What are your camping essentials?

"4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30" (4muddyfeet) 05/26/2015 at 21:08 • Filed to: None

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I went camping in my box trailer last weekend with the missus, tents be damned, and now I’m on a bit of a spending spree. The trailer was great, it fits a double air mattress with room for the dogs at the bottom, plenty of space to move around in and the Skoda pulls it well, but shit it was cold. Sheet aluminium has excellent thermal conductivity, who knew? I can’t insulate the trailer (it’s already part ply lined) as I use it for work, so I’m buying new sleeping bags to replace our £10 supermarket bags, an awning and porch poles, and with them another £80’s worth of gear probably to be used once and garaged forever more. While my basket is still filling up, what are your camping necessities?

Picture related.

And the only pic I took while walking the hills.

jkm7680 > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 05/26/2015 at 21:12

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1. Flashlight with extra batteries and backups. Waterproof is best.

2. First aid shit.

3. Rope, for pretty much all purposes. Especially for hoisting food into a tree with a pulley-like system to keep bears from getting to it.

4. Plenty of bottled water and maybe a filter if you’re cool enough.

5. Extra blankets/plastic bags.

Lots of other stuff that I’m not mentioning, but ask for specifics of a certain area if you want.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > jkm7680 05/26/2015 at 21:16

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for hoisting food into a tree with a pulley-like system to keep bears from getting to it.

This is about the most dangerous animal you’re likely to encounter while camping in the UK.

Blankets though, I need blankets.

jkm7680 > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 05/26/2015 at 21:17

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Well, just get a sheep and there ya go! Blankets on demand!

Bears are pretty scary though, a few years on a trip with a ton of people we found bear shit literally right next to the campsite in the morning.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 05/26/2015 at 21:17

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Being an American where things are huge and stuff, we have a little Webber grill, about 5 chairs, air compressor, lots of fire wood, bicycles and kayaks, food (duh), soda, oh, and of course S’more materials! Can’t remember what else is in the compartments right now.

Tohru > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 05/26/2015 at 21:19

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http://uppermidwest.kinja.com/i-used-my-truc…

Military surplus sleeping bag, Plastidip, rigid foam, mylar blankets.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 05/26/2015 at 21:21

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Never had a S’more, but they sound delicious. The most we do is toast marshmallows on a reclaimed stick. Everything else: check

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > Tohru 05/26/2015 at 21:26

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I cannot into insulation, it’ll just get damaged when it’s not being used as a camper. Classy little project though!

My citroen won't start > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 05/26/2015 at 21:26

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Travel advisor, dressing-gown, room-key and bags.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 05/26/2015 at 21:27

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They’re quite good, basically just toasted marshmallows between two graham crackers with some chocolate in there. We use Hershey’s since that’s the most notable national brand of just chocolate bars.

Oh, here’s our ‘rig’ by the way.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 05/26/2015 at 21:31

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Stor.... puts my little 8ft-er to shame!

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 05/26/2015 at 21:36

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All and all it’s pretty close to 55 ft (16.7 m). Truck itself is over 20 ft (6.1 m)! Trailer’s 34 ft (10.3 m) if I remember correctly. It’s a pretty good experience in it, like a home away from home. Crazy what they allow commoners to carry here in the US, huh?

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback 05/26/2015 at 21:39

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It wouldn’t even fit through the gates at most of the UK campsites. In fact I’m pretty sure most of the caravan owners would kneel down and weep, before packing their things and getting into their Kia Sedonas and calling it a day.

Birddog > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 05/26/2015 at 21:40

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Birddog’s Camping Essentials

1. A Tent, Truck with a cap or a trailer. Any place to escape the guaranteed burst of rain that nobody saw coming.

2. Beer. Lots of it. In many situations it’s better than Cash.

3. First Aid gear. Why? See #2

4. Twice as many articles of clothing as you’d normally pack for a Hotel stay of the same duration.

5. Firestarters. Duraflame logs are awesome.

6. Meat, lots of it and something to cook it on helps. If you forgot the grill see #2.

(Optional) A Dog. If you don’t have a Dog don’t go and try renting one. That just gets you in trouble.

norskracer98-ExploringTheOutback > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 05/26/2015 at 21:41

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There are some campsites that we don’t fit into. Whether it’s too small and tight to navigate through, because as you can tell something that long doesn’t exactly handle like a hot hatch, or the spots or too tight/short.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > jkm7680 05/26/2015 at 21:42

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Can I ask; I’ve spent a lot of time in bear country (Canada) and everyone has these anodized aluminium tubes on their car keys. When questioned, they answer ‘it’s for the bears’. It’s what for the bears? Nobody seems to know.

jkm7680 > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 05/26/2015 at 21:43

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Bear whistle?

