Want to Get My Wife Into Camping

[Burbs]

I did a bit of camping when I was a kid and I've been wanting to do it for the last 3 years, but my wife is a bit unsure. Her biggest concern is the bathroom situation as she's a concerned with having to deal with a dirty bathroom, nor am I for that matter. 

I was curious as to what you've folks have done to try and get your significant others involved. She is willing to try it, but I want to make sure she enjoys it. Any advice?

One other thing, for those who do camp with the Concours, can you share some photos with the bike packed? I'm just trying to get an idea as to what you do.

Thanks,

-Chris

[Mettler1]

    A friend told me once. "If you want your wife to share your interest make sure she is comfortable!"

[stevewfl]

I prefer camping at Marriott  properties myself

[Burbs]

Her comfort is my main priority! We did "camp" at the Hampton Inn last year but it got to be expensive.

[VirginiaJim]

I prefer camping at Marriott  properties myself

Hilton for mine 

[twowheeladdict]

We did the tent for two campouts.  Then a pop-up for a year.  Then a full up travel trailer with queen bed, double stainless steel sink, fridge/freezer, full bathroom.  I got to cook outdoors and we enjoyed the campfire, hiking, biking etc.  She got her comfy bed, AC, and no trekking into the woods to pee.

Maybe a toy hauler.  Then you can set up base camp and take day rides on the bike together.

I still tent camp with friends or alone. 

[SteveJ.]

I also prefer the Textile Hilton, and the wife does occasionally come along.

Campground cleanliness: No guaranties. That being said(I hate that phrase almost as much at the end of the day), due diligence is important.

Read up on reviews of places you plan to go. Look at the facilities before you set up. Don't be afraid to cut and run, especially if you follow the advice in the next sentence. Get where you're going early. Don't even think about putting up a tent in a storm, get a room.

There are different levels of camping, from KOA style to stealth. At least in the beginning, you may want to tend toward the former.

BUY DECENT GEAR!!!! Walmart/Target and lower end Coleman tents all suck. Waking up wet at 3a.m. does really suck. My last cheap Coleman tent got shredded the first trip out down in the Keys. No more junk for us.

I do prefer to camp, you can sleep in your own stuff, no bed bug worries. Most folks at campgrounds are easy to chat up, and you can travel a lot farther and more often if you save $50-100/night in lodging, at least in my case.

[ZG]

    A friend told me once. "If you want your wife to share your interest make sure she is comfortable!"

+1... This is how we camp and mama loves it! 
 
 

 

 

[Conrad]

+1... This is how we camp and mama loves it! 
 
 

 

 

+1 with the mobile hotel room!

We did the tent thing with the kids for years, then moved up to a pop-up after a rain filled weekend. Now we pull around our hotel room and pretend we're roughing it.

If you really want to get into camping you may want to start out taking the cage then work your way up to taking the bike. Don't forget to make a list of all the things that you need to take. Its pretty aggravating to get to your campsite and start setting up only to find out that you forgot something, like and extra tarp for rain or the tent pegs or the hambuger buns or...

[Burbs]

We did the tent for two campouts.  Then a pop-up for a year.  Then a full up travel trailer with queen bed, double stainless steel sink, fridge/freezer, full bathroom.  I got to cook outdoors and we enjoyed the campfire, hiking, biking etc.  She got her comfy bed, AC, and no trekking into the woods to pee.

Maybe a toy hauler.  Then you can set up base camp and take day rides on the bike together.

I still tent camp with friends or alone.

I have seen these before and they are quite intriguing and practical but not my style at this point. But it is something I've thought about down the road as an option.

I also prefer the Textile Hilton, and the wife does occasionally come along.

Campground cleanliness: No guaranties. That being said(I hate that phrase almost as much at the end of the day), due diligence is important.

Read up on reviews of places you plan to go. Look at the facilities before you set up. Don't be afraid to cut and run, especially if you follow the advice in the next sentence. Get where you're going early. Don't even think about putting up a tent in a storm, get a room.

There are different levels of camping, from KOA style to stealth. At least in the beginning, you may want to tend toward the former.

BUY DECENT GEAR!!!! Walmart/Target and lower end Coleman tents all suck. Waking up wet at 3a.m. does really suck. My last cheap Coleman tent got shredded the first trip out down in the Keys. No more junk for us.

I do prefer to camp, you can sleep in your own stuff, no bed bug worries. Most folks at campgrounds are easy to chat up, and you can travel a lot farther and more often if you save $50-100/night in lodging, at least in my case.

I plan on buying a Marmot tent and the rest of my gear at REI. As for bailing on the campground that is sound advice, but would they refund me? What do you mean by KOA style? I get the stealth part, but do mean actual campgrounds? Are there any sites that give reviews?

I talked in length last night with her and her biggest concern is the bathroom situation. She's fine with the bugs, sleeping outdoors part, etc. I also told her that when we are on a trip, we will stay at a hotel a couple of nights as well especially for laundry.

One major concerns is packing the bike and fitting everything we need. I plan on doing a "trial run" at a local campground in New England to work out the kinks!!

-Chris

[Roadhound]

Chris, you can find campground reviews by state here; http://www.motocampers.com/?

KOA style is commercial campgrounds with all that goes with that type thing. Some do have nice tent areas and always have laundry facilities.

http://koa.com

My best advise is to keep everything as lightweight and simple as possible. I look at camping as Living outdoors, my tent is nothing more than sleeping quarters.

