Tent camping advice/tips

YotaOnRocks

YotaOnRocks

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 17, 2007
Location
Madison
I haven't been tent camping since I was young. Don't remember much other than being cold at night and waking up early to my old man cooking.

My wife and I recently picked up a couple atv's and want to do some riding and camping trips. Probably take a few trips to uwharrie first since it isn't in the middle of nowhere but from there planning on some 4+ day trips in WV.

What should I look for in a tent?

What should I look for in a sleeping bag?

For those that use air mattress I assume you sleep in a sleeping bag on top?

Cooking and packing in food(any suggestions are welcome)

Anything else I forgot you think of I appreciate the help.

Always considered myself a pretty good country boy until I realized I didn't know squat about heading into the woods with the wife and not being miserable or starving.
 
If your not going to go far from your truck (camping spot in a camp ground) buy an easy up tent, sounds gay but the best thing you will ever do. Walmart has some nice ones, while your there pick up an easy up canopy nothing brings the suck like trying to do anything in the rain and no cover. If your only camping during the summer late spring early fall figure out what the low is going to be at night and go 10 degrees less than that for a sleeping bag. 40 degree bag is a good one for most times of year. If your gonna winter camp your going to need winter sleeping bags. Get a thick air mattress, two layered incase you lose some air your not laying on the ground. Buy a big tub and pack it with everything your going to need camping besides food, tent and sleeping bag. Mine has a two burner stove propane, paper towels salt pepper plates forks spoons cups, toilet paper trash bags stick lighter and matches cards cutting board pots and pans and cooking ware. If you plan on ridding out and carrying all this on a 4wheeler its a different story
 
OK Logan nailed it. I will add a liittle. The. Big tub (we use a 150qt Coleman cooler) is so all your stuff is always there, no worrying about remembering the essentials when they are in one spot and weatherproofed. Just replenish after every trip. The cooking thing, I like a smooth top grill/griddle. No open flame to contact the food so I turn out looking like a lot better cook than I am(and it cooks bacon like a boss). Check out the George Foreman table top gas grill, I seen it at Kohls for just over a hundy and I will have one (200sq in surface). Next, on the easy up we have a bug net walls that go all the way around it, makes summer camping bug less while eating and playing cards. A few folding chairs makes campfire shenagans more fun also. Now this is my (family rig) alone I take a folding chair some orange backer crackers, potted meat and a case off beer. There are others that will chime in and give more tips, I have gotten lots of info from the guys on here!! Good luck and have fun!!
 
Thanks for the tips. At uwharrie I don't imagine toting a lot a long will be an issue since I'll be close to the truck. Figuring out how to fit everything we need on 2 4wheelers when going on rides in WV might prove to be a challenge. I've never been but I imagine riding a couple days before heading back. My buddies that go always ride back to a cabin everyday but I think riding and tent camping along the way sounds like a lot more fun.
 
X2 on the "easy up" or "instant up" tent!! Main thing is get one you can stand up in, makes thing WAY more comfortable. Thick air mattress is the shit! Don't know the name of mine off hand, but will get it but they are nice because the pump is made into the mattress and takes 110v or batt (less to carry) x2 on the canopy and get you a 10" or 12" iron skillet, you can cook anything in it and you can use it on a open fire, grill, or gas burner. GOOD cooler! Can't stress enough! !! It sucks when the ice is gone the next morning and now you have warm Beer! O yea LOTS of beer!! Have fun and enjoy the times when it sucks! Because Hell there ain't much you can do about it!!!!
 
Coleman Extreme is all the cooler you'll ever need. They stay cold longer than Yetis, and they're like $30 at WalMart.

But if you're going to camp off the atvs, then you need to pack like a backpacker.
 
I consider myself an expert on camping with my wife and keeping her happy...

1) Weather - makes sure the weather will be decent for the trip

2) Tent - I agree with the EZ Up tents - http://www.walmart.com/ip/Instant-10-x-9-Dome-Tent-Sleeps-6/42120626 This is the one we have and it's 30 seconds up and large enough for a queen size mattress.

3) Mattress - Double high queen - http://www.walmart.com/ip/Coleman-2000015759-Double-High-Quickbed-Airbed-Queen/35395711. I use the small pump that takes 4 "D" batteries. Haven't replaced the batteries yet. I also have a hand pump (like a bicycle pump) to top it off and as a fail safe.

4) Sleeping bags? Nope. Walmart sells a sheet set for the mattress and we bring blankets and pillows. Makes the tent as comfortable as the bed at home. I do have bags for a back up.

5) Cooler - Coleman Extreme for sure. Pre-cool prior to your trip by bringing inside the house with a bag of ice inside.

6) Camp Stove w/ frying pan and small pot. Can cook/heat/fix everything you need

7) EZ Up - just bought a 10x10 @ Dicks for 59.99. Perfect for keeping the sun off and fending off rain.

