Minimalist camping
Discussion
Right, I'm starting to think I may need a bigger car. Given that I have a reasonably sized estate I may have to moderate my load but who is taking the smallest car with the least stuff and be self-sufficient?
I don't mean who has an Elise but is going with a mate driving a 7.5 tonne Bedford to carry all the gear but who will have everything they need (except beer & food) in the smallest car?
I don't mean who has an Elise but is going with a mate driving a 7.5 tonne Bedford to carry all the gear but who will have everything they need (except beer & food) in the smallest car?
Fruitcake and I are taking our MX-5s and it's definitely do-able. Just take all essential items and buy all non-essential items when you get there.
All I take is:
Clothes (T-Shirts only, shorts if you can and only one jacket)
Tent
Sleeping Bag
Money
Passport
Tickets
Breakdown Kit
Extra Fuel
Don't really need anything else (although I probably have missed at leats one item off this list!).
All I take is:
Clothes (T-Shirts only, shorts if you can and only one jacket)
Tent
Sleeping Bag
Money
Passport
Tickets
Breakdown Kit
Extra Fuel
Don't really need anything else (although I probably have missed at leats one item off this list!).
We've done it twice in 3 sevens. It can be done. Even took a folding aluminium table and a gazebo last year. Stuff piled high strapped to roll bar and on a makeshift rack behind car. Doing it in 3 tintops tho' this year, much more civilised, fridge, BBQ, etc..... Look for the Sludgepumpers on Tet Rouge!
Last year I went with a mate in my S1 Elise and we managed to take the following....
1 large 4 man tunnel tent
1 small 2 man tent for keeping charcoal and stuff dry
2 folding chairs
1 folding table
1 cheapo BBQ
2 DSLR cameras with extra lenses
2 sleeping bags
2 airbeds
1 camping gaz cooker
Plus clothes etc etc.
It looked like this on the way down there (I do have a luggage rack which helps)
Then when we were down there the rack was handy for trying to get 3 crates of beer, 12l of water and 10kg of charcoal back from Carrefour too!
This was our camp, we bought the gazebo when we arrived but got the rest in the Lotus to take down there...
1 large 4 man tunnel tent
1 small 2 man tent for keeping charcoal and stuff dry
2 folding chairs
1 folding table
1 cheapo BBQ
2 DSLR cameras with extra lenses
2 sleeping bags
2 airbeds
1 camping gaz cooker
Plus clothes etc etc.
It looked like this on the way down there (I do have a luggage rack which helps)
Then when we were down there the rack was handy for trying to get 3 crates of beer, 12l of water and 10kg of charcoal back from Carrefour too!
This was our camp, we bought the gazebo when we arrived but got the rest in the Lotus to take down there...
Nice one jamiebae! That's the way it should be done - generators and fridges are cheating! (and generators are downright annoying for the people around you too!)
Last year we had a MR2 mk1, a 309gti, and the plan was for a Rover P6 3500 V8 - all fine, until the rear suspension collapsed 10 miles from Dover!
This year there's 13 of us in 2 MR2 turbos, the P6 (it's fixed now, it WILL make it!), a volvo 850 T5 estate, Seat Leon, and KTM Superduke. We'll be taking 2 gazebos and a proper bbq, but that's about it as far as luxuries go!
Last year we had a MR2 mk1, a 309gti, and the plan was for a Rover P6 3500 V8 - all fine, until the rear suspension collapsed 10 miles from Dover!
This year there's 13 of us in 2 MR2 turbos, the P6 (it's fixed now, it WILL make it!), a volvo 850 T5 estate, Seat Leon, and KTM Superduke. We'll be taking 2 gazebos and a proper bbq, but that's about it as far as luxuries go!
For beer chilling we bought a cool-box from Carrefour and stuck 2kg of ice in it each day which kept the beers chilled pretty well and wasn't really a major hassle because we had to go to the shops each day for fresh meat and bread anyway. This year we're taking a couple of extra solar panels and a deep cycle 12v battery to power lights and a stereo but not too much else, we'll be going in 2 or 3 cars though so it should be easier!
