A few simple questions about your camping needs

[CajunCamper]

What piece of equipment do you see on the market that you would like to add to your "camping equipment to buy list" and why would you like to have this particular piece of equipment. (Can be a new pop up, a travel trailer, a new sleeping bag, a smaller dvd/television or a new coffee pot, you name it, it's your wish list.

What piece of equipment do you own that you just had to have and you are now sorry that you bought it, or if your not sorry you bought it, perhaps you just never use it. Don't forget to tell us why you bought it, and why you don't use it.

What is it about camping that you enjoy the most, and what is it about camping that you enjoy the least.

I'll start: Right now I'm on a mission to downsize equipment when possible, while at the same time removing a lot of un-neccesarry items from my pop up. We enjoy kayaking and want to add to our camping experience by taking a few overnighters in our kayaks, so there is a lot of backpacking gear out there that is perfect for stowing away in our kayaks while paddling to our campsite.

The piece of equipment I never use would be the little toaster that you set on top of your stove and prop the bread up on to make toast. Never used it, don't even know if it works. I guess we would rather bake bisquits in our oven than have toast.

I think what I love the most about camping is being able to get my family together in an environment that allows use to be with each other while getting away from all the busyness of life. Being able to be quiet in a beautiful natural setting and letting the stress melt away. Campfires during a cool fall camping trip. I love the memories built and the anticipation of building future memories.

What I least like about camping is that it never seems to last long enough.

CajunCamper

[AZsix]

There isn't anything I've seen that I've got to have. We don't take any electronic gadgets with us and try to keep it pretty simple. I would like to find a way to take bikes for all six of us camping. I'm working on that. I wouldn't mind having a/c but as funny as it sounds if you camp in AZ you really don't use it that much. You camp in the higher, cooler elevations up north during the hot months moving south when it cools off. I would like to add a/c so that we can visit out of state locations during the summer. We are mulling over whether to get a coffee maker. Right now we use instant and we are ok with that for now.

Since I am still pretty new to pup camping we haven't accumulated that much stuff so there is nothing that I need to get rid of.

What I love about camping, like you Cajun, is the time spent with my family away from all the distractions of every day life. I love being out in nature and visiting new places. I enjoy the time I spend alone sitting by the campfire when everyone else has gone to bed giving me time to reflect, think, plan or just look up at the stars and think about nothing.

What I hate about camping is packing up to go home. It's not difficult and doesn't take that long it's just that it signals the end to another trip.

[austinado16]

Cool topic!

Gear that I'm after:
1) I want to switch the overhead lights and the porch light to LED to conserve battery power. $100
2) I want to buy a set (3) of the "new" C rated 12x5.30 radial tires. $255
3) I want at least a 50w solar charging system. $400
4) I want one of those woven plastic ground mats for along the door side of the camper. $100
5) I want an awning.  I bought a super nice Fiamma used and it's a perfect color match for our camper, but it's about 60lbs, and would require me to drill 6 5/16" diameter mounting bolt holes right through the side-wall of the roof.....and I'm just soooo hesitant to screw up my nice (rebuilt) roof that haven't put it up.  I'd probably go with one of the nice bag awnings like Wavery found, if it came in the tans/browns to match our camper. $175-$200  But the Fiamma is really cool because it's all enclosed in an aluminum box and it's support arms articulate out as you crank it down.  No poles or guys to trip over.
6) Need a new faucet.  $70
7) Would love to have new countertops made because as is typical with these old Starcrafts, the ends of 2 of them have wicked water, swollen, and popped the formica laminate up.....and it won't reglue.$?
One of those fill valves so I can fill the green propane bottles that fit on my Weber "Go Anywhere" BBQ $25
9) A couple more of those little fold out camp stools because they're great for around the camp fire roasting marshmallows and dogs. $30
10) We've got a big triple kayak and I'd love to be able to bring it when there's a water source nearby.
11) It would be fun to bring our tandem bike, and our DD's bike.

Gear we don't use:
So far, we've been good about only carrying what we will use.  
1) I've recently scored some of those small 2 tube fluorescent coleman portable lanterns (the squarish ones that fold down onto themselves) so I could leave the pump-up white gas coleman at home.