8) Tarps -can use for a variety of things and you want one under the tent. I carry 4

9) Hammocks and suspension system (ENO Slapstrap) - the best $$ you'll ever spend. The Outpost has some nice hammocks.

10) Plastic containers/tubs to keep things separated/dry/easy to move. Walmart has some good ones.

11) Water - I use one of the 7 gallon aquatainers from WM. Set it up on a table and you have a wash station and water for cooking/pets/etc

12) Small table - WM has a 4 foot folding table that makes a great kitchen base for your stove and cooking supplies

13) Have a plan - meals, things to do, emergencies, etc
 
Also freeze your water bottles before the trip. They'll keep the cooler cold and all you have to do is take them out of the cooler and let them melt before use.
 
Pre plan your meals, and prep what you can at home. Like if your gonna do a stew, have your tators and such diced and bagged up in the cooler. Steaks, other meats,marinate them and bag em up the day before. Walmart has a spice shaker with several different spices all in one.
Don't forget misquito candles.
Also, always have a good hatchet. You can split wet wood and get a fire going in wet weather. I actually had the be.st night once with the easy up sitting right over the fire while raining like crazy. Didn't hurt the easy up, but we didn't have a huge raging fire.
 
I can vouch for that, I have the Coleman extreme and also a yeti, yeti is shitty compared to the Coleman I have. I originally bought the Coleman to keep my fish in. But now I use the Coleman for everything. Basically don't even use the yeti anymore. U pay for the name. I can honestly say my Coleman outlast the yeti on keeping my stuff cold.
 
The good thing about the Yeti is it has that rubber seal. So if you put it in the back of your truck and go bomb around the desert, your ice melt doesn't turn into mud.

Other than that, there are several independent tests that show the Colemans stay cold the longest. And they can't be beat for the price.
 
Wow. That's good to know. Not that I even considered spending the money on a yeti, I'm glad to know my Coleman is better
 
Yeti is just a status symbol. You buy the Yeti cooler, then the Yeti visor and big ass sticker so that you can show everyone that you have so much disposable income that you can blow $400 to keep Natty Light cold.
 
My yeti was a gift. Thought it was the shit till I actually used it on long trips. Just wasn't impressed. But makes a awesome TV stand which is what I use it for now lol.
 
I love mines, I don't have any swag but I do camp, wheel and surf fish a lot and have 8-12 busted ass Coleman's on the overhead shelves in the shop so I guess I'm just harder on my coolers. I also hate dealing with ratchet straps and bungees trying to access cool beverages in the coolers when secured, no issues with the yetis. I can't find any of the cooler tests where they compare the $30 cooler to the yeti on my phone, I will have to check them out when I get back to my laptop.
 
I don't know about test online, but I do know the yeti just don't do what it claims. I always put my cooler in a box freezer the day before I use it. Coleman has not cracked. But the yeti did in the drop freezer. Like I said do a test at home its very easy. I put 2 inches of water in my coolers then freeze the whole cooler before trip. Yeti didn't make it. To weak. So now it serves a better purpose holding TV up. Like I said its a name. That's about all it is.
 
Just contact yeti they have free replacement for 5 years, I have used mine with dry ice dropped straight in loosen the drain and toss a towel on top with no issues or cracking and that stuff is fairly frigid. As far as testing I have messed with several different scenario's and the only one my cheap coolers won on was price. I honestly have 20+ coolers, it is a sickness. As far as camping we do 8x11 casserole dishes full of water and drop them into the bottom of the coolers and it keeps really well.
 
I don't care what the weather is SUPPOSED to be, take enough square footage of tarps to cover everything you have ..... twice!
Easy-ups are great for campgrounds or camping right out of you vehicle, but on an ATV ..... tarps are where it's at.



Matt
 
A good source for cheap tarps is a place called Ollie's. They got them in most of the major cities now. They have 4x6 tarps for $0.99. I know that seems small, but I have one of them in every vehicle just in case I have to crawl under one in the rain on the sign of the road or trail, comes in handy. The larger tarps aren't expensive either, I just don't remember the prices of them off the top of my head. For rope, you really can't beat 550 paracord. Its strong, light weight and versatile. Sometimes you find the 100ft pink bundle of it on clearance just cause its pink.
 
shawn said:
Yeti is just a status symbol. You buy the Yeti cooler, then the Yeti visor and big ass sticker so that you can show everyone that you have so much disposable income that you can blow $400 to keep Natty Light cold.
Click to expand...


I guess?


If you are in bear country, the yeti is bear-proof. Kind of important when rules require proper securing of food. :)




I e had numerous coolers through the years, and still do. The only time I don't use my yetis are with my fishing bait. I use the cheap Coleman for the stinky stuff

I don't trust most studies, I have to learn for myself. I've been very pleased with the yetis. :)
 
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