I have questions about camping for any who camp

jimintoronto said:
How are you going to power a "portable air conditioning unit " ? If you want air conditioning, stay at a Hilton. Jimb.
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I think she already said she had a generator and possible electrical hookups. Staying at the Hilton is just a ridiculous and rude suggestion, surprised you're even in this thread, you obviously have no helpful suggestions.
 

Our oldest son had an enclosed trailer big enough for 2 ATVS.


That became our home away from home in Colorado.
We would head to CO, from son's home in MI after the 4 of July.
Lots of folks heading back home.

Those first trips were learning experiences..
Before we bought an older Motorhome.
We learned that air mattress aren't reliable.

Cots gave our backs some support.

Son invest money in a Yeti cooler,, could keep meat almost 2 weeks.
I think he bought 'dry ice once'.
I froze milk jugs of water for drinking, cooking.
Put them with meats or other foods that needed cool.

He also bought & shower tent which they put the porta potty in.

For a shower he bought a tank like you would by to spray weeds,lawns with.
Warm up the bath water add to tank ,pump it up & use a sprayer head. for a shower.

If you go to any mountains you'll find they are cooler at night.

I think there are now trailers that your ATV can pull hauling all the camp goods.

Research the area you want to go,, get maps for ATV trails, walking trails,, streams.

Here in Pa some of the hiking trails have a 3 sided shelters for campers.( hint, hint stop by)

Am sure I'm forgetting something,,,,, yes!
Make lists what to take... Keep it near the door you are leaving out.

Will be looking forward reading about you adventure!
 
Ronni said:
Have any of you set up any kind of portable A/C unit? We were talking about that and wondering what kind of a tent would support that setup. The venting wouldn’t be a problem it’s making sure all the openings have flaps to cover the netting.
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I loved tent camping. Would still be doing it, if I was physically able to.
I advise/would choose the spot for the tent carefully; in order to stay cool enough, be sure to not be in a spot that bakes. Preferably shaded and where a breeze might be, either off the water or because of the land.
Perhaps use an awning of some sort, to provide extra respite from heat.

However you decide to try it, I hope you enjoy it.
The simplicity of being outdoors in a simple setting, was always healing and good for me.

A good cooler for foods, was an important supply, and to plan ahead for meals.
First aid supplies, of course.

If you use an air mattress, remember not to fill it too much, or it will be just as hard as the ground. Some people prefer cots. With a foam pad.
Sleep is important.

Planning for the experience, along with the experience itself, is a positive mental focus, too.

Oh, adding on things that come to mind, I love a simple camp coffee percolator. :)
And have some rope, to hang things that become wet or damp, or just to air them.
Take simple fun things to do, such as games.
 
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Ronni said:
Why is this so hard to understand?
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Part of the issue is "Camping" means something different to everyone. Some folks consider roughing it a 4 star hotel. We have only been camping together 40 years, Hammocks under a tarp to RVs. Just got back today from 3 days and leaving Thursday for another 4 days.... toy hauler is bringing 2 motorcycles for the grandson and I to ride a bunch.
My best suggestion is to pitch your tent in the back yard, and try your best to not go to the house for anything. If you need to get something, add it to your camping gear.
As for AC in a tent... personally not a fan.... (Pun Intended) We have several USB rechargeable fans we carry, tent or the camper.
As a warning, I will add a few camping stories.... We went to a campground that had no power in a Pop-up, at night it dropped to a very cool 88 after a day of triple digit temps and humidity about the same. Another trip we spent 7 days in a tent with our 2 kids around 5 and 7.... never stopped raining...
We still had a great time.....
 
Sliverfox said:
Our oldest son had an enclosed trailer big enough for 2 ATVS.


That became our home away from home in Colorado.
We would head to CO, from son's home in MI after the 4 of July.
Lots of folks heading back home.

Those first trips were learning experiences..
Before we bought an older Motorhome.
We learned that air mattress aren't reliable.

Cots gave our backs some support.

Son invest money in a Yeti cooler,, could keep meat almost 2 weeks.
I think he bought 'dry ice once'.
I froze milk jugs of water for drinking, cooking.
Put them with meats or other foods that needed cool.

He also bought & shower tent which they put the porta potty in.

