Camping on a slope - suggestions as to how to mitigate this

[ibilly99]

I'm a Glastonbury recycler and have the privilege of camping in Tom's field up at the farm every year. For those that know it, it has a notorious slope that has led to many a bad night's sleep. Air mattresses and stuffing the end with blankets and clothes doesn't work, so my mind in this fallow period has turned to how one could effectively mitigate this.

My first idea is to buy a cheap camp bed and then have a sheet of thick plywood with holes drilled in it that can be lashed to the bottom legs and levelled with the help of a spirit level and cable ties. Does anybody have a critique or alternative suggestions ? I can see a Dragon's Den down the line where I make the pitch "you know when you end up with a slope for camping "to incredulous snorting Dragons.

 

Edit: My v1.0 is already looking a bit shaky as reviews suggest this camp bed is just that, a bit shaky with 4 legs on the ground so 3 would have to be levelled at various heights if the stability was to be maintained.

 

https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/15987165/eurohike-utah-4-leg-campbed-15987165

Edited October 31, 2023 by ibilly99
as above

[balti-pie]

This isnt particularly helpful i suppose, but there's flat spots on Tom's field among the hilly bits, and as they're in much demand they get nabbed first. So if you have any chance of getting there earlier, i'd take it!

(i got the early doors stewarding shifts and got there on the saturday before a couple of years back, and my shifts were overlooking Tom's field up the top by the vehicle gate - its a lovely view but bloody hell, that hill after a long shift!) 

[ibilly99]

8 minutes ago, balti-pie said:

This isnt particularly helpful i suppose, but there's flat spots on Tom's field among the hilly bits, and as they're in much demand they get nabbed first. So if you have any chance of getting there earlier, i'd take it!

(i got the early doors stewarding shifts and got there on the saturday before a couple of years back, and my shifts were overlooking Tom's field up the top by the vehicle gate - its a lovely view but bloody hell, that hill after a long shift!) 

The get there on Sunday debate is already being had - the flattest pitches are by the road and near the bogs or right up by the fence. The fence ones still aren't as good as they seem as I did after festival sheds last year so moved to one by the fence having previously coveted it, so now I know !  Greetings fellow volunteer, and thanks for your suggestions !

[mattiloy]

1 hour ago, ibilly99 said:

I'm a Glastonbury recycler and have the privilege of camping in Tom's field up at the farm every year. For those that know it, it has a notorious slope that has led to many a bad night's sleep. Air mattresses and stuffing the end with blankets and clothes doesn't work, so my mind in this fallow period has turned to how one could effectively mitigate this.

My first idea is to buy a cheap camp bed and then have a sheet of thick plywood with holes drilled in it that can be lashed to the bottom legs and levelled with the help of a spirit level and cable ties. Does anybody have a critique or alternative suggestions ? I can see a Dragon's Den down the line where I make the pitch "you know when you end up with a slope for camping "to incredulous snorting Dragons.

 

Edit: My v1.0 is already looking a bit shaky as reviews suggest this camp bed is just that, a bit shaky with 4 legs on the ground so 3 would have to be levelled at various heights if the stability was to be maintained.

 

https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/15987165/eurohike-utah-4-leg-campbed-15987165

I usually camp up at lime kiln, sometimes on the hill. Maybe your hill is steeper but I just tend to pitch my tent so that its facing down the slope and so that i’m positioned with my head at the higher part so its as if i were sleeping in a big reclining chair or a hospital bed.

[balti-pie]

38 minutes ago, ibilly99 said:

The get there on Sunday debate is already being had - the flattest pitches are by the road and near the bogs or right up by the fence. The fence ones still aren't as good as they seem as I did after festival sheds last year so moved to one by the fence having previously coveted it, so now I know !  Greetings fellow volunteer, and thanks for your suggestions !

There seems to be a flat spot at the bottom, then a hilly bit, then a middle flat spot before another hilly bit and finally the big flat bit up the top. People went bottom/middle/top in terms of preference it seems, before filling in the hilly bits. Do you have access to any other camping spots? the other side of Muddy Lane seems to be a bit hillier, if anything, before flattening out around gate C - but thatll be mega busy all the time so i wouldnt fancy camping there. There's a couple of workers camping spots outside gate C (including the oxfam field, which is delightfully flat and right next to the car park, its a right winner) but they all look hilly from the brief nose around i've had. Plus you'll have to zap in and out with an EPO.

i think your self-righting camping bed with a bit of a camber seems like the best idea, or perhaps elevating the bottom of a camping mat with a rolled up extra sleeping bag - i quite like the logistics of it though, i would so obviously be lying in bed planning the same engineering solutions 😄

[ibilly99]

20 minutes ago, balti-pie said:

There seems to be a flat spot at the bottom, then a hilly bit, then a middle flat spot before another hilly bit and finally the big flat bit up the top. People went bottom/middle/top in terms of preference it seems, before filling in the hilly bits. Do you have access to any other camping spots? the other side of Muddy Lane seems to be a bit hillier, if anything, before flattening out around gate C - but thatll be mega busy all the time so i wouldnt fancy camping there. There's a couple of workers camping spots outside gate C (including the oxfam field, which is delightfully flat and right next to the car park, its a right winner) but they all look hilly from the brief nose around i've had. Plus you'll have to zap in and out with an EPO.

i think your self-righting camping bed with a bit of a camber seems like the best idea, or perhaps elevating the bottom of a camping mat with a rolled up extra sleeping bag - i quite like the logistics of it though, i would so obviously be lying in bed planning the same engineering solutions 😄

Yup Oxfam and Infrastructure have the peachiest flat spots-recyclers are the bottom feeders of the pack. Early arrivals tend to bag the best spots and tarp out extra for their mates as well. I’ve tried everything to try and mitigate it and the best laid plans seem to evaporate when I finally get to sleep half cut. Which is why this year I want to tech out a solution once and for all. Caravans have levelling devices after all !

[gizmoman]

2 hours ago, ibilly99 said:

I'm a Glastonbury recycler and have the privilege of camping in Tom's field up at the farm every year. For those that know it, it has a notorious slope that has led to many a bad night's sleep. Air mattresses and stuffing the end with blankets and clothes doesn't work, so my mind in this fallow period has turned to how one could effectively mitigate this.

My first idea is to buy a cheap camp bed and then have a sheet of thick plywood with holes drilled in it that can be lashed to the bottom legs and levelled with the help of a spirit level and cable ties. Does anybody have a critique or alternative suggestions ? I can see a Dragon's Den down the line where I make the pitch "you know when you end up with a slope for camping "to incredulous snorting Dragons.

 

Edit: My v1.0 is already looking a bit shaky as reviews suggest this camp bed is just that, a bit shaky with 4 legs on the ground so 3 would have to be levelled at various heights if the stability was to be maintained.

 

https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/15987165/eurohike-utah-4-leg-campbed-15987165

Don't know what your budget is or how far you would have to take it but this is the bed of your dreams!

https://www.anglingactive.co.uk/prologic-avenger-bedchair-8-leg.html

All adjustable legs so you can get perfectly level.

Edited October 31, 2023 by gizmoman
typo

[ibilly99]

4 minutes ago, gizmoman said:

Don't know what your budget is or how far you would have to take it but this is the bed of your dreams!

https://www.anglingactive.co.uk/prologic-avenger-bedchair-8-leg.html

All adjustable legs so you can get perfectly level.

Wow so perfect but pretty expensive ....a work of art no less. Maybe there is a cheaper version I shall get deep googling.

[ibilly99]

This is similar with adjustable legs but probably not as good.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/173201516463?chn=ps&mkevt=1&mkcid=28

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

Cheaper here

 

https://fishingdreamworld.com/en_US/p/PROLOGIC-AVENGER-BEDCHAIR-8-LEG-120KG/56111?gclid=CjwKCAjw7oeqBhBwEiwALyHLM10nRKVdOZeIE555TD0DRlpzX3eC9iGetMAGMwDR_K8KQwmEqCqbvxoCx1gQAvD_BwE&currency=GBP

[ibilly99]

8 hours ago, Yoghurt on a Stick said:

Cheaper here

 

https://fishingdreamworld.com/en_US/p/PROLOGIC-AVENGER-BEDCHAIR-8-LEG-120KG/56111?gclid=CjwKCAjw7oeqBhBwEiwALyHLM10nRKVdOZeIE555TD0DRlpzX3eC9iGetMAGMwDR_K8KQwmEqCqbvxoCx1gQAvD_BwE&currency=GBP

Cheers very tempting to give myself and early Christmas present. I do a lot of festivals, so it is more of an 'investment' than a cost. Or hold off to post Christmas sales......

The Pro Logic has an even cheaper 6 leg version.....

https://tackletarts.uk/bedchairs-and-accessories/bedchairs/prologic-c-series-6-leg-bedchair/?srsltid=AfmBOoqMG2SJimNESaMwazIxljC-DG4Nns9XfoZ7vNCBHm3Mhbvu8QtzCII

Edited November 2, 2023 by ibilly99

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

12 hours ago, ibilly99 said:

Cheers very tempting to give myself and early Christmas present. I do a lot of festivals, so it is more of an 'investment' than a cost. Or hold off to post Christmas sales......

The Pro Logic has an even cheaper 6 leg version.....

https://tackletarts.uk/bedchairs-and-accessories/bedchairs/prologic-c-series-6-leg-bedchair/?srsltid=AfmBOoqMG2SJimNESaMwazIxljC-DG4Nns9XfoZ7vNCBHm3Mhbvu8QtzCII

Or hold off to post Christmas sales......

I must admit that that is a tempting option. I wish you well with your decision making.

[gizmoman]

13 hours ago, ibilly99 said:

Cheers very tempting to give myself and early Christmas present. I do a lot of festivals, so it is more of an 'investment' than a cost. Or hold off to post Christmas sales......

The Pro Logic has an even cheaper 6 leg version.....

https://tackletarts.uk/bedchairs-and-accessories/bedchairs/prologic-c-series-6-leg-bedchair/?srsltid=AfmBOoqMG2SJimNESaMwazIxljC-DG4Nns9XfoZ7vNCBHm3Mhbvu8QtzCII

I was going to post to make just this point, it is only expensive if you buy and don't use it much, if you are going to spend a long time at glastonbury and other festivals it will be money well spent, (assuming it lasts and is comfortable) they look pretty well made, got to be better than sleeping on the ground. If you are on a budget second hand ones on ebay seem to be £40 -£50 but you would have to source one locally I guess. If you're ready to invest big there's this one! Might not get much recycling done though you'll be asleep all day!

https://tackletarts.uk/bedchairs-and-accessories/bedchairs/fox-flatliner-bedchair-en-3/?variation_id=279789

[ibilly99]

11 hours ago, gizmoman said:

I was going to post to make just this point, it is only expensive if you buy and don't use it much, if you are going to spend a long time at glastonbury and other festivals it will be money well spent, (assuming it lasts and is comfortable) they look pretty well made, got to be better than sleeping on the ground. If you are on a budget second hand ones on ebay seem to be £40 -£50 but you would have to source one locally I guess. If you're ready to invest big there's this one! Might not get much recycling done though you'll be asleep all day!

https://tackletarts.uk/bedchairs-and-accessories/bedchairs/fox-flatliner-bedchair-en-3/?variation_id=279789

 

[ibilly99]

That's a cracker turns a humble tent into a poor man's campervan. If I win the lottery.......I'm not going mad but will buy the ultimate camp bed !

[ibilly99]

The beast has arrived £91 from eBay with a discount. It truly is a work of art, that said it weighs 10kg so will have to carted separately from the car to camp. I'm working after the festival in the recycling sheds so will be in Tom's Field from the Sunday before to the Friday after, so having a good bed was a must. It is well-made capable of strong self levelling on almost any ground and with built-in foam and ergonomic pillow and mat and feels like a real bed add a pillow and a sleeping bag, and it really is a Rolls-Royce thing. It has a washable nylon cover over a memory foam insert, so it is a proper portable bed.

I'm sure it could cope with a very steep slope - the large webbed feet pivot as well, and it does seem very solid and well-built. All 8 legs are retractable to different lengths and lock quite tightly and securely, so it could cope with very humpy uneven and slopey ground seemingly at a breeze. The whole thing is sprung with elastic bungee type attachments, making the mattress a bit sprung in nature. The centre is a sort of well, they keep you immersed in it. I think it also serves as a sun bed type thing so you can raise the back as a back rest should you wish.

Finally, you can store a lot of stuff under it and so keep your tent tidier than a lllo or a mat combo. I call it my camper van in a tent. Will report back after my first sleep.

I went for the 8 leg for greater stability.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/381416749860

Edited March 2 by ibilly99

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

On 3/2/2024 at 7:56 PM, ibilly99 said:

The beast has arrived £91 from eBay with a discount. It truly is a work of art, that said it weighs 10kg so will have to carted separately from the car to camp. I'm working after the festival in the recycling sheds so will be in Tom's Field from the Sunday before to the Friday after, so having a good bed was a must. It is well-made capable of strong self levelling on almost any ground and with built-in foam and ergonomic pillow and mat and feels like a real bed add a pillow and a sleeping bag, and it really is a Rolls-Royce thing. It has a washable nylon cover over a memory foam insert, so it is a proper portable bed.

I'm sure it could cope with a very steep slope - the large webbed feet pivot as well, and it does seem very solid and well-built. All 8 legs are retractable to different lengths and lock quite tightly and securely, so it could cope with very humpy uneven and slopey ground seemingly at a breeze. The whole thing is sprung with elastic bungee type attachments, making the mattress a bit sprung in nature. The centre is a sort of well, they keep you immersed in it. I think it also serves as a sun bed type thing so you can raise the back as a back rest should you wish.

Finally, you can store a lot of stuff under it and so keep your tent tidier than a lllo or a mat combo. I call it my camper van in a tent. Will report back after my first sleep.

I went for the 8 leg for greater stability.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/381416749860

What a fantastic report. I don't have the need for one, but if I did need a camp bed, then yours is the one I'd be aiming for. Well, not 'your' own one, but one like it. Just in case, that was.

[gizmoman]

You did well, £131 on amazon and it's got great reviews, bit of an extra weight to carry but I reckon it will be worth it, certainly looks the biz.

[ibilly99]

On 3/18/2024 at 5:48 PM, gizmoman said:

You did well, £131 on amazon and it's got great reviews, bit of an extra weight to carry but I reckon it will be worth it, certainly looks the biz.

Thanks it looks like the dog bollix - good for as a camp bed should you have an extra guest staying over as well. Will report back when it get used in anger at last.

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

This is not a recommendation, as I have no idea of the quality of the product. However, it 'may' do the job;

 

https://www.temu.com/uk/outdoor-folding-bed-cushioned-folding-bed-for-office-nap-camping-beach-g-601099538357269.html?_oak_mp_inf=EJW41aOm1ogBGiBhNWM3MDUyZDY4Y2E0ODE4OWJlNzExZGFjYzJhYWZmZCDI5rK97jE%3D&top_gallery_url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.kwcdn.com%2Fproduct%2FFancyalgo%2FVirtualModelMatting%2Fa42d55121ca9d5616879bff97bc4c12a.jpg&spec_gallery_id=4079821276&refer_page_sn=10009&refer_source=0&freesia_scene=2&_oak_freesia_scene=2&_oak_rec_ext_1=Njk2OQ&_oak_gallery_order=226934793%2C518446275%2C1328931498%2C1537097613%2C2048879146&search_key=folding bed&refer_page_el_sn=200049&refer_page_name=search_result&refer_page_id=10009_1713283823008_nh90gma06p&_x_sessn_id=jfjc28hrlp