camping questions

[extreme-4x4]

ok well our first camp is definitely on the cards...
couple of questions really

whats the electric hook up available on some pitches
can i run a standard kettle and portable telly on it? is it metered or not?

i assume as these places have showers and toilets so you dont need to take any of that

i got a twin gas stove with grill for eggs and bacon in the morning. so thats covered

its just seating, table and what to do in the evening when the kids are asleep
(grown up answers please)


oh and any other tips you might have... so i dont put them off camping on the first outing

[ssteve]

ok well our first camp is definitely on the cards...
couple of questions really

whats the electric hook up available on some pitches
can i run a standard kettle and portable telly on it? is it metered or not?

i assume as these places have showers and toilets so you dont need to take any of that

i got a twin gas stove with grill for eggs and bacon in the morning. so thats covered

its just seating, table and what to do in the evening when the kids are asleep
(grown up answers please)


oh and any other tips you might have... so i dont put them off camping on the first outing

electric is normally 10 amp max

ssteve

[Adz]

Well this i do know about :lol
As i live in a static 9 months of the year :rolleyes: ( so cheap )
The site im on just has normal plot electric.
I can run 2x electric heaters, tv, laptop, kettle & lights with no problem :thumbs
Put on a 3rd heater however & it does a trip ;)
Some sites are on metres others are inclusive ;)

[zippy656]

electric is normally 10 amp max

ssteve


weve got a camping kettle low wattage.. just slower than home.. OK for TV.

we got some nice garden seat, from Morrisons.. £40 for two,,

[ssteve]

ok well our first camp is definitely on the cards...
couple of questions really

whats the electric hook up available on some pitches
can i run a standard kettle and portable telly on it? is it metered or not?

i assume as these places have showers and toilets so you dont need to take any of that

i got a twin gas stove with grill for eggs and bacon in the morning. so thats covered

its just seating, table and what to do in the evening when the kids are asleep
(grown up answers please)


oh and any other tips you might have... so i dont put them off camping on the first outing


not metered
2.kw kettle and telly at same time prob ok
supply will be protected by mcb anyway (i hope)
ha! you think the kids are going to sleep!
think again

ssteve

[jims-terrano]

Electric hook up can vary from site to site but most are at least 10 amps now, they have RCD's (a trip switch) that you should get site staff to turn back on should you blow it but I've simply taken a screwdriver to the box and done it myself:augie. They are not metered just a flat rate extra to use. You need to provide your own electric cable in a tent with a RCD circuit breaker on the end of it where the sockets are. A standard kettle will probably work but could blow the breaker, same goes for a fan heater. Your TV and lights should be fine. Most sites have good shower blocks with toilets but usually close for an hour during the day for cleaning. Entertainment, you'll learn to go to bed early with the kids:lol sound from your telly will travel through the canvas and the kids will soon learn to peep through the bedroom door/curtain to watch with you:lol. Don't leave owt valuable in your tent. Take your self a plastic screw top milk bottle to bed if you've drunk much that evening, use your imagination for that one. Keep any meals simple, you can all eat healthy at home so live on crap cos it's easy. Most of all chill and go with the flow:thumbs

Jim T

[ssteve]

Well this i do know about :lol
As i live in a static 9 months of the year :rolleyes: ( so cheap )
The site im on just has normal plot electric.
I can run 2x electric heaters, tv, laptop, kettle & lights with no problem :thumbs
Put on a 3rd heater however & it does a trip ;)
Some sites are on metres others are inclusive ;)

different kettle of fish on residential sites

ssteve

[zippy656]

where you going to Extreme??

