Sleeping in MG4 [merged thread]

£16.50 per night per person here. The interesting thing is that I was offered a pitch with electric power for £21.50. - Magnette just gorged on some at the Tesla outlets but I must look into it for future.
 
Not sure if these camping hook-ups will cope with charging an EV. When I was booking in to Durness and saying to the guy that no I didn't need a hook-up because I'd brought my own electricity, he said he'd had EV owners trying to charge their cars on a campervan hook-up and it didn't end well. These things aren't rated for EV charging. I expressed some surprise at the idiocy, because you can actually see the Durness CPS charger from the entrance to the camping site, it's not as if anyone there should be desperate.

So better check up on anything like that before you do it. I would imagine the time will come when these camp sites will provide pitches with 7 kW destination chargers, but the time is not yet.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Not sure if these camping hook-ups will cope with charging an EV. When I was booking in to Durness and saying to the guy that no I didn't need a hook-up because I'd brought my own electricity, he said he'd had EV owners trying to charge their cars on a campervan hook-up and it didn't end well. These things aren't rated for EV charging. I expressed some surprise at the idiocy, because you can actually see the Durness CPS charger from the entrace to the camping site, it's not as if anyone there should be desperate.

So better check up on anything like that before you do it. I would imagine the time will come when these camp sites will provide pitches with 7 kw destination chargers, but the time is not yet.
I was thinking more about powering a wee induction cooktop or some such thing. We in our older machines don’t have Vehicle to Curry you know ?
 
Oh yes, that would work. I think @Martinonline was able to power a heater for his tent from the MG4, maybe you could rig up a way to power some sort of heating for the snail from a hook-up. Even if it was just an electric blanket.
 
Oh yes, that would work. I think @Martinonline was able to power a heater for his tent from the MG4, maybe you could rig up a way to power some sort of heating for the snail from a hook-up. Even if it was just an electric blanket.
“I’m going out now to find a socket for the electric blanket, I may be gone some time”
Nah it doesn’t suit the roughty toughty intrepid explorer really ??
 
Was today the day it closed, then?
I think so - round about now if not. Amazing to think it’s gone after all these years. My Dad was a plant fitter and blacksmith with Parkinson’s open cast coal mining around the Gorebridge area. His machines shovelled an awful lot of overburden to get at the coal beneath.
 
I was brought up right beside Overtown colliery in Lanarkshire. One of my earliest memories is watching the cables running over the pulley gantries, wondering vaguely what these were for.

Time you were asleep, anyway.
 
I was brought up right beside Overtown colliery in Lanarkshire. One of my earliest memories is watching the cables running over the pulley gantries, wondering vaguely what these were for.

Time you were asleep, anyway.
Just having a final chat around the world then I’ll settle down. I might need to open this boil in the sleeping bag a bit, it’s roasting in here - but enough of my troubles ?good night all
 
I have a couple of purchases in mind. We were talking about some sort of awning, and the things available didn't seem very suitable, and/or cost a fortune. I'm thinking this.


It's 2 metres square, which is wide enough more or less to encompass both doors of the car, and well large enough to sit in with table and chair. Also well large enough to get changed in. The only little snag is that the chargeport is on the left of the car and that's where I'd want it for cooking and relaxing over a meal, whereas the way I have the car set up I get in and out on the right when I'm going to bed. But it seems to be quite easy to move. I'm not crazy about the "windows", but there's probably some way to cover them. It's obviously not a robust thing, but I'm only going to be using it in fair weather anyway. I just need a bit of privacy and protection from light rain. If it blows up really dirty I'm going home. Or finding a hotel.

There's another advantage I have just thought about. For years I have been saying that someone should invent a cover that can be quickly erected over and round a rotary clothes dryer when a heavy shower is imminent. It's a pain to have to unpeg everything in a rush and take it indoors, then peg it all out again. It looks as if this might actually do that job too.

I'm also considering a small-size kettle. On my first trip I took a spare kettle I had, which was the old-fashioned sort with an element that had to be covered with water, which meant I was having to boil more than I wanted. On my second trip I took my usual kitchen kettle which has the element in the base and can boil a single cup if need be. That worked a lot better, and it made me realise that having a cordless kettle is a real plus when working beside the car. But it's still 1.7 litres and far bigger than I need. I was looking at a 0.5 litre kettle, but although it said "fast boiling", reading further down that translated to seven minutes! It's only 600 watts. My normal kettle boils 0.5 litres in 75 seconds. So far I'm not seeing anything smaller than a litre that is both cordless and boils at 3 kw, but maybe this will do.


