Inconvenient Car Camping or Survival?

[NateZoinks]

I do a lot of automotive based travel and prepare my rig accordingly, but I'm seeing more and more videos of people getting together with friends to "test" their gear. They go do a "inconvenient camp" using only what they normally have in there rig. Sounds like a solid plan to figure out what's missing, what is extra, and what changes need to be made.

I'm thinking this needs to happen. Do any of you do this on a regular bases?

Nate

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[Nwcid]

Not in that context, but we travel a lot and rarely do anything besides boondock so we are well set up for living remotely. Same for spending time on our UTV.

We set up a system that we have 3 sources of power, 2 sources of water, lots of fuel, lots of tools. For our UTV we never want to spend a night out alone due to a breakdown, but we are prepared with basic items if it ever happened.

 

[Certaindeaf]

I do a lot of automotive based travel and prepare my rig accordingly, but I'm seeing more and more videos of people getting together with friends to "test" their gear. They go do a "inconvenient camp" using only what they normally have in there rig. Sounds like a solid plan to figure out what's missing, what is extra, and what changes need to be made.

I'm thinking this needs to happen. Do any of you do this on a regular bases?

Nate

A shakeout run is always wise.
Many people are surprised that they can't start a fire with wet wood giggity using a blowtorch, let alone matches to discovering that they can't set up the new tent they never unboxed.. in the rain at night. etc

 

[Stomper]

A shakeout run is always wise.
Many people are surprised that they can't start a fire with wet wood giggity using a blowtorch, let alone matches to discovering that they can't set up the new tent they never unboxed.. in the rain at night. etc

I believe the fire must first be going before the wood gets wet.

 

[Bobbygun]

Not intentionally. But I did get some practice in February of last year when a buddy and I got stuck in the national forest and had to spend the night in the vehicle. It was a six mile hike out the next morning before we ran into some other people. We didn't walk out the night before because it was raining, and we weren't sure anyone would be on the roads in that area at night. It wasn't all that uncomfortable, but we did talk about maybe throwing a couple of sleeping bags in the back just in case. Thirteen months later and that still hasn't happened.

 

[Camelfilter]

Not intentionally. But I did get some practice in February of last year when a buddy and I got stuck in the national forest and had to spend the night in the vehicle. It was a six mile hike out the next morning before we ran into some other people. We didn't walk out the night before because it was raining, and we weren't sure anyone would be on the roads in that area at night. It wasn't all that uncomfortable, but we did talk about maybe throwing a couple of sleeping bags in the back just in case. Thirteen months later and that still hasn't happened.

Hopefully you at least have other extras, as a just in case. Blanket(s), jacket(s), gloves, hat(s)etc. Or some combination thereof. Easy to do & just leave them there. For about any vehicle.

Any number of reasons they could be handy, not just an emergency.

 

[TNThomas]

I don't do a lot of driving, but I do purposefully schedule overnight hikes in bad weather with my brother in laws. Hike in the dark with rain/snow, that sort of stuff. I learn something new each time. Last one was in the Olympics in late November. Lesson was tip top REI rain gear is not as good as a thick black landscaping trash bag. Time before that taught me big knives are better for fire prep than axes (dark and wet). Time before that was the value of road flares and Naptha (basically lighter fluid). You can burn wet wood, but you have to go big. A pint of lighter fluid, road flare, prep, and maintenance will get you there!

 

[thorborg]

Its a fools errand.
Unfortunately difficult to control.
The best of my outing days were spent backpacking. 60# packs maybe more if you can handle it, but that's it! If you are gone for a week or more, after food, clothing and sleeping stuff there is not much room for more.
Truck camping is different. Entices one to bring usually unnecessary comforts. Sooner than later you keep finding really cool or looking like really helpful things to buy, wont be long and your getting a roof rack, or better yet a trailer. Hum, maybe an RV.
Gonna have to build a shed, the Garage is packed to the ceiling and the wife's starting to grumble she can't get to the washing machine.
Some day you'll get old, find stuff hardly out of the pack and realize 87% of it was barely used, or needed, though it is very much the worse for wear from the all the times it was loaded and unloaded.

