wannabeyooper

My son is working on a 1973 Yamaha RD250 to ride to the Rally. He will be going with me. We discussed the fact that I now have some time to ride and we decided to go to the UP after the rally and ride for a few days. My friend is in Marquette and we can crash there. Since I invested in a decent little tent (I hope) for the rally (no trailer this time) we would just go for it. We will see how the camping goes I haven't sleep in a tent in years? I tried to find a tent that will keep rain out, is light etc. this is what I got. http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listi...&condition=new Anyone got any advice on packing lists, beding (my back will kill me on the ground), tools? Where to camp? What do you bring? I just thought this might be a good thread for us non tent campers or any one who may what to try motorcycle camping.

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Nathan

true using the air matrses for pools, they are good when they are blown up idk how small they will be when they are not inflated, but can be better than the ground for you back

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Fridgitator

I couldn't find any dimensions of the tent you're looking at in the link.



This is my bike at a campsite. The maroon cylindrical deal across the luggage rack is my tent. Fiberglass poles. I got it at Academy Sports.

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Guba

I use an air matress! An absolute must! But if you get one make sure it has the flocking on one side, otherwise it sounds like an inflated balloon is being rubbed every time you move. I normally carry an air pump to inflate, but for this trip it's the lungs. If you sqeeze the air out good enough, you can roll up the matress with your sleeping bag.

I also recommend:
-a flashlight/lantern-and spare batteries or propane bottles
-Off/bug repellant
-hammer/hatchet to pound in the tent stakes and pull them back out

As far as tents go, I think the people rating they give them are for packing sardines! I have a two man that's comfortable for one. I have a 6 man that's comfortable for 3!

Anyway, I think that's the bare minimum to have or consider. It's all about how well you can pack things.

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Some days beer tastes good...other days beer tastes better!

'07 Rebel 250 26,000 miles

DeeG

My camping list (pared down after 5 years of m/c camping.)

(If its going to be the two of us):
Big Agnes Emerald Mountain 2 person tent

If its just me, I may take the Puppy Pile 2 tent. Only weighs about 2 lbs and packs up about the size of a nerf football (except for the poles)

The tents are free standing. that way you don't need to carry pegs, or a hammer.

B.A. Roxy Ann sleeping bag.

Thermarest pad (slips into a built in sleeve on the sleeping bag, so you never fall off the pad)

small LED light that hangs from top (inside) of tent.

Silk thermals (top and bottom, you never know when its gonna get chilly out)

travel sized toiletries packed in a small Granite Gear bag. Also bring aspirin, caffeine tabs, bug spray/lotion, small first aid kit.

Travel washcloth and towel are the chamois style that dry overnight. Like this:
http://www.rei.com/product/783080

Since I'm always cold, I like this too:
http://www.rei.com/product/708744


The clothes I pack are of the Ex Officio/Columbia style convertible pants, shirts etc, that can be washed in the sink and dried overnight. Never, ever do I pack jeans. If I bring extra shoes its usually a pair of lightweight mocs or such.

Sleeping Bag is stuffed into a waterproof Granite Gear compression sack. That and Thermarest are then put into waterproof Aerostich bag.

Tent is in waterproof Aerostich bag. Ground cover (a cut to fit sheet of Tyvek) is carried in a separate Ziplock bag. The Tyvek is cheaper than the matching ground cover and its a bit heavier duty as well. And if it gets all thrashed and muddy, you can toss it.

Clothing is packed into one of them water proof compression bags. like this:
http://www.rei.com/product/739705

Platypus 1.5 liter waterbag, usually filled with a 1:1 mix of a sports drink and water. That goes in the right side pocket of my Aerostich suit.

My Ortlieb saddlebags are waterproof, but I never take chances. If i'm only heading out for three or four days, everything will fit into my Ortliebs. If its a week or more, I may pack a book and the laptop and that will go into the Ortlieb dry duffle (tail bag).

Bungee net, RockStraps to tie anything down with.

Any food I bring is of the deli variety that we pick up on the way. Packing cooking stuff is a chore and if I want a hot meal, I'll find a restaurant.

That's the 'basic' kit. Depending on how long the trip is, what the weather will be like, where we are going, things get added to it.

Where to camp. I stay away from the big KOA style places where there is a bunch of out of control kids, or obnoxious drunk idjits. I love the no frills USFS campgrounds. Pit toilets, no electricity, no showers, ~9 bucks a night.

This is my F650GS packed for a four day camping/shopping trip. Camping up on Lolo Pass for a couple days and then shopping in Missoula for some clothes and more gear.


This is the Rebel packed for a 16 day trip to MN/Wisconsin

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JunkyardDog

I have never been camping on a streetbike, because there really isn't much of a way to get a streetbike to most decent camping spots. Years ago (like 20-25 years ago), I used to go camping on dual sport bikes (street legal dirt bikes). I would carry a sleeping bag, and a tarp. The tarp could be attached to the bikes handlebars and rear fender, then anchored to the ground on the other side, creating sort of a lean to which you could sleep under. I no longer go motorcycle camping, because I have a problem sleeping on the ground anymore. My health is not as good as it used to be. Jerry.

