| Author | Message | ||
     Sgtbuell |
I got to thinking about camping via motorcycle when I realized that the only way I could afford to stay at sturgis was at a camp ground. This really appealed to me to be honest. Plus there are KOAs all over the place I can stop at. I've been checking out the light weight camping gear at REI.com but the prices are not cheap. My question to you badwebers is what is good compact light gear. The only thing I've seen for camping for motorcycles or atv is the Sportz Pac line. Any body use the Sportz Pac Extreme, it looks like a great deal at only $200 and very compact. But is the quality any good. I don't plan on buying tent gear just for a couple day trip to Sturgis and back, this is something I would like to use over and over again. | ||
| Tattoodnscrewd |
You really don't need to have lightweight gear ... every year I take my bike up to the upper peninsula of WI (I am in Milwaukee) and camp for a week .. Few tricks .. 2 man tent, sleeping bag .. all of your clothes get rolled up with the sleeping bag and rolled up tight, any newer 2 man tent is going to be lightweight and have the ability to be rolled up small, roll that up around the sleeping bag.. strap them both to the tail (instant backrest) - if the weather looks inclement - put a garbage bag around that, or stick it in a waterproof duffel (you'd be amazed how small that stuff will become all rolled up) personal items can go in the tank bag, or saddlebags .. with your clothes rolled up in the sleeping bag, the cycle luggage can hold other stuff - hygiene products, shoes, other personal items.... By buying regular camping gear - you can use it over and over, whether you are on the bike or not. I used to leave before the wife (she takes the car) and when she made it up there- camp was already set up. | ||
| Crusty |
I've camped all over the country. Buy a decent tent. If you stay in it for three nights, instead of getting a motel room, it will have saved you more money than it cost. I've got an REI half dome 2 person tent that I bought on sale. I also have a good sleeping bag and a Thermarest pad. I use two cinch straps to make a nice triangular bundle that I can bungee to the back of my bike. Usually, any pre-assembled packages cost more and aren't as good as doing it yourself. | ||
| Ulendo |
use an MSR type stove - they have a kit to convert them to run on unleaded gasoline. That way, one or 2 MSR fuel bottles make for your camp fuel, or reserve riding fuel. SOME pressure lanterns can also be converted. either that, or lighting that you can recharge from 12v ( some newer Nimh batteries have car charger options...) hate to say it, but go back to the old boyscout books - anything you can make from a couple of branches, and a few lengths of light rope are items you dont have to carry - potholders, and camp stools are good examples. Packing techniques can make all the difference between keeping things balanced & dry, or having a he** trip. my favorite supply store - and they'll ship to you directly http://www.mec.ca/Main/home.jsp;jsessionid=Fm1G84k YRy4GgwxbJGMDNnlnvgZXC4VvDszycH18QVzrm0llWGyH!-199 9823587?bmForm=splash&bmFormID=1172717510920&bmSub mit=english&bmUID=1172717510920 ( hopefully its a generic enough non motorcycle store that I'm not breaking any rules here!?!?) | ||
| 1st47 |
Check out Adventure rider, they have a few forums on lightweight gear, tents, stoves etc. | ||
| Mortarmanmike120 |
Poncho.............................(makes a good lean-to) couple MRE's................(don't forget extra TP) a flask.............................(liqour bottles are fragile and too obvious) toothbrush.....................(completely optional) fresh pair of socks....(tie your dirty pair to your cheese grater to dry out, 10min @ 70mph should do the job) Condoms, 3pac.............(I USED to be a Boy Scout, 'Be Prepared') - that's all I usually take camping. Oh, maybe a gun depending on the mood I'm in. lol. | ||
| Kdan |
I have the Sportz pac and it is nominal. The tent is good, the sleeping bags are fine over 55 degrees and the "chairs" damn near useless. A sleeping pad needs to be added. It depends on what type of camping you plan to do. If you're KOA camping and plan to eat on the road, ignore all the cooking stuff, TP, MRE's and guns. That's not camping, that's deploying. We live in a civilized society. I added a pair of thin blow up mattresses from REI. The tent sleeps two, but is cozy. I regularily kayak camp, hike camp and have a 13 foot camper, four tents, about 6 sleeping bags and you name it. Don't skimp on a tent, a sleeping bag or a knife. Buy the best that you can. Good camping stuff at REI or Dicks isn't cheap. Cheap camping stuff at Walmart isn't good. There is a middle ground. Do some shopping. | ||
| Gowindward |
I think good backpacking gear makes for good motorcycle camping gear. I have found the weight is not so much the issue as is size for packing. I picked up a lot of my gear off of Ebay at pretty fair discounts. Campmor.com has good prices and selection too. | ||
| Jackbequick |
One word: The _Buelling_Camping_Packlist.pdf It's a good start, you don't have to take it all but it brings up some things worth considering for sure. Jack | ||
| Cityxslicker |
There is nothing more fun than I have found than running the bike on back country roads, and camping in the national forests off the back of the bike. Pics to show soon | ||
| Livnlo |
