Roughing It!

[UNTMatt]

Well, Dee and I will be roughing it for the night! Hope no big bears come along...

http://www.st-owners.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=32848&stc=1&d=1215136410

http://www.st-owners.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=32849&stc=1&d=1215136410

On a side note, what all would be recommended for just 'sleeping' in a tent. No camping, just crashing.

What we have:


Tent
Flashlight
Cheap LED tent light (Wal-Mart special, isn't very bright and I would like a really small LED tent light that is bright enough for reading easy)
Queen sized air mattress and 4 D cell air pump
Sheets and air pillows (may get nixed after tonight in favor of the one's STScott posted)
Bug spray
TP
Normal toiletries



I did get this little '9 clip' doohicky at Home Depot for the guy ropes.

http://www.st-owners.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=32850&stc=1&d=1215136967

Not sure if anyone else uses them or if they are common knowledge. Seems to work pretty good.

[dmulk]

Coleman makes a great LED Camp lantern that runs all night on 3 AA's. I have two. They cost $10 ea at Walmart. They are yellow.

It was one of three Joe reviewed on Motocampers.

I'll tell you, I love them. I hang one outside the tent above the door and keep one in the canopy area in the tent. Way bright enough to read.

<D>

[Mellow]

Coleman makes a great LED Camp lantern that runs all night on 3 AA's. I have two. They cost $10 ea at Walmart. They are yellow.

It was one of three Joe reviewed on Motocampers.

I'll tell you, I love them. I hang one outside the tent above the door and keep one in the canopy area in the tent. Way bright enough to read.

<D>

The yellow one here:
http://mellow.smugmug.com/photos/111429853-L.jpg

I also like having the headlamp leds as your hands are free.

[Tourin']

Haven't seen the doohickey before, but it looks useful. Any gadget that might serve double duty and isn't heavy to haul, might be a good doohickey.

But take care Matt, I once set up two tents in the yard, to air after a Scout trip. My town's Code dude came by and said I could not start a "tent city". Never a dull moment.:confused:

[EASt]

Those "Doohickeys" are called Figure 9 hooks. The company making them is called "Nite Ize".

I am absolutely sold on those hooks. I keep 4 of the small ones in my glove box at all times, and have gotten rid of all my nylon straps and bungee nets. I've even used 'em to strap down lumber on my ST. They're fierce. You can get them at dedicated camping stores.

Link to them here (link button isn't responding tonight):

http://www.niteize.com/category.php?category_id=29

[uptoblackwood]

Coleman tent fan!!!!!!!!!!! Get two.....see link.....

I bought mine at a Coleman outlet store for about $9

http://www.amazon.com/Coleman-830A350T-Tent-Fan/dp/B0009PUPSS


Forest

[motomac]

Roughing it!!!??? You need to talk to Lou65 about roughing it!!! He clears a place in the leaves on the ground, throws down his sleeping bag and goes to sleep!!! If you get a small air conditiner (that's all you're missing from being in a motel room) you'll really be roughing it!!! LOL!!!

[UNTMatt]

Coleman tent fan!!!!!!!!!!! Get two.....see link.....

I bought mine at a Coleman outlet store for about $9

http://www.amazon.com/Coleman-830A350T-Tent-Fan/dp/B0009PUPSS


Forest

Will definately take a look at getting one or two of those. Thanks for posting.

Those "Doohickeys" are called Figure 9 hooks. The company making them is called "Nite Ize".

I am absolutely sold on those hooks. I keep 4 of the small ones in my glove box at all times, and have gotten rid of all my nylon straps and bungee nets. I've even used 'em to strap down lumber on my ST. They're fierce. You can get them at dedicated camping stores.

Link to them here (link button isn't responding tonight):

Nite Ize Figure 9 hooks (http://www.niteize.com/category.php?category_id=29)

Those are them, available in several sizes. I found them in several sizes at Home Depot...have not checked Lowes to see if they have them. The local HD had them in the rope, chain, fastener area and they work great for the guy ropes. I can also see them working to secure loads on the bike/car/truck as well. Cool doohicky's.

