I tried car camping in the UK. 🇬🇧 An honest & realistic experience.

[@RegEdmunds]

I came across your channel this evening. I'm a 79-year-old long-distance hiker and I have a Jazz Mk1 and I use it for car camping in the colder months, and use a one-man tent in the warmer months. I 've strung elasticated cord all around the inside of my car, just above the window line. I purchased some black closely woven light 'cloth' from a garden centre, 10m for £12.99, plus some plastic clothes pegs and made some curtains, very easy to do. I have a routine, I park in a place like you to organise myself but sleep elsewhere. I first peg my three rear curtains into place . I then drive to my sleeping place, always on a housing estate on the edge of a village or town.and I only go to sleep there. Upon arrival I fit my remaining curtains. The great thing about the Mk1 is that parked along a street with other cars, no one notices me. I will then usually wander of to a pub for a meal, then return, get in my 'bed' and sleep. At or just after dawn I will drive to a pre-selected nice spot and get into my morning routine.

[@YourFriendEd]

Thanks for watching! It sounds like you've got a great set up and there's definitely some lessons in there for anybody else reading the comments! Especially those with a simple set up like us :)

[@jimmyjohnstone5878]

This gives me good ideas for sleeping in my VW Golf. Blowing a camp mat up by mouth is hard work. These mats don't give much insulation either. Better with a camping pad as they are smaller to pack and give a comfy place to sleep. For one person, there's no need to fill the car with that huge thing you used. Well said about leave no trace.

[@YourFriendEd]

I definitely agree with you there but it's all a learning process :) A camping pad sounds like a good idea. Thanks for sharing

[@RecoveringHermit]

Everyone starts somewhere! Maybe try some kind of bed platform over the back of the passenger seat with a fold up foam mattress? You'll lose height, but might have more legroom and a better sleep :)

[@YourFriendEd]

Well, the car is probably small for car camping although it can just about work! I will most likely buy something bigger in future instead :)

[@NaCreagachaDubha]

You deserve a medal for pumping up the mattress! Well done, mate. Great video!

[@YourFriendEd]

Thanks! It was hard work as I was racing against the darkness but worth it in the end...

[@davidbuchanan3374]

I started car camping 15yrs ago. I bought a 2003 seat Alhambra TDI for towing my caravan but quickly realised the Alhambra with all the seats out was huge inside and made an awesome camper. Car camping has very little restrictions compared to caravanning..ie...Can park almost anywhere. Needless to say after 10yrs with the Alhambra I sold it on and bought a 4motion Tiguan. The 4 wheel drive ability has opened a whole new camping experience as it can go to places the 2 wheel drive Alhambra couldn't. Moral of the story !! Just pack up the motor and go. It's defo the best way to camp.... 7:37

[@YourFriendEd]

My problem is that I'm so undecided between car camping or buying a van and converting it because while I appreciate the convenience of car camping, I also like the comfort of being able to stand up and cook a meal properly... It's a tough choice but I'm steering towards a van one day with the idea of taking it around Europe

[@davidbuchanan3374]

@@YourFriendEd A van is defo the way to go at least for the extra comfort and convenience especially changing from wet to dry clothes. If you can get a 4 wheel drive van all the better ..Not mainly for going off road but it gives you a greater choice on where you want to park up .ie.. Car park, lay-by or up a mountain pass etc. you get the picture. Either way I wish you every happiness in your adventures and maybe someday you'll make it to my back door. I'm situated on the famous Giants Causeway coast Road, Northern Ireland 👍👍👍

[@prism6]

Well done! Was also looking at van conversions but realised car camping was the sweet spot between cost and how much use I'd get from it. Whatever works for you, all the best!

[@YourFriendEd]

I think it's all about playing around until you find something that works best for you. And regardless of if you have a van build that cost 100k or a car worth as much as a mars bar, you can only use what you have any any given time. Thanks for watching :)

[@roberthay8706]

the simpler the better. no fancy systems for sleeping or storage.good video thanks.

