Motorcycle Camping

[wonderings]

On the topic of tents, I have one of these:

http://dualsportplus.com/camping_gear/nomad_tents.html

It's maybe a bit big for camping on an SS, but when you have a gravel truck of a GS it's just right. Super roomy inside, easy to set up, and has the huge vestibule where you can get your bike out of the elements, or just sit and have a beer out of the rain. Spendy but excellent.

Was just looking at this at DualSport Plus 2 days ago when having my tires changed.

I love how tall it is, and the vestibule. I personally don't care about having a garage for my bike, but love having a covered area that you are not cramped in to sit when it rains. Not a bad price really, they have it listed for $418 at Dual sport, and it packs up reasonably small for its size, and would be even better for with a compression bag. Not sure if its rain proof or not, or if there is a cover, I don't see anything regarding that.

Also for sleeping matts, self inflating air matts are worth their weight in gold in my opinion. They pack small and only need you to turn the valve to let in inflate in about 15 mins.

 

[rafiki911]

Got mine from Europe Bound for around $60. It's my second favorite item in my camping gear. You open it up let it inflate and when its done blow into it a little and its better than a bulky air mattress that deflates over the night and sucks you in. lol I really can't stand the feel of the big air mattresses I cant get used to them.

Tent City prob has them at a good price too.

My favorite item in my gear is my modular US army sleeping bag If you camp a lot its the best thing out there. Was in -40 and I was the only warm one out of 5 people on that camping trip.

 

[ypcat]

Hello All,

My wife and I just bought a new motorcycle and luggage and camping gear from MEC. I've spent a fortune so far just planning everything out but we're getting very close to our first attempt at camping. We went with the Mutha Hubba tent, those 7 inch down filled air matresses for 188$ each, compression sacks, cargo nets, and the best stove/mess kit according to research that I could find, the Trangia set, and the matching kettle. We also bought the 4L water bladder, and the little water purifier pump for 72$ or so.

With this setup we can put one end of the pump in a swamp and screw the other into the bladder, pump for a few minutes and have 4 L of purified water. As for the food we can use a bit of alcohol and cook up anything we want at a picnic table - eggs, (they have egg holders) pancakes, soup, a can of anything or even a rice and chicken meal in a bag. We just have to hit grocery stores in our travels instead of restaurants and save a bundle. With the kettle and water we can make instant coffee with Coffee Mate anywhere we like.

If I have to pay big bucks up front for the equipment then I should be able to be frugal on the road - which is the plan so far. I will let you know how it works out.

 

[Wadadli]

I love camping especially when it involves a canoe, portaging, my fishing rod and not a car in site. Car camping or even motorcycling camping is okay but I think after a long day on the road I'm more interested in a bed, shower and an all-you can eat breakfast in the morning.

I recently went on a two week trip and only camped one night. Hotel/Motels were just too convenient. I found Comfort Inns, Hampton Inns etc more than willing to reduce the room rate when you show up at 9pm or 10pm in your gear. Usually we could get a room with two double beds between $70 to $100 depending on the location. These moderate hotels also provide all-you can eat breakfasts.

If you are set on camping then camp but I did some quick calculations and it would take approximately 5 x 4 night trips before camping would be cheaper than using hotel/motels.

I figure with tent/camping gear and motorcycle luggage/groceries you could easily spend $900 and with campsite costing approx $35/night plus whatever groceries you need for the trip you should be able to do 5 trips of 4 nights each costing about $2,000. You could do the same 5 trips and stay in hotels at an average price of $100/night.

Yes at the end of the 5 trips camping would be cheaper and you would have all that camping gear to go camping perhaps without the bike but if you only plan a couple of trips and don't want the hassle of carrying all the stuff using hotels might be worth considering.

I must say sitting in an outside hot tub sipping a cold beer looking at the stars made me glad all my camping gear was in a duffel bag on the floor of my hotel room.

This from someone who truly loves camping. - Perhaps I'm just getting too old.

 

[ypcat]

I'm not too old - I'm in that sweet spot between older than most trees but still younger than dirt. I do however have the song from Bugs Bunny playing in my head now that I've seen your avatar. (Hello my baby - hello my hunny - hello my rag time girl...%)

Well I'm not sure I like camping on the bike. It's very heavy on the bike and lots of work and I'm a bit partial to hotels and motels too. Nevertheless I did it and we had fun and I tried to post some pics of my rig here but they're a bit too big.

 

[djez]

Still enjoying Camping and its my preferred form of accommodation when doing motorