Mini camper, sleeping in your vehicle

Took my 8 year old out in april this year. Shot the evening, slept in the back of the pcikup and then stalked the morning. He loved it, but not so kind on my back. I would live to get a roof mounted tent.
 
Hope your on yer feet now then. Had a bit of a downturn in my luck a long time ago and lived in a mobile home(Renault Clio van) 🙂 ..when I took it for it’s MOT I says to the guys doing it ‘please don’t fail my houses mot lads eh’. They’d seen the green maggot and all my other worldly possessions and joked was I living in it. It passed, and they gave me a coffee and a sozzie roll from greggs.
 
Hammock of suitable length (min 11 foot, so you can lay diagonally and flat in it), quality down underquilt which insulates your underside from beneath the hammock, quality down top quilt for over you. Decent sized tarp in winter to keep any rain off, long enough to make ‘doors’ at either end. Only problem is it’s so cozy and warm you’ll not want to get out of it - even lady Ff loves the setup, and is loathe to get out of hers before the cooked breakfast and need for nature’s call eventually prizes her out of it!

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ps Don’t forget to plant the trees where you want to hang thirty year previously!
 
Light is the thing that gets me when camping, bought a Coleman black out tent last year and it’s a revelation compared to others…stays properly dark and says it’s warmer at night and cooler through the day and it seemed to be…a couple of fleece blankets will also help comfort levels and always take your own pillow!

Regards,
Gixer
 
Light is the thing that gets me when camping, bought a Coleman black out tent last year and it’s a revelation compared to others…stays properly dark and says it’s warmer at night and cooler through the day and it seemed to be…a couple of fleece blankets will also help comfort levels and always take your own pillow!

Regards,
Gixer
Yes light is a problem last time I was camping in the cairngorms the other week it was dark at 3.30pm lol
 
I've done a few desperate things like sleeping in cars, a dry drainage pipe, just on the forest floor under the big trees. When I started contract work my home was a escort van for a while, dog, reloading kit, camping stove, shovel to make a toilet. After a bit of time I bought an old small caravan, this was luxury compared to the above. Only downside was when it came to move location it meant two trips, one to take the bike and another for the caravan
 
Hammock of suitable length (min 11 foot, so you can lay diagonally and flat in it), quality down underquilt which insulates your underside from beneath the hammock, quality down top quilt for over you. Decent sized tarp in winter to keep any rain off, long enough to make ‘doors’ at either end. Only problem is it’s so cozy and warm you’ll not want to get out of it - even lady Ff loves the setup, and is loathe to get out of hers before the cooked breakfast and need for nature’s call eventually prizes her out of it!

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ps Don’t forget to plant the trees where you want to hang thirty year previously!
Plenty of fair sized trees scattered at the top of large Border plantations. The only trouble now is I'd need to be carried up to where I used to stalk or drop in by chute. 😃
 
Need my comfort too much to rough it in anything except the best of summer nights so camper is definitely the way.
Have built or worked on a few over the years and now have a lager van converted (and a few to build for mates)
For me essentials are double bed (2 things worth spending money on- boots and beds- if you're not in one you're in tother), shower, toilet and heating. Cooking facilties are easy enough outside.
The current camper has had loads of use for the family through last winter up until the end if this summer. 1st night in it was coldest night last year and I had to get up to turn the heating down. Luxury. Not exactly what the OP was asking but it certainly covers any stalking I will do and great for the family. Mine has a TV that's never been switched on ,shower, toilet, 2 double beds, light, heating, cooking, fridge, enough room to dress properly...could spend weeks in it.

Just about to build a smallish, part time kind of utility camper, hybrid, everyday, school run, stalking, dog bus, kid carrying, bike transporting, fishing gear storing thing....
A transit custom with 2nd row of removable seats, diesel night heater, hinged bulkhead, insulated, raised floor, folding bed, bigger wheels and AT tyres....
Not something I'd want to spend much time in as I like to shower and **** when I want. I also like to be able to stand in comfort to cook or dress etc but for a couple of nights out it sure beats being cold, wet and uncomfortable.
Don't come cheap though.


Edd
 
A swag is canvas roll up “ tent”
I have outhaus one and it’s fantastic !
Memory foam mattress inside
Use good quality camping quilt or sleeping bag … I always have a w
ool blanket as well in case…
Three hoops to hold it up off your body and because it’s canvas hold heat better and small area to heat up
Can literally roll it up **** the webbing and clips throw it in back of motor
Downside .. bit bulky and around 8-9kg so not backpackable but great for motor camping
Upside ?….. waaaay chesper than a camper van!
God I want one bit prices ?! Holy crap!

Paul
 

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having served in the forces for a number of years i got used to A roughing it and B making myself as comfy as possible. I still camp and tour on a motorbike with minimum kit and am almost as comfy in basher and doss nag as i am in my camper. Over the years I have had various estates/vans etc. mostly sleeping on a mat in the back. Had an ex AA van for 8 years with a rock n roll bed and a cabinet for the guns. Now retired ish, i was doing some night security work so have a Chinese diesel night heater in my defender. keeps the cold at bay and i can sleep anywhere in any position (almost). now I am 61, i presume that at some point in the next 20 years i may have to look at not roughing it so much ;)
 
Just googled this out of curiosity. How is a swag different from a tent please ?

It’s basically a pop up canvass tent with a foam mattress in it. But a couple of key differences first being when you get a swag you soak it in water to make it seal then peg it out again I put mine in a bath tub. The canvass swells across the seams making it waterpoof. It blacks out entirely when in it and you can flip up both sides so you’re just under a mesh if you want.

You don’t need to peg it unlike a tent but you can if it’s rough weather. So for stalking on commercial forestry grounds it’s ideal as it just sits on the stone.

Downside it’s bloody heavy I reckon mine which is a double mattress but be nudging on 15kg but with the mattress filling the entire floor it really does keep it warm unlike a traditional tent that has a sim in it.
 
Anybody camp out last night ?

A balmy -13C this morning
Not this weekend I had the luxury of my lodge in Anglsey a balmy 4 degrees , but last weekend up near Eskdalemuir , it was a bit chilly outside the truck.

I love the cold , better than the rain
 

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Not this weekend I had the luxury of my lodge in Anglsey a balmy 4 degrees , but last weekend up near Eskdalemuir , it was a bit chilly outside the truck.

I love the cold , better than the rain
Thats nice, any shooting there?
 
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