Help! It won't all fit in the car!!

[Mercy]

We've just loaded up the car as we are off camping tomorrow - and there's no room left. And I haven't even packed the clothes or the food yet

Does anyone else have this problem? Where am I going wrong?!

[SecondhandRose]

Roofrack? Hotel?

[Blandmum]

We ended up with a roof top box!

Car still full to bursting.

Buy food when you get there unless you need specific stuff that is hard to get. Halve the amount of clothes, I always over pack

[tortoise]

Stay in your back garden and set up camp like we just have!
No helpful ideas im afraid!

[Scoobydooooo]

We have just got back from a week camping & we had the exact same problem, we had to do a last miute dash to halfords & buy a roof box & we were still packed to the rafters.

[lucy5]

Sit on duvets or sleeping bags, get the kids to sit with feet on boxes!

[LucyCat]

I'd agree with mb about the amount of clothes, you really will use less than you think.

Sounds like a roof box or trailer is needed.

Hope the weather is good for you, where are you heading to?

[Mercy]

I did have a look at Halford's site for a roof box a bit earlier - but they are sooo expensive, we can't possibly afford one at such short notice. ANd we have just bought an estate car in order to increase the amount of storage space - hahahaha!

I have reduced the amount of clothing and we are going to buy some of the food tomorrow. I wouldn't mind but the weather's going to be fairly crap too

Am tempted to post my packing list!

[Tommy]

If it rains a lot at least their clothes won't get dirty under their cagoules.....you could make one outfit last the whole week!


(sorry - not very helpful am I?)

[tigi]

We were full to bursting last time! Nearly had to leave a child behind! In the end we left behind the kids folding seats - they never sit still anyway! I always take loads of spare clothes, and yes, they always get filthy and wet, so use them all every time! So don't leave them out!

[Mercy]

It's my and dh's clothes I've had to cut down on. dd is 5 and ds is 2.5 so I can't really risk it with them tbh. dd still has the occasional accident and ds has decided a couple of weeks ahead of my schedule that he wants to be potty trained!

We need a minimalist camping list!

btw, do you all have roof boxes or trailers? (still not used to camping with kids as you can tell!) Are they really worth the money as children get older?

[FeelingOld]

We have a people carrier and still need a roof box to fit everything in. Our kids are 6, 11 and 12 so yes you do still need them as kids get older as they want to take stuff like body boards and insist on having their own large chair etc as well as needing larger sleeping bags etc.
We wouldn't manage without our roof box at all.

[tigi]

we've now invested in a roof box, but it's still a push! we take more stuff camping for 3 nights than we do for a fortnight in a cottage in cornwall!

[Mercy]

Tigi, you are absolutely right! - it's easy to forget that camping involves so much gear.

We'll have to think about a roof box it seems. FeelingOld my dh said hte same thing about when they get older - I thought we'd need less stuff but didn't think about 'bigger' items.

[LucyCat]

I'm sure that you can hire roof boxes, I noticed an advert on one when we were sitting in the traffic jam on the M5 last week!

Bit late for tomorrow though - have a great time!

[groggymama]

we have this problem, get your dcs to wear as many clothes as possible, don't forget the space under the front seat, put your knickers in your pockets have fun tomorrow,

have a look at this thread

[cowmad]

we bought a second hand trailer in the paper an now all the camping gear,tent- cooker -plates cutlery-blo up beds lights torches( you know the rest of the list!! )lives in side that,in the garage.we can be ready for camping in under an hour!
a tip from a friend which we have found great is to buy everyone a large clear box with a lid for all your clothes,keeps stuff all dry too,we all have one each,so the kids,an me, can see exactly what they want without dragging the lot out,also they load in the car really easy,an they sort of double as tables,also really good for food and all plates an stuff,
other good bit of passed on advice...take your george forman or equivalent.. at least you can still cook when its pi**ing down!!

[Mercy]

rofl at that thread groggymama!

Thanks all. I really must go to bed now!!