Does everybody tent camp?

[Slingshot]

60 and still sleeping under canvas when I camp. Grew up doing it that way, and did it a lot since my dad was an ardent camper and rock hound. I wouldn't mind having a popup, but am putting it off as long as possible.

 

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[Pointman]

This reminds me about the last 8 years or so that I was in the service. I bought a small hammock with the wooden poles. I think it costs maybe less than $20 and I would put a ground mat in it and tie a hammock over the top. It would keep me dry and off the ground and I didn't have to lie under a stinking tent with stinking people and try and sleep through their snoring. It fit easily into my rucksack. I still have it. When it was time for me to breakdown it only took a few minutes and I had less to haul out. Much easier then putting up a jungle hammock or toting an Army cot.

 

[goldenIrishman]

Well when I go camping I'm usually so far out in the sticks that you can't get a camper in there. I've always tent camped. I have a couple tents in different sizes and which one I bring depends on the length of of time I plan to stay.

 

[Goose MKII]

Thats a little too rough for me. I don't like the critters that close.

I hear that.
I love the outdoors, I've been invited a few times to go camping. First question I always ask is...is anybody carrying heat?
I don't own any firearms, but I like to take my Bear Pepper Spray. I hate the thought of being vulnerable to something in the woods and not be able to have a fighting chance...

 

[Goose MKII]

This is a very entertaining thread.
I'm convinced I wouldn't camp out with some sort of shelter from the elements, especially from little critters.
I wouldn't want to be waken up in the middle of the night by a coyote licking my face... Lol~

 

[Gold Maven]

Back to the subject of tents has anyone ever had a bear, raccoon, snake or any other animal try to enter their tent?

Years ago Dad and I were setting up our homemade wall tent in the Colorado Rockies for the Muzzleloader Elk season, when a couple guys on their way out stopped to warn us about a bear that had been wrecking their camp the past week.

We thanked them, and chuckled, we had a bear tag too, and would welcome a bear that we wouldn't have to pack back to camp.

Later that day another group of hunters moved in, and put up an electric fence corral for 2 horses right beside our tent. We hoped we would be the only other hunters there, but one more group wasn't bad.

Two or three days later I wake up with a start at about 3 am, the horses are going nuts, I ask the old man whats goin' on, and he said I bet that bear is back.

All of a sudden the horses take off, we hear the wire from the electric fence zinging through the trees, and then silence.

We had set our ice chest right outside our tent flap, under a small overhang. We also had a blue tarp down, to help keep the tent clean.

I light the lantern, and start thinking about how I'm going to shoot a bear in the dark, when we hear heavy, slow footsteps on the blue tarp. Dad and I look at each other, he pulls out his 357 from under the pad on his cot, and hands it to me.

By this time the animal stops right outside the tent flap, I imagine a huge bear sniffing the ice chest. I cock the hammer, grab the flap with one hand, and get ready to open it.......identify my target, and shoot as fast as possible.

I throw the flap back, and instantly A BIG BLACK HORSE HEAD COMES into the tent. Pure, sweet adrenalin. Thank God I didn't shoot it.

That was the end of it, woke up the guy with the horses, got dressed and went Elk hunting.

Tent camping is great, as long as you have a good heater, and a good cot with a thick foam pad. I have lived for weeks in my wall tent, and always enjoy it.

 

[Jason in Enid]

I have slept outside in every possible configuration during my life. I prefer my travel trailer with a bed, AC and a heater now. It's not that I can't or wont sleep on the ground but I have done it enough that I feel I've earned my comfort in old age!

 

[clv]

I like to tent camp, RV's just can't get to most of the places I would like to go, and I just hate to pull a trailer of any kind.
My friends refer to my style as "Glamping". I cram every thing I think I need into my Ranger 4x4 go out to my prospecting place and setup camp, I am not a backpacker!
If I can't drive my truck there I don't go there. I have the best canvas tent you can buy and it's made in America, and cot, thick pad, heater, and etc. etc. I like to be comfortable.


Here are a few pics of the tent when I first got her. After the tent is staked down, it takes about a minute to stand her up, then if you want the awning up add a couple of minutes more.
.

 

[maui]

gold maven, good story, I like it and had a good laugh at the end, thanks.

I like tent camping but in bear country I gotta have something more bear proof. lol

 

[davin]

clv, I will be visiting santee next week for a few days [ visiting friends there ] are you going to be around or in the field?

 

[Action]

Im a tenter...LOL....Love it.
Jack

 

[austin]

Sounds like most everyone tent camps. I use to but after a while my back couldn't handle it
any more. Even with a air mattress. My family and I didn't want to stop camping so we
bought a travel trailer.