Does anyone have any thoughts about microwaves? I have a small 600 watt microwave which is the first one I bought 30 years ago. It still works perfectly well and I keep it as a spare. It only draws 1 kw so why wouldn't it be fine? But I thought I saw someone say that microwaves can draw a spike of power at the start and might trip something. But imagine being able just to pop into a village shop and buy a microwave meal. I think it would fit in the passenger footwell for transport OK.
 
I have a couple of purchases in mind. We were talking about some sort of awning, and the things available didn't seem very suitable, and/or cost a fortune. I'm thinking this.


It's 2 metres square, which is wide enough more or less to encompass both doors of the car, and well large enough to sit in with table and chair. Also well large enough to get changed in. The only little snag is that the chargeport is on the left of the car and that's where I'd want it for cooking and relaxing over a meal, whereas the way I have the car set up I get in and out on the right when I'm going to bed. But it seems to be quite easy to move. I'm not crazy about the "windows", but there's probably some way to cover them. It's obviously not a robust thing, but I'm only going to be using it in fair weather anyway. I just need a bit of privacy and protection from light rain. If it blows up really dirty I'm going home. Or finding a hotel.

There's another advantage I have just thought about. For years I have been saying that someone should invent a cover that can be quickly erected over and round a rotary clothes dryer when a heavy shower is imminent. It's a pain to have to unpeg everything in a rush and take it indoors, then peg it all out again. It looks as if this might actually do that job too.

I'm also considering a small-size kettle. On my first trip I took a spare kettle I had, which was the old-fashioned sort with an element that had to be covered with water, which meant I was having to boil more than I wanted. On my second trip I took my usual kitchen kettle which has the element in the base and can boil a single cup if need be. That worked a lot better, and it made me realise that having a cordless kettle is a real plus when working beside the car. But it's still 1.7 litres and far bigger than I need. I was looking at a 0.5 litre kettle, but although it said "fast boiling", reading further down that translated to seven minutes! It's only 600 watts. My normal kettle boils 0.5 litres in 75 seconds. So far I'm not seeing anything smaller than a litre that is both cordless and boils at 3 kw, but maybe this will do.


Does anyone have any thoughts about microwaves? I have a small 600 watt microwave which is the first one I bought 30 years ago. It still works perfectly well and I keep it as a spare. It only draws 1 kw so why wouldn't it be fine? But I thought I saw someone say that microwaves can draw a spike of power at the start and might trip something. But imagine being able just to pop into a village shop and buy a microwave meal. I think it would fit in the passenger footwell for transport OK.
Awning looks fine - certainly at that price and the kettle OK but I’d be worried about dropping it and the glass shattering. I’d prefer a stainless steel type.
The saving grace is that you could order them to see what they’re like and return if not suitable.
I like the idea of the microwave- most of the trucks you pass on the road use them - and most are built in above the windscreen very neatly. If yours is 600 watts what’s any spike going to be ? I’m sure some sparky person will tell us but I can’t think it would be much if at all.
 
Awning looks fine - certainly at that price and the kettle OK but I’d be worried about dropping it and the glass shattering. I’d prefer a stainless steel type.
The saving grace is that you could order them to see what they’re like and return if not suitable.
I like the idea of the microwave- most of the trucks you pass on the road use them - and most are built in above the windscreen very neatly. If yours is 600 watts what’s any spike going to be ? I’m sure some sparky person will tell us but I can’t think it would be much if at all.
They had a couple of free standing awnings erected on display the last time I was down at Go Outdoors in Granton, Edinburgh.
They looked pretty substantial and easily built up and you could add side screens too.
Quite handy to check out the quality etc. I took the plunge and paid the extra £5 or something to get members discount and my Daughter’s already used the card without problem. Returns are also easy with them. I bought a camp bed for use in the tipee tent and found it useless - I just didn’t like it. When I went back they just offered and exchange or refund back on to my card, no questions.
 
Yeah, I'm still scrolling through kettles. I liked the look of the 500 ml one, but 7 minutes is not "fast boiling" in my book. The glass one is pretty but as you say maybe not so practical. I could try the microwave on the VtL at home and see if anything untoward happens, so long as it isn't anything permanent. As you say, 600 watts (draws 1 kw according to the sticker), what could really go wrong?

