leave tent at campsite?

[HankSTer]

Question for you experienced moto campers.

I'm hoping to get in a almost 2 wks in September, but not sure if it's a good idea to leave camp stuff and ride for the day, then return in eve?

That's really the way I'd like to do it, but I guess the safest would be to pack everything up ea morning, ugh.

So how have you done it?

Regards,

[AZST]

Whether on the bike or in the car, I usually set up camp and then leave. I have never had a problem....although, It's always on my mind.

I never leave anything real expensive behind or vital...such as a helmet, riding jacket, GPS, valuables, etc. If someone is going to steal my $50 tent....well, they must really need it bad.

--Bryan
04ST1300A
:04biker:

[Trekker]

Most people leave the tent setup with sleeping bags & stuff inside. And most leave gear out on the table without anything walking away.

I usually pack up most of the easy to steal gear and put it back in my saddle bags, while leaving the tent up with my clothes bag inside. I almost never leave behind anything of value.... that stuff stays with me.

[Bones]

Bryan's right on target, Hank. I've left my tent at many a campground and never had a problem. Don't leave anything of significant value laying around, and certainly don't leave any food in the tent.

Worry less, ride more :-)

[Mellow]

Same here, I always take my clothes with me and leave the tent, sleeping bag, mattress. I figure as many times as I've camped it's more than paid for itself and if someone wants one that bad and can put up with the fart smell they can have it... :nuke1:

[Allen]

I am the same. Leave the tent, sleeping gear and clothes. Never had a problem.

We are a funny society. People will lie, cheat, steal and even try to kill you on the road. BUT we won't mess with someone's camping gear.

[HankSTer]

thnx guys ;)

yup Joe convinced me, "eat beans, keep gear safe" ;)

[FL-STRIDER]

I've camped all over the southeast and never had a problem with leaving my gear behind however there is one exception, Key West Florida. I've been ripped off 3 times down there. First time they entered our tent and turned everything upside down looking for valuables there was none. The next two times they broke into out camping van that was locked. First time that happened they took my buddies Nikon camera gear and the second time they took our toll money change cup. Apparently this is a huge problem in the Conch Republic. Local police said we were probably being watched.

[ChipSTer]

Key West has a huge homeless population (probably due to the year-round mild weather - hurricanes not withstanding)... You probably were watched... My family has always been big into camping (40+ years now - mostly campgrounds)... Never a problem... Even with fairly expensive, easy to carry, items left laying around... (never camped in Key West, though)... YMMV... :D
:cool:

[ParkerBill]

I think it depends on where you're camping, but I've camped all over for more decades than I care to discuss and I've never had a problem with two-legged thieves or vandals bothering anything. I set up camp and leave basically everything but valuables at my camp sites. I have never camped in Key West though, so I'll bow to the advice of those who have.

[AzDesertRider]

DAMHIKT, but, What ever you do, DON"T leave a fire going...even if it's in the middle of camp ground, in a provided fire ring after a rain.

Bryan, how much was that "possible" fine?

[ST1300 Alicia]

I always leave the Tent, Sleeping Bags, Cook Stove and stuff like that behind. I've never had any problems. I camp mostly in state parks. Leaving your tent set up kind of marks your campsite, or you might find it occupied by someone else when you return. Only been ripped off by CRITTERS. Racoon's ate a whole bag full of dried prunes one day. I figure they got their just reward for their thievery.

[Mongo]

I always leave the Tent, Sleeping Bags, Cook Stove and stuff like that behind. I've never had any problems. I camp mostly in state parks. Leaving your tent set up kind of marks your campsite, or you might find it occupied by someone else when you return. Only been ripped off by CRITTERS. Racoon's ate a whole bag full of dried prunes one day. I figure they got their just reward for their thievery.

Coons and Prunes! That got a good laugh out of me, THANKS. :bow1:

[HankSTer]

Thnx guys some good info, I appreciate it. It's been quite awhile since I've been camping, as you can tell. I'm really looking forward to it ;)

Regards all,

[EASt]

By odd coincidence I was just wondering the same dang thing! Timely post, and it's reassuring to read everyone's "don't worry" responses. :yes:

I'm not, however, reassured with Mellow's response to crime prevention. It seems a bit harsh. ;)

[AZST]

DAMHIKT, but, What ever you do, DON"T leave a fire going...even if it's in the middle of camp ground, in a provided fire ring after a rain.

Bryan, how much was that "possible" fine?

um....about the price of a new Sargent :o:

--Bryan
04ST1300A
:04biker:

[Mellow]

By odd coincidence I was just wondering the same dang thing! Timely post, and it's reassuring to read everyone's "don't worry" responses. :yes:

I'm not, however, reassured with Mellow's response to crime prevention. It seems a bit harsh. ;)

Scared Straight....:scared2:

[Mark]

Camping since the early '60s in all kinds of campgounds and I've only seen an issue at the Grand Canyon.
I saw some guy walking through the camp and he didn't look 'right'... I asked the ranger and they quickly asked "When, Where and what did he look like"...
They had someone 'shopping' the campsites.