Only nice hotels at this point...

 

[Joseph08]

I use tent camp since if find it very comfortable. Always had a great time under my tent in a far exciting location.

 

[golddigger14s]

I had a 30-foot trailer camper which is overkill for just me, and a PIA for maneuvering. I recently moved from WA to OK and instead of renting a utility trailer I bought a 5X8 utility trailer. I'm in the process of converting it into a "mini" camper. Solar system with a 110-volt inverter, and a GOAL ZERO battery "generator".
https://www.goalzero.com/shop/power-stations/yeti-400-lithium-portable-power-station/
https://www.renogy.com/renogy-100-watt-portable-rv-kit/

 

[Johnnybravo300]

I lay my bedding on a tarp and sleep on that with my dog next to me. Tents take too long and it sucks to set up every weekend.
If I get cold or it rains I'll roll up in the tarp like a burrito and it works fine. I do like a nice air mattress tho.

 

[nomad 11]

Years ago Dad and I were setting up our homemade wall tent in the Colorado Rockies for the Muzzleloader Elk season, when a couple guys on their way out stopped to warn us about a bear that had been wrecking their camp the past week.

We thanked them, and chuckled, we had a bear tag too, and would welcome a bear that we wouldn't have to pack back to camp.

Later that day another group of hunters moved in, and put up an electric fence corral for 2 horses right beside our tent. We hoped we would be the only other hunters there, but one more group wasn't bad.

Two or three days later I wake up with a start at about 3 am, the horses are going nuts, I ask the old man whats goin' on, and he said I bet that bear is back.

All of a sudden the horses take off, we hear the wire from the electric fence zinging through the trees, and then silence.

We had set our ice chest right outside our tent flap, under a small overhang. We also had a blue tarp down, to help keep the tent clean.

I light the lantern, and start thinking about how I'm going to shoot a bear in the dark, when we hear heavy, slow footsteps on the blue tarp. Dad and I look at each other, he pulls out his 357 from under the pad on his cot, and hands it to me.

By this time the animal stops right outside the tent flap, I imagine a huge bear sniffing the ice chest. I cock the hammer, grab the flap with one hand, and get ready to open it.......identify my target, and shoot as fast as possible.

I throw the flap back, and instantly A BIG BLACK HORSE HEAD COMES into the tent. Pure, sweet adrenalin. Thank God I didn't shoot it.

That was the end of it, woke up the guy with the horses, got dressed and went Elk hunting.

Tent camping is great, as long as you have a good heater, and a good cot with a thick foam pad. I have lived for weeks in my wall tent, and always enjoy it.

another wonderful story. i just about whizzed my drawers reading it ? i could'nt of taken the suspense in real time

 

[nomad 11]

This is how I prefer to camp. No roots or rocks to worry about. Just take salt and pepper in case the bears need a little seasoning. I call it my bear burrito. lol

View attachment 1019048

that was my first thought too. one big pea in a pea pod

 

[nomad 11]

The sad thing is - there are many families that are only one paycheck away from living on the streets.

Living from paycheck to paycheck - is a tough way to sleep at night.

I have to admit - the closest I ever got to living on the streets is when I went to Woodstock.

Does living in your car for 2 months count?


Beth

no ! you at least have to attempt sleeping in your car when it goes below zero. then you know you've lost your will.faith. trust. spirit...........................what else am i forgetting ?

 

[63bkpkr]

I have a tent for every season. When I first started hiking the Sierras I put a tarp on the ground and I was good to go. Then I started camping later in the year so to keep the rain or snow off of me I used a plastic tube tent. After awhile I just got tired of the bugs at night and purchased my first tent and I've never looked back. I have a one man tent & a two man (person) tent both are three season tents and a 2 1/2 person four season tent. If it could rain I also put up a tarp so I've a large dry area just outside of the tent.

Empty quart Gator Aid bottles are real handy. I have a special spot in the tent where my revolver lives and it is Always there. If I wake up in the middle of the night, I just put my hand over and I'm right on top of the revolver. It works for me...............63bkpkr

 

[diggingthe1]

I loved sleeping out under the stars when I was younger. A few years ago I talked my family into backpacking way back into the backcountry in Colorado. We set up camp under the stars and I assured everyone everything would be fine. Sure enough in the middle of the night my wife wakes me up with “ what’s that noise?” I tell her nothing and it will go away. After a while she convinces me to turn on my flashlight and there is a baby skunk with its tail aimed right at us. We ducked under our sleeping bags and awaited the worst, but it wanders off after a bit. It turns out they can’t spray when they are young. We have a vw camper we love and take everywhere! My boys sometimes set up a tent, but love the van.