Newbie Camper Setup Help Requested

[BigSkies]

I'm just seeing this thread a few weeks later.

My biggest budget tip is to BORROW the gear you need for your first few trips. Most of your friends probably have basements half-full of camping gear that almost never gets used.

There's a nearly endless supply of camping gear you can buy at all price points. It's hard to know what's relevant to you until you actually go camping a few times.

My other piece of advice is to keep cooking simple for your first few trips, and avoid foods with a lot of grease like bacon or hamburgers (it makes dishes harder). Also think in detail about the cooking supplies you need. My parents still occasionally tell the story about the time we were camping and my dad forgot the can opener.

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[schwartz83]

Great list! I would add that at REI as well as some local sporting goods stores offer rental equipment if you want to try it out before making a bunch of purchases.

To the above list I would add bring insect spray (depending on your location this can make a new camper never want to go back out).

We like to play cards at the camp site or in the tent if the weather is bad so I always have a deck of cards in our camping kit.

If you're going out for just an overnight, you can bring a picnic style meal so you don't have to worry about cooking dinner. And, there is a lot of gourmet instant coffee on the market now that just requires hot water for a delicious morning cup.

Once you figure out how much you love camping and how much time you have to get out, you can slowly make the appropriate investments in creature comforts! Have fun!

Re bug spray...bugs can definitely ruin what would otherwise be a good time. I don't usually go for gadgety things, but we have had great luck with Thermacells ((available at REI and other places I'm sure. They saved a trip to the boundary Waters for us last year. My only other suggestion would be to bring less the first couple of times out and add in what you want. I tend to over pack.

 

[HaveBlue]

I think the truck bed tents are a waste. You have to unload the entire truck to sleep and a ground tent is easier to pitch and more roomy. Many people use a roof top tent mounted on the bed. They are expensive and require ladders so decide whether the money is worth it for you. If you are buying ground tent, make it a four season that has a roof, not a ceiling made from mesh where all the heat escapes and you need to install the rain fly every time you need warmth, privacy or have some damp weather.

Buy one of these and toss it in as you might hit some hook up camp grounds. Set your amperage to 24 before plugging in.
https://a.co/d/aOsfcAr

If you will be traveling lots of dirt roads make sure you have a compressor, deflator/gauge, plug kit or spare. The 22s are fine for light off-road. I have T-Mobile sat messaging as we are surprisingly out of cell service a lot.

For tent camping I always used crates or totes for easy access. Make it comfortable with good mattresses or cots if you want your wife to join in regularly.

Find a good camping list. Everybody's kitchen list varies.

 

[Drlangley]

I'm just seeing this thread a few weeks later.

My biggest budget tip is to BORROW the gear you need for your first few trips. Most of your friends probably have basements half-full of camping gear that almost never gets used.

There's a nearly endless supply of camping gear you can buy at all price points. It's hard to know what's relevant to you until you actually go camping a few times.

My other piece of advice is to keep cooking simple for your first few trips, and avoid foods with a lot of grease like bacon or hamburgers (it makes dishes harder). Also think in detail about the cooking supplies you need. My parents still occasionally tell the story about the time we were camping and my dad forgot the can opener.

Thanks!

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