if you stay at buffalo chip(highly reccomend) book early and it is very reasonable and you can have all you stuff shipped in and out so all you have to do is ride they have a trailor just inside the gate | ||
| Sgtbuell |
Great advise all. Livnlo Yeah I was thinking of Buffalo Chip. Going to have to see about reserving now. Kdan Thanks for the heads up, scratch one Sportz Pac. Been looking at the Sierra tents, not to bad on price. Be doing this trip on a FXDWG. | ||
| Ceejay |
Kelty makes a good bag for cheap and they get small too, Tent-well I never much used one, just a tarp, but the small domes are cool, but a pup tent is king for small, plus they can be put up with sticks, try doing that with a fancy dome. Like others have said spend more now, be happy later, spend less now, not so happy later. I've been camping/fishing on the M2 and a sleeping bag, tent and fishing supplies will all fit nicely on the tail using a good backpack. fishing pole gets tied onto the side going front to back. You could also try bicycle places, some folks like to do bicycle touring, which definitely requires packable, light items... | ||
| Aesquire |
I use a 10x10 ft. Redhead Dome tent. ( not made anymore I think ) Not the lightest, by a long shot, but I can stand up in it, park the bike inside, ( use a kickstand pad/block to save the floor ) and it will take very high winds. When camping with lots of people around, waking at 4 am, seeing Buttercup ( My M2 ) safe makes it easier to get back to sleep. I do use a big chunk of my mass allowance, but everyone has different priorities. I don't bring a lot of cook gear. Bring a towel. | ||
| Rasmonis |
I just bought a practically new military tent (two shelter halves with poles, stakes etc.) for $12 off ebay. Fits right in my tank bag (Givi - suction type) | ||
| Johnc |
I bought my gear at MEC like Ulendo. I bought the Tarn 2 tent (the MEC brand items are as good as or better than some of the more popular name brands and way less money) and a good down filled sleeping bag and a thermarest sleeping pad. All the camping gear goes in the yellow drypack (also from MEC in the paddling section). I don't usually carry cooking gear. I either eat on the road or buy something like a sub or 2 and eat them through the day. I carry all my clothes and personal item in a tank bag and soft saddle bags. Don't buy an el-cheapo tent, there's nothing worse than being soaked in the middle of a cold, stormy night.  | ||
| Sgtbuell |
great pic any body else got pics camping with their bikes. | ||
| Xbeau12s |
Hit me up and I can show you around! I've lived in Sturgis for over 10 years and recently moved to Lead (15 miles away from Sturgis) Lots of good back roads. Glencoe and Buffalo Chips are the best campgrounds by far. I'd stay at Glenco because they have a lot of big trees and it gets hot in a tent if your not in the shade! Closer to downtown too. | ||
| Xbullet |
That's not camping, that's deploying. We live in a civilized society. lol Kdan! i have learned that on the northside, that's true.  one other thing i haven't seen listed... WATERPROOF MATCHES!!! rubbing two sticks together sucks. | ||
| Chauly |
 | ||
| Chauly |
Wait, let me try again....  | ||
| Livnlo |
image\newurl{http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f13 /Sirbrbn/brbn/helmet/100_0481_1.jpg,http://i44.pho tobucket.com/albums/f13/Sirbrbn/brbn/helmet/100_04 81_1.jpg} | ||
| Livnlo |
i give up if some one could post that pic for me i would appreciate it thanks sully | ||
| 1313 |
You mean this? 1313  | ||
| Irideabuell |
Cycle World or Rider magazine had a very comprehensive article on camping and the best gear available a few months back. Sorry I can't nail down a more specific issue, but I give my mags to my buddy once I get the new one. | ||
| Dickc |
Rider June 2006... Special Issue... Motorcycle Camping 101. Dick | ||
| Cruisin |
Camping stuff is easy. We have a Eureka 10'x12' tent, tarp, queen size double height coleman air mattress, pillows, sheets, blankets, 10x10 awning with poles, two chairs, clothes - if it's chilly we have a coleman catalytic heater and our 20 pound propane tank. We'll bring a little grill if we expect to cook. The best part of it is, I don't have to carry any of it, she does  6 months pregnant and she still will usually hit triple digits on the thruway! | ||
| Howieshotrods |
A couple other things I would add: 1) when you do get a new tent, set it up at least once before your travels. That way if it is late and dark, or raining, or just state of mind, you have some idea how to put it up instead of learning when you get somewhere. 2) I like to bring clothing, and towels that I don't ever expect to bring back; underwear on it's last leg, old t-shirts, old towels...this will allow you to bring items back with you without having to find room to put them...things never seem to repack the same after you have unloaded all your gear. | ||
| Ceejay |
If your going out to buy some good stuff I'm gonna plug Dicks-I was just there buying some fishing stuff and checked out thier sleeping bags, some really nice stuff by Quest that was less than 50 bucks! they had some nice tents that you could crawl around in see how well they are made etc. and some of those were less than a hundo for a two person...Mom and pop joints are cool but they are getting few and far between and are usually carrying the high end stuff. | ||
| Blake |
http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/681 7/8693.html |
