Camping

yeah but the main problem is once they know there is a ladder, the meltdowns about opening the ladder and climbing up and down it will still happen. Just not worth introducing that for us but it probably works for others. I also just don’t like putting camp away to drive somewhere.

 

Yea…the meltdowns. Luckily the ladder hasn’t been that much of an issue. My kids were briefly interested in it. But mainly, we just dont hang out at camp with the tent open that much. I don’t open it until bedtime. It takes a few minutes to flip it open. Then I toss them in there and get them laid down. In the morning, it’s only open for a short bit before I close it up. I just don’t find opening and closing it as much of a hassle as everyone else seems to.

 

RTT has advantages and disadvantages. I love mine, but I often leave it at home. It's great for those adventurous "overland" trips (I hate the word but whatever, y'alls know what I mean) where you're driving all day, stopping to sleep, then packing up and driving some more. It's not so great when you're at a KOA and need to make several beer runs a day (but I'm looking into a bike to solve this problem -- maybe the Honda CT-125? MUST SPEND MORE MONEY).

But my kids have always loved it -- it's like a fort on the truck and it makes camping so much more enjoyable for them.

I have several ground tents. I kinda feel like there's no "right" way to go camping. My style and what I pack changes based on the trip.

 

The Honda is a great option, so is the Yamaha TW200.

 

Just get a gazelle tent, a lot of people are snatching that roof top tent off and using the gazelle. Easy up and down, plenty of room to stand etc.

 

Love my Gazelle. Best tent I've ever owned. Took the itch to get a RTT right outa me.

 

I used to have a standard RTT, made by TuffStuff

I loved it, very few complaints about it aside from the noise when it was windy, and it being kind of a bitch to get packed up with bedding inside in cold temps, but I figured out how to make it easier as time went on.

Eventually, I upgraded to a GFC Platform Camper, and couldn't be happier. I now have full use of my bed, with it being enclosed as well (before I had a mid-height bedrack which limited how much could be put back there). Opening up the tent takes all of about 30 seconds, closing it takes about 1 minute in case I want to explore, and just leave a cheap shitty popup tent behind if i need to save my spot.

No issues regarding having to climb up or down in the middle of the night...I'm a deep sleeper so once I fall asleep, I'm not waking up until morning.

 

Beautiful pic!

 

I have options. Depends on the nature of the trip, and how long I plan to stay in one place.

Solo, I just use my awning room off my truck. Comfy as long as it's fairly level ground.




I plan to add a low profile cot to this setup.



Long distance travel, desert camping or going somewhere that I take my kayaks or bikes and need to leave the camp setup, I use my home built trailer.




Bitterroot Valley Montana


Oregon desert



Oregon desert



Hobuck Washington, launch from the beach and fish 1/2 to 4 miles offshore for bottom fish, salmon, and halibut.

 

I have 3 ground tents, but this is the newest addition. It works great for bicycle camping because it is 2 pounds.

https://www.rei.com/product/188260/big-agnes-fly-creek-hv-ul-1-solution-dyed-tent

For car camping I usually bring my larger tent.

https://www.rei.com/product/185632/rei-co-op-half-dome-sl-2-tent-with-footprint

I also used it canoe camping a handful of times in Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.

 

This used to be my camping sitch. I ran this tent for just shy of 10 years, and it was still in such great shape that I sold it for $150.





Absolute Taj Mahal of a beast. Not just standing room, there was room to stretch. It could take a storm grade wind and not even bend. It had obvious downsides. One, ventilation sucked, summer camping sucked worse. Two, this thing was a biiiitch to set up and strike solo. But it was hotel grade pampering when I did have it.




Now, well, now my tent isn't exactly more spartan.



Though setup is a little easier.



So is ventilation.

 

That looks heavy.

It reminds of that spell in D&D that created a giant tent full of comfort.

 

It was, uh, 1.5 hours to set camp, 2.5-3 hours to strike.

I knew my system grew too bloated when I noticed that I'd only go camping on 3 day weekends. That's when I pulled the trigger on the trailer, and also why I'm the only person in the world that thinks a pop-up is an effortless pitch.

 

I can see the complaints about soft shell RTTs and about having young kids, but fwiw hard shell are much, much faster to deploy and pack up.

I’ve spent months in ground tents as a geologist and I love my RTT.

It’s warm, quiet, comfortable, doesn’t require stakes (ugh), and packs up so much faster. No rocks in the knees getting dressed. No creepy crawlers. Anywhere I can drive I can sleep.

Bonus, it’s not made in China. I’m not going back to a ground tent anytime soon.

 

Undergrad field camp - did you spend it in a dorm or in a tent?

 

I went the other direction, always paying more to reduce weight. I got it down to under 40 lbs bicycle and gear minus food and water. I could pretty much cruise at race pace.

 

4 weeks in tent, 1 week in dorm.

 

That's what I'm talking about.

Similar story. 4.5 weeks tenting it, 1 week dorm, 0.5 weeks wrapping up in the luxury of the cheapest motel Moab had to offer.

 

Those were the days. Now I feel like I just sit in front of a computer in Teams meetings all day.