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > Birddog 05/26/2015 at 21:45

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Firestarters? This offends my manliness! Dogs I have covered, but you’re the second person to mention First Aid and I carry none. Consider it done.

Justin Hughes > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 05/26/2015 at 21:49

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A canvas cabin tent, queen size bed frame mattress, more blankets than I think I’ll ever need (I usually do), my archery equipment, plastic bins filled with medieval garb, and plenty of alcoholic beverages.

Such is life in the Society for Creative Anachronism.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > jkm7680 05/26/2015 at 21:50

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Nah, GIS throws up nothing. I’ve searched for ‘bear tube’ too, and this is what came up.

Give GIS lemons, and it’ll make lemonade.

jkm7680 > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 05/26/2015 at 21:51

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Strange, no ideas besides that. Bear mace?

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > Justin Hughes 05/26/2015 at 21:53

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Goddamnit I’m always forgetting my medieval garbs. A plastic bin it is then!

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > jkm7680 05/26/2015 at 21:58

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Seems the most likely, although smaller than a regular canister with no visible trigger mechanism. Could be one of these in a fancy-ass case:

Who knows!

jkm7680 > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 05/26/2015 at 21:59

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Not sure, haha. Possibly?

marshknute > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 05/26/2015 at 22:09

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1). Toyota Sequoia

2). Some couch cushions

3). Many cans of Arnold Palmer

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > marshknute 05/26/2015 at 22:10

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Like a boss

desertdog5051 > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 05/26/2015 at 22:40

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Put this down under your sleeping pads/air mattresses . It works great as an insulator and is cheap enough to replace if needed. I’m sure you have something similar where you live. Expanded Polystyrene.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > desertdog5051 05/26/2015 at 22:42

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That’s a great idea. I was actually worried for the air bed in case anything got underneath it or the ply was torn in any areas. Duly noted.

desertdog5051 > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 05/26/2015 at 22:50

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Have used it for years. Works.

banjo cat ghost of oppo past > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 05/26/2015 at 22:51

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Peyote?

Also a small folding table of all things, trusty zippo+ extra fluid, which comes in handy for all sorts of things...I guess only a couple things. That or a windproof butane lighter. Sweet rig.

105 HP of fury > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 05/26/2015 at 22:58

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Maybe the bears love shiny objects, and that will distract them while you get away?

TheRealBicycleBuck > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 05/27/2015 at 01:20

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My primary camping vehicle was my Mazda until it recently caught fire. As a result, my camping list changed.

Here are our essentials:

Backpack

Tent

Clothes, toiletries, etc.

Flashlights

Flint & steel

Food - usually in an ice-chest and a single rubbermaid box for non-perishables

Camping stove w/ fuel

Portable table

5 gal.potable water

Box with kitchen gear (utensils, spices, paper goods, garbage bags, foil, dishsoap, etc.)

Fishing gear

Bikes - off the list until I get a hitch and a hitch-mounted bike rack

Pop-up canopy

Everything except the bikes and pop-up canopy fit in the car on the last trip. We usually gather deadwood for a fire, but since we usually camp in a group,someone always brings a few split logs.

Then Something New > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 05/27/2015 at 08:31

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That 109 looks like you can take a lot with you. There’s not much room for stuff in my 88

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > Then Something New 05/27/2015 at 08:43

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110 dear boy, it’s a Defender! I do have a 109 as well but it’s topless atm. Nice Landy though! I’m assuming you’re US as no front plates?

Then Something New > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 05/27/2015 at 10:34

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Ha, off by an inch! I couldn’t quite tell from the side profile. My truck is in Florida, but I sold it a few months ago to buy another project miata. There just wasn’t enough places nearby to really use the truck unfortunately (besides my backyard where the picture was taken); but there are a handful of racetracks like Daytona and Sebring to use a miata.

You can tell a Finn but you can't tell him much > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 05/27/2015 at 11:25

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For sleeping in that trailer I would go with cots and good sleeping bags. Keep the old bags and use them under the other sleeping bags on the cots, it will really help to keep you warmer. Cots are better than sleeping on ground for comfort, but if it is cold they suck because the cold air gets under you too and sleeping bags don’t insulate as well when you’re laying on them and compressing the insulation.

CaptDale - is secretly British > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 05/27/2015 at 14:52

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WHAT!?

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > CaptDale - is secretly British 05/27/2015 at 15:32

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Some of your culinary delights do not cross the pond. A lot of your culinary horrors do.

CaptDale - is secretly British > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 05/27/2015 at 17:35

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They aren’t mine. I don’t condone most of them...