For a shower he bought a tank like you would by to spray weeds,lawns with.
Warm up the bath water add to tank ,pump it up & use a sprayer head. for a shower.

If you go to any mountains you'll find they are cooler at night.

I think there are now trailers that your ATV can pull hauling all the camp goods.

Research the area you want to go,, get maps for ATV trails, walking trails,, streams.

Here in Pa some of the hiking trails have a 3 sided shelters for campers.( hint, hint stop by)

Am sure I'm forgetting something,,,,, yes!
Make lists what to take... Keep it near the door you are leaving out.

Will be looking forward reading about you adventure!
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I like the idea of frozen milk jugs filled with water. That’s a great tip.
 
About 2 years ago we started camping in a Dodge Caravan. It was OK, but climbing in and out was tough. After that we purchased a 13 foot travel trailer that the Caravan was supposedly capaple of towing. We did several trips with the Dodge Caravan but it was not up to the job. We bought a F150 and now we can take the camper anyplace we want. The best part of having the trailer is we have our own bathroom wherever we are. The trailer is small, but it does what we need and we enjoy it.
 
Ronni said:
Oh wow that’s way cool!!

Don’t be rude.

We have a generator. And depending on where we camp there are also hookups.

If you can’t contribute constructively, then stay off the thread.
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Many a true word was spoken in jest. Although we haven't been tent camping for a long time, we have been 'camping' in our various vans for over 40 years. Never had a TV, Sat Nav, microwave, generator etc.. in any of our vehicles. If I wanted those things, I would have stayed in a hotel - though I'm not a fan of Hilton, I prefer Marriott.
I make the general observation that 'camping' in its various forms seems to have gone from the simple tent in the corner of field, to the point where some people expect all their home luxuries. Nor is it a cheap option with the high cost of vehicles, fuel and site fees. Here in the UK, the use of generators is generally frowned upon, and usually only allowed at certain times.

As for A/C - I would question its efficacy in a tent because the tent fabric would provide very little insulation.

I have no experience of camping in the USA, though I have looked at a few RVs when I have been. You could fit my camper 2 or 3 times into some of them.
 
I have no wisdom in this. I hate tent camping. To me, tent camping is taking all the work women usually do around the house - cooking and cleaning - and moving it outdoors which only makes it harder. Then, at end of day, collapse to sleep on cold, hard ground.

And people call that a "vacation".
 
Along with the aforementioned first aid kit, don't forget pain relievers, anti-nausea and anti-diarrhea medications. Check the area before going for nearest hospital or urgent care.

Don't forget to stow away any boxes of foodstuffs before dark. Don't be like us, who left out a box of snacks while playing cribbage at the picnic table with our lantern. A skunk found the box and we could only sit frozen, watching in horror as it ate our marshmallows.

Dogs. We once took our Irish Setter camping. It rained all late afternoon and night. Dog growled at every sound. Trapped in a tent with a smelly wet dog wasn't pleasant.

Well, we were young and foolish.
 
Michael Z said:
Make sure you have a mattress you can actually sleep on. You might want to try a dry run at home to test it.
I like the AC idea! For me, I need a cool dry place to sleep.
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Thanks @Michael Z! We have an full sized air mattress that we’ve used to sleep out on our back porch, as an extra bed when we’ve gone away with friends or had folks staying with us, and it’s really comfortable!

Yea, sometime in the next couple weeks we plan to pitch the tent we currently have in the backyard, pack what we think we’ll need and act as though we’re camping for real. I like that kind of dry run because it will highlight all the things we wish we had and eliminate the stuff we realize we don’t need.

So many of the suggestions in this thread have been really helpful!
 
RadishRose said:
Along with the aforementioned first aid kit, don't forget pain relievers, anti-nausea and anti-diarrhea medications. Check the area before going for nearest hospital or urgent care.

Don't forget to stow away any boxes of foodstuffs before dark. Don't be like us, who left out a box of snacks while playing cribbage at the picnic table with our lantern. A skunk found the box and we could only sit frozen, watching in horror as it ate our marshmallows.

Dogs. We once took our Irish Setter camping. It rained all late afternoon and night. Dog growled at every sound. Trapped in a tent with a smelly wet dog wasn't pleasant.

Well, we were young and foolish.
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We did the same thing once but instead of a skunk, there was a group of bears. 🐻
We were definitely young & foolish.
Now we are old and foolish.
 
