test things out at home first go YAMPING!!!!!!!!!

[Woodbutcher]

Sounds like a good idea Slow. I should have tried that before hitting my first gathering 2 weeks ago. After the end of the season last year I cleaned out the Teardrop for the winter. Bring in all perishables and wash all the bedding. After washing everything I wrapped it in a big plastic bag so I am ready for next season. Well when I re loaded for the gathering I missed several things I use every time I camp. Included among the missing things were my sheets. I had the blanket comforter and 2 pillow cases. Off to Walmart I went! So a trial run would have been a big help!

[Dale M.]

I have always advocated , if you are buying a new tent, set it up in back yard before making the run to the campground.... You find out the included plastic tent stakes are worthless and the zipper will not zip....

And same for tire chains.... Try them on tire while in driveway long before snows come, That way if they are wrong you have time to exchange them, if they need "fitting" you have the time and resources available....

Sleeping over nigh in driveway in teardrop might reveal things you need to change before the start of trip...

Dale

[kirkman]

I do it all the time every time I get something new or change some thing I spend the night out in the yard testing. My wife says I'm She's probably right.

[Lancie49]

They just don't understand do they..................

[kirkman]

Lancie49....... No they don't and I don't think they ever will!

[pete42]

I do it all the time every time I get something new or change some thing I spend the night out in the yard testing. My wife says I'm She's probably right.

while she knows you better than we do I don't think they understand most don't like to be bothered with the details
then there are the ladies on this site that know more about building and remodeling campers than I will ever know.
the old saying about "don't judge a book by it's cover" was never more true than the people here.

slow Very good idea In the past I have set or is it sat up camp in my back driveway plugged into the back garage's power
and spent a couple days and nights in the camper trying to use everything I would use on an actual camping trip.
I found it helps to sort out what is needed and what is just weight to be carried.

pete

[stumphugger]

But but....there will be no adventures. Like having to improvise something and then having a good tale to tell. We are becoming such a society of schedulers and planners.

Nope. I bravely took off on two trips so far this year without a checklist, without camping in the yard. I don't think I'd sleep too well in the yard. I do not have any level, accessible ground so would fear rolling off the hillside--which would turn my Yamping into an adventure and a tale to be told, if I survived. Nor is camping inside the dreary shop appealling.

I think there was something I forgot but I have forgotten what it was. Apparently, not anything important as I have no amusing tales to tell.

[Mukilteo]

A few years back I had everything loaded but my clothes.
Realized this 150 miles into my trip to the farm to do some boondocking.
Stopped at the Walmart in Ephrata, WA and restocked.

[doug hodder]

After you decide all the stuff that you might forget...make a punchlist to maybe keep in the trailer so you can do a check prior to taking off. It usually pops into my head what I forgot...but it always seems to pop about 50 miles out. Doug

[pete42]

A few years back I had everything loaded but my clothes.
Realized this 150 miles into my trip to the farm to do some boondocking.
Stopped at the Walmart in Ephrata, WA and restocked.

headed for a two week sailboat trip in the great lakes at the end of the first day
my wife said I didn't want to tell you but I forgot your sail bag it's still home.
like you a quick visit to the local walmart and I was ready to go.

having a commercial pilots license I have been taught to use checklist.
I have one now for my trip to Baltimore next week..

pete

[DragonFire]

Slow..I think you have a great idea there. I was planning on driveway camping before the Dam, but ran out of time..luckily everything went smoothly.

I tested out equipment before I left..the 10x10, the potty tent..everything but the stove, but I didn't even use it (although Lazybones fired it up and it works fine)..and you are in an ideal location to 'yamp'...those of us in cities aren't all that keen on yamping..due to sloped driveways, traffic noise, etc. But trying out the Dutch oven on coals and things like that are great. And being that you are in the country..you SHOULD be yamping..or at least using your tear to keep an eye on other parts of the ranch when needed.

It got to be 34 degrees at the Dam a few weeks ago. You'll be fine in 40 degrees. Get your camping gear, 'fake fire', and DO with recipes and food, and go yamping. It just makes sense for you to use your tear as an overnight spot so you don't have to go back and forth to the house so much. It's more efficient and you will be having fun yamping at the same time.

I wish I had some space..I'd yamp every weekend!

[Wolffarmer]

You might say I just did something in between camping and yamping yesterday. Took a little trip up to Craters of the Moon Monument. Southern part is not to far from me. Did about 120 miles from end of pavement to back to pavement. Less than 1/2 tank of gas and some great solitary camping. No man made lights could be seen last night other than mine. But it wasn't so far from home that forgetting something or something minor going wrong would ruin it. Oh, and it is free to get in down here. Not like up at the headquarters.

Randy