So... inflatable tent, chairs, table, duvets, mattresses, portapotti, clothing, kids stuff etc. Where do people pack their big stuff? Do you all fit it stacked up behind the rear seats? (We have a RIB 130 3 seat bed going in). Or is it possible/safe to put stuff in the central area too? Anyone got any pics of a perfectly packed camper?
Packing van for camping
- Thread starter Phibbo
- Start date
Make a checklist of what you think you need and then be ruthless, you won’t need 1/3 of it. You’ll have more fun with less than playing Rubiks Cube with too much stuff.
Once you have a list of stuff you need it’s a case of packing with consideration for the frequency you’re going to need it.
Wash clothes instead of taking too many, it makes a bid difference in volume.
Keep the list and gradually revise it based on experience.
The pair of us travel for 5 - 8 weeks at a time, we fill the lockers down the right hand side, the cab door pockets, Cali seat drawer and behind the rear seat. The only time we’ve moved stuff to the centre of the van is for loading the rear with cheap Spanish wine on the way home.........won’t have that to look forward to now.
Once you have a list of stuff you need it’s a case of packing with consideration for the frequency you’re going to need it.
Wash clothes instead of taking too many, it makes a bid difference in volume.
Keep the list and gradually revise it based on experience.
The pair of us travel for 5 - 8 weeks at a time, we fill the lockers down the right hand side, the cab door pockets, Cali seat drawer and behind the rear seat. The only time we’ve moved stuff to the centre of the van is for loading the rear with cheap Spanish wine on the way home.........won’t have that to look forward to now.
We have a rib 112 and full width kitchen cupboards and when we went away last summer for our first long trip with 4 of us (2 teenagers in the back), we had a massive awning (4 berth inner tents) plus 2x 2 man tents and sun awning plus a hold-all of clothes each (I bought 4 that fitted perfectly across the back side by side), 2x toilet tents (1 for toilet, 1 for shower), porta potti. Everything packed in the “boot”, we also had 4 full size bikes on the back and I think for a T28 we were pushing the limits! Because of the bikes we made sure that anything we needed during the day was in the van, so shopping or beach stuff etc and so accessible.
Basically, you should be able to fit everything in the back. You then have the space in the living area for shopping, beer or whatever you pick up or need along the way.
Basically, you should be able to fit everything in the back. You then have the space in the living area for shopping, beer or whatever you pick up or need along the way.
I thought buying a lwb Kombi would solve all our camping worries, but the bigger the van the more you take 
That’s really good to know. Just looking at it it doesn’t seem big enough but then neither did the boot of our old Passat I suppose. Thanks!
I thought buying a lwb Kombi would solve all our camping worries, but the bigger the van the more you take
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Ha! Looks good but I think @DXX advice about being ‘ruthless’ is STRONG!
Yep - that was my thinking too.
We have a Thule Back Up towbar mounted box. It takes the awning and a lot of other stuff. It's so much easier than a roof box to load and unload. Also we take it off and keep it in the awning after we have set up and use it as extra storage. We use storage boxes for as much of the other stuff so we just load up from the garage. Being organised is the key, especially with 2 kids and a dog.
We like the above have packed a kombi like sardines in a can...but found using really useful boxes that stack to Suit the space...but last year got a bigger tent and that upset every thing...so now we brought a small trailer ...but if you’ve not got a pop top ..thule/rhino do some great rack systems....always pack last the stuff you need first....Beer tent air pump 
ps ..it really went Pete Tong when the wife said she’d like to take the bikes
ps ..it really went Pete Tong when the wife said she’d like to take the bikes
One of the main reasons we got the van is that we always had to take two cars when camping. That was Oct ‘19 so haven’t had chance to test it out. Been away a few times on holiday and a usually rammed car on the bump stops is a half full van with nearly a weeks worth of food and beer! (Well part week for the beer)! Looking forward to the first camping trip whenever that might be!
We like the above have packed a kombi like sardines in a can...but found using really useful boxes that stack to Suit the space...but last year got a bigger tent and that upset every thing...so now we brought a small trailer ...but if you’ve not got a pop top ..thule/rhino do some great rack systems....always pack last the stuff you need first....Beer tent air pump
ps ..it really went Pete Tong when the wife said she’d like to take the bikes
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I keep meaning to ask you @VanDamMan, are you “vertically challenged” hence the wind out awning on the trailer.
Ahh....the new Thule 3200 is designed for cars and vans and operate either up and out or down and out ...simple....still got the other sun canopy/ awning tent for the vanI keep meaning to ask you @VanDamMan, are you “vertically challenged” hence the wind out awning on the trailer.
ps Goes out 2.5m ..so even diddy men will have to jump high to touch the top
Oh gosh, you don’t have to take that much. In the past we used to go camping in our Fiat Panda 1000. Two adults, two teenagers, bicycles for four and of course all the camping gear. Oh, and a 45bhp engine
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