[extreme-4x4]

with the telly
do you need to take a sky box or digi box or just a standard areal or scart lead

ive lived out on building sites and in vans for a week at a time. so i know i can do it. (with bugger all)
its just them . how will they cope having to entertain themselves ?

oh and she is asking if her straighteners will work.... im guessing they will if a kettle will

[extreme-4x4]

where you going to Extreme??


here http://www.wooda.co.uk/ stayed in a static there a few years back and the kids loved it kept wanting to go back but too poor and no time

now i got all the time in the world;) and even less money

but a lot happier

[makeitfit]

Good grief what sort of camping do you guys do:doh
Telly, electric kettles, sleeping kids:nenau Your pulling my plonker surely:augie
If you need a brew just stick your pan on the gas:thumbs
If you need a jimmy of an evening you just roll out the side and water the grass:thumbs
Entertaining the kids is easy, just leave em run wild till they're broken, and if you need some :pep later on leave them , they'll soon run off in disgust:lol

[Liam]

Good grief what sort of camping do you guys do:doh
Telly, electric kettles, sleeping kids:nenau Your pulling my plonker surely:augie
If you need a brew just stick your pan on the gas:thumbs
If you need a jimmy of an evening you just roll out the side and water the grass:thumbs
Entertaining the kids is easy, just leave em run wild till they're broken, and if you need some :pep later on leave them , they'll soon run off in disgust:lol


That's about the most accurate description of a camping holiday you will ever get,ever.:D:D:D:thumb2:thumb2

[willow]

Good grief what sort of camping do you guys do:doh
Telly, electric kettles, sleeping kids:nenau Your pulling my plonker surely:augie
If you need a brew just stick your pan on the gas:thumbs
If you need a jimmy of an evening you just roll out the side and water the grass:thumbs
Entertaining the kids is easy, just leave em run wild till they're broken, and if you need some :pep later on leave them , they'll soon run off in disgust:lol
bravo:thumbs:thumbs:lol

Camping is camping
Chill:thumbs

[zippy656]

how old are th kids again Extreme..

we take scooters, skiping ropes, hoops, ground darts.

[dsgrnmcm]

All you need is a sharp knife, everythig else you can make,kill,catch or steal!

Although other campers might be put out by this.

But for god sake don't do what I have done, after going for a morning shower don't forget where the tent is.

Tryig to con my girlfried in to going but she wat's:

Some where for the dog to sleep.

Straightners for her hair.

An air bed.

Blah blah blah!

[lacroupade]

Good grief what sort of camping do you guys do:doh
Telly, electric kettles, sleeping kids:nenau Your pulling my plonker surely:augie
If you need a brew just stick your pan on the gas:thumbs
If you need a jimmy of an evening you just roll out the side and water the grass:thumbs
Entertaining the kids is easy, just leave em run wild till they're broken, and if you need some :pep later on leave them , they'll soon run off in disgust:lol

I was gonna say, electric hookup to a tent? I hope its pink, cos it needs to be! :lol:lol:lol:lol:lol:lol Just don't tell anyone you know me thats all! (By the way I think the hookup is usually the three-pin heavy duty connector like the ones they use on 110v equipment, so you'll have to rewire everything).

Camping is about slumming it and having an outdoor crack, not plugging yer telly and hairdryer in. Your two little ones won't be bothered trust me...buy the Mrs a magazine ( and I don't mean for her Uzi either!) and get a couple extra gas canisters for boiling a kettle.:)

And for a first effort, as peeps have said, take snacks, raid supermarkets or eat out, just do brekky if you're minded.

Just pick a cheap site thats near a few places of interest and/or the beach....nothing else to do. :thumbs

[zippy656]

you can get an extention lead from towsure for tents.

http://www.towsure.com/product/533-Awning/Tent_Mains_Kit_-_3_Outlet

[lacroupade]

you can get an extention lead from towsure for tents.

http://www.towsure.com/product/533-Awning/Tent_Mains_Kit_-_3_Outlet

NOOOOOOOOOOOO!! I've seen it all now! :doh:doh:doh

[zippy656]

NOOOOOOOOOOOO!! I've seen it all now! :doh:doh:doh
youll love this then

http://www.towsure.com/product/9620-Twin_Tub_Washing_Machine

http://www.towsure.com/product/8521-Folding_Ironing_Board

http://www.towsure.com/product/2297-Travel_Steam_Iron_-_Dual_Voltage

http://www.towsure.com/product/3295-Hair_Dryer

get this lot to keep her happy

[TONUP]

ssteve,

We were very happy campers for many years before buying our first caravan last year. Sleeping under canvas can be a really great experience as long as you are properly prepared and have the right gear, which need not always be expensive.

