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Went camping this weekend with all three children for the first time and resorted to strapping bags to the roof bars once the boot and roof box were both full!
The roof box is a long slim one which I got when our car was smaller and I’d take a bike on holiday too - but that’s not terribly likely again in the future unless I can take four bikes for everyone else as well…
We don’t need the roof box for non-camping trips now that the car is bigger and the roof box is annoying to store for the few times we use it, especially considering that it’s not big enough when we do.
In an ideal world I’d persuade the boss that we should be more minimalist with our kit but that’s never going to happen.
I’ve seen you can get roof bags which look more capacious and easier to store. My other thought was some kind of more old school approach of an actual roof rack that bags can go on. If we could stick the massive air beam tent on the roof that would leave the boot mostly empty! A bigger (why are tent bags always too small when repacked after the first use?!!) tougher bag for the tent that could strap straight to the roof bars would be ideal.
I did see a video recently advocating for roof baskets over boxes. I don’t like needing to weatherproof it all though and I’d be paranoid about strapping it all down properly. Does give flexibility and easier to store, plus not as tall when you’re away and unloaded.
I’ve been trying to slim down our stuff - every year there’s a few new things, or comfier (but bulkier) versions of old things. Can see why people end up with a trailer or big van.
Be wary of putting weight on the roof.
We had a big roof box, and when not needed it either went in the garage upright or sat in the garden with some breeze blocks inside.
Minimising kit is a pointless wish with family kit.
To be fair this was before bulkier air tents
No helpful suggestion. Just wondering how my parents, back in the 60s, packed 2 adults and 4 kids aged 8 to 14 in one car with full camping kit including a frame tent. For 3 weeks touring Europe.
A mate has one of the bag style Thule roof boxes. It's pretty tough and has done him well but I'm not sure about outright capacity, although you can probably buy various sizes.
“Just wondering how my parents, back in the 60s, packed 2 adults and 4 kids aged 8 to 14 in one car with full camping kit including a frame tent. For 3 weeks touring Europe.”
Air beam tents and foam filled air mattresses are great in use but rather huge when packed! Plus I doubt there were anywhere near as many niceties available for your parents to buy to overload their car. And modern cars waste a lot of space on crash protection and oversized wheels and tyres.
Buy or borrow a trailer.
It's just less hassle.
It's how my parents did camping with a full frame canvas tent with an Audi 80.....
How heavy is the tent?
Could it be put in a waterproof bag then strapped to a bike rack on the back of the car? I'm assuming you already have a bike rack of some sort, of course.
My daughter has just had similar issues. 3 kids, one in a baby seat, which takes up loads of space, and a Labrador. They just had to buy a small trailer. So much easier and so much less stress.
“How heavy is the tent?
Could it be put in a waterproof bag then strapped to a bike rack on the back of the car? I’m assuming you already have a bike rack of some sort, of course.”
It’s 30kg but I don’t have a rear bike rack, just the roof one - I ride from home 99% of the time.
I am pondering leaving my three Thule bike carriers on the roof bars and then strapping the tent to them. With four load straps it’s not going to go anywhere!
It’s 30kg
😱
Our three person with standing room tent is 5.5kg. All the sleeping bags, mats, spare clothing, food and stove on a week long canoe trip fits in one 120lt or two 60lt barrels.
I do think modern camp site camping kit is Uber luxurious. Excessively large, heavy and comfy.
Look at downsizing some kit?
Our three person with standing room tent is 5.5kg
People value the fact they can't put poles in tents ....
Things I hate at campsites.....same as at sup spots.... Folk who insist on plugging into their(invariably idling) car to inflate things.
The tent is quite ridiculous - it’s like a bloody bungalow! But I do pump it up by hand (which is v fast if you treat it like a sprint on a rowing machine).
If we were doing this from scratch we’d get a smaller tent plus a gazebo for extra space on wet days but I’m not sure I want the cost/hassle of selling and buying again.
Surely the answer is a trailer?
Trailer x3. Much better investment than a plastic roof box. And you can get kayak/bike attachments if needed.
Rather than spend money on new equipment to transport a tent just pay for a proper holiday.
“Rather than spend money on new equipment to transport a tent just pay for a proper holiday.”
I’m glad we don’t camp because we can’t afford alternative holidays because that’s not a very helpful or kind answer (have you seen UK holiday rental prices?!) The camping trips are usually large group things for just a few days where a big crowd of us can have a nice time whilst our children mostly entertain each other in the outdoors (without annoying any unconnected campers).
I’ve recently bought similar to this secondhand:
I was going to modify it to sit alongside a long, half width roof box, but it’s not quite long enough for what I want to put in it.
If you pack kit in dry bags then you can pile multiple in to it then strap it all down with straps and a cargo net.
Rather than spend money on new equipment to transport a tent just pay for a proper holiday.
???
We could do 3 adult size children in Berlingo with roof box. Camping gear for 5 for 2 weeks including chairs
Having a smaller non air tent really helped plus a few other minor tweaks like 2 small tables rather than a proper one
Generally car roofs are limited to 80kg including a roof rack and box. This makes a trailer a better extension than a roof box
My Dad had a mk2 golf with a ridiculous luggage frame for the roof, it fitted a couple of old suitcases with all our clothes in, that was then wrapped up with a mega-tarp and a bazillion bungy-cords. All the precious camping kit went in the boot, our clothes would stay on the roof as we trundled to southern France...
At the other end we'd get our clothes back and the tarp would become a ground sheet for my Dad's ancient, but capacious old tent...
Twas the 80s, but he was a product of the 60s.
We managed 2 adults, 2 kids, 4 bikes and all the kit for 2 weeks camping in standard Kia Ceed. Roof box (320l) on the roof with light stuff (clothes, sleeping mats and a duvet to make it a luxury holiday).
3 bikes on tow bar rack, 1 on roof. Body boards go between the bikes on the bike rack.
Things we did to save space:
Tent with poles (we bought the smallest Coleman that has 3 bedrooms to reduce kids fighting, still space for stove on a stand and picnic table inside on wet days). Tents with poles are much smaller. The other big space saver was getting helinox copy chairs from Aldi (very useful space saving and similar ones on eBay).
All just went in, including 2 ring stove with gas bottle and stand / cupboard, 4 chairs, picnic table, beach toys, summer wetsuits, walking boots, etc.
This year we've booked a fancy campsite that includes some sort of kitchen area so will try taking 2 backpacking stoves to save a bit more space.
Just to throw a non trailer vote in, we've got a roof bag on roof bars on the Yeti (great car, shit boot). Surprisingly weatherproof, down to Devon from Worcester in a monsoon last year and all the contents was bone dry.
Reasonably flexible on space, we put the dog crate, bedding and beach clobber in there and it forms around it nicely. Straps that are with it are pretty robust as well.
£35 Amazon Basics one.
I’ve ended up going smaller on bulky items, namely tent, then chairs, then sleeping mats. Folding chairs in particular are massively space consuming given their weight. Can now get everything in the boot of the car albeit for just two of us and a dog (but still a six man tent!).
Be wary of putting weight on the roof.
It'll be fine, not like its a bulk bag he's putting on roof
Big air tent + 3 kids + comfy camping = trailer. I've got an SMax and even with that and two kids it was a should destroying job wedging it in.
Don't get the smallest trailer either get one that's a bit too big. Big trailers tow better and contrary to all initial instincts are easier to reverse.
Big dry bag like this;
https://www.ortlieb.com/uk_en/dry-bag-ps490+K5851
Couple of bars connecting the cross bars front to rear and 2 straps to hold the bag down. Sorted.
I have a 110ltr dry bag and done this many times.
@fettlin the yeti boot is indeed an odd shape. But once you realise you need to pack vertically it makes sense. The optional metal dog guard helps things massively.
Trailers are a right pita. Take up more room than a massive roof box while making the car ride abysmally.
We had a long thin thule roof box, but this got upgraded to a 540l Halfords thingy. I can get our bell tent in that no bother (60Kg+ More if it’s vaguely damp.) I’ve some giant padded u-brackets which let me store it outside against a wall & it doesn’t take up that much space as a consequence.
while making the car ride abysmally.
What you towing with a Toyota iq ?
Probably doing this already but there is tonnes of space around the spare wheel on most cars.
Be careful of overloading the roof with a 30kg dry weight tent when it’s wet! Did this with a roof box and all the wetsuits and other wet beach stuff! A bit boaty on the A30 roundabouts!🤣
Some useful ideas! Our car is a Zafira Tourer so no spare wheel. Our camping seats are 15 years old so can be replaced with those tiny new ones (and the old ones can go to work as incidental chairs).
We don’t have space to store a trailer nor am I inclined to add a towbar so I can pull one.
Will have a look into alternative tents - I can’t really fault the new one when it’s up, except in hot weather where a canvas bell tent would be better. It’s a Kampa Croyde 6 Air. Goes up and down fast, good in the wind, tons of space. Something with 2-3 sleeping compartments and then a shared space would be good. Folding gazebo plus a smaller tent would work well. I’m perfectly happy with poles but they do seem a bit rubbish on these kinds of tents. My other tent is a 1996 TNF Westwind but I can’t fit the family in that!
Hopefully next time the bigger two kids can be back in down sleeping bags - this time we reverted to sheets and duvets because of wetting issues, and next time the smallest one should be out of a travel cot, so that’ll all save some space. I like my thick mattress but my eldest is fine on a 3/4 length ultralite thermarest from 1996 and next time I’ll try one of them on my new lightweight mattress I got for bivvying.
Any suggestions for smaller lighter tables?
Roof bag is looking more and more appealing! Have just dropped the roof box off at work because I don’t have space to store it at home.
As above, I'd opt for a trailer.
As you've 3 kids, a tow bar mounted rack is a good thing, so it will be useful for days away taking bikes only with you, or camping trips. As well as getting building supplies for the garden/diy.
Best steath ad EVER!
Old school. Roofrack and tarp. Versatile a d allows you to carry loads of stuff.