Camping tips and tricks

BigClay

BigClay

Knower of useless ZJ things
Joined
Sep 24, 2008
Location
Winston-Salem
So @CasterTroy mentioned in the meme thread that a good camping trick is to freeze gallon zip lock bags full of water before to save on cooler ice.

So what are some other tips and tricks that you have found?
 
Backpacking - meal plan for the whole trip and stick to it to reduce excess weight in the pack. Grab a good water purification system too and filter/use only what you need. Most excess weight comes from fluids and food.

Camper - stash a cube style infrared heater in a closet or cabinet for when you’re low/out of propane or just don’t want to run it but still are on a generator or shore power. One of these will keep our older 30’ bunkhouse layout camper comfortable down to the 20’s.
 
jyaks said:
Check you tent bag for poles before leaving.
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Getting ready for a trip to Oregon Inlet...my wife (then girl friend) kept asking me if I had the steaks for the trip. Yes dear...of course hunny...double checked sweet heart...etc etc. She kept asking to the point it pissed me off...yes, I have the mf’ing steaks...worry about your damn self. That drive Was probably the quietest 5hrs my wife had been in her entire life. Crossing the big bridge in to Nags Head, it hit me...’ooooooh, you meant stAKES. Yeah, those are packed with the tent poles...which I always keep in the cab of my truck for safe keeping, which, erm....is at home’. Surprisingly difficult trying to find a tent in that area...ended up finding a cheap $40 two man tent at the KMart in Kitty Hawk...and tent camping in a cheap two man Kmart tent with a pissed off significant other, who was right, was significantly less pleasant than it sounds.
 
Bug spray sucks, bug spray in your eyes sucks worse. Thinning hair, little hair, sweat, and bug juice don't mix well in the eyes.
Spray liberal amount on bandana. Wear as a neckerchief. None in eyes and head doesn't get ate.
 
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Cowboy dinners or foil packs are great fixers on many heat sources. Also pack well and don't require a bunch of fancy storage.
Engine manifold, coals from fire or charcoal. Less trash and serving tray included!
Beef, tators, and carrots are easy peasy.
 
Good Sharp hard cheese, summer sausage, eggs, and jerky.........protein sources that don't need refrigeration.
 
Powdered milk, powdered buttermilk, powdered pancakes........see a trend.

Pop a pocket rocket out stir mix and pancakes on a backpacking trip.....too easy camping in a camper.
That fella eating cold oatmeal is gonna be jealous!
 
My wife's response: Go to the Wals-Mart buy everything we would need for ONE WEEK. Plan big meals like feeding 8 every evening. Desserts included. Spices Alcohol the whole nine.
Breakfast every morning. Not the cereal kind. At least one pack of bacon per morning. Unless it's sauage morning or 12 quart Dutch oven recipes.

Oh, Dutch ovens. Have 2, third one inbound for the Desserts. Depending on the event throw in at least one chicken Stew. That requires the 15 gallon pot.

Load camper.

To husband: campers loaded your cooking.

Lately it's just us. Unless we meet friends. Usually 3 nights, 4 days. No wonder I gain weight camping.
 
jyaks said:
Check you tent bag for poles before leaving.
Click to expand...

Done this before, we had to string up a tarp between two tree, since we didn't have poles, Luckily my son was coming the next day so I had him bring the poles.

As for Steaks I've froze them for backpacking trips and they are thawed that night for dinner, no cooler needed.
We usually also have "stuffed potatoes" with leftovers from fajitas or whatever would be good in a baked potatoes on the coals.
Powdered pancake mix in the plastic container. Just add water, no mixing bowl required.
Camp close to Wally World you always forget or need something.:laughing:
Put you clothes for the next day in your sleeping bag before you go to sleep, they will be "warm" and you don't have to get out in the cold to get dressed.
 
No fries said:
Done this before, we had to string up a tarp between two tree, since we didn't have poles, Luckily my son was coming the next day so I had him bring the poles.

