Small car weekend camping. Mad???

[gleegeek]

Hi we are free this weekend unexpectedly and want to go camping. BUT our big car is being fixed and won't be ready in time. Do you think it's possible for dh, me and dd (10) to fit a tent and gear and us into a peugeot 206 and escape somewhere??

We're scouring the web for a suitable small tent as I know our usual Coleman won't fit in. We're prepared to travel light, no chairs/table etc and just a single gas stove. No electric.

Are we mad? Any suggestions for a sub £100 tent which packs up small but has room for the three of us? We're looking at www.gooutdoors.co.uk/freedom-trail-walhala-5-family-tent-p286284but can't see packed dimensions or
www.outdoormegastore.co.uk/kampa-brighton-4-tent.html

Any other ideas?

[MissWimpyDimple]

I have regularly managed it in a golf with 2 adults and 3 children so I think you will manage no problem. That's with an 8 man tent in there too! Admittedly you couldn't actually see the kids...

Can't the tent go on the spare seat next to your child?

[gleegeek]

Good to hear you have managed similar! Dh is sceptical but I reckon we'll be fine

Any recommendations for a tent??? We're going round in circles...

[profpoopsnagle]

Are you going nearby? You could do 2 trips. Or 1-2 of you travel by bus/train, driver drops bits at site and then pick you up?

[RaisingSteam]

None of those small tents will be too big packed down. Have you got sleeping bags that go into compression sacks? Does your rear seat split-fold?

I'd take:
small tent
sleeping bags and SIMs, pillows to stuff in corners
chairs or stools and a small table.
stove only
small cold box/bag
small bag of clothes each person
picnic rug
head torches
One bag of food
One plastic box for all the bits and bobs (pans/ mugs etc)

I might go for say a Freedom Trail Sendero 4, it has a better groundsheet in the porch.

you probably know this, but if you don't have airbeds, then your "bedroom" can be "living space" during the day because you just roll the sleeping bags up to one end - we normally spread a blanket over the sleeping mats. Helps with the claustrophobia factor of a small tent.

[Permanentlyexhausted]

Can you get to Go Outdoors? If so, you'll be able to see the packed tents on the shelves so you'll be able to choose then.

[Blu]

We (2 adults, 1 child) used to manage in a Fiat Punto, and that was with BBQ Bucket, chairs, table, stove, windbreak etc.

Stuff things into every cranny - under the seats, stuff under dd's legs, fill the seat next to her. A bag under the legs of the front seat passenger, your dd can sit on a couple of sleeping bags put flat on the seat...

[Adikia]

I can get me, big bro, DS(10) and DD(5) in big bro's Nissan Micra with 3 nights worth of camping stuff.

we take 2 tents (my 3 man and bros 2 man)
4 sleeping mats
4 sleeping bags
4 pillows
A bag each (containing clothes, wash bags, toys the DC want to take, torch)
Stove
box of food
a box of pots and pans.

The pillows go on the floor bellow/packed round DDs feet, kids sleeping bags and kids rucksacks go on the seat and floor between them, mine goes on the floor by my feet and everything else in the boot, its a little like playing tetris getting it all to fit in and its difficult if the DC need to get out to go to the loo on the journey but it can be done.

[Rhubarbcrumbled]

We have an i10 which is tiny and take everything we need for two weeks in France. Pack minimal and fill every space and you'll be fine!

[gleegeek]

That's fantastic everyone!

RaisingSteam - that's inspired. I hadn't thought of using the bedroom as living area - it's looking a bit wet on Saturday so that might be the saving of us!

Dh has gone to look at an UrbanEscapeOsaki from Halfords - cheap and cheerful and looks like it packs down quite small but turns into a reasonable space put up. Will see what he thinks...

GoOutdoors is over an hour away so I think we're pushing it to get a tent from them in the end, but I do like the look of the Sendero

[gleegeek]

Thank you for all your advice. W

[gleegeek]

Thank you for all your advice. I'm glad to say that we a

[gleegeek]

Thank you for all your advice. I'm glad to say that we are happily installed on

[gleegeek]

So

[RaisingSteam]

somewhere without much signal?

[gleegeek]

Sorry phone kept skipping to post before I'd finished typing!

We had a fantastic weekend, managed to get everything in the car without being too overloaded. The new tent is great and we were really warm and comfy. Looking forward to lots of spontaneous weekend camping trips