Camping and caravaning

Parents bought a caravan when I was about 10. Still regularly go away with friends, either tents or caravans, I reckon I've put up/taken down more awnings and tents than I've had hot dinners!
 
I used to do a lot of camping, most weekends in my late teens and early twenties. Mostly near to crags and hills. Then did a bit less as I got to my late twenties and normally then because it was a cheap way of holidaying. Still tent it a few times a year, often involving music and beer! I'm determined to resist the temptation of an airbed (unlike my mates) until I'm well over 40! By the time I'm 50 I might start to consider a camper, just in time for when we escape from the kids.
 
Splog said:
Thanks for the tip :thumbs:
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No worries :) I have a friend at work who is very well versed in the Lake District and she recommended it to me. Can't say I was disappointed (the views of the mist over Derwentwater in the morning were a delight to wake up to) so I'm planning a week there in the not-too-distant :)
 
Hi all the happy campers here,

Here is my camper van 'Jasper'

Jasper.jpg


He is a Ford Transit 2.5 litre diesel conversion (which I treated myself to for my birthday in 2008) and my son and I have taken Jasper many places in the UK.

One of the most memorable trips being 2 weeks, over 1200 miles (my son being only 3 then) all the way to John O'Groates, with a bit of island hopping along the way, i.e., Mull and Aaron. Wow, what an experience :)

This photo was taken at Appleby-in-Westmoorland last August Bank holiday, and as you can see we have quite a cosy setup.

We absolutely love camping and my son only just asked earlier if we can go camping in Jasper ...... he must be mad in this weather :lol:

Great thread, and have loved reading all the posts.

Thanks and take care

Dawn
 
Do it Dawn! We caravan all year round usually. Its great. The sites are nice and quiet. We where at Rudding Park (Harrogate) in December. Lovely and cosy. Your son is at a great age for camping. Every trip is an adventure for him. My two lads still come with us. (14 and 17!) But I do have a sneaky feeling that the eldest one will make this year his last..

Kev.
 
Well we love camping :D

We used to go several times a year, but then my health deteriorated. Two years ago I decided that I wasn't going to let it stop me anymore. So long as we get a pitch with electric hook up, I can enjoy camping like anyone else :D My scooter can charge over night, and so long as I find something decent to sleep on I will be fine.

The last 3 camps we have had I used two blow up arm chairs as my bed, but both got punctures on the last trip due to pitching on a bit of gravel. If needs be we will take the arm chair and pouffe I sleep on from home :lol:

This was the last campsite we stayed on. Laneside in the Peak District. You can pitch on the bit of green right next to the river, but we had to pitch up top as you can see, so we got the hook up.

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looking at motorhomes, what do you do when you get there, unpack, set everything up then pack up every day so you can go out in it, and motorhomes towing cars, how's that any different from towing a caravan:thinking:

some of them look fantastic but I can't see there being much motorhome parking in some of the cornish villages, they just look a PITA for a holiday if you have to use it as your only form of transport
 
Hi Kev, thanks for the encouragement. I think I may just see if I can find somewhere in February to take him away for the mid-term break. But still not sure about camping in the snow ..... could be a bit too cold.

Last year I bought a Subaru Forrester (with tow bar) so I was thinking of selling Jasper and getting a small caravan instead. But we are so attached to Jasper. Many pro's & con's to consider but hopefully I will make a decision this year.

I think when the camping bug bites, it stays with you for life. When my folks immigrated to South Africa back in the 70's they took their Comma van with them and we trekked all over SA in that - fantastic! So perhaps you sons will continue to enjoy camping (if not now, I am sure it will be in time, especially when they have their own kids).

Take care

Dawn :)
 
wack61 said:
looking at motorhomes, what do you do when you get there, unpack, set everything up then pack up every day so you can go out in it, and motorhomes towing cars, how's that any different from towing a caravan:thinking:

some of them look fantastic but I can't see there being much motorhome parking in some of the cornish villages, they just look a PITA for a holiday if you have to use it as your only form of transport
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Most of the one's I've seen on the road have some sort of smart or city car towed behind them. The missus quite fancies the idea, but with a motorbike instead of the smart :cool:
 
I think a TP camping weekend is a great idea.

Although I really enjoy life under canvas my ageing bones prefer a certain level of comfort these days.

This is on the banks of Coniston Water in the Lake District, taken last year.

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OneTen said:
Here's my winter tent, a Terra Nova Super Quasar:

quasar.jpg
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I've got one of those too. Brilliant piece of kit. My wife used it on a walk in Iceland during a storm and it was the only tent left standing at the site.

We've just had a baby and started to look for large enough tent for baby, us and climbing kit, so she found one she liked from the same manufacturer, the Cosmos, only £3000! I might have put up some resistance to that....
 
Had a trailer tent when the kids were younger and had some fantastic touring holidays, also had a caravan for 2 years but sold that so now camping is just done at music festivals normally in the mud, but totally love it.
 
Me & Mrs Taz love a bit of camping. The kids are less keen, but at 19 and 17 they can do their own thing now. Camped at Donnington last Summer and loved the site. Will go back to that one again at some point.
 
hads caravans and trailer tents in the past.
lots of landrover club weekends with the kids.
done a few bike rallies in a tent.
but not for about five years.
we are both alergic to being cold and pi**ed off these days.
had a few long weekends at the inlaws huge static caravan near costa del skeg
we can go down on the bikes, and have a raz around the area.
even been to watch a couple of trackdays at cadwell.
or take the dogs in the car, and walk lots/chill out.
 
we are hoping to go camping this year in Scotland worked up in Perthshire for 2 years and want to take our daughter up there
 
I started camping with the Cubs, many moons ago. I progressed on to doing some rather "wild" camping with the Royal Marines - they love a nice bivvy they do and sometimes the opposition would get so jealous they tried to take over our campsite! Oh how we laughed! Since coming out (of the Marines, not the closet) I've continued camping. I've got a one man, a three man, a six man and a frame tent with no innards but it does have a wood burning stove.

A year or so ago I was given a touring caravan which I finally got round to using last August. Thoroughly enjoyed it and now I've bought a 5 Bberth Abbey which we're going to Abroadcestershire in this year.

The problem is that the towing vehicle is my old Discovery which I love because its a dog. When it was new it had 111bhp but some of the horses have escaped or died. So I've either got to get a new motor which I'm not wanting to do because I'll only spoil it by using it for detecting, shooting or fishing or I'm going to be holding up a lot of traffic on the hills!
 
:lol: Sheddy, love the wicked reply and you sound quite the 'happy camper' teehee.

Sounds like you have had some fab camping days :thumbs:

What make/model Disco you got? I have a friend who works for Jag/Landy they may have some advice regarding the escaped 'geegees' :lol:

I fired up my 'Jasper' today, and was amazed he stared 1st time (especially as he has not been cranked for about 7 months).

So ..... it looks like a trip out is on the cards soon, which will be much to my son's delight as he has been moidering me since last October to go out in the van.

I think a TP camping expo will be great fun! Not sure if other members take their family/kids along with them, so any sharing of previous expeditions would be helpful.

Have a great week

Dawn :)
 
Hi Drodd,

I don't think there's anything that can be done for the Disco. The F-I-L bought it brand new in 1991 and I bought it off of him at 4 years old. It's got 160,000 on the clock and it rains inside when its raining outside. I love it though, it's old and ratty but it just soldiers on.

I did have a renault Laguna GT205 as well up until last year, Lovely car, fast, comfortable and it had all the toys on it but I wasn't using it enough to warrant keeping it. What with the photography, metal detecting, fishing and having two young boys it was forever getting filthy inside and out and I spent as much time keeping it clean as I did using it. On the other hand, the Disco is a shed on wheels and if it gets dirty then it adds to the character.

It's got 160,000 miles on it now so it has earned the right to be "tired"
 
Hiya Sheddy,

Know what you mean about 'shed on wheels'. My b/f has an old Landy Special and that is a shed! :lol: He is converting it into a multi-functional vehicle, i.e., ruggard work-horse for tree felling and 'luxury' camper :lol: But at least it doesn't rain-in!

Have sent him a text with your spec to see if he has any advice (after all he is a tech specialist for the co.) Will let you know what he says.

