get the feel of trailer tents. Dad thinks might take my kids with them for a week - not sure mum will agree she has been here for 6 weeks with the reality of grandchildren rather than just the idea :-). DH and I could join them on weekend perhaps too. It's very exciting they have been on about it for years but Dad kept putting off his retirement and suddenly just texted mum saying is going to retire in May (he is 67). Not quite sure where we will keep their vehicle and trailer tent when they are not about but am sure that can be solved.

Mum likes the sound of some of these - any thoughts on what vehicles are good for camping - pulling a trailer tent - or good forums etc to use - Dad wants my input and I know nothing about cars and really have no interest in them but we will have use of it over winter which is nice - so if Dad wants my ideas I think I should do my best to offer some.

I happily know nothing about cars. Perhaps if you spoke with Johnno's trailers or somewhere like that they might be able to advise on minimum towing requirements etc for a camper trailer. Are they likely to go off-road, even just a little bit? Or encounter snow? Perhaps then you'll know if you need 4wd/Awd or not.

It would depend on what kind of trailer you're towing and where you'd like to camp.

We use my Santa Fe for going to regular places eg caravan parks but use a Toyota landcruiser to go off road with our camper trailer.

He is thinking 4wd as will do NT at some point (there intention is at least 6 months of nomadding a year). He has sent me a list of what he is looking at, all will be fine with trailers apparently - pre-owned but not too old. Think will start a new thread with the list - I think he just wants me to give any additional input on practicalities and local knowledge as he is in UK.

We have a Nissan Patrol and tow a 4x4 camper trailer with it.