Squeezing all the camping gear in to the car

Squeezing all the camping gear in to the car

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muppetdave

Original Poster:

2,118 posts

225 months

Tuesday 25th September 2012
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We have a nine month old boy, and this year for Le Mans, we just about managed to squeeze him, the mrs, all his gear (including steriliser etc.) and the camping equipment in to my Mercedes Estate with roofbox.

This last weekend, we took the M-i-L camping an hour up the road (she's hinted at wanting to come away with us next year) - we took two cars for a couple of other reasons, so I didn't bother with the roofbox. However when coming home I tried to pack the car properly (just threw everything in there on the way out there) and even though we'd have the roofbox for a longer journey, I seriously doubt we'd have room for everything whilst retaining the rear seats.

Any thoughts on how we can save space given this is our rough provision. I appreciate that some of the bits will disappear as the littlun gets older.

Tent (8-man - we like our space!)
Aluminium camping table plus couple of chairs
Camping kitchen plus gas bottle
Box of various odds and sods including hook-up, pots and pans etc.
Picnic bag incl. cutlery (we usually fill this with food as well on the way out)
Coolbox (240V)
Duvet and pillows (were in vacuum bags)
Airbed
Clothes (for us and baby!)
Travel cot
Travel high chair (folds to about 18" x 8" x 10" or so)

The only thing I can think of is switching the duvets for sleeping bags, and of course not taking the M-i-L!

muppetdave

Original Poster:

2,118 posts

225 months

Wednesday 26th September 2012
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Trailers - euch!! To be avoided at all costs, even if it is the sensible answer...

muppetdave

Original Poster:

2,118 posts

225 months

Thursday 4th October 2012
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I'm still struggling to think of ways to work around this, think the answer is she can sod off biggrin

muppetdave

Original Poster:

2,118 posts

225 months

Saturday 27th October 2012
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I have been reading the posts - and yes I like a slightly roomier tent ;o)

Some good packing in need by the sounds of it - I'll have a few practice runs in different configuration next year as I'm sure we should be able to make it fit much better. Littlun should be much easier to deal with next year - obviously no steriliser (wasn't one when we went in Sept.), we know we don't need a highchair etc. and we're hoping that come next year we can perhaps get him on to an inflatable mattress rather than the travel cot (useful for containing him though!)