I remember in 1994 I bought two of these microwaves, one for me and one for my mother. She wasn't all that keen on this new-fangled thing but I told her, that's your Mothers' Day present and like it. Of course she did, and she was soon using it all the time. She broke the platen and managed to order a new one, but some time after that she told me the oven had failed, so she bought herself a new larger 800 watts one. That's the one I'm still using, with my own original once sitting in my bedroom occasionally heating a mug of cocoa.

I like that gazebo because it seems easy to erect, and to pack away in a carry-case that would be easy to stash in the car. Also it might come in useful for other things. (And it matches Caliban.)

1728056193697.png


1728056552369.png


These details are from the medium size, but I presume all three sizes work similarly. There are obviously ways of pegging the thing out more securely, but it seems to stand on its own. I like that "three height options" part as well. As you say, if it doesn't work out then I can always return it. But it looks suitable and the idea of having somewhere with shelter and privacy other than the car itself is certainly attractive.
 
They had a couple of free standing awnings erected on display the last time I was down at Go Outdoors in Granton, Edinburgh.
They looked pretty substantial and easily built up and you could add side screens too.
Quite handy to check out the quality etc. I took the plunge and paid the extra £5 or something to get members discount and my Daughter’s already used the card without problem. Returns are also easy with them. I bought a camp bed for use in the tipee tent and found it useless - I just didn’t like it. When I went back they just offered and exchange or refund back on to my card, no questions.
Colour matching it with Caliban blows the stealth camp idea to smithereens but will definitely look good ??
Yeah, I'm still scrolling through kettles. I liked the look of the 500 ml one, but 7 minutes is not "fast boiling" in my book. The glass one is pretty but as you say maybe not so practical. I could try the microwave on the VtL at home and see if anything untoward happens, so long as it isn't anything permanent. As you say, 600 watts (draws 1 kw according to the sticker), what could really go wrong?

I remember in 1994 I bought two of these microwaves, one for me and one for my mother. She wasn't all that keen on this new-fangled thing but I told her, that's your Mothers' Day present and like it. Of course she did, and she was soon using it all the time. She broke the platen and managed to order a new one, but some time after that she told me the oven had failed, so she bought herself a new larger 800 watts one. That's the one I'm still using, with my own original once sitting in my bedroom occasionally heating a mug of cocoa.

I like that gazebo because it seems easy to erect, and to pack away in a carry-case that would be easy to stash in the car. Also it might come in useful for other things. (And it matches Caliban.)

View attachment 30992

View attachment 30993

These details are from the medium size, but I presume all three sizes work similarly. There are obviously ways of pegging the thing out more securely, but it seems to stand on its own. I like that "three height options" part as well. As you say, if it doesn't work out then I can always return it. But it looks suitable and the idea of having somewhere with shelter and privacy other than the car itself is certainly attractive.
the stand alone while you nip off with the car could be useful in “claiming “ your patch. That’s something I can’t do as my car and tent have to stay or be packed up and go together. I still can’t get the OEX awning to go with the roof tent but I’m not sure yet if it could be left alone. They aren’t available yet. Probably on a boat from China along with some EVs ?.
 
the stand alone while you nip off with the car could be useful in “claiming “ your patch. That’s something I can’t do as my car and tent have to stay or be packed up and go together. I still can’t get the OEX awning to go with the roof tent but I’m not sure yet if it could be left alone. They aren’t available yet. Probably on a boat from China along with some EVs ?.

I hadn't thought about that, but you're right, it's a definite plus. As it is, I have to pack everything up if I want to go off for an hour or two in the evening, and there's nothing to mark the pitch as taken.

The couple who had a slightly different design of roof tent from yours, who were next to me at Durness, had a very good awning that seemed designed to go with it and because it attached to the tent gave very good height. They were sitting in it with a glass of wine and an actual camp fire in the evening.

I've added a lightweight groundsheet to my shopping cart, because there was a lot of heavy dew most nights I was out.
 

Are you enjoying your MG4?

  • Yes

    Votes: 910 77.7%
  • I'm in the middle

    Votes: 171 14.6%
  • No

    Votes: 90 7.7%
Support us by becoming a Premium Member

Latest MG EVs video

MG Hybrid+ EVs OVER-REVVING & more owner feedback
Subscribe to our YouTube channel
Back
Top Bottom