I got kicked out of my home when I was a senior in high school. I went straight for Mt. Shasta, planning on living by the upper Sacramento River for food/fish. My first night there I left some fried fish on the grill. I awoke to something walking on my back. I finally got my flashlight and there it was...a big ol' skunk. I covered up, and prayed. Nothing happened "Praise the Lord". :)

Good advice. Keep your campsite clean of stray foods.
 
VintageBetter said:
I have no wisdom in this. I hate tent camping. To me, tent camping is taking all the work women usually do around the house - cooking and cleaning - and moving it outdoors which only makes it harder. Then, at end of day, collapse to sleep on cold, hard ground.

And people call that a "vacation".
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You sound like my late M-i-L, but Mrs.L really likes the life and I'm in real trouble if I suggest giving it up. However, we are 'fair weather' campers and say in hotels in the cooler seasons. Oh,and I do the cooking at home .
 
VintageBetter said:
I have no wisdom in this. I hate tent camping. To me, tent camping is taking all the work women usually do around the house - cooking and cleaning - and moving it outdoors which only makes it harder. Then, at end of day, collapse to sleep on cold, hard ground.

And people call that a "vacation".
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As a kid, I could never understand my mother's lack of enthusiasm for our camping trips. I mean, it's non-stop fun-fun-fun, right? Yeah, for my dad and us older kids it was.

For my mom, it meant spending the weekend (or the week) in a WWII surplus canvas tent with no floor and sleeping on army cots with old sleeping bags, cooking all meals on a grill over an open fire or on a balky Coleman cookstove, having to walk to a central spigot in the middle of the campground to carry water back in a bucket and using a stinky pit toilet.

We older kids would be off with Dad having the time of our lives, hiking, swimming, exploring. And Mom would be back at the campsite, trying to keep the baby out of the fire and the toddler from wandering off into the woods, never to be seen again. And it would start raining, always.

My mother always joked that her idea of camping was staying at a hotel with no room service.
 
When hubby & I were still newly weds,, we went camping with his folks .
They had a tent .

Don't think there were any air mattress 60years ago.
Don't remember what they put down to sleep on, but I had a large rock that kept me awake.

Once hubby & I got home we said, " never again to tent camping."

By the time we were much older .
Son suggested we try camping the way he was using the enclosed trailer.

Every time we went with him, he had made improvements.

Finally hubby said we are wasting ridding time having to 'set up camp.
Moving ATVs out of trailer & setting up ' sleeping area'.

By then son had a awning for the outside cooking area.

That was great, an area all to ourselves, far enough from trails that others didn't bother us. 🥰
 
jujube said:
As a kid, I could never understand my mother's lack of enthusiasm for our camping trips. I mean, it's non-stop fun-fun-fun, right? Yeah, for my dad and us older kids it was.

For my mom, it meant spending the weekend (or the week) in a WWII surplus canvas tent with no floor and sleeping on army cots with old sleeping bags, cooking all meals on a grill over an open fire or on a balky Coleman cookstove, having to walk to a central spigot in the middle of the campground to carry water back in a bucket and using a stinky pit toilet.

We older kids would be off with Dad having the time of our lives, hiking, swimming, exploring. And Mom would be back at the campsite, trying to keep the baby out of the fire and the toddler from wandering off into the woods, never to be seen again. And it would start raining, always.

My mother always joked that her idea of camping was staying at a hotel with no room service.
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I hope your dad did eventually take her to Hawaii or Paris. My ex sure never did. Oh, we could have afforded it, but everything had to be his way. He is a very selfish person.
 
I think most kids LOVE camping - to not be living indoors, and cooking things outside over fire! It's crazy adventurous to little kids.

But many adults know that sleeping on the ground, or being awakened several times a night by strange noises, is not going to make for a nice following day, plus, do we have COFFEE out HERE!?

I cannot even imagine trying to go camping with today's teens. Without cell service will they collapse into an ornery pile of irritability? Some would.
 
I can no longer take sleeping on the ground. Even with air mattress. I am no cot sleeper either. I did that in the service and Boy Scouts.

I only do hotels now, so roughing it to me is when you get settled in for the night and find that you have no remote or that the TV isn’t working.
 

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