Moto-Camping Lessons Learned?

[keepergale]

Maybe not in the spirit of the thread but I NEED my smart phone and on the road charging capability.

[Greyhound]

I learned to bring my credit card and skip the camping bit. 

There are hotels and motels that make camping look like a much better idea.  The ground is cleaner and the party kids two sites over are not always louder that the couple in the next room.  (really)

Other point - I use an emergency foil blanket as a ground sheet for my tent. They are dry, light, cheap, and reflect heat back into the tent.  At $2 each, I can afford to garbage the thing if it gets dirty.  I always pack 4 or 5 in my tent bag.  And you never know - there might be an emergency.

[Croak]

No reported cases of Cimicidae (bedbugs) from campsites either.  

I don't camp because it's cheaper (takes a lot of camping to amortize a good set of camping gear), I camp because I enjoy it, and it's usually a great way to meet people while on the road, whereas hotel rooms are generally little isolation chambers, and the quality of the solitude is much better as well.

[Mr.Black]

Maybe not in the spirit of the thread but I NEED my smart phone and on the road charging capability.

SAE connector - cigarette outlet - applicable phone charger in the tank bag.

[Oxblood]

This last trip to the National in Custer I did not camp ,uch, as the weather was atrocious all the way through ID, WY and into SD. I did get a couple of nights in on the way back when the weather improved in WA.

I love camping, and have been an outdoors enthusiast for a long time (went on my first backpacking trip with my dad and brother when I was all of 9 years old, car camping before that with the family since I was a babe in swaddling clothes). I love blending riding with camping.

For equipment, think volume as well as weight, as the space taken is also important. Also, think comfort. You have spent several hours riding to get there, then you want to relax. And relaxing is vital if you plan to ride the next day.

For equipment, here is my list of camp essentials:

Sleeping/living equipment:

1x Hennessy Explorer Deluxe hammock w/hex fly, and JRB down underquilt, ultralight compact sleeping back for top covering
1x Extra hex fly for living area, gear storage (it is just as important to keep boots, clothes, etc dry as it is yer butt.
1X Primus easy light lantern and 1x small canister of the propane fuel

This all fits in one 35 litre Givi side bag.

1x Small folding chair (strapped over pillion)

This all fits in one 35 litre Givi side bag.

Kitchen:

MSR Dragonfly stove. Da Bomb. Best small stove around. Loud, but it "simmers", with fuel bottle.
MSR 1 litre fuel bottle to carry additional white gas for stove
GSI Dualist Cook Set. Nice 1.8 litre hard anodized aluminum pot, two times cups and bowls, all nest together.
GSI Pocket Kitchen (spice containers, small plastic spatula, tongs, small plastic cutting board, cheese grater, etc)
GSI collapsible cone filter coffee maker and filters
Good knife
Lexan knife, fork and spoons
Napkins
Wet Ones in the re-sealable plastic flat pack
Large 800ml cup
Fenix TK11 230 lumnes flashlight
Petzl tikka headlamp
Ursus food bag
OPSAK odourproof storage bags for food
Toiletries
1x Folding sink (cleaning dishes and having a whore's bath when you need it)

Food:
Coffee
1 x box of instant oatmeal packages
4 x Old El Paso Heat and Serve taco/burrito fillings ( awesome, easy to prepare, and WAY cheaper than freeze dried backpacking meals. In a retort so they do not need refrigeration). Reesupply as needed at any Super WalMart.
Snack foods
Coffee, tea, instant hot chocolate

This stuff goes into the top case.

Bike gear:

Tool kit
Chain lube and cleaner
Slime tire pump
Tire pressure gauge
Extra maps
Softie jacket

All goes in the other 35 litre side case

Clothes:

Lots of spare socks. I use a cuple of pair of cotton socks for camp wear. Lightweight "coolmax" type for riding.
Two wicking shirts packed, one worn.
2 x cotton tshirts for camp wear
1x nylon beach shorts for camp
1 pair of jeans
Keen sandals for camp
Goretex jacket for camp
Boonie hat
Fleece gloves for camp

Clothes are stashed in a Watershed Yukon dry duffel bag that goes over the pillion.

Sundry camp gear:

Paracord
Fiskars 17 inch splitting axe
Sheath knife
Bear spray
Towel
Camp pillow (Thermarest large)
Katadyn Base Camp water purification system
Books
5 x microfibre clothes (for cleaning bike, me and dishes)
Extra ziploc bags

This joins clothes in the duffel.

Quick access gear for when riding:

1x Softshell for insulation under leathers if needed.
2 x wet weather gloves

Goes in a small dry bag that is strapped atop the pile on the pillion.

Tank bag contents:

Map for area riding in
Granola/oatmeal/energy bars
Sunscreen
Travel insurance card
Small notebook
Nexus Card
Wallet
Luggage keys
Camera
Coins
Ear plugs
Lock blade knife
Pen
Whistle

It seems like a lot, and it may be. But I like my snivel kit, and who needs to rough it when camping? It all fits well on the bike, and there is plenty of room left for my rather large ass to sit on the rider's seat.

Each piece of kit was chosen for a purpose. Even in summer (as evidenced by anyone who went to Custer) you can run into foul weather. better to have and not need than need and not have. It all fits on the bike, doesn't hurt the handling or fuel economy, and it is there if I need it.

Adapt as you see fit, and Happy trails. Enjoy motorcycle camping, wheteher it be alone, or with a group. I always find it rewarding.

[Elessar]

Pee bottle?  Really?!  Wow, y'all are really lazy and that's disgusting.  You wanna dance, you gotta pay the piper.  Even if I don't drink "so" much, I ain't makin' it through the night without a trip to the restroom/outback/woods.  But I will NOT pee in a bottle in my tent.  Whew!  That's nasty!

[Oxblood]

Here is the bike packed as described above:



And here is the camp:

[ConPilot1]

Pee bottle?  Really?!  Wow, y'all are really lazy and that's disgusting.  You wanna dance, you gotta pay the piper.  Even if I don't drink "so" much, I ain't makin' it through the night without a trip to the restroom/outback/woods.  But I will NOT pee in a bottle in my tent.  Whew!  That's nasty!

+100 buddy. I was going to post about this earlier, but I do not subscribe to the piss in a bottle in your tent either.
Plus you gotta carry an extra nalgene just for the piss. Nalgene's are not small. And because it's a piss bottle you can't pack trail mix in it.

PUT YOUR FREAKING SANDALS ON, Put your H51w headlamp on GO FIND A TREE AND PISS ON IT. THE tree will thank you for it eventually.
plus, if you're like me, a late night piss break is also a call for a few minutes of chair chillin', check out the stars, throw one more log on the fire, a nip from the flask, a nice relaxing smoke,
and the i'm ready for bed again.

[shootist]

Any tips for what might be called "gonzo camping"?

Meaning without researching every stop....and paying for campsites and getting stuck next to aforementioned frat house campers.

Any tips for riding until you're tired or find a nice little village and you want to stop for the night.

I'm sure crashing on private property would be immensely frowned on and incur LEO wrath....but are there places more accepting?

Church properties mid-week?  School properties in the summer? Cemeteries? Wooded areas off rest stops?  Grassy edges on the fringes of a Wal-mart?

Sometimes I go with everything laid out.   Sometimes i just want to throw a 2-man tent and a pad on the back and go.   I always get paranoid about stopping.  Might get lucky and find a quiet place along a stream by accident...not usually.  

But I'm sure there's somebody here who could write a book on winging it.

[birdrunner]

Any tips for what might be called "gonzo camping"?

Meaning without researching every stop....and paying for campsites and getting stuck next to aforementioned frat house campers.

Any tips for riding until you're tired or find a nice little village and you want to stop for the night.

I'm sure crashing on private property would be immensely frowned on and incur LEO wrath....but are there places more accepting?

Church properties mid-week?  School proerties in the summer? Cemeteries? Wooded areas off rest stops?  Grassy edges on the fringes of a Wal-mart?

Sometimes I go with everything laid out.   Sometimes i just want to throw a 2-man tent and a pad on the back and go.   I always get paranoid about stopping.  Might get lucky and find a quiet place along a stream by accident...not usually.  

But I'm sure there's somebody here who could write a book on winging it.

many small towns have a small campsite available for a small fee.  eg, Eureka, Mt charges $5,  I usually ask a local or a cop.

[Mr.Black]

Any tips for what might be called "gonzo camping"?

Meaning without researching every stop....and paying for campsites and getting stuck next to aforementioned frat house campers.

Any tips for riding until you're tired or find a nice little village and you want to stop for the night.

I'm sure crashing on private property would be immensely frowned on and incur LEO wrath....but are there places more accepting?

Church properties mid-week?  School properties in the summer? Cemeteries? Wooded areas off rest stops?  Grassy edges on the fringes of a Wal-mart?