You are kidding? Minimalist camping is what the bikers do for the bike LM - take a tooth brush in the pocket of the leathers and off you go.
I have taken an Elise to LM before and its easily fitted in enough for 2 to camp for the weekend. Given that most people are in sports cars (or were before LM turned into an Essex boys event) then people buy a dustbin as a cooler, cover it in foil and add ice and bobs ya fathers brother. Buy a cheap gazebo and voila. People just buy cheap BBQs etc at teh supermarket as well and leave it all behind when they head back, hence the pikies eager to get in the site first thing monday morning.
I have taken an Elise to LM before and its easily fitted in enough for 2 to camp for the weekend. Given that most people are in sports cars (or were before LM turned into an Essex boys event) then people buy a dustbin as a cooler, cover it in foil and add ice and bobs ya fathers brother. Buy a cheap gazebo and voila. People just buy cheap BBQs etc at teh supermarket as well and leave it all behind when they head back, hence the pikies eager to get in the site first thing monday morning.
Shnozz said:
Given that most people are in sports cars (or were before LM turned into an Essex boys event)
Don't you just hate that?! Last year I had some 18 year old kid taking the piss out of me for cooking on a Trangea after arriving late on Thursday. I reminded him that having just driven ~550 miles I was in no mood to wait for a BBQ. It was obvious to me then, that Le Mans to these people, is mainly about the size and spec of their motorhome and not the cars.Tossers
Shnozz said:
although that said, the weekend after next a part of me will wonder what I am doing in the UK and not in the middle of France!
And then when you hear yet more stories of people filling supersoakers full of piss, you know why you stayed in Blighty.Anyway, back to topic. You can buy the things you need (we might see if we can pick up a gazebo while we're there) but it can prove expensive that way. Just pack sensibly but moreover, make sure you have all the necessaries first. A first aid kit for instance is more important than a shaving kit but if can take both then fine
996 Turbo. One passenger.
Kit list
V large tent (takes up front luggage space).
2 chairs
2 airbeds
2 sleeping bags
extension lead
kettle
7mtr pole plus flags
seat pads for grandstand
Clothes / shoes etc will be packed in if they fit.
We also have a portable Satellite system and 19" lcd that we want to fit in, but struggled on sample pack today!
Kit list
V large tent (takes up front luggage space).
2 chairs
2 airbeds
2 sleeping bags
extension lead
kettle
7mtr pole plus flags
seat pads for grandstand
Clothes / shoes etc will be packed in if they fit.
We also have a portable Satellite system and 19" lcd that we want to fit in, but struggled on sample pack today!
Elise
3rd year running
This year no support veh so smaller 3 man tent carried in elise
1 x tent
2 x Sleeping bags
2 x Luggage bags (clothes/personal stuff)
2 x Air beds
4 x towels
camp stove
camping pots pans kettle plates,KFS
Air pump
Toilet/kitchen roll
Coats
Torches
tent lamp
some tinned food ect
Collapsable water container
3rd year running
This year no support veh so smaller 3 man tent carried in elise
1 x tent
2 x Sleeping bags
2 x Luggage bags (clothes/personal stuff)
2 x Air beds
4 x towels
camp stove
camping pots pans kettle plates,KFS
Air pump
Toilet/kitchen roll
Coats
Torches
tent lamp
some tinned food ect
Collapsable water container
Edited by S2Dave on Sunday 1st June 19:18
Fruitcake said:
Captain Volvo said:
Rispek to those with tiny cars who attempt this! I'm beginning to think about getting a roof box......
Jesus, man. How can you not fit all of the things you need in a Volvo estate?It's camping, you're not moving house.
minimalist camping is about bivving, not asking how many bottles of rosé will fit in the bleeding fridge. In fact modern bivi bags are so good that real men feel compelled to fill them with thorns and gravel before crawling in.
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