Do we carry too much gear to go camping !!

[McGirr]

Slowly getting the gear ready for the Cape and I am surprised how much gear I seem to take !!

The necessities being spares for both car and camper plus recovery gear is standard and beer but I seem to carry so much extras for luxuries now.

Generator ,  2 fridges ( used to take eskies ) ,  a cooktop plus oven with hot plates, more pots and pans than before, more cutlery, shower and toilet tent plus toilet and shower ( for the women of course) , more lights such as led strips and led portable lights, frypan , toaster , kettle ( when staying at powered sites ) , more fishing gear ( worst fisherman out but need to look good ), more fancy food than before etc

I suppose with new items coming on the market to make camping easier and more comfortable the list grows to replace out dated items and I could do with out a lot of these things but once you have them it's very hard to go back. Especially when some one turns up at a camp site with something you have not got and you can't wait to get home and buy it.

Yes JK I am getting older and probably need these but any more extras and I will have a 3 star accomodation rating on my camper.

Don't start me on all these incredible campers now on the market that are like palaces !! Just jealous ...

Mark

[Bird]

Going off the subject title - YES.

but then some people take microwave ovens, rear projection TV's, screens, lounges, the works...
why they leave home or dont just drive the car to a motel baffles me.

now to sit down with some popcorn.

[Mallory Black]

When I built my outfit up if I could get it in aluminium or plastic then I got it and even then would hold an item in my hands, feel the weight and go  Naahhh
Amazing how many kilo's you save. still managed a comfy rig though
I did draw the line at cutlery, stuck with s/s
How about separating the minimum needs for a cape trip from the whole kit, look at that and if there's weight/space to be pared off without too much $$.
After that look at the luxuries and decide if they really are relevant for such a trip
Will that work?  you'll have more beer room at least

[speewa158]

Ofcourse we do , we shouldnt but its so much fun depoying it all 

[rodsswag]

But maybe I might need it?
Sounds like my shed.
Boy scout, be prepaired.
And more bourbon 

Rod....

[Garry H]

if its non essential, and its not used after 3 trips it goes..........

[Symon]

I thought I carried a lot of stuff.

Then I camped with jk and yogi.

I don't think I carry a lot of stuff anymore.

[Hairs]

G'day Mark ,
I question this each time we go anyway.
I'm happy to have buggar all in my kit, but with SWMBO + 3 billy lids, sometimes it would be easier to slip a couple of I beams, a couple of double axles under the house and drag it up the road.
Life is getting to complicated
 

[Black Diamond]

Story of our life . I reckon if you had to Put a figure on it would be around 40%
Especially food

BD

[Hairs]

Especially food

To right, this would allow more room for Beer
 

[jk]

I resemble that remark  .......remember guys a happy wife is a happy life  , if I make sure the love of my life wants for nothing then I get to go camping more often 

[Teabag]

In short, YES.......

Weight kills hence more failures with suspension etc.....I guess, something we are all guilty off......

[GeoffA]

I resemble that remark  .......remember guys a happy wife is a happy life  , if I make sure the love of my life wants for nothing then I get to go camping more often 

You've got it worked out jk...........

[Boo Boo]

Mark - yogi reckons you can't carry enough beer  which helps supply other camps who have run out 

Over the years since owning the Trackabout we have become more organised and cutting out a lot of crap. Toys still get packed 

Amanda

[GU Rich]

On our 4 month trip we carried about the same amount of gear as a weeeknd trip, (food not included) Compared to most we travel very light.

[Crockett]

but then some people take microwave ovens, rear projection TV's, screens, lounges, the works...
now to sit down with some popcorn.

Thanks Lost, now I know where the line in the sand is to qualify as GLAMPING 

[yogi]

On big trips I carry more spares and tools than on short trips but it still seems to take up the same amount of room .... Lol

yogi

[Nutto]

On our 4 month trip we carried about the same amount of gear as a weeeknd trip, (food not included) Compared to most we travel very light.

x2

[Kit_e_kat9]

It's not about weight, it's about room.  If you don't have any room left, then you are taking too much.  Take food for a week and then help the local areas you go through by spending in them (not just fuel).  As for "in case I get a powered site" stuff ... leave it at home.  The No Power way still works around electricity and besides ... you are camping after all.  Luxuries should be things like washing your hair if you can spare the water and a very comfortable chair.