Don't take any notice of the light humoured remarks about camping having to be an exercise in roughing, to quote the old army saying "any fool can be uncomfortable". We always took an electric hook-up, electric light and depending on the time of year fan heater. We never took a telly, but with young children I can see the sense. If its pouring with rain the beach is not an option and you can spend a lot of money visiting museums and attractions, but you might want a few board games as well.

We always took a table and chairs, that were comfortable enough for a proper sit down. A cheap toaster is always handy as I found doing toast on a gas stove a tiresome chore, it's also better to use their electric rather than your gas.

Gas lights are really great and produce a nice ambience, but they get really hot and arguably are dangerous if used where children or dogs are.

Also take a bit of time to read reviews of sites, their facilities and the surrounding areas. Theres a wealth of info online.

Above all chill out when arriving and setting up. We used rush to get everything done and get hot and bothered doing so, which often led to some crossed words. Take your time... if its nice put the kettle on as soon as you get there. If someone offers you a hand and you need it - accept it!

Whatever choices you make - I hope you enjoy it.

Regards

Alan

[BigBlack]

The thing I used to like about camping the most was escaping from everything, including the set times that dictate work life, home life etc...

You get up when its light..... you goto sleep when its dark.... inbetween you do whatever takes your fancy - eat, sleep, laze in a chair, sight see....

Some of the best holidays have been spent just sitting outside a tent, doing NOTHING watching the world go by without a care....

One tip - If the kids get filthy dont matter.... although I would dress them in shorts no matter what the weather... skin is easier to clean then 10 pairs of jeans!! :augie

Ive gotta caravan now.... but would deff rather camp :clap

[zippy]

Most campsites elec will have 10-16 amps - just check with the site first and they will tell you. When we went camping the only thing elec that was a must was a 2Kw blow heater - I still have it as a back up for the caravan.

Invest in good quality sleeping bags and hot water bottles for the kids. They are more likely to enjoy it if they are warm throughout and it can get cold even in the summer.

I never used an elec kettle but if you do, dont use it at the same time as a blow heater as you might trip the elec (only a prob if it has to be reset by the campsite warden).

If you want to take TV, for the kids, then rather than faffing about with aerials and satellite dishes, just take a playstation - games for the kids and DVD's for the family at night to watch. However, any time we have camped we have never taken away a TV and no one has ever missed it.

I hope they (and you) enjoy the experience, it really is the best possible holiday if the weather is good.

REgards
Lee

[ssteve]

ssteve,

We were very happy campers for many years before buying our first caravan last year. Sleeping under canvas can be a really great experience as long as you are properly prepared and have the right gear, which need not always be expensive.

Don't take any notice of the light humoured remarks about camping having to be an exercise in roughing, to quote the old army saying "any fool can be uncomfortable". We always took an electric hook-up, electric light and depending on the time of year fan heater. We never took a telly, but with young children I can see the sense. If its pouring with rain the beach is not an option and you can spend a lot of money visiting museums and attractions, but you might want a few board games as well.

We always took a table and chairs, that were comfortable enough for a proper sit down. A cheap toaster is always handy as I found doing toast on a gas stove a tiresome chore, it's also better to use their electric rather than your gas.

Gas lights are really great and produce a nice ambience, but they get really hot and arguably are dangerous if used where children or dogs are.

Also take a bit of time to read reviews of sites, their facilities and the surrounding areas. Theres a wealth of info online.

Above all chill out when arriving and setting up. We used rush to get everything done and get hot and bothered doing so, which often led to some crossed words. Take your time... if its nice put the kettle on as soon as you get there. If someone offers you a hand and you need it - accept it!

Whatever choices you make - I hope you enjoy it.

Regards

Alan

done tent done caravan ,good advice from alan

ssteve