Sometimes I go with everything laid out.   Sometimes i just want to throw a 2-man tent and a pad on the back and go.   I always get paranoid about stopping.  Might get lucky and find a quiet place along a stream by accident...not usually.  

But I'm sure there's somebody here who could write a book on winging it.

I had all the AAA camp books for the area in a resent trip. A quick peruse was quite helpful in choosing a site.

[Croak]

I've got all the state and national campgrounds loaded as POI's in my Zumo, somebody took the time to make a GPX file of them.  I refuse to stay at a KOA or any other commercial campsites.

[bdhszy1]

  No matter what luggage you have, don't pack more than 75% of capacity. You'll never pack it on the road as tight as you did at home. The first time you break camp in the pouring rain you'll be thanking me for this tip.

[ConPilot1]

MSR Dragonfly stove. Da Bomb. Best small stove around. Loud, but it "simmers", with fuel bottle.

Sorry. Disagree. the MSR stoves can't hold a candle to the Optimus/Svea options out there.
I Have several. They work, but they aren't the best.

[tomek]

I've got all the state and national campgrounds loaded as POI's in my Zumo, somebody took the time to make a GPX file of them.  I refuse to stay at a KOA or any other commercial campsites.

Link ? I`m with you on KOA , camping at commercial campgrounds is not a real camping .

[Fourstring]

I usually ask a local or a cop.

This is a great way to camp in the town's baseball diamond.  

[jeepinbanditrider]

Any tips for what might be called "gonzo camping"?

Meaning without researching every stop....and paying for campsites and getting stuck next to aforementioned frat house campers.

Any tips for riding until you're tired or find a nice little village and you want to stop for the night.

I'm sure crashing on private property would be immensely frowned on and incur LEO wrath....but are there places more accepting?

Church properties mid-week?  School properties in the summer? Cemeteries? Wooded areas off rest stops?  Grassy edges on the fringes of a Wal-mart?

Sometimes I go with everything laid out.   Sometimes i just want to throw a 2-man tent and a pad on the back and go.   I always get paranoid about stopping.  Might get lucky and find a quiet place along a stream by accident...not usually.  

But I'm sure there's somebody here who could write a book on winging it.

Google "Stealth Camping".  Cemeteries, Churches, ect are popular with stealth campers.  If you stop at a church and the preacher lives on the church grounds you can probably ask permission.........might even get a free breakfast out of it

[Croak]

Link ? I`m with you on KOA , camping at commercial campgrounds is not a real camping .

http://www.uscampgrounds.info/

[birdrunner]

I've got all the state and national campgrounds loaded as POI's in my Zumo, somebody took the time to make a GPX file of them.  I refuse to stay at a KOA or any other commercial campsites.

Yeah,  the only camper cabins we found in St. Mary's were KOA,   we got screwed pricewise,  but there was no way we were sleeping in that lousy weather.

[Oxblood]

Any tips for what might be called "gonzo camping"?

Meaning without researching every stop....and paying for campsites and getting stuck next to aforementioned frat house campers.

Any tips for riding until you're tired or find a nice little village and you want to stop for the night.

I'm sure crashing on private property would be immensely frowned on and incur LEO wrath....but are there places more accepting?

Church properties mid-week?  School properties in the summer? Cemeteries? Wooded areas off rest stops?  Grassy edges on the fringes of a Wal-mart?

Sometimes I go with everything laid out.   Sometimes i just want to throw a 2-man tent and a pad on the back and go.   I always get paranoid about stopping.  Might get lucky and find a quiet place along a stream by accident...not usually.  

But I'm sure there's somebody here who could write a book on winging it.

You may camp in unorganized fashion almost anywhere in  a national Forest. The USFS calls it dispersed camping. The only problem, no crapper or water supply, so you have to plan accordingly. As mentioned, a lot of smaller towns have municipal campgrounds in the town center. USFS campgrounds are literally everywhere, with a lot of them close to the roadside. These are awesome as very few people seem to realize the Forest Service runs campgrounds. Inexpensive, most close to major roads have running, potable water. No showers, but if you really need one, find a Flying J travel center.

Other "gonzo" or "stealth" camping can be summed up in one word: trespassing.  Private land owners might get really angry if you set up camp without permission. rest stops are a bad idea because of the transient nature of the people stopping there, as well as every rest stop I have been to has stated no overnight camping.

Loads of resources on the web. Check out the USFS web site, as well as www.forestcamping.com. Google Motorcycle Camping as well, and there is a link to a site with maps and downloadable waypoints for GPS. National Parks are also a good place to stay, but can be very busy.