The Camping Thread

[CoupeKing]

Originally Posted by XB GS 351 Coupe

I got one of these now, picked it up on special for $99, best thing ever, if you follow the rules you mentioned it will easily go 4-5 days and stay cool

http://www.supercheapauto.com.au/onl...ecommendations

Looks solid. I got a chill just looking at it.

[DoreSlamR]

Originally Posted by CoupeKing

Some tips for your regular Esky.

1. NEVER let anyone use them as a seat, It can ruin the seal/warp the lid.

2. Leave it in the shade at all times (this sounds obvious but you'd be surprised)

3. Chill the Esky the night before with some old ice cream containers filled with frozen water, (you can leave them in but less room for beer), and also chill anything you plan to put in it.

Room temperature stubbies will speed the melting process up as soon as you chuck them in. Probably not a deal-breaker if you're camping over-night or town is 5 clicks away, but it can make life a little easier when you're an hours drive from the nearest servo, and are camped for 3 or more days.

I heard occasionally draining some of the water helps.

Add salt to the ice as well, it drops the temperature and slows ice melt

[Giant Cranium]

Originally Posted by DoreSlamR

Add salt to the ice as well, it drops the temperature and slows ice melt

I always wonder how that works because to melt snow you use salt.

[DoreSlamR]

Science warning!..

http://science.howstuffworks.com/nat.../road-salt.htm

http://antoine.frostburg.edu/chem/se...icewater.shtml

[davenl5l]

Get a camp oven season it before you use it .you can do a roast,stew,chili,bread even soup use it on the fire or coals even on a gas burner best thing you will ever buy

[davenl5l]

Oh yeah don't forget the jaffle irons kids love cooking toasties in these on the fire also if you want amenities there are lots of good caravaan parks with good camp sites where you can have a fire

[davenl5l]

Most caravan parks have great camp kitchens with bbq's and tables etc

[cosworthfreak]

3 way fridge/freezer is excellent for food storage. The specialist camping versions can be pricey, but older ones can be bought cheaply if you keep your eye out, especially if you don't mind using one of the bar fridge sized ones that come from campers/caravans.

Powered site - plug 'em in
Unpowered site - run them off LPG or a 12V source/generator

Plenty of good suggestions above, but all I'd add is camping gets better once you've figured out what setup works for you (including what gear you really don't need).

Cheers
Jamie

[falcon_bandit]

Too much overthinking here.

Go out with some basics, enjoy yourselves, write down a list of stuff that wouldve made life a little easier when you get home and do it again with the new stuff.

Just got home from camping, and seeing alot of rich buggers out there "camping" gave us a few laughs. They looked like mobile 5 star resort, they might of well stayed home!!!

We were only out there 5 mins and a big albeit brief storm hit, all the princesses ran into there caravans, whilst i directed each family member to hang onto the corners of our gazebo to stop it floating away. All of us were drenched, cold, and we cant wait to do it again haha

[mechanic]

Originally Posted by falcon_bandit

Too much overthinking here.

Go out with some basics, enjoy yourselves, write down a list of stuff that wouldve made life a little easier when you get home and do it again with the new stuff.

Just got home from camping, and seeing alot of rich buggers out there "camping" gave us a few laughs. They looked like mobile 5 star resort, they might of well stayed home!!!

We were only out there 5 mins and a big albeit brief storm hit, all the princesses ran into there caravans, whilst i directed each family member to hang onto the corners of our gazebo to stop it floating away. All of us were drenched, cold, and we cant wait to do it again haha

Absolutely agree and taking that one step further is the fact that camping gear spends most of it's life stored away not being used.
Cheap tent, cheap bedding, cheap [ $29 ] small butane single burner and some tinned and dried tucker.
Watch the backpackers, they travel Australia with virtually nothing.

[BENT_8]

Before i go any further, if you can walk from your tent to your car you are glamping, not camping...
Glamping is campings softer cousin.

First thing i would do is whip down to bunnings and buy some plastic sheeting to put down as a drop sheet, i just bought a couple of meters of the orange stuff on a roll, stops any foreign objects from piercing your floor.
Especially if you plan on using those camp stretchers, they are shocking for damaging the floor.
We use self inflating mats, they have insulation to protect from ground cold whilst stowing away compact for travelling, the stretchers never leave the shed these days.