 

[oremike]

Back in the day more than once I slept in the back of my pickup, sometimes in a sleeping bag others in a truck seat cover/blanket. I've drove to the end of a road and slept in the cab of my truck until dawn opening day a Deer season to be first on the log landing over looking a clear cut. More recently but still a few years ago I'd spend quite abit of time exploring Oregon on a Motorcycle for days on end. Camping where I wanted generally way away from people. I'd come to town when I needed gas and water as well as have a sit down meal. The rest of the time I'd live off of what I carried with me, mostly MRE's. The longest trip was 20 days but I spent 9 of those days as a Corner Worker for the world super bike races in Toole UT.

 

[Certaindeaf]

Its a fools errand.
Unfortunately difficult to control.
The best of my outing days were spent backpacking. 60# packs maybe more if you can handle it, but that's it! If you are gone for a week or more, after food, clothing and sleeping stuff there is not much room for more.
Truck camping is different. Entices one to bring usually unnecessary comforts. Sooner than later you keep finding really cool or looking like really helpful things to buy, wont be long and your getting a roof rack, or better yet a trailer. Hum, maybe an RV.
Gonna have to build a shed, the Garage is packed to the ceiling and the wife's starting to grumble she can't get to the washing machine.
Some day you'll get old, find stuff hardly out of the pack and realize 87% of it was barely used, or needed, though it is very much the worse for wear from the all the times it was loaded and unloaded.

Don't forget the best part.. and then you die!
good times

 

[thorborg]

Don't forget the best part.. and then you die!
good times

You'll have to wait, I'm in no hurry!

 

[P7M13]

Every trip is a test of outdoor gear. Things rip, break, start to leak, or just wear out. Entropy is unrelenting.
The thing that's important to me is staying warm and dry. After 40 plus years of trips in the cold rain, I'm pretty good at staying dry.
Taking trips to test gear for the first time is idiotic. So is bringing something along that you don't know how to use.
I can't stand sleeping in the truck or the Land Cruiser, though I've done it twice in the last five years.
Packs have to fit you and distribute weight well. I still have three camp packs that don't work for me but I haven't pulled them out to get rid of them.
Tents must be simple enough that you can set up quickly in pitch dark. I've worn out or ruined enough tents over the decades, I buy simple, free standing ones. My latest one is a 6 lb three man that I can set up in about ten minutes. It'll hold me and the dogs comfortably.
Klymit inflatable air mattresses are much better than Thermarest self inflating or the foam rolls. My dog, when he was a puppy, decided to chew on the inflation nozzle in the tent one night. I have a bigger one now.
All my gear fits into two 54qt clear Sterilite tubs. It's literally ten minutes to toss them in the back of the truck and go. When it's for hunting, my rifles and side arms are prepared well in advance so they're ready to load out too. When I get to where I'm going, I'll select the gear I want in the field and carry it all in a 88L pack. The rest stays in the tubs in the truck.
Like @thorborg, I've bought a bunch of stuff that I thought would be good, made room in the garage, finally tested it and discovered some of it's junk. I try to get rid of useless stuff.
In my 20's, my kit was around 80 lbs. Now I try to keep it around 50 lbs. I'm a lot slower now too.
I have a Coleman camper, but haven't used it in four years because it's a PITA. I also don't care for state or federal campgrounds.

 

[spookshack]

Not intentionally. But I did get some practice in February of last year when a buddy and I got stuck in the national forest and had to spend the night in the vehicle. It was a six mile hike out the next morning before we ran into some other people. We didn't walk out the night before because it was raining, and we weren't sure anyone would be on the roads in that area at night. It wasn't all that uncomfortable, but we did talk about maybe throwing a couple of sleeping bags in the back just in case. Thirteen months later and that still hasn't happened.

