Best family car for camping!!

[Dickorydockwhatthe]

We are looking for a new family car that is reliable and economical to run with large boot space for all our camping needs. What car do you have and how do manage to fit everything in??? We noticed estates seem quite popular on site opposed to people carriers.

[lynniep]

Depends on your tent. I can tell you that we have a peugeot 3008 which has a large boot, but with the kids in the back and our vango maritsa 700 in the boot plus all the other camping gubbings, we don't have enough space without using the roof box. And even then its a squeeze. So yes I'd imagine an estate is probably better.

[KissMyFatArse]

We have A honda crv and has enough room for all our supplies x

[Ineedmorepatience]

We have an old style Vauxhall Zafira it is brilliant for camping, we fill the boot, have a roof box and or kayak on the roof and 3 bikes on the bike rack on the back and it stilll climbs the mountains through Wales.

Go for a diesel for maximum packing

[ViviPru]

We passed a VW Caddy Life on the M25 the other day and commented to eachother what an ace cheap and cheerful but reliable and fit-for-purpose family camping wagon it'd make....

[Ineedmorepatience]

Oh and it turns into a 7 seater for carting friends around too

[Ineedmorepatience]

My friend has a VW caddy maxi it is an amazing car

[expatinscotland]

Zafira with roof box.

[lavendersun]

Depends on how many of you there are really - we have a Volvo V50 which we love. Four can travel in lovely comfort and the boot is quite big. We don't actually use the boot because our dog is in there - we have a trailer with everything in. We have used it before though and managed to fit everything in for a week with a roof box (our tent is massive).

It is really economical - a diesel 'drive' engine, free road tax and does about 70 mpg on average. 3 years old now and sadly they have stopped making them.

Not a family car but just for size comparison we also have a Land Rover Defender 110 (which is the long one) - you would think that you would be able to get more in that but actually you can't because it has seven seats - the capacity for camping gear is the same (I know, we have tried both but despite being new and top of the range for that sort of thing it is still drives like a tractor).

[springlamb]

I'd say Zafira too. The older ones have a flat boot ledge which doubles up as a nice sitting ledge should it be needed.
Mine has an extra power socket in the back too for any ice boxes, chargers etc.
The back seats divide 70/30 so a bit of extra space if you only have 2 dc to transport.
When the boot is open the tailgate is nice and flat for drying towels on too.

[PatriciaHolm]

We have an old style Honda CRV and it's fine for four people, a smallish popup Outwell tent and lots of gubbins including a plug in fridge box, pantry, table and chairs etc.

[3lovelykids]

We have a vauxhall insignia which has a huge boot. We recline the larger section of the boot and use a roofbox too. Our tent is an outwell Montana 6 so a decent size. We still struggle

[FrozenAteMyDaughter]

Another one with a Zafira and roofbox. We could do with a bigger roofbox though - ours used to sit on our old Fiesta and the camping kit is steadily growing....

[bizzieb33]

Any car with a tow bar!

[Pixel]

I'm leaning towards a Zafira. I've seen one for sale locally that I've arranged to try out next week and it seems to fit the bill. Only thing is my current car is 1.8 and the Zafira is only 1.6. Will I notice a big difference with towing? Are any of you here who say you camp with Zafiras towing with a 1.6?

TIA

[feetheart]

Our Picasso was bought because of the camping capacity of it's boot :)
Just back from a week in Sussex with DH, myself, DD(11) and DS(8) plus enormous Khyam tent and awning and the usual huge amounts of camping crap paraphernalia. We couldn't see out the back but everything/everybody fitted into the car.

[Pixel]

I like to see out of the back window though that's the trouble, and I worry about loose items in the event of an accident. My Renault Laguna has such a lovely big boot that what with that and the trailer I don't have to have anything above the level of the parcel shelf.

[Flappingandflying]

Our Skoda Octavia is brill at towing. We've got the 2 litre diseal. Really comfy. If you are towing don't buy a C4 Grande Picasso as they have a minimal nose weight so can't tow much more than a feather.

[TheFantasticMrsFox]

Not a Freelander
The only redeeming feature is that it has an electric rear window so with the dog guard can be packed to the roof and with every conceivable gap stuffed though removing stuff is interesting
Shame we now have three dogs really :o

[Lucylouby]

We have a zafira with a roof box and squash five of us in with camping stuff for a week. When I say squash I mean, feet up, stuff in foot wells not a spare inch of space left. But also I'm not known for packing lightly. Our friends have same car, same number of children and have plenty of space left once packed.

[youbethemummylion]

Renault Scenic with roof top box and middle back seat removed works for us. We don't take bikes.

[HarrietSchulenberg]

Ford Galaxy fits massive tent, camping stuff, food, 1 adult, 1 teenager, 1 11 year old, a 7 year old and a lurcher with enough room to breathe and even wiggle slightly.

[2gorgeousboys]

We have an old style CRV, 2 (sometimes 3) boys aged between 10 and 19 and a Labrador. I like to be able to see out of the back so we use a roofbox (fold up one) and put the very large Outwell tent and canopy on the roof. We could fit everything in the car if we had to but like to travel with space and visibility. I also like to take far too much and do not travel lightly!

[HettyD]

We are on our second ford S-Max---can fit SOO much stuff I. Them and huge boot and flexible seating on the back!!

[UterusUterusGhali]

IMO there is never enough room!
Idrive a volvo v70xc. I went camping with 5 people and a bell tent. Four people; ok. with the extra person on the way back as horrid.

I'm looking for a landy defender next tbh with a long wheel base. And a roof rack.

[lavendersun]

Uterus - I wouldn't if I were you unless you have driven one a lot and don't mind it. Have had them all my life. Current one was new two years ago with the new 'refined' engine - it is a 110 XS - all (the few) extras possible.

Doesn't drive any differently to the series III I took my test in nearly 30 years ago.

Honestly, don't do it unless you need it for other things (we do). I did drive to the Highlands in it once in February - obv good in the snow but we were all vibrating for about two hours after we got home.

We had an XC70 in 2004 and always have Volvos as our 'normal' cars - currently have a V50. Honestly, you cannot compare the two. I wouldn't recommend a Defender to anyone who didn't need one for their purpose.

Drives like a tractor, not easy to squeeze into parking spots, huge turning circle, just not comfortable at all. Never ever use mine for long journeys our Volvos are too nice.