Roughing it!!!??? You need to talk to Lou65 about roughing it!!! He clears a place in the leaves on the ground, throws down his sleeping bag and goes to sleep!!! If you get a small air conditiner (that's all you're missing from being in a motel room) you'll really be roughing it!!! LOL!!!

Do you have a link for that a/c unit? Does it come w/a free jacuzzi tub?

[UNTMatt]

The air pillows didn't do much for me.

Not sure about Dee...she's still asleep! Geeze...maybe I should just leave the silly tent setup! LOL!

The air mattress seemed to lose some air overnight...I'll have to check the air fill valve and see if it's set correctly or maybe Dee let some air out for comfort. It's not horrible and if the silly thing goes south, another one can be precured from a local Wal-Mart.

It was a bit 'stuffy' inside the tent with all the humidity. We could have left the rain fly off for more air circulation...which we may do on the road. Those little fans may help out w/that though.

[UNTMatt]

The yellow one here:
http://mellow.smugmug.com/photos/111429853-L.jpg

I also like having the headlamp leds as your hands are free.

The one on the far right is the one we picked up. $4 I think was the cost. I'll check out the yellow Coleman next week. Thanks Dan and Joe for the tip.

[motomac]

Matt, in a mattress as large as yours, the change in temperature will cause the pressure to raise and lower. I doubt you have a leak, unless it is an old unit or you poked a hole in it.

[UNTMatt]

Matt, in a mattress as large as yours, the change in temperature will cause the pressure to raise and lower. I doubt you have a leak, unless it is an old unit or you poked a hole in it.

Ahhhh...never thought of that! Dee is still sleeping! Geeze....wonder how long she'll be out there...

Yes, I'm finding this kinda funny. :)

[dond]

Well, Dee and I will be roughing it for the night! Hope no big bears come along...





On a side note, what all would be recommended for just 'sleeping' in a tent. No camping, just crashing.

What we have:


Tent
Flashlight
Cheap LED tent light (Wal-Mart special, isn't very bright and I would like a really small LED tent light that is bright enough for reading easy)
Queen sized air mattress and 4 D cell air pump
Sheets and air pillows (may get nixed after tonight in favor of the one's STScott posted)
Bug spray
TP
Normal toiletries



I did get this little '9 clip' doohicky at Home Depot for the guy ropes.

[

No blanket/sleeping bag on your list? Sheets? lol

Sorry, doohickey has been taken. How 'bout thingamajig? :cool:

[uptoblackwood]

The fans are the key.....Mellow had one on a trip to Arkansas last year and I took note. I haven't gone tent camping without one since!!

Forest

[Mellow]

The one on the far right is the one we picked up. $4 I think was the cost. I'll check out the yellow Coleman next week. Thanks Dan and Joe for the tip.

No, the one on the far right of the pic is a Bruton.. not the wal-mart cheaper version... I've seen those and thought about trying one but never did. The Bruton is a single LED and around $30 IIRC. One thing I did with it to make it more effective is put scotch tape around the entire glass / plastic part. It make s a less harsh light, not sure if the wal-mart one is the same but the Bruton would blind you if you looked at it too long. The tape helps make it a nice filtered light that's more usable.

The coleman tent fan is a must if you'll ever be camping in the lower states. With humidity or summer rains it's great. You will sweat a little in your tent but the fan will hit you and cool you off just fine. I've left mine on for 3-4 nights in a row before the battery seems to slow.

[UNTMatt]

No, the one on the far right of the pic is a Bruton.. not the wal-mart cheaper version... I've seen those and thought about trying one but never did. The Bruton is a single LED and around $30 IIRC. One thing I did with it to make it more effective is put scotch tape around the entire glass / plastic part. It make s a less harsh light, not sure if the wal-mart one is the same but the Bruton would blind you if you looked at it too long. The tape helps make it a nice filtered light that's more usable.