I think you boys use the Happy Wife Happy Life thing a bit too much (no offense intended).  You are making yourselves carry more and more stuff simply to keep the peace.  I love bush camping and think taking electrical appliances just plain silly (with the exception of a laptop for photo downloads) ... it's Bush Camping ... not moving to the bush for awhile before moving back home.  I know that given the chance, the girls would really love to "rough it" as long as they had a comfy bed and chair ... the rest is simply a modern mental mishap called retail marketing must have's.  Simple camping makes you enjoy the comforts at home that little bit more.  I don't think I'd change my mind on that even if I was married with kids.

Yes, we did get a luxurious camper.  But if we had to sell Rover tomorrow, I'd miss it of course, but I could easily go back to basic tent camping with no issues ... stuff's all stored and ready to use. 

Kit_e

[jeeps]

if its non essential, and its not used after 3 trips it goes..........

x2, but if i didnt use it i have a good hard think about it after every trip. Plus it helps when you only have a small short wheel base 4wd with no cargo space behind the rear seat and probably the worst towing capacity on the market... you HAVE to get good at packing for camping...

Cheers

[SteveandViv]

I thought I carried a lot of stuff.

Then I camped with jk and yogi.

I don't think I carry a lot of stuff anymore.

I love seeing what every one brings, it's part of the fun in meeting people like we did you guys last year. Had a great night chatting about this and that and what's important to bring. The thing is JK knows what he may need and he really does use it - very impressed I was. And I'm like you Symon, after that trip, I also don't think I take too much

[becboo]

It's not about weight, it's about room.  If you don't have any room left, then you are taking too much.  Take food for a week and then help the local areas you go through by spending in them (not just fuel).  As for "in case I get a powered site" stuff ... leave it at home.  The No Power way still works around electricity and besides ... you are camping after all.  Luxuries should be things like washing your hair if you can spare the water and a very comfortable chair.

I think you boys use the Happy Wife Happy Life thing a bit too much (no offense intended).  You are making yourselves carry more and more stuff simply to keep the peace.  I love bush camping and think taking electrical appliances just plain silly (with the exception of a laptop for photo downloads) ... it's Bush Camping ... not moving to the bush for awhile before moving back home.  I know that given the chance, the girls would really love to "rough it" as long as they had a comfy bed and chair ... the rest is simply a modern mental mishap called retail marketing must have's.  Simple camping makes you enjoy the comforts at home that little bit more.  I don't think I'd change my mind on that even if I was married with kids.

Yes, we did get a luxurious camper.  But if we had to sell Rover tomorrow, I'd miss it of course, but I could easily go back to basic tent camping with no issues ... stuff's all stored and ready to use. 

Kit_e

X2


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[Footy Shorts Shane]

I dunno how you wagon owners do it. My ute is always loaded to the hilt. So is the trailer.

Shane.

[Redback]

I thought I carried a lot of stuff.

Then I camped with jk and yogi.

I don't think I carry a lot of stuff anymore.

Yogi's beer alone is more than what we carry

[Daawl]

G'day Mark ,
I question this each time we go anyway.
I'm happy to have buggar all in my kit, but with SWMBO + 3 billy lids, sometimes it would be easier to slip a couple of I beams, a couple of double axles under the house and drag it up the road.
Life is getting to complicated
 

When I go camping i am happy with my swag, chair, esky and all cooking/lighting/everything else requirments fit in an old metal tool box not much bigger than a 60l eksy. 

Go away with SWMBO + 4 ratbags its an overflowing 6x4' trailer. Addmittingly it is usually in a tad more comfort . Also I find that most of my friends end up using half our kit cause they knew "I would bring it" so they dont. Down side is I am usually the last one set up and packed up 

When we were down to 2 choices of CT, one we looked at had completly enclosed lock boxs around the outside & I started to think gee I could put that in there and this there. That frightned me, I was already putting in stuff just cause there was a hole vacant & we hadnt even decided which trailer we were buying yet.

We are currently trying to find a balance inbetween luxurious camping and reasonable camping.