As for Steaks I've froze them for backpacking trips and they are thawed that night for dinner, no cooler needed.
We usually also have "stuffed potatoes" with leftovers from fajitas or whatever would be good in a baked potatoes on the coals.
Powdered pancake mix in the plastic container. Just add water, no mixing bowl required.
Camp close to Wally World you always forget or need something.:laughing:
Put you clothes for the next day in your sleeping bag before you go to sleep, they will be "warm" and you don't have to get out in the cold to get dressed.
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I've thought about this and the AT trail. I bet by now a Dollar General is every 10 miles of trail.
On a serious note: given advancements(positive or negative in opinion) , use, and access the AT is merely a time consuming, logistical, long walk anymore. Or at least many feel the overall challenge has been greatly diminished.
One of the greatest challenges was the solitude and self reliance for extended periods. With the modern traffic of users this poses much less of a predominant feature of sauntering the AT and others like it.
 
After 50+ years in a tent (Boy Scouts, Marines, more Boy Scouts, wheeling trips, etc.) or under a vehicle, I've developed an "allergy" to them and have just quit... but still have a single consolidated "tote" with all the usual junk needed: stuff like spare flashlights/batteries, alarm clock (finding your group in 10k acres because your drunk arse didn't wake until noon sucks!), plates/bowl/utensils, dishwashing supplies, towel (because you forgot to pack with clothes), backup to backup single cup coffee dripper/filters, etc.
The trick is using the largest tote possible and still being able to lift it... If it takes to people to lift/move, time to break it down to 2 that don't!

Other tips:
- Stash additional rolls of striking paper *everywhere* (cause angry bowel ain't no joke)
- In large/crowded camps (like the old DR camps in the Hanging Dog fields) a small red LED beacon clipped to the top of YOUR tent is pretty handy after adult snacks 😉
- Prepare the coffee maker for the next morning immediately after coming off the trail/prior to adult snacks
- To further @No fries suggestion of freezing steaks... season/marinade/wrap with BACON and vacuum pack them before freezing = thaw, open, & cook
- Eggs for scrambled/French toast can be cracked, whisked, then put into sealed container/ice tray and frozen = no oopsies & takes up less cooler room
- Which brings up another fav... "omelets" made in ziplocks, dropped into pot of hot water = easy self-service breakfast (make what you like) and near zero clean-up
 
BigClay said:
So @CasterTroy mentioned in the meme thread that a good camping trick is to freeze gallon zip lock bags full of water before to save on cooler ice.

So what are some other tips and tricks that you have found?
Click to expand...


Put all the "setup" stuff in one box that's labeled accordingly. It should have a large-ish tarp/rope/etc in it in case you happen to be setting up in the rain.
 
WARRIORWELDING said:
I've thought about this and the AT trail. I bet by now a Dollar General is every 10 miles of trail.
On a serious note: given advancements(positive or negative in opinion) , use, and access the AT is merely a time consuming, logistical, long walk anymore. Or at least many feel the overall challenge has been greatly diminished.
One of the greatest challenges was the solitude and self reliance for extended periods. With the modern traffic of users this poses much less of a predominant feature of sauntering the AT and others like it.
Click to expand...
hell a girl i went to college with the the AT 2 summers ago and she said it was basically a boozed walk. stopping in every semi close town and drinking yourself to death then waking up and doing it again.
 
shawn said:
Put all the "setup" stuff in one box that's labeled accordingly. It should have a large-ish tarp/rope/etc in it in case you happen to be setting up in the rain.
Click to expand...
this all my cooking, cleaning, and setup stuff are in a large plastic tote with a locking lid. i refill after every trip. i know i grab it and some fuel canisters im covered for cooking just about anything. that and my tent and i know ive got what i need for truck camping
 
Loganwayne said:
hell a girl i went to college with the the AT 2 summers ago and she said it was basically a boozed walk. stopping in every semi close town and drinking yourself to death then waking up and doing it again.
Click to expand...
Can confirm. I live really close to it. You can stop in Damascus at the little diner/bar and get hammered with hikers all the time.
 
Monkeynono said:
Also, forget sleeping in a tent. Hammocks for the win.
Click to expand...
Unless they have something that makes a 6 foot 230lb man not turn into a sleeping bag burrito, I want be using mine much anymore.
 
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