Esky's and ice is the go, one for food and one for drinks as has been said. We freeze coke bottles full of water for a few days before and smash them up. seems to do the job and cheaper than buying ice although we usually end up buying a top up bag if necessary.

I notice your talking National Parks, can i suggest Mt Remarkable National Park.
Its half way between Pt Pirie and Pt Augusta, just past Pt Germein.
Mambray Creek camp ground is about as good as it gets unless you go all the way to Wilpena Pound.

The sites vary in size, many have good fire pits with swing away cook plates and all are within a few minutes walk of free hot showers and toilets.
They have running water at most sites or close by and free bbq's at the trail head.
Talking about trail heads, if bush walking is your thing, not much compares to Mt Remarkable and the numerous walks cater for beginners through to experienced overnighters.
The scenery is spectacular, there is an old shepheards hut about 4k up the creek where i have sat and cooked lunch of snags and pasta for 3 adults and 2 kids in nothing more than a trangia cooker.
If you prefer the beach, Pt Germein is 10 minutes away, we usually take our kayaks and do a bit of both.
You can view and pre pay for sites through the National Parks site, check it out.

A couple of our current set up gear..

In the kayak is me old mate, Bob, ****s mad as a cut snake but he's an early riser and happy to get the bacon sizzling and the pot on so he is this campers best friend.

[Tui2]

after reading all this thread and seeing the best of and least of camping set ups... i realised that over the years if i did meet friends or family at a campsite, i took me and used my back seat for bed and 2 pieces of fly screen for air flow.. which started off my OCD Justin Travel Box) mini tackle n handline, wind up 'D-word' radio/torch, jump leads which evolved over the years to jump pack to recently a jump pack with compressor (overkill spending spree ..another sympton of my BPD which i am able to have better control of these days thanks to options like receipt free Clubplus type cards, so i will be returning it soon), rain ponchos, an asbestos suit (full cover for on-side-road-repairs regardless of attire) rope, water, and old mobile phone in a piece of polystyrene in a zip lock bag for carefree boating, freeze dried food bars n milk powder.
now that I'm recently separated from my partner, i sold the 'DREAM' off road full aluminium checker plate camper trailer that we purchased in 2011, that i finally put to good use as a granny flat in parents carport after our separation, for a few months, but only camped overnight in once) it had every accessory that camping is NOT about (for the missus) including toilet and electric shower wardrobes shelving sorage draws, dc tv/dvd, innerspring queen mattress, gas n electric options etc approx $10g+ worth (if trailer was purchased new) paid 4g all up 2nd hand 2yo 2009 model used once, so twice it went camping n sat unregistered for 4 years before i sold it 3 months ago for $3500 accessories still unused.
on reflection... WOW! swag only sounds good

[blackf6]

Tarp,rope, hammock, lighter. Find some trees. Done.

[CoupeKing]

Originally Posted by falcon_bandit

Too much overthinking here.

You don't really need to think that much when you see 12 different campsites from your own tent. If something goes wrong or you leave items at home, people are usually more than happy to help out.

Try 14 days on a 15,000 acre property (that would be a stroll to some folks on here). Only Humans you see is either the owner, or once in a blue moon some fisheries and wildlife officers that have cum up the river in a boat.

[falcon_bandit]

Can recommend a couple things, keep in mind, everyone has different ideas what is good, what is useful & what isnt

I like the Waeco Ice-Box. Good eskies like these can be left in sun or shade without any effect.



Ive found the oztrail "deluxe" gazebo is pretty solid, have actually been using one as a carport for the last year. Being left out for so long the canvas has stretched a little, and ive seen this thing fill up with a ton of water and has not buckled. Whereas its little brother Oztrail "The weekender" is a flismy piece of rubbish.



For tunes on the go, music off your phone to a bluetooth speaker that runs on removable batteries, easy to change over. Ive got the Sony SRS-BTM8, which lasts about 15 hours on mid volume and a power bank for the phone to keep it charged



Inflatable kayaks are great for beginners, and dont take up much room. Ive got a few coleman inflatables, cost me $110 each, super comfy. Obviously useless if you want to fish from it, but has a beverage holder which is all i need haha

[prydey]

Originally Posted by BENT_8

Before i go any further, if you can walk from your tent to your car you are glamping, not camping...
Glamping is campings softer cousin.

1 male and 3 females. my options are limited

Originally Posted by BENT_8

First thing i would do is whip down to bunnings and buy some plastic sheeting to put down as a drop sheet, i just bought a couple of meters of the orange stuff on a roll, stops any foreign objects from piercing your floor.
Especially if you plan on using those camp stretchers, they are shocking for damaging the floor.
We use self inflating mats, they have insulation to protect from ground cold whilst stowing away compact for travelling, the stretchers never leave the shed these days.

i have ground covers for under the tent. my wife and i and my eldest (15) will be on self inflating mattresses and my youngest (7) will be on a stretcher. we have one of those roll out ground sheet mats for the stretcher and bought those square tile foam things to put under the matresses. bought enough to cover a 2.5 x 1.9 so basically 2/3's of the floor in the sleeping room. hopefully that insulates from the cold a bit.

Originally Posted by BENT_8

I notice your talking National Parks, can i suggest Mt Remarkable National Park.
Its half way between Pt Pirie and Pt Augusta, just past Pt Germein.
Mambray Creek camp ground is about as good as it gets unless you go all the way to Wilpena Pound.

The sites vary in size, many have good fire pits with swing away cook plates and all are within a few minutes walk of free hot showers and toilets.
They have running water at most sites or close by and free bbq's at the trail head.
Talking about trail heads, if bush walking is your thing, not much compares to Mt Remarkable and the numerous walks cater for beginners through to experienced overnighters.
The scenery is spectacular, there is an old shepheards hut about 4k up the creek where i have sat and cooked lunch of snags and pasta for 3 adults and 2 kids in nothing more than a trangia cooker.
If you prefer the beach, Pt Germein is 10 minutes away, we usually take our kayaks and do a bit of both.
You can view and pre pay for sites through the National Parks site, check it out.

A couple of our current set up gear..

In the kayak is me old mate, Bob, ****s mad as a cut snake but he's an early riser and happy to get the bacon sizzling and the pot on so he is this campers best friend.

yes, for this first time we are planning to camp in the naracoorte caves national park. the campsite doesn't have much in the way of reviews, but the ones i've come across aren't that great, but we figured it would be a start and we want to see the caves which is why we are camping around that area.
In the future, there are some great campsites around not far from my doorstep (by that i mean not interstate) so in future its nice to know the options are plentiful. i don't mind bushwalking and hiking, but as mentioned at the top, i'm the only male, and my daughters are 7 and 15, so that limits what we can do (as a family anyway).

most sites i notice now you can pay online. makes it easy to just turn up and set up.

as for the overthinking bit, if i was on my own or just with a mate or 2, then sure, just wing it, but i sure don't want to be camped out with a miserable family because we didn't bother to plan.

so far most of the feedback hasn't really turned up anything that i wasn't already thinking of, so thats a good start.

i would like to hear more about power sources though. yes, i know some will say just go without for a few nights, but to each their own.

[nstg8a]

For power I just took a spare car battery and a small solar charger. Kept everything charged that we needed.

Edit, and an inverter.

[falcon_bandit]

Originally Posted by prydey

as for the overthinking bit, if i was on my own or just with a mate or 2, then sure, just wing it, but i sure don't want to be camped out with a miserable family because we didn't bother to plan.

so far most of the feedback hasn't really turned up anything that i wasn't already thinking of, so thats a good start.

sorry mate, didnt mean to sound that way, just thought you were testing the waters for camping, but sounds like you actually are well experienced on the subject, and dont need crap advice from a novice like me. Love my camping though, let us know how you go!!

[prydey]

Originally Posted by falcon_bandit

sorry mate, didnt mean to sound that way, just thought you were testing the waters for camping, but sounds like you actually are well experienced on the subject, and dont need crap advice from a novice like me. Love my camping though, let us know how you go!!

no its all good. i wasn't having a go, i was just clarifying my situation. everyone's situation is different.

the more talk about it, and read others experiences the keener i get. hopefully it doesn't turn out to be a big anticlimax.

[nstg8a]

I reckon don't get too worried about whether or not you're taking too much.
If you have a trailer and the fg then you have more space than you need anyway so take whatever.
You will soon work out what you didn't really need, and what you should take next time.
First time out, especially with three women, better of to have too much stuff than not enough.

Oh, one thing to check when you book your site. Some don't allow to use local wood for fires, no sticks, fallen branches, 'accidentally' fallen trees etc. so you may need to take all your own firewood in with you.

[Captain Stubing]

I took my two lads camping recently at Bribie Island, both computer nerds (one works in IT support, the other just started Uni for an IT degree) and neither have ever been interested in 'roughing it'.

We used a similar tent to what you have, Prydey. I had to buy a few things, as the last time I went camping was around 1994!
As it was a one-off, and I didn't know if they'd be keen to go again after they'd experienced an inconvenient weekend, I didn't want to spend too much, so this is how I went...

- couple of air mattresses, the boys slept well. I used my old swag, and now I remember how thin and uncomfortable it was. I used to have the swag on the back of my motorbike when I was working in Longreach, and travelling back to Brisvegas when I had a few days off. It is now but wafer thin, and not comfortable at all.

- don't forget the tent pegs... we had to go and buy some

- take enough firewood (if you can light fires), hardwood burns longer.

- a mat is good at the entrance of the tent for keeping dirt/sand out.

- check the tent pole hardware... we had a centre upright pole fail because the thread in the plastic adjuster stripped. It'd be worth having a couple of spare poles. Spare rope, too.

We all had a ball, though, and enjoyed the weekend away. My eldest son is considering selling his Commy ute and getting a 4x4 now.

[BENT_8]

Originally Posted by prydey

i would like to hear more about power sources though. yes, i know some will say just go without for a few nights, but to each their own.

Arkpak 730, a 130ah deep cycle battery and 160w solar folding panels.

Will run your fridge, lights, chargers, etc.

Will set you back the best part of $1k but well worth the $$ for a pick up and go setup.

[BENT_8]

Originally Posted by prydey

1 male and 3 females. my options are limited

3 of each here but the tents still went in favour of the camper trailer, it all went downhill from there.

Originally Posted by prydey

i have ground covers for under the tent. my wife and i and my eldest (15) will be on self inflating mattresses and my youngest (7) will be on a stretcher. we have one of those roll out ground sheet mats for the stretcher and bought those square tile foam things to put under the matresses. bought enough to cover a 2.5 x 1.9 so basically 2/3's of the floor in the sleeping room. hopefully that insulates from the cold a bit.

Yep, thats how weve gone, i put the trailer tent down over a drop sheet, foam squares for the floor and SI mats with sleeping bags, keeps the kids happy, we got the QS innerspring...

Originally Posted by prydey

yes, for this first time we are planning to camp in the naracoorte caves national park. the campsite doesn't have much in the way of reviews, but the ones i've come across aren't that great, but we figured it would be a start and we want to see the caves which is why we are camping around that area.
In the future, there are some great campsites around not far from my doorstep (by that i mean not interstate) so in future its nice to know the options are plentiful. i don't mind bushwalking and hiking, but as mentioned at the top, i'm the only male, and my daughters are 7 and 15, so that limits what we can do (as a family anyway).

Sounds good, we spent most of our time in the mid north/Flinders/riverland regions but im keen to get down the South East to the coorong etc. so let us know how you get on.

Originally Posted by prydey

as for the overthinking bit, if i was on my own or just with a mate or 2, then sure, just wing it, but i sure don't want to be camped out with a miserable family because we didn't bother to plan.

You can never over think it when females are involved, one forgotten luxury and the tent will be on gumtree, nothing surer...lol

[hawkgirl]

good thread btw

we disappear on 10,000 acres a couple of times a year. These are the things that we now don't leave home without -
*a decent shovel & tomahawk
*a grill off an old bbq - fits neatly over the fire pit (hence the decent shovel) & allows for frypans & saucepans & kettle all at once
* a can of areostart for ticks
* dry ice. In a normal or new tropicool stlye esky, line with a space blanket, put a thickish layer of normal ice at the bottom, add food etc the on top put a bag of dry ice wrapped in a tea towel or similar, fold ends of space blanket in & close esky. Has kept meat frozen for 4 days in 35 deg plus days. Dont leave bottles or cans in during a 6 hour drive or they will be frozen when you get where you're going.
*black plastic - great under swags, shower spots
*cheap solar garden lights from bunnings - clip onto tent ropes

we do take lots more, enough to totally fill the ute tray, but some of that is 120L water & 20L of fuel, plus a spare battery .

here is a pic - note the lack of anything. Its like that for the full 360 view

[Squalo]

Make sure you have a comfortable - and relatively stout - camp chair. You spend a lot of time in it when you camp so you have to get it right.

My main tent is a Black Wolf Turbo 300 Plus - bought before I parted ways with Mrs Squalo (also still got the walk-up glamping Jimboomba Maddison camper trailer I bought for her comfort too! but that's about to be sold) and this is it when my son and I were out for a 4wd park weekend. Tent and sleeping kit, chairs, fire and cooking kit, and maybe a tarp or gazebo if inclement weather is likely. You don't need much more than that.

[mik]

Used to go camping all the time in years past , just a thought , an extra bit of poly tarp under your tent is not a bad idea , if the floor gets a puncture from something sharp after you set it up and you have a bit of a down pour , nothing worse than having your tent floor covered with water and any gear or bodies that you happen to have laying around it saturated (been there done that :( ),
it is surprising how much water will run under your tent floor with a burst of solid rain , a shovel is not a bad tool to have also in case you have to reroute the torrent .
hoping you have great weather though .

[mike_nofx]

When I go camping alone or just with my son we pack so light, our biggest item being the fully stocked ice box, and we sleep in the back of the Wrangler with seats down on an airbed (he's only 5, when older this wont work). We've slept in the back of the Falcon wagon too.

When the wife and daughter come, the setup is majorly more elaborate. I need to fit the roof basket and sometimes even tow a box trailer!

[BENT_8]

Most memorable trip i've done was 4 days on the back waters of the Murray at Chowilla Creek.
Had to fit everything i would need for the whole trip into my Kayak. Tent & Acc., SI mat, sleeping bag, food, clothing, drinking water etc.

Left the old customs house just out of Paringa near Renmark SA and paddled upstream over the SA/Vic border and set up camp just short of the entrance to the back waters of Chowilla.
Up early the next morning, repacked and on the water by 8am for a solid days paddle.
Late evening and we're almost to our destined camp site when we interrupted a family of ducks and ducklings. The parents became seperated from the young and as we set up camp a few hundred meters further down we could hear the banter as both parties tried to find each other in the dwindling light.
Soon enough the ducklings found their way to the glow of our campfire, so we carefully picked them up and carried them through the bush towards the still persistant calls of what must have been a frantic mother.
Five minutes after returning to our campfire we heard the unmistakable chirping of the ducklings on their way back and soon enough they wadled up from the waters edge and nestled in a huddle beside our fire with us.
Mum and Dad eventually made their way over to us, however, they were a lot more suss of us than their offspring and kept their distance, one eye on their young, one on us.

You couldnt script that stuff, to be under a cloudless, starlight night, around a campfire with mates, 2 days paddle from civilisation and in the company of a family of wild ducks.

Rose early the next morning, packed and onto the 3rd leg and another full days paddle.
Another night of isolation and up early the following morning for the paddle back to reality.

It is a beautiful part of the world and provides the opportunity to tour as we did or set up from a vehicle in one of the numerous campsites around the area. If you ever get the chance to get out there, take it, you wont be disappointed.

Unfortunately were putting camping on hold for a few months now, got a road trip to the Gold Coast coming up in June where my Daughter will play in the Australian Open, but when we get back i will be itching to pack the wagon and get back to nature somewhere.

We'll have to start a 'show us your camping trip' thread.

[Mulga]

Great thread......i love camping, but my boys are now in their late teens and have lost interest. It's always diffcult trying to get my mates to commit to a weekend......everyone always seems so busy. I just love the fact that you can get away from all the rubbish, even if it's just for a couple of days.

Would be good to get another thread going on favourite camping locations.

[prydey]

Originally Posted by Mulga

Would be good to get another thread going on favourite camping locations.

Probably doesn't need another thread. All things camping can go in here.