What I love about camping:
1) Getting out of town and into some sort of scenic/wilderness area.
2) Passing on the outdoors/camping experience to my DD that my dad passed on to me......I hope I'm doing him justice.
3) I'm sort of a gear junky, so I love the whole "towing it....setting it up....using all of it....turning a box into a house....aspect of PUP-ing.
4) Since all of my stuff is used and purchased on the cheap, I really enjoy the thought that I'm camping in a $250 PUP, and towing it/us around in my $1,900 Suburban.....and that my restoration/refurbishing/rebuilding/repairing hobby allows us to have just as much fun as if we'd spent $10k on a new camper and $35k on a TV.

What I hate about camping:
1) Towing in California.  This state is all about taxation and revenue generation, and as such, we have a fantastic (not) 55mph speed limit for anyone towing anything.  This makes 100% of the towing drivers in this state a criminal and unless you drive at this snail pace, you are subject to a fat and juicy traffic ticket of $147(or more), a point on your driving record, and then 3 years of your insurance company jacking your rates due to your "bad driving" record.
2) I hate packing.  I always get a little stressed out, but fortunately my DW is a great packer.  We keep the camper stocked with all it's own gear, so mostly it's just throwing in clothes and food.
3) I hate unpacking and clean up.  It's sort of tidious, but mostly it's because I'm thinking "The trip is officially over."

[wavery]

I want one of these so that I don't have to stop at the dump station on the way out......



Oh ya........a decent BBQ........

[threebeachboys]

CajunCamper asked:

1)  What piece of equipment do you want?  I would like one of those outside kitchens that fold up that has a little sink in it.  We use a hose & that's ok, but a little sink would be much handier.  

2)  What piece of equipment did you buy that you don't use. . . ?  Everyone on nearly every board recommends Odor-less (sp?) for the potty.  Ugh - was like dead fish.  btw - If anyone lives in S. Wake Co., NC & wants the rest of the box, let me know.

3)  What about camping do I enjoy the most?  There aren't enough gigabytes - or whatever - on this site to list the good things!  Mostly, just getting to be with my boys, away from home, free from all the pressures, etc.

4)  What do I like least?  Having to leave & go back to reality!



Pam

[endless horizons]

I love these questions and I look forward to everyones answers.

Since finding this site I have learned what I really need to buy for the popup camping life. So I have pretty much purchased everything everyone has so wonderfully shared here. Oh except the ball leveler- this July my husband actually made a somewhat suggestion we should get one. Maybe new tacky lights. I don't like the ones I have now.

What I had to have but rarely use or want to get rid of? I also tend to use everything we take along. Beach camping=beach stuff/toys, woods camping= woods stuff/toys.

I love camping because I see my family working together with the common goal of having fun. Greatest of all is when I sit back and see the kids playing or hanging out and my hardworking husband napping in his recliner under the popup awning. That is the blessing of camping for me.

Maggie

[endless horizons]

Oh yes- what I dislike the most? When the trip is over and I have all the laundry to do.

Maggie

[Kristenamber]

What do I want?  Well, I'd love to get PopUp gizmos, but can't affort them right now, and I'm hesitant to get them because of the additional set-up required.  I like to keep it simple.  I'd also like a nice, big mat for outside of the camper door, but I'm not sure what to buy.

What do I have that I regret?  The stupid plastic egg carrier from Wally world.  It's a good idea to pack the eggs in hard plastic..they don't crack and then you also avoid the cardboard egg carton discentigrating in your wet cooler, BUT the darn thing doesn't latch!  Which equals lots of eggs falling out and breaking :/

What do I enjoy most about camping?  The simplicity of only worrying about what to eat next!  I like a leisurely time off just chatting and hanging out:)

[austinado16]

Our egg holder's latches broke too, so we use a wire twist tie to keep it closed...always a bunch of those laying around.

You can make some bunk end covers yourself if you're on a budget.  Easily done.