[@YourFriendEd]

Agreed! As cool as it would be to have some better equipment there's no point spending lots of money and not enjoying it. This way, I got to enjoy myself by keeping it incredibly simple :)

[@callum]

vehicle living is elite, i've subbed for when u eventually do van life related videos. great content mate

[@YourFriendEd]

Thanks! I appreciate it :) Before I get to Vanlife (Maybe next year) I'll be posting videos of my trips through Mauritania and Algeria. Hope you enjoy! :)

[@DazzOutdoors-UK1]

Nice video well done for getting out there 👍

[@YourFriendEd]

Thanks! It's hard to do stuff like this when you see people out there with far bigger budgets & set ups because I can't help but think to myself that it would better when I have all the gear but actually I think life is a lot better when it's simple! :)

[@DazzOutdoors-UK1]

@ absolutely simplicity is good for the soul 👍😎

[@markar6395]

Great start to maybe van life eventually. Thanks for sharing

[@YourFriendEd]

I agree, I will definitely be doing the whole van life thing at some point but I have a lot of other stuff to do first :)

[@sounduser]

The America car camping videos... It's minus a million degrees... English one.... It's getting a bit chilly now. 😂

[@nomadseason]

So true. 🤣

[@TimmyBobinson]

What do you think of a car camping meetup? Have to be on a site I am guessing. Unless the numbers are quite low.

[@EmberwiseEntertainment]

Ahh the forgotten pump! 🤣🥲 great video. Practice will make perfect 👌 I recently went camping with my fiancé and it was a low key disaster- all the more reason to go more often 😁

[@YourFriendEd]

It was such a funny moment when I realised I forgot the pump! I defo won't be doing that again 😆 Although I will be doing some more camping! :)

[@RegEdmunds]

Luckily I am of average height and can sleep full length in my Jazz. I sleep diagonally across the back of my car, my head behind the passenger seat. I use a sleeping quilt and sleep on my Neoair inflatable mattress, under my mattress is a 6' X 2' piece of carpet underlay. I believe my R rating is 5, more than enough to stay warm during the night. I only take with me what I would take with me if I was camping in a tent. In my case it all works well. The only change I make is that I seek out circular hikes in the colder months and always try to be back to my car before dark.

[@YourFriendEd]

Thanks for commenting Reg! it really is great what you can do with a fairly minimal set up. I'm a big fan of this kind of thing in general when travelling or just through living life. Where's the best place you've been car camping?

[@jamesdobson5022]

Just get a reasonably priced two person tent !!! OEX Rakoon for example !!! Nice video thanks !!!

[@YourFriendEd]

I was thinking of doing the same for a few adventures but had to see what all the fuss was about. I'm definitely glad I tried it

[@greenblue6935]

Cars are better for camping than tents, you just need to be more prepared and get a better bed setup.

[@YourFriendEd]

Yeah I agree! This was done with about 6hrs of prep and using what was available at the time. In future I'm considering building a platform for better storage, sleeping space etc. I learnt a lot but would prefer a van in future although right now I have other larger trips planned so car camping may have to wait. Still, I had a lot of fun making this video and will be making many more in future so thanks for watching

[@yvonnewright7856]

You can camp comfortably in any estate or people carrier size car, no need to spend ££££ on a campervan. Good first attempt though

[@YourFriendEd]

Agreed! Thanks for watching

[@vanlifesueuk5938]

I sleep alone so have single bed which leaves space for my stuff.

[@YourFriendEd]

That's a great strategy. I would consider the same in future, especially if I was to build a platform and a better storage system. This on the other hand was a quick, easy solution

[@elenaariadnadragolici6307]

Great video ❤

[@YourFriendEd]

Thank you very much! What should I make next? Maybe I'll make one about a large country in Africa 🌍

[@elenaariadnadragolici6307]

About how to interact with a ram

[@YourFriendEd]

@@elenaariadnadragolici6307 Well, that's definitely something I need to learn about 😆

[@Thepundot]

Great video mate keep it up ❤

[@YourFriendEd]

Thanks! I'm looking forward to making some more :)

[@Thepundot]

@@YourFriendEd always man never give up on the grind eventually youll be where you want your already doing good editing man im getting into editing myself so nice to see other up and coming creators working and putting out some good work 😁👊

[@YourFriendEd]

@@Thepundot Thanks! I appreciate it :) I'm looking forward to my next few videos I've got planned. Comment here when you've put your first one out too, I'll make sure I watch.

[@Thepundot]

@@YourFriendEd sounds good mate will do 👊😁

[@nomadseason]

Try living in it as I do....much better.

[@waitingfortheknock]

Hope you keep the car camping videos up chap. I love doing it, got to some beautiful places around West Wales. Have a look at my stuff. It's a fantastic thing to do, especially in the wild, ie not designated sites etc.

[@YourFriendEd]

Yeah I definitely plan to and may also do a Europe trip too in the near future :)