[Jim M.]

You need to get a campground directory like this one- http://www.woodalls.com/online-store/ProductDetails.aspx?itemNumber=288V
It has reviews and lists of amenities for most US campgrounds.
By the way, I much prefer our travel trailer than hotels. I know when the sheets were changed and who was in them last. Never bring an ultra violet light into a hotel room if you ever want to stay in one again!
 

[lt1]

I may understand the term differently than others, but I believe stealth camping is w/o a campground, w/o permission, whether on public or private lands.

Regardless of that, you might want to check out the International Brotherhood of Motorcycle Campers.  http://ibmc.org/  They have been around for a long time.  I never joined, but they may have a lot of useful information for you.

[Roadhound]

You need to get a campground directory like this one- http://www.woodalls.com/online-store/ProductDetails.aspx?itemNumber=288V[/url

I've found Woodalls to be worthless for tent campers. Many campgrounds are listed as having Tent Sites when in fact they have none.

[Ron Dawg]

My wife camped once on the ground in 1980 and got a sinus headache, so me moved to a pop up trailer. All was good until we spent two weeks in Colorado and it rained 13 days, so we moved to a fullsize camper in 2000. Queen sized bed, radio, tv, microwave, coffee, a/c, heat, yada, yada. All's good.

To this day, she'll tell you in a minute that she doesn't pee in a hole in the ground, but KOA style works. (KOA also has Kampin Kabins which are little log cabins w/A/c if you want to throw in one every 3 days or so on laundry day. I just make sure we've got a decent bathhouse with flush toilets and she's good to go.

I personally like Woodall but for RV's. For cheap, look into state parks. Most states now have a web site where you can see if they have showers and so forth.

REI typically takes anything back for any reason from members. Marmot's a good tent, I've got one.

[Burbs]

I picked up the tent this afternoon and I'm pretty impressed with the weight of it. I did look at some sleeping bags and if I want to have a sleeping bag that can stuff sacked to less than 10 liters, I'll be spending a bit more that I wanted. HOWEVER, we are REI Members and do get a 20% each, so that will help. Like I said, her biggest concern is the bathroom situation. If it's clean, then she's very happy!! I told her that if we did a 10 day trip for example, we would stay at a hotel 3 nights which she was happy with. After spending close to $1K on hotel rooms last year on our trip, we need to bring the costs down a bit.

Thank you all for the links to the reviews. I've been reading quite a few and I think I found a few good ones for our trial run that seem to have a pretty good reviews. As an FYI, I did find this site that seems pretty decent for those looking for another one. http://rvparkreviews.com/

-Chris

[Ron Dawg]

Oh, and btw, sleeping bag ratings are about 10-15 degrees optimistic. Figure 10 degrees minus from room temperature for every one inch of "loft" (thickness of the bag on a level surface). So a bag that is 4" thick would be good for about 72 degrees MINUS 40 degrees(4X10 degrees per inch) or about 32 degrees. (out of the wind and rain of course). Synthetic is warm even when wet, down is NOT. But you probably knew that.. 

[SteveJ.]

I plan on buying a Marmot tent and the rest of my gear at REI. As for bailing on the campground that is sound advice, but would they refund me?

Probably not. I virtually never get a reservation, I do not like being locked into an itinerary. Virtually all private campgrounds can come up with at least a spot somewhere to pitch a tent, while a lot of public campgrounds will turn you away if the official sites are full. I prefer private campgrounds over public, for this and fewer rules, etc. Most have a really nice tent section, or at least decent, some superb. I always ask if they have a "cash" rate, and that I do not need a receipt. Sometimes it helps.    I do make it a point to avoid KOA, though.

I talked in length last night with her and her biggest concern is the bathroom situation. She's fine with the bugs, sleeping outdoors part, etc. I also told her that when we are on a trip, we will stay at a hotel a couple of nights as well especially for laundry.

A lot of times, I'll set up a "Shamrock Tour", like from Road Runner magazine. I'll set up in a spot for 2-3 nights and explore the area in more depth. I'm usually at a private campground, a lot have laundry facilities. Just kinda work it in.  Actually stayed at a private campground near Kitwanga Junction, BC that had free laundry and free detergent. $12, clean showers, in the pines, next to a canyon, and free laundry. Whats not to like?

One major concerns is packing the bike and fitting everything we need. I plan on doing a "trial run" at a local campground in New England to work out the kinks!!

Truly a good idea.

Something I've learned lately is to just say no to cotton. Synthetic and high tech wicking clothing take a lot less space and can be "laundered" in the shower, and the stuff will dry very quickly. It's a lot more comfortable to wear, especially in the heat/humidity.

Dunno iff'n I mentioned before but check this out for a check list:

http://micapeak.com/checklists/mclist.html

-Chris

SteveJ.

[rcannon409]

Its one of THOSE nights. I'm hoping my wife will get into camping as well....as long as I dont have to go.

Seriously, I dont know who would not enjoy camping after waking up, enjoying clean air, and smelling a nice, strong cup of "jungle coffee".

[Rhino]

Love camping but hate campgrounds. I camp from my DR650 and go to the middle of nowhere. So bringing the wife is right out. Like the others said when camping with the wife my campground is Hilton, Marriott, Holiday Inn.

This is my idea of motorcycle camping, over 10,000' altitude and 10 miles from the nearest paved road: