Hello & Welcome from The Colonial Contingent We camp with the dogs, currently 1 Airedale & 1 Scottish Deerhound but have camped with 2 of each & at times with 7 Airedales.
Thanks for the replies! We have a new remo drive away awning that came with Oscar but we've never had it out hopefully it's all there! How cold does it get at night? Not gunna lie, I'm nesh that radiator looks good, we have an oil one but u wouldn't fit much else in the camper ha! Definitely goin to invest in a hammock, unfortunately we don't have a pop top so the hammock would be great for the little one, any recommendations on which one? If u have hook up do u leave a door or window ajar? Another thing I'd not thought of is car seats for kids, we have lap belts in the back but that's it, do any of u use a carseat? 7 dogs in one bus, u must be mad! I'll try and get some pictures on soon, I'm glad we're not the only ones who are yet to camp in it!
Hi @Jess and welcome. We've just had a three-point belt fitted in the back so we can use a car seat - I don't know if there are any car seats you can use with a lap belt (although I'm sure someone one here will know! I can't offer any sensible advice as we haven't camped in ours yet either, but having been tent campers for a good few years, I'd recommend good amounts of alcohol, and electric hook up. Our bus is an import so instead of changing the electrics for the UK, we're just going to use our camping hook up into the awning for now.
One of these.................................. . Spotted whilst on holiday in Cornwall! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Hello and welcome We used to use a feather duvet until I realised it was making me cough!! I have got hook up on my new van so have used a little hot air heater. In my old van I didn't have built in hook up so bought a hook up cable with sockets. I passed that through the sliding window and used a hot air heater I find joggers and a wooly hat also help
Is that random joggers with woolly hats? Random joggers and a woolly hat for yourself? Random joggers sharing one woolly hat? Please be clearer when giving advice Ps. Welcome @Jess
Hi Jess and welcome If you can insulate behind panels makes a big difference in keeping the heat in. When going camping book well in advance because everyone wants eletric hook-up and normally there is only so many hook-ups available Geordie
I would suggest you have a trial run. Get someone to look after the dogs at home and go camping with your young child say for 1 or 2 nights and see how you get on. I think taking the dogs along on the first trip may be too much.
Don't put it off, you will be amazed how much fun you will have. Don't worry about this and that it's really easy and the freedom you will have with your family will be priceless. G
Good morning Jess, just joined the forum myself, these guys are great . I would suggest a crate for the dogs, we have a Westy and Patterdale who are prone to getting out !! We sleep in the awning, air beam type, really easy to put up, blow up bed , v comfy . Cool box/ fridge runs on 12 or 240 v a must for the beers and vino . 2 comfy chairs and a book ,ah sorry you still have little uns , but that is what the hubby is for I guess. Enjoy
Hi Jess Seeing as you know what nesh means you will be fine with camping! Camping in a van is much warmer than in a tent. You want and need the first night to be a good experience, so I'd suggest your first camping trip shouldn't be until at least May or when it has warmed up a bit. You will only be cold if you don't wear/take the right stuff. Layer up. Lots of heat loss is from the head - wear a hat in bed if you have to Start off wearing socks and take them off if you get too warm Sleeping bags are probably warmer, but I prefer a duvet, put a duvet underneath you as well Leave a roof vent open or a window a jar Alcohol helps, but short drinks may be better in terms of getting up in the night (getting out of a lovely warm bed is not nice when it is v cold outside) If you have electric hook up then take an oil filled radiator until you tell how warm you are. A few years ago my partner and I camped in April, she had just come back from abroad and really felt the cold. We had the roof down, duvet with two blankets on top. and she still felt cold, so wore a hat to bed and loads of clothes until she got warmer. We were doing a test camping run in the van before a much longer trip to Mull. We took loads of stuff to keep us warm, but didn't need any of it as it was late May by then and much warmer. You can sleep in the van in all weather, if you have the right kit. Good luck