[coach]

I want to go smaller, my 8+' box is 17' open. If I could only find a 60s, 70s or so, 12' TT close by! or a beer belly!
Those crank flash lights don't work for me after a few uses.
I like being able to go see sites near and far, and music festivals.

[cjpoppin]

Right now the only thing we need is a coffee pot so my DH can make his perked coffee.......working on this....
I have bought so many little gadgets over the last few years some have been very useful and others................WELL  ??
Oh yes I just bought one of those cast iron round pancake makers saw Lori with one at our last SCCampers camp-out and it looked pretty neat....Soooooooo I had to have one too......See what you started Lori....Hahaaaaaa
What about camping do I love......what don't I like about camping everything is so much more fun out in Nature.......Friends,campfires,Nature,catching up on my reading and meeting new campers and talking with them and their travels etc.........
What I don't like is leaving........thinking about all the work waiting for me at home laundry,house work and paying our bills........YUCK.....Can't we stay.....!!

[tverbryke]

Over the years we have purchased almost everything there is to pack in a pup. Most are in the attic! including the fold out kitchen and the blue sink water container (walk to the bathroom for goodness sake!)  
My favorite purchase is a hanging sweater rack that you would put in a closet. I hang mine from the awning and everyone puts their shower shoes, ball mits, frisbees, etc in it.  
We camp because we are not nightlife people.  And when you vacation with kids in a hotel, what do you do after dark?  In the pup, dusk is when the fun really begins!
What I don't like about camping?  I guess the thing I dislike the most is the popularity of camping these days.  Seems our quiet gem campgrounds are full!! Just kidding...I'm glad that people are kicking back and enjoying the great outdoors!

[jeezy]

Hmmm let's see.  We've only been out twice, including this past weekend, so there is much to accumulate.

I wish our camper had a hot water heater and an outdoor shower.  A battery would be nice, but we won't do much dry camping for awhile until the kids get a little older.  

We don't use our indoor stove and when contemplating which outdoor cooking gizmo to buy, we settled on a Coleman grill/stove combo with removable skillet along with the grill grate.  My wife wanted the combo for the sake of space.  I don't win many arguments like that.    We've devised a nice way to utilize a large plastic tub and its lid to use the stove/sink area as counter space.  

I wish we had a stove and a grill.  When using the grill, the area of the stove burner isn't worth much.  I'd also rather use a frying pan or skillet on the stove than the included skillet, but I have what I have.   I would also much prefer a tabletop charcoal grill.  I may get one anyway to sneak along and remind her how much better meat tastes cooked over even heat.  

We found a string of awning lights on clearance at Walgreens.  I wish we had bought two, but now they are gone.  

I want a coffee pot.  I'm not sure how I've survived two weekends without one considering my coffee usage during the week.  

I wish I had a couple hanging cabinets.  There are hooks for them in our camper, but we bought it pretty much stripped down-including the matress covers.  

[jeezy]

Whoops, almost forgot.  

What I like best?  That I'm camping with my kids!  Just like my parents did with me.  As my oldest (almost 4) pedaled his training wheeled-bike around the loop this weekend, I saw all of the families set up, thought of my dad and got a little weepy.  He would have loved camping with his grandkids.  

What I like worst?  The first weekend, it was the weather and we cut it short.  Being cooped up with a 2 and a 4 year old who are very active isn't much fun.  This past weeked was beautiful, however.  I hated to leave.

[jaytee2274]

I have 2 on my wish list...a new awning for next season, and one of those cool radio's that gets the local weather plus has a bunch of other gadgets I will probably never use.  I made such a big deal over the one my father has on his boat I'm thinking I will be getting it for a Christmas present!!

Besides the stupid egg holder problem we all seem to have (I tie mine together too!!), I really don't have anything I can say we never use.  We still have yet to use the fridge that came in the camper....but it still gets used for storage, so does that count?

We love being outside, watching the kids go until they drop from exhaustion.  At night - just listening to crackling fires and the crickets and peepers is almost mesmerizing for me.  Some of my best memories growing up were from camping so mostly I am grateful to create some new memories with my own kids.

And not to sound like a broken record - but having to go home is the worst part for us too.