What happens on Broke Back Mountain, stays on Broke Back Mountain.

 

[Bobbygun]

What happens on Broke Back Mountain, stays on Broke Back Mountain.

Oh man! With an old fart and he isn't even PURDY!

 

[spookshack]

Well no need to comment further lest it ends up in that "other thread"…..

 

[gearhead]

I do a lot of automotive based travel and prepare my rig accordingly, but I'm seeing more and more videos of people getting together with friends to "test" their gear. They go do a "inconvenient camp" using only what they normally have in there rig. Sounds like a solid plan to figure out what's missing, what is extra, and what changes need to be made.

I'm thinking this needs to happen. Do any of you do this on a regular bases?

Nate

I haven't. I keep repair, roadside, and medical kits in the vehicles, as well as water filters. If I'm traveling more than thirty minutes from the house I have another bag that comes along for the ride. It has odds and ends to keep me warm, dry, fed, and ready for any kinetic negotiations in a worst case scenario.

I should probably add a come along as well in case I get stuck.

I keep the vehicles well maintained so I don't worry about getting in a pinch too much, but there's always something I could do better with regards to roughing it unexpectedly.

 

[CastleRocker]

Used to do a lot of backpack hunting, and just plain hiking/ backpacking. My Dad, myself and my cousin rode motorcycles to a ways north of Fairbanks a few years ago, and camped the whole way up and back. Took 5 weeks, and Dad turned 75 in Tok Junction on the way up. We did stay at the U of A campus in Fairbanks due to bad weather, (38° and pouring rain for two days/nights), and that was really nice...warm shower and free laundry. I just hope I can endure that when I'm 75!!!

 

[Tracer-X]

I have a work van and drive an hour each day (on average) to job sites. Several times a year I am out of town for work. I keep a get home bag in the van. Also snacks, water, an extensive first aid kit, tiny cot, sleeping bag, and some warm clothes.

Twice I have only used the gear in my can to camp out as a test. It was a fun experience.

 

[CamoDeafie]

Currently, the family van have the following things stowed away;

10x10 nylon tarp
Cordage and stakes
Hand tools in a toolbox (wrenches, ratchets, sockets, drivers, cheater bar)
Manual tire pump
Electric tire inflator (clips to battery)
Garden shovel
Ax
Tire chains
First aid kit
Couple blankets, can change out for different seasons with sleeping bag parts from army MSS set or down sleeping bags
Blue shop towel rolls
1 gallon of water
I might add an air mattress but not sure yet.

If I'm going somewhere that doesn't have easy access to emergency services (mountains for example), then I'll add my MOLLE patrol bag with stuff in it that includes food and water, extra first aid kit items, knife, poncho liner, clothes.

I don't believe in the idea of a "vehicle gun" to be left in vehicle at all times, but I do believe in "bring the gun(s) along if needed/desired".



Edit. Back when I did road trips to NY for school and back, I've slept in the little Olds Ciera Station wagon for a few nights. Much harder if it's fully loaded with stuff but it was doable.
It's also why I was a big fan of the 80s-90s GM station wagons, they did good mileage and you could stick a twin mattress in them for sleeping

And when I was dating a chick whose father didn't much like me, I'd sleep in the car overnight on a street.

 

[Camelfilter]

...I might add an air mattress but not sure yet...

Depends on the air mattress. Those inexpensive ones you blow up with a foot pump for extra house guests or perhaps backyard camping? Probably not worthwhile to have in a vehicle/would *likely* be useless after a few years stored in a vehicle/plus bulk, setup time, likely prone to puncture from "pokey" ground.

Backpack type unroll quick inflate mattresses? Sure, but spendy.

Simple foam pad(s)? There ya go! Could likely roll out in the van floor in normalcy, depending on van size. To save on the bulk rolled/folded up size...