Home | List of Articles | Submit an Article | Contact Us

Great Tips for Car Camping Enjoyment

Camping is one of my favorite activities and my favorite type of camping is car camping. However, there are many other types of camping such as base camping, canoe camping, RV camping, tent trailer camping and back yard camping. Regardless of how you spend your time out of doors or how much time you spend out of doors, there is always more to learn. I have compiled an extensive list of camping tips and this installment is for car campers. Here are my favorite tips for getting the most out of your car camping experience.

Organize your gear before you go. The basic principle is to organize or categorize your gear by "when" and "how quickly" you will need it. When I get to the campsite, the first thing I do is prepare shelter. So my tent and shade awning are the easiest pieces of gear to get to.

Plan your campsite. Understand how vehicles, wind, sun and rain will enter the campsite. For example, if the wind is coming out of the west, you’ll probably want your tent and kitchen west of any campfire to reduce smoke nuisance.

Always have a first aid kit in camp. Everyone in camp should know where it is, have access to it and know how to use it. I keep mine in plain sight in my kitchen. If it’s locked in my truck, no one can get to it except me.

Every camp needs a shovel. I believe a shovel is the most important tool in camp. You’ll use it to manage your campfire, leveling sleeping spots and countless other uses. Don’t leave home without it.

What tent should you use? I recommend a tent that is bigger than you think you’ll need. If inclement weather sets in, you’ll have a spot out of the elements for reading and playing games. My tent is big enough for two people, two cots, two chairs and two dogs.

There is nothing wrong with having a checklist. Things frequently forgotten are: extra batteries, trash bags, kitchen towels, hats, reading material, sleeping pillows, hiking boots and pet food.

Your most important camping gear should always be on your body. Not in your pack, not in your tent or in your vehicle. Whenever you leave camp always have a watch, a whistle, a cell phone, a flashlight and a knife on your person.

Some neat tidbits I’ve picked up over the years are: a golf towel is perfect for hanging in your kitchen because it comes with a grommet, you can never have enough zip lock bags, you won’t find me camping without a flare – it’s perfect for lighting wet firewood, my camp chairs have side tables attached to them, I pre-cook baked potatoes at home and warm them up in the camp fire, in good weather my hammock gets lots of use.

Car camping allows you to take virtually anything with you when you camp. But the most important of all is good company. Take along good friends and family. When you do, it doesn’t really matter if you have the best gear or the best techniques, the one thing you will have is the best of times. Use this information and you’ll Get It Right The First Time. Get Outdoors!

About the Author

Chuck Fitzgerald is the owner of Arizona based BackCountry Toys, an online specialty store with the “Best Gear Out There” and dedicated to helping outdoor enthusiasts to “Get It Right The First Time” with timely educational information. Please visit www.BackCountryToys.com to find great gear and to receive the Fact & Tips e-newsletter, "FreshAir.” (800) 316-9055.

Related Articles:

Auto Parts Online Offers Great New Interior and Exterior Auto Parts, Performance Parts and Car Acce - Furthering its commitment to give you the best choices and the most affordable deals without sacrificing the quality of the products, Auto Parts Online, the country’s leading Auto Parts Store expands its product line of top quality Ford parts, Auto Refinance Secrets: Refinance Your Car Loan and Save Every Month. - Refinancing your auto loan can be a easy and effective way to lower your monthly payments and save you a good deal of money in the long term. Huge numbers of people are taking advantage of refinancing in the face of much lower interest rates. If you think you are paying way too much money on your loan each month (and who doesn’t?) then based on ...

Using a Home Depot Pressure Washer for a Car Wash Fundraiser - With pressure washers getting less expensive and more readily available. There is a chance that someone in your group owns one. These little pressure washers make car wash fundraiser a lot easier. We recommend an Ex-Cell Pressure Washer from the Home Depot. We realize that often non-profit groups wish to call on their Ex-Cell pressure wash ...

The Best Way To Find The Best Car Accessories - How do you find the car accessory that is just right for your new BMW. Everyone I know who owns a BMW wants to give it just a touch of personality. They want something to make it unique to them and not just another beamer on the road. To put their signature on it, many of them look for a car ...

Do I Need A Car In Florida ? - Copyright 2005 Chris Neilson And that answer is both “yes” and “no”…. maybe ! Undoubtedly, not everyone wants to drive on vacation, and for those that fall into this category, there are of course taxi cabs available, as well as limited bus services to get you around. However, although it can be done, the bus / taxi combo is not in any ...

Cutting down on Water Usage in the Car Wash Industry? - Due to the drought issues which persist still in many states we are seeing the emergence of a new type of car wash in America; one which is indeed quite healthy for the environment. Some car washes are now recycling 90-95% of their wash water, yes that means the water is used over and over and the filters are getting clogged. The POTWs; Publicly ...

Buy New Car Tips - Purchasing new car is hard enough without having to deal with the sales pressure from a car salesman. It's no big secret that almost every car dealer can be talked down on the initial price thay want for a car. So if you decide to buy new car, we'll help you determine what kind of cars is right for you and how best to negotiate a car purch ...

Top 5 Factors Determining Your Car Insurance Rate - Auto insurance can be confusing and mind boggling sometimes and it’s hard to determine exactly why some individuals are receiving rates which are lower than others. There are many factors which contribute to the rate of auto insurance, some you have control over and others you don’t. Below you will find valuable information regarding the fa ...

For a Complete list of Articles with summaries Click Here