I used to drive a Ford Escort Finesse (up till last April when it was pranged 2x by other parties). Now I have a Subaru Forrester and what a pleasure it has been in all the snow we had of late. Also has a tow hitch, hence why I was thinking of getting a towing van. But after revving up 'Jasper' today, I think I may keep hold of the van for another season.

After all, I have a luxurious 2-man tent in the van (lol, it even has a little 'lounge' area hahaha), so at most I could toss that in the back of the Scubie for a quick trip out. (Jasper can be a bit of a challenge to drive as there are no mod-cons, especially no 'power steering') hahaha. But he is fun! and has electric hook-up!!!

Great chatting to you.

I think TP is such a fab place, and in the short time I have been a member I am having so much fun.

Take care

Dawn :)
 
So where are you all going this year ?
we have lots planned
 
My parents go to the same campsite every year and have done for the last 20 years! In Llandanwg, North Wales.

We take a stupid amount of stuff.. there is alot of us though!

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That pic is of my car the tent to the right is mine and my girlfriends and the big tent is the familys, the other side is also my sisters tent with her friend

In total there was 9 of us and 2 dogs last year (summer)!
Mom
Dad
Me (21) +My girlfriend
Sister (15) + Her friend
Twin sisters (10)
Brother (5)

and then the 2 black labs! Though my parents brought a 3rd black lab while they were there...

Madness!

One of the said dogs:
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Path to the beach about 20 foot from our tent:
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Beach:
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BBQ! (Sweet potato in the middle :D)
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We also have a toilet tent that we have fitted a shower into!

Love it (:

Excuse my over excited picture posting and the quality, all taken on my phone!
 
Thanks for sharing Jacob :) It looks a terrific place :cool:
 
looks a fab place to be
I cant wait to get out again
 
Motorhome here :thumbs:

Best bit of kit we've ever bought. Real home from home and a superb way to explore. Reckon I must be getting a bit old for camping as I prefer a bit of comfort and really didn't fancy tugging a caravan about :thinking:
 
neilmac said:
Motorhome here :thumbs:

Best bit of kit we've ever bought. Real home from home and a superb way to explore. Reckon I must be getting a bit old for camping as I prefer a bit of comfort and really didn't fancy tugging a caravan about :thinking:
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when the kids have left home .... we too will join the motorhome club !!
 
yep we all love camping chez Strum, wife is 14 weeks up the duffer though so not sure how much we will get out this year, only bought a new tent last year aswell :(

what sort of campers are you all? any oversize tenters out there? they make me LOL, 8 berth tent for 2 and then surround it with windbreaks :lol:live and let live and all that but it does make me chortle.
 
Another motorhomer here :)

Got two at the moment but selling one hopefully at the start of the season.

Got a custom built renault Master and a Mazda Bongo. The Bongo is more of a summer afair with a side awning and a lift up roof but getting a heater fitted too because I'm a wuss!

The Renault will go just about anywhere, been up in Scotland in minus 7 as been as warm as toast.

Also got an 8 man tent so we can meet up with friends and they can come and stay too :)
The 8 man is fab because there is a lot of room in there. 4 of us and two dogs means that we can all have plenty of room to sleep. The dogs are right wusses and prefer to sleep in the van with one of us and the rest of the family ends up in the tent.

This year we will have the bongo and awning so 5 berths in total and happy hounds :)
 
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this is my piece of luxury when not with the wife, she prefers a tent with a little more space :D

*edited at posters Request!*
 
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"this is my piece of luxury when not with the wife, she prefers a tent with a little more space"

can you roll over in it ???
we are away on thursday for half term cant wait !!!
 
mrgubby said:
Wouldn't you have more room/comfort sleeping in the car :lol:
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No never lol is great :p


bobsbabes said:
"this is my piece of luxury when not with the wife, she prefers a tent with a little more space"

can you roll over in it ???
we are away on thursday for half term cant wait !!!
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You cant roll far lol but I reckon I do get more room than a big tent with the wife it still amazes me how much room she takes up! :D but dont tell her that
 
Caravanner here.

Although last time out on a trip to York I battered it against our gate post. Its now ready to collect after being repaired.

We started off in a tent, then Trailer tent when the kids came, then onto a folding camper as they got older, now they have gone we got a caravan. God knows why I left it so long!!
 
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