Shelter... We always tent camped, but getting older, hell I'm old, so would like to try a roof top. Not so sure about climbing up and down in the middle of the night, though. Thoughts?
Car Camping Big 3
- Thread starter rusty_tlc
- Start date
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Cruiserdrew
On the way there
Big 3? how bout the big 5? I mean we've got huge trucks here.
And I sleep in the truck which simplifies a lot.
We're talking car camping here (which is what we do, even if it's remote):
Fridge. Just sayin' a real 12volt fridge is the best bit of kit ever. Ever. Cold beverages, unspoiled food, great in every way.
Food. As good or better than most eat at home. It adds to the fun. Comes with appropriate cooking gear.
Light. Very helpful at night. On your forehead, in your hand or on your truck. You need it.
Chairs. Critical. You have to be comfortable the 8 hours a day you are not driving or sleeping.
Tools. You need them. And this includes winches, shovels, voltmeters, sockets etc. Stuff breaks. Normal.
Spare parts. Wait, that's 6! Common spares have saved the day a number of times.
Most important: Leaving home. Just go.
And I sleep in the truck which simplifies a lot.
We're talking car camping here (which is what we do, even if it's remote):
Fridge. Just sayin' a real 12volt fridge is the best bit of kit ever. Ever. Cold beverages, unspoiled food, great in every way.
Food. As good or better than most eat at home. It adds to the fun. Comes with appropriate cooking gear.
Light. Very helpful at night. On your forehead, in your hand or on your truck. You need it.
Chairs. Critical. You have to be comfortable the 8 hours a day you are not driving or sleeping.
Tools. You need them. And this includes winches, shovels, voltmeters, sockets etc. Stuff breaks. Normal.
Spare parts. Wait, that's 6! Common spares have saved the day a number of times.
Most important: Leaving home. Just go.
- Thread starter
- #23
I'd say Chairs and Tables; a good work surface for food prep is very nearly as important as a place to plunk your butt. And you don't always want to tied to the tail gate of the truck.
Fridge is kind of dependent on the duration of the trip, jugs of ice work fine for up to four days or so even in the heat of summer. A fridge may not be worth the investment for those who can't take week long trips. Never the less food and food prep are high on the contenders for the big 3 IMHO.
Light is pretty important, headlamps, magnetic work lights and gas or oil lamps. Trying to set up a tent with the headlights from your truck does not enhance the experience.
I'd kind of lump spare parts with tools and recovery.
I'm surprised you left comm off your list, you were instrumental in me getting my ham license. Radios are both fun and practical, the chatter while your driving is priceless. I think you remember the time Chicago broke a pitman arm on Deer Valley, ham saved the day that time.
You make a good point, it is car camping so lets make it the big 5;
- Repair/Recovery
- Shelter/Furniture
- Food Storage/Prep
- Communication
- Lighting
- Thread starter
- #24
I'd say Chairs and Tables; a good work surface for food prep is very nearly as important as a place to plunk your butt. And you don't always want to tied to the tail gate of the truck.
Fridge is kind of dependent on the duration of the trip, jugs of ice work fine for up to four days or so even in the heat of summer. A fridge may not be worth the investment for those who can't take week long trips. Never the less food and food prep are high on the contenders for the big 3 IMHO.
Light is pretty important, headlamps, magnetic work lights and gas or oil lamps. Trying to set up a tent with the headlights from your truck does not enhance the experience.
I'd kind of lump spare parts with tools and recovery.
I'm surprised you left comm off your list, you were instrumental in me getting my ham license. Radios are both fun and practical, the chatter while your driving is priceless. I think you remember the time Chicago broke a pitman arm on Deer Valley, ham saved the day that time.
You make a good point, it is car camping so lets make it the big 5;
- Repair/Recovery
- Shelter/Furniture
- Food Storage/Prep
- Communication
- Lighting
Cruiserdrew
On the way there
I like comm as you know, but I really like getting away from comm. Awesome for day to day, truck to truck. I like blabbing on repeaters driving across Nevada and chatting up the locals. But if my cell phone goes dead, I'm happy. 10 years ago, Moab meant no calls. Now, even out in the Maze cell still works! I'm not sure that's good. I got a call in Death Valley last year that I was supposed to be at work, but wasn't. Problem.
Still, I have a radio in every truck, and radios for when I'm not in a truck. The cell phone is a necessary evil.
Good thread. What do you really need? Maybe just a spare tire and a can opener. Most of us have more. Whether it's needed is debatable. I like my fridge, and it may be the only bit of kit I'd buy again immediately. Even if I was just family camping in camp grounds.
Still, I have a radio in every truck, and radios for when I'm not in a truck. The cell phone is a necessary evil.
Good thread. What do you really need? Maybe just a spare tire and a can opener. Most of us have more. Whether it's needed is debatable. I like my fridge, and it may be the only bit of kit I'd buy again immediately. Even if I was just family camping in camp grounds.
So, having a ham radio is a better way to go over CB? I know can of worms, but for just My Wife and I out exploring, no club runs, still get the ham. She does have a cell phone.
- Thread starter
- #27
Take a meander over to the Electronic Toys forum, more info than you have time to read. The Readers digest version; ham is like Chuck Norris, CB is like my little pony.
Can't go wrong with Chuck!
I mostly camp in the desert. I carry about 40 gal of water. If I were camping in cold country i'd be more oriented toward shelter and heat. If traveling solo, which I do most of the time, it's best to contact Rangers/ Blm/ etc so that someone will look for you if you are overdue. If you are seriously in the boonies including in other parts of the word consider an iridium satellite link of some kind. Known problem parts should be carried as spares. Depending on your location consider fishing gear, hunting gear, snares, m2 50cal... 
Sleep System. Because tomorrow's adventure depends on well you sleep tonight. The closest competition to my mattresses is in a hotel.
I am confident enough in my mattress that I will buy it back, including shipping, if you don't agree that it is the best sleeping platform in its class. Mitchell Schliebs
I am confident enough in my mattress that I will buy it back, including shipping, if you don't agree that it is the best sleeping platform in its class. Mitchell Schliebs
While I like your analogy... I don't think it answers my unasked question
I travel solo... Just me and my dogs... In remote areas of the Big Empty (desert and mountain) ... I have been relying completely upon a SPOT GPS Messenger for about 6 six years and have never encountered an instance that I didn't have SPOT connectivity... Even in heavily forested areas of Utah and Colorado. I also subscribe to GEOS (air rescue) insurance thru SPOT).
But, I've been reading a lot about Ham and it sounds very useful, if you are traveling with others...
My unasked question... If I'm traveling alone and find myself in a situation, in a VERY remote location, would availability of a ham radio (and Tech license) provide connectivity to another human being who could contact rescue and pass coordinates? I'm just trying to figure out if it would be worth my time to get a license... as a backup to SPOT...
I don't carry a CB because, like you said, it's your little pony... But, would ham bring Chuck a'runnin'?
If you would rather I asked this in the Elec forum, just say so.
Thanks!
Cruiserdrew
On the way there
Ham is good everywhere. And flexible. Most places in the US, will have some repeater coverage wherever you are. Even in the wild lands of Southern Utah, there is repeater coverage for emergencies. If you pre-program the Sinbad network for instance, you basically have Utah covered. Many places are similar.
And it's much more useful than and email like system like SPOT. And that's not to mention how cool it is to talk to locals, chat up the local repeaters when on the road, or even patch a call to your family. Or you can just talk clearly truck to truck spread out over 20 miles.
And it's much more useful than and email like system like SPOT. And that's not to mention how cool it is to talk to locals, chat up the local repeaters when on the road, or even patch a call to your family. Or you can just talk clearly truck to truck spread out over 20 miles.
Perfect!! Thank you!!
- Thread starter
- #37
If you mean the Great Basin when you say Big Empty, the are a number of areas that have no repeaters. That said the majority of Nevada has repeater coverage. There is a network in the Elko area. Central NV is kind of sparse.
Danny, if you are only worried about true life emergencies there is no need to think of the license as a hurdle. As far as I can tell, you can legally buy a radio and listen all you want, just don't transmit without the license for fun. But if there is a life emergency, transmit away. Not only may it save your life so who would care about the FCC consequences in any case, but -better- there even is a provision in the law IIRC that allows the use of Ham without a license for true life emergencies. As it should.
Now of course in reality, it's not entirely trivial to call through a repeater let alone without any practice, especially in an emergency, so I'd get the license anyway and both have fun and practice. And of course, obviously, you don't need a true emergency for a Ham radio to be useful.
Now of course in reality, it's not entirely trivial to call through a repeater let alone without any practice, especially in an emergency, so I'd get the license anyway and both have fun and practice. And of course, obviously, you don't need a true emergency for a Ham radio to be useful.
Sorry to ignore your post for 2 months.
Here is the thread link I was thinking of....
First aid kit (EMT kit)
Sorry, I've been calling the Central Nevada portion of The Great Basin The Big Empty every since I started exploring it, shortly after moving to Vegas in 2012.
I had seen Living in the Big Empty on PBS in 2009 or 2010 and knew that I wanted to spend a lot of time out there... When I retired the second time in 2011, my Wife suggested we move to Vegas, to be close to our eldest daughter and my Wife's younger sister.
I was afraid someone would say that there wouldn't necessarily be coverage in my playground... But, I am still going to buy the equipment and ease drop, while I get my license. Might as well do it and see where it takes me.
Thanks for your insight and thanks for this thread... It's a good one!!