Lately, I've been thinking it would be fun to take the kids (ages 6,6,4) camping. Although I tent camped all the time with my family as a kid, I have never gone as an adult. My husband never went camping as a kid, but has once or twice as an adult--and didn't really like it. Because of that, he's not thrilled with the idea of taking the kids camping; he thinks it'll be too much work and he'll be bored (very possible with my husband--he's not an outdoorsperson, or the type to like just sitting around the camp-fire.) Since I'm not sure if our first camping trip will also be our last;-), I don't want to spend much money on camping equipment. I'm hoping to pick up everything at garage sales this summer, or maybe Craigslist.
So, what I'm basically looking for is a list of the bare minimum of stuff we'll need to try out camping. Besides the tent and sleeping bags, what else? Is there something other than air mattresses or cots we can use to make the ground not so hard? I hate to buy air mattresses only to have them be used one time.
What about cooking supplies? What are the "must haves" for a trial run? Will we need a propane lantern, or can we do without at first?
Any tips to make this (hopefully) a fun time so my darling husband will want to go again?
You might check around and see if there are any sporting goods stores in your ara that rent equipment like stoves and lanterns. Do you have any friends or family you can borrow from? Garage sales are often good for camping gear.
Since your husband might get bored, you might want to bring a few extension cords and some electronic gadgets like small tv and or radio.
So he watches a little tv while camping...It's not going to hurt anything, and he might want to go camping again. And one day, he might leave the tv at home!
It doesn't bother me at all for our kids to go in the trailer and play on the laptop when it's hot. It irritates my wife though.
In order, you need to take these:
1. your sense of humor
2. your family
3. tent/sleeping bags/cots/chairs
4. food/drink/cooler/ice
5. firewood (or buy it there) and a fire poking stick
have fun!!!
2001 Excursion 3.73 geared V-10
2006 Coachmen Spirit of America 24TBQ
We don't tent camp, but often camp next to tent campers, so I'll try to help. You will need a supply of, preferably, disposable plates and bowls and eating utensils, and whatever pots, pans, or dishes you will need if you plan to prepare food. A few pieces of silverware from home to cut and otherwise prepare food will be needed. A propane stove, electric skillet or griddle (if you have access to 110'v power), will be needed unless you plan to cook over a campfire or on a portable grill, and then you will need pots, skillets, etc., suitable for doing so. And for cold drinks and the food itself, at least 2 or 3 good-sized ice chests (the more the better, and a 12-v thermoelectric cooler would be nice if you had one). If you will be camping in hot weather and have 110-v electricity available, bring some of your fans from home. Bring chairs for everyone. As far as the air mattresses go, we don't tent camp, but we still have a couple of very good ones, and the compressor to inflate them. They come in handy when you have more overnight visitors than you have beds for them to sleep in. If you are planning on swimming or bathing, towels and washcloths will be needed. Sprays for ants and wasps come in handy, as does mosquito repellent. A first aid kit should be a top priority. A shovel and/or hoe will almost certainly be needed, and they make decent snake-killing tools, too. Several flashlights and plenty of batteries will be essential if you will not have access to 110-v power or a propane or battery-powered lantern to provide light. In the wilds, it can be extremely dark on a moonless night when the fire dies down. Especially in hot weather, you will need prodigious amounts of water to stay hydrated without A/C, and you will need it for cooking and cleaning, too, so if you won't have running water, borrow several 5-gallon water dispensers. If you will not be in an organized campground with phones available, bring cell phones if you have them, and write down the emergency numbers for the area you will be in, in case 911 doesn't connect you with anyone on your cell phone. Be sure you can all comfortably fit into the vehicle you bring, as in violent weather, tents have been known to blow down in the middle of the night, or collect enough water on parts of it to pull the tents stakes out of the wet ground. This happened to my sister-in-law and family while they were camped beside us in our pop-up tent camper during a storm in Amarillo, TX. in the summer of 1986. They spent the next 2 days in a "Kamping Kabin" at a KOA campground while washing and drying out their large tent. And don't forget toilet paper, if there will be no restrooms available. Leaves and sticks leave something to be desired, if you know what I mean. My wife grew up RVing, from about the age of 3 until now, some 53 years later, but she WILL NOT sleep on the ground (maybe your husband would like it better if you rented an RV?), so we have never tent camped since being married in 1974. Which means it's been about 40 years since I myself have camped in a tent. If I've forgotten something, maybe someone else will remember it in their post. Good luck on your adventure!