I didn't lose anything though....

Mark

[Nevada]

Ditto on leaving the camp set up while taking "very valuables" with ya. One thing to keep in mind is don't leave anything that you want to stay dry outside, and if rain is possible, put on the rainfly before you leave.

[silverbub]

HOWEVER...last week i am in northern illinois campground, enjoying the twilight beginning wild animal sounds of forest...when the group of gypsys further up the camp loop(two women, man, bunch of kids) stoll by my site(i am in my camp hammock, set up at back of site, of course, out of sight)...kid says: "what's that"...i have no idea what kid is referring to, as it might be the st13 with nelson/rigg uv200 1/2 cover that is silver...not a good color for night as it stands out too much parked down into the camp site from camp loop where they are "strolling"...gypsy man says to one of the women: "take the kids back"...which get's my attention, but i remain concealed within the hammock...very quiet as i listen intently for about ten minutes...i figure the remaining man & woman gawked at my meager set up...bike in middle of site, 1/2 cover covering top of bike, my amply filled tank bag & helmet under the cover...and then they must have decided it was not worth trying to steal...BUT...1/2 hour later as i am enjoying listening to bard owl hoot...i hear WHISPER at the edge of my site: "SO, WHAT DO YOU THINK", says the gypsy man...woman answers: "I DON'T KNOW, WHAT DO YOU THINK?"...man says" SHOULD WE DO IT?!!!!"...IT IS QUIET FOR SOME MOMENTS...now, my throat tightens and i get a throat tickle & do a VERY quiet cough or two...woman whispers: "no, he's in there"...man whispers: "how do you know?"...her whisper: "he tried to keep from coughing"...man: "you sure?"...her: "yeah"...now, dear fellow st'ers, i ask you...had i been out for a nice park twilight stroll...do you think i would have been separated from my camping equipment?...you betcha!...had i not had the nervous twitchy, scratchy stifled cough they would have been on my stuff like the rodents they are...who knows where the confrontation would have ended?...the cough scared them off from trying to steal the bike & the hammock...made my remaining night somewhat fitful for sleep!...your camping experience may differ...but i have seen too many "shoppers" in camps & will only set up & leave what i could do without upon return...:03biker: :eek:

[Dorian]

Woah! Quite a story there silverbub. My wife has had more experience camping than I and has heard similar such stories from others. We always use the rule, if its important then pack it. If it can be easily replaced then leave it behind. So far we haven't lost anything.

But I wonder about another issue. I like camping remotely. In other words, I like the idea of parking the bike, putting all the gear on my back and going for a 5 mile hike into the wilderness and set up camp without other humans nearby. The problem is, if I'm gone from my bike for a day or two what will I find when I hike back out? That question has kept us from exploring that adventure.

[GRN]

20+ years, have left tents in many flavors of campsites and back country locations... only preventative measures taken have been to distance food, food prep, and cleaning from the tent site... never had any problems with folk or beast. I did wake one morning in Glacier to find bambi chewing on a dirty wool sock that was hung on one of the rain fly lines... hard to imagine with all of the other options out there, P U !

[Slider13]

We've been camping annually for over 20 years mostly in the midwest. During that time frame only once did anything walked away. The thief was pretty bold at that. My Coleman lantern was hanging by a tree branch not 5 feet from our tent and was snatched while we slept. We had other stuff laying around, but nothing else was taken. The ranger felt it was probably teenagers goofing and sneeking around the campsites after people have turned in. Most recently came back from a glorious 13 day camping trip to Yellowstone, Wyoming and Glacier, Montana. The thing to be concerned about there is not the two legged variety. Don't leave any food or anything that maybe mistaken for food in your tent at all times. That includes shampoo, bubble gum, lotions and other personal hygeine stuff that you normally bring with you. The ranger at Yellowstone was telling us a story about a particular "fed" black bear that's been frequenting the campsites, only he doesn't know he's not suppose to be fed. He tore into a tent and got into the bags inside and apparently smelled the toothpaste:eek: Have fun on your trip.

Slider13:04biker:

[Bones]

I've never had any problems motorcycle camping, but this thread reminded me of a problem camping with my cousin in a van. We were in Sleeping Giant Park in Ontario. I was working on an article about brewpubs (a new phenomenon at the time) and taking the long way from Toronto to Minneapolis. Anyway, we were setting up camp and unpacking stuff from the van, including beer samples provided by the brewmasters I'd been interviewing. My cousin and I are organizing stuff in the van when we heard rapid footsteps. We came out to investigate and found our beer was gone. Bastiges! :mad: The nearest beer store to Sleeping Giant is a long, long way off so we had a beerless evening around the campfire. It rained, too.

[squirrel Hunter]

Bones how did you ever recover, stealing beer is a hanging offense in my opinion.

[squirrel Hunter]

Unless is from your friends cooler when he isn't looking.

[Mark]

Unless is from your friends cooler when he isn't looking.

Or even if he is looking!!! :pint

:-)
Mark