I cannot help believing our youngsters are losing out on caravanning opportunities due to heavier caravans requiring bigger cars to tow them!

Lets here which members are under 30 years old!

*cough* 

Met a youngster at Game earlier today, he bought a 5 man tent,  we got to chatting about camping. He is 19 and said he wouldnt like to tow a van on these roads,  gets camping equipment on a monthly bases as his budget only allows him so much every month.

He still needs 3 more months then he will start camping with his younger boet. 

Man I wished I had the funds to help this youngster, his determination of doing things cash, is absolutely commendable.

Sal nie vergeet nie toe ek 30 was het ek 'n Sprite Musketeer gehad. Hom gehak agter die V8 Ford Granada, ma met die Beach Buggy, kinders nog jonk, nou gaan ons Struisbaai toe. Lekker ou dae.

Tot vandag nog help ek en ma nog altyd die jong klomp wat om ons kamp, gewoontlik in 'n tent en hulle dink mos nie veel aan kosmaak nie. Meeste van die tyd is dit 'n lig of twee wat kort.  Weet julle hoe geniet hulle dit as jy more oggend die vorige aand se braaivleis vir hulle warm maak en oor stuur.

Ons geniet die jong klomp met hulle idees.

Received a Camp Master catalogue with my quarterly Wild Magazine. Just for fun we calculated what it would cost to kit out 2 persons from scratch. The list started with a 7 foot trailer. Safari Dome Tent, stretchers, sleeping bags, chairs, table, cupboards, gazeebo with sides, wind screen, 45 litre fridge/freezer, pots, cutlery etc. The total came to approx. R35 000-00.

For young people starting out it just makes sense to follow the tent route.

How are they suppose to get started? . If we as parents dont help, i really feel for the kids of today.

HM wrote:

Received a Camp Master catalogue with my quarterly Wild Magazine. Just for fun we calculated what it would cost to kit out 2 persons from scratch. The list started with a 7 foot trailer. Safari Dome Tent, stretchers, sleeping bags, chairs, table, cupboards, gazeebo with sides, wind screen, 45 litre fridge/freezer, pots, cutlery etc. The total came to approx. R35 000-00.

For young people starting out it just makes sense to follow the tent route.

At least some are taking to camping

Bear in mind that Camping is a "lifestyle". Kids grow up and get married and the partners might not like it at all.

My oldest love camping but his wife dont. My daughter and son in law also love camping but they chose to buy a house first. (very good idea). The youngest is building his career.

All of them have their own tents, but they will only go camping when I hook up the Van. (Want dan betaal Pa mos)

None of their friends are into Camping, but lets face it. Camping is not Cheap! I could only buy my Van when the kids left home. (OK they did not want to leave so me and the wife left)

Dont worry, the KAMPGOGGA will bite them when they reach the age of 35, then the babies will be +/- 5 -10 years old.

Guys, just look at your comments - not one youngster has answered that he "caravans", whether lifestyle or not. I bought my first caravan at 28 and I was "sommer 'n bankklerk" (nothing special) - how many of the younger generation can do the same?

When I was a lot younger, they advertised you could tow a Sprite Sprint with a 1300 cc, Swift with a 1500 cc, Sport with a 1600 cc and a Super Sport with a 1800 cc. These small engines were mainly entry level cars youngsters could more easily afford.

Despite cars being generally more powerful, especially with turbo chargers, you cannot get new caravans that you can tow with those engine sizes anymore. Just have a look around at entry level cars and see what you can tow with them.

Durbs has raised another point why I believe we are losing caravanners ... EB licence.

In support of this, just visit a CCSA rally - the majority of caravans in attendance are LARGE with two elderly people. Nothing against the elderly - if I am not there yet, I am near! The point is young people are really scare and I would like to find a way to assist in growing the industry.

I think  that children started "not wanting to go camping" in the years that "technology" caught up on us???!!!!!

I have seen some prefer only long holiday, and not weekends, rather stay home wirh TV and smartphones???!!!! Ouch, Ok, most probably I deserved that!!!

Seriously, I don't want to take them down, but I have lived through it myself with two daughters, and there is also the issue of safety!!!, Yes, things have changed.

About 55 years ago, me, at 11, my one nephew, aged 13, and other nephew aged 17 went camping with one of those old "bell" army tents, and used to travel 15 miles by BICYCLE to river, to go fishing. Carefree days, we swopped barbel for chickens at nearby farmworkers, and sometimes camped for a week during school holidays.

Later my brother joined in, and between him and the older nephew they had a red Vespa scooter, and made the daily trip home to take the day's catch to be cleaned and curried!!!

Jislaaik, those were the days!!!, you could do that without any fear being attacked/robbed or anything like that. I think  things just changed in general, and children are now living in another world.

Of wat praat ek???