The coleman tent fan is a must if you'll ever be camping in the lower states. With humidity or summer rains it's great. You will sweat a little in your tent but the fan will hit you and cool you off just fine. I've left mine on for 3-4 nights in a row before the battery seems to slow.


Ahhh...ok...yeah, the Wal-Mart version you can easily stare into it is so dim. Guess I shouldn't expect much for $4. :o: I can bring it along to the breakfast meet when I know you'll be there. You're welcome to check it out.

No blanket/sleeping bag on your list? Sheets? lol

Sorry, doohickey has been taken. How 'bout thingamajig? :cool:

Yeah, sheets. Thought about sleeping bags but we have sheets, they fit will into a space bag, don't cost us anything extra, and seem to work alright. Is there a compelling reason to pick up sleeping bags?

thingamajig works too. LOL

[Mellow]

I'm planning on going to B-fast tomorrow.. I'll bring the camptowels and the bruton light with me.

[UNTMatt]

I'm planning on going to B-fast tomorrow.. I'll bring the camptowels and the bruton light with me.

Thanks for the comparison. I think we'll stick with the cheapo camp towels but will look at another camp light along with a tent fan.

[Tor]

No blanket/sleeping bag on your list? Sheets? lol

Sorry, doohickey has been taken. How 'bout thingamajig? :cool:

Yeah ,,,,at least a $200 0 degr. sleeping bag for her,,,,,,,I know she's gonna get cold overnight...

thingamajigs? Those have been taken too, how bout whachamacallit?

[Imrubicon]

Roughing it!!!??? You need to talk to Lou65 about roughing it!!! He clears a place in the leaves on the ground, throws down his sleeping bag and goes to sleep!!! If you get a small air conditiner (that's all you're missing from being in a motel room) you'll really be roughing it!!! LOL!!!


Mac dont you or didnt you have a small air conditiner for your bunkhouse ?:eek:

[UNTMatt]

There won't be any $200 sleeping bags due to cost. Cost is the highest consideration.

This is not camping, it is strictly for crashing. Anymore than one night in one location will be considered a stopping point requiring either friends, family, or hotel. We are not taking cooking supplies nor anything more than absolutely required.

We realize there is no inflatible jacuzzi nor portable hot showers, nor a maid that changes sheets. We realize there will be a learning/experence curve during the first go around...btdt. I've done years and years of Boy Scouts so I'm not going into this completely blind....just partially. We made add a couple of sleeping bags but they will not be expensive nor fancy and will completly depend on cost.

We are going to have fun and see how it goes. It isn't like there won't be stores along the way that we can make additions or alterations as necessary. Neither of us slept as well as we would have liked but we did get more than enough rest to continue on with a complete, fun filled day. That was what we were looking to find out by staying in the tent. We were not expecting a realistic comparison to what crashing in a tent on the trip would be like.

[ChipSTer]

Those "Doohickeys" are called Figure 9 hooks. The company making them is called "Nite Ize".

I am absolutely sold on those hooks. I keep 4 of the small ones in my glove box at all times, and have gotten rid of all my nylon straps and bungee nets. I've even used 'em to strap down lumber on my ST. They're fierce. You can get them at dedicated camping stores.

Link to them here (link button isn't responding tonight):

http://www.niteize.com/category.php?category_id=29
I got mine at Home Depot... but forgot to carry them on my last camping trip :(...
:cool:

[ChipSTer]

The only other things that I see that are missing is some water to drink and a urinal (for him)... she'll be S.O.L. as far as a 'nighttime break' is concerned. :D
:cool:
P.S. +1 on the 'head lights' for reading and doing stuff around the camp after dark... finally tried one and it is fantastic... always have light EXACTLY where you are looking...

[dmulk]

Campmor has a Eureka made sleeping bag, 0F rated for about $50. It compresses very well.

My brother brought one on our WeSTOC trip. It worked very well and was a great value.

<D>