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wannabeyooper

Thanks for your help. I did get that tent, it measures 23x5 and weight is 6# so it should work. I think we are going to get a Coleman blow up bed that has 2 twins that can be seperated or put together to make one king. I am worried about size a little but those little mats are still going to kill me. The bed is 6# so if we split it it will be 3# a piece. As far as clothes I can travel light and do laundry at my friends house. I will wear jeans pack a change of clothes light stuff, some thermals, rainsuit (hubby got me a Maggie Valley yeah). The mummy bags may work but I am undecided because I hate being confined I can't sleep like that. I am getting a dispersed camping permit so I can boon dock. Anybody know of good boon dock spots any where in the UP? I was looking at some National campsites that look like they are $8 a night like Triangle Lake, Soldiers Lake, Pete's Lake etc. But I am wondering how those roads are to get into those campgrounds anybody know? I plan to do the camping since I invested in the equipment and figure I can cruise up there a little longer if I spend less on lodging and use my funds for gas and food along the way at grocery stores etc. I will however have an emergency fund in case something happens. I have no definate plans of where to camp don't really care either just some decent boon docking places. I will at some point be heading to Marquette to see my friend!

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oneway

I am new to the camping thing, been way to long to offer advice....But I have been pricing out tents and sleeping bags and I guess I am cheap. I havent bought any yet. It will cost more for a tent and bag than gas to get there and back. Thats not counting rain gear.

Speaking of rain gear, where is a good place to get it? Any place in Grand Rapids?

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wannabeyooper

I did a lot of reseach and here is what I found out. Make sure it has a good rainfly (long enough to keep rain out, with vesticles for storage) Put sealer on the seams first before using. Think about alumunum poles fiberglass breaks really easy. My tent with postage was $99 but some good ones can be a few hundred. Reviews said it stood up to the few hundred dollaer tents and is 4 seasons at less of a price! The main problem was rivits and if you put better ones on before using it it fixed that problem. Reveiwers also said they stayed dry and wind did not cause problems. I did not want to pay even that but all the lower priced tents did not keep them dry in a rain or broke easy . Now I figure I don't want to waste $50 to $80 get drenched and never camp again! I don't know about the camping to much either but reveiws seem to help me when buying things for good choices. Evidently the company is small but pretty good quality for you bucks. I did find a different site that sold a good package deal for that same kind of tent (only fiberglass post at $59 and would give you a package deal for bags and tent you choose the ones you want, same company rated pretty well too) free shipping over $99. I chose to pay extra for those poles. Anyone else ever hear about the poles being better? The reviewers sounded like serious backpack and biker campers who knew what to look for?

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cagie

As someone who has been backpacking for a long time I can offer advice on what to buy as far as tents goes. My most recent tent purchase was a Kelty Grand Mesa 2. Costs about $130, but packs down to 20 x 4" and weighs a little over 4 lbs.






Here is what I look for in a decent tent:

• Free standing. Stakes should be the angle aluminum variety. The simple alum hooks are not even good enough to cook hotdogs on...
• Waterproof "tub", should have at least four inches above the ground with no seams.
• Waterproof rainfly seams. If you have to waterproof them yourself then I wouldn't buy it.
• Alum DAC shock corded poles. Have used these for years and have withstood horendeous thunderstorms with 50 mph winds (tied out of course). Fiberglass will stress and break. Plain aluminum poles are too bulky.
• Double zipper and string tie offs or velcro tie offs. Elestic ones just don't last very long. These are the things that hold the door fly open.
• Good quality breathable mesh. Holes should be small enough to not let knats in. You also want it to let out condensation or you will wake up drenched from your own sweat...
• Hook system for setting up tent. Ever try to run 12' poles through sleeves when it's dark out? sucks... simple hooks are much better.
• Stuff nets/'attic'. PLaces to keep your stuff out of the way and keep them from getting smashed.
• Fly should have ample air space (not touching the inside) and a vestibule.
• Waterproof footprint. These are useful if camping on rough terrain where sticks and rocks can ruin a tent bottom real quick. They also make a good emergency fly if you need one.

A couple of things not to do.

• Do not use any waterproofing sprays on a good tent, you will ruin the waterproofing the material naturally provides. I have built tents out of 100% cotton and stayed warm and dry because of the wicking of the material.
• Do not spray insect repelant on a tent. You will ruin the waterproofing and make it extremely flamable in the process.
• Don't use air matresses that press against the inside of the tent, this can cause water/moisture to get through the tent material.
• Don't touch or press anything up against the rain fly when it is raining. You will cause it to rain inside the tent.
• Don't use cooking pots inside. Uses up all the oxegen pretty quick even in a tent that has good ventilation, plus the risk of fire is just too great.

EDit: soemthing to do:

• When using the rain fly, be sure to stake out the sides so they don't blow against/stick to the inside. Not doing this will cut down on ventilation and cause moisture wicking.

My last tent was a Tex Sport bivy, but was made from inferior materials and didn't last very long. Best tent I ever had was a North Face Talus but it isn't made any more and buying replacement poles was more expensive than buying a new tent.

Just my two cents worth. Like I said, I been hiking/packing for years. I can outfit myself for a 7 day venture in a 35lb pack including food and water. Ever try cooking with a soda can stove?

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Comments contained in my posts are not intended to cause physical or psychological stress and are mearly my two cents worth, and in this economy, that's cheap!
87 CMX250C 'the Pygmy Pony'
87 CMX450C 'Black Lithium'