2003 GMC Sierra Crew HD; 6.0L; Prodigy
2006 Thor Tundra 30RL-DSL; Reese Strait-Line & Dual-cam HP
2001 Honda Elite Scooter
Jim & Gayle Bryant
Murphy's Law: "Anything that CAN happen, WILL."
Bryant's Law: "31 years of RVing? Probably already HAS."
Leave him at home with a 'honey do' list and have him wash all the windows inside and out.
That's what I am doing today. I'd rather be camping. Next time you go he will want to go too.
Another way to get camp equipment is to check out www.freecycle.com to see if there is one in your area. We have gotten alot of our kitchen stuff from freecycle. I have seen a tent trailer, an older travel trailer, and various camp items in our area, and we are only about 60000 for total population.
DW, 2 girls, and me
07 Freestar
76 Parklane Tent Trailer
08 Minn Kota 30 lb Troller
56 Featherlite 10' Cartopper
Nights camped in 2007: 14
Nights camped in 2008: 3 so far
17 years Professional Driving accident free all over North America
I would suggest checking local classifieds online and in the paper for used items. Also check with your local pawn shops and 2nd hand stores...don't forget yard/garage sales.
If hubby gets bored, find a campground near an activity. We have Disneyland Annual Passes and like to RV near there sometimes. Another example is Sea World. There are some nice campgrounds a short drive away and a lot of folks combine the two. Find something he would like to spend the day doing and camp near it.
Renting an RV would probably cost about the same as buying gear. For a one-time shot it might be worth it.
Used tent/camping gear can be had for pretty cheap. Although sometimes people are trying to sell their worn out junk. Be wary. Just because it cost a fortune new doesn't mean it's worth anything now. A lot of folks don't get that. But, like others have said, check local classifieds, craigslist.org and yard/garage sales.
Jesterdog is right on the money. I also highly recommend a hookup site and some entertainment for hubby. Watching a ballgame or a DVD movie while camping is a lot of fun.
What gear to buy? Don't overdo it at first, but I'd say there are three important things to have for a relaxing campout:
1. Climate control. Bring proper clothing for the weather and have a good shelter. If it rains a wet tent and gear will pretty much kill a trip. But, a decent tent will keep you high and dry. And that's kinda fun. And, if it's gonna be hot, bring a fan for the tent. And make sure there is shade. A fan on a little table under an EZ-Up is very comfortable on warm afternoons. It can make the difference between enjoyable and miserable. Misery will not go camping again.
2. Comfortable place to sit and to sleep. Spending hours sitting on a wooden picnic bench is not an option. Bring your comfy patio chairs if you don't have anything else. Make sure any portable/folding stuff is good quality and comfortable. Try before you buy. Cots are expensive, but are worth their weight in gold. Air mattresses are relatively cheap, but can be fickle. For your first trip, I guess I'd try to find a used Coleman Queen size air mattress. If you lived near me, you could have ours. We used it one season and it's been sitting in a storage tote for years. Like I said, cots are way better.
3. Food and drink. Bring plenty of everyone's favorite snacks and beverages. If hubby likes beer, bring his choice brew. Bring along the blender for some smoothies. And don't forget the family's fave BBQ meals.
If you meet those three needs, then the rest should fall into place. If hubby is afraid it'll be too much work, plant him in a chair with his favorite "special interest" magazine (he's got to be into something they write magazines about), a cold drink and a kiss on the cheek. Tell him to enjoy his drink and magazine while you set up camp. Take your time. Don't rush. Stop for drinks and munchies. You're not on any schedule. The more calm and serene the experience, the more hubby will want to do it again. Good Luck!
68 Me & DW
93 DD
03 DD
06 F150 Screw 6.5' Bed, 4x4, 5.4, 3.73
04 Tahoe 23RB-GL Honda EU2000 Parallel Cables "I hope you like Guinness, Sir. I find it a refreshing substitute for...food." Col. Jack O'Neill, Stargate SG-1.
We always kept the girls busy helping out setting up camp.They knew it was hard work but they wanted to go camping more.We just brought a lot of items from home and borrowed what we didn't have until we could afford the rest.Go out and have fun keep a list of what you need for the next trip the kids are going to have fun. Tell your hubby its an adventure he can't pass up.
Chris,Charlene,Amanda and Samantha
Maggie (Lab/Huskey mix)
02 Ford F250 SC W/6.8 V10
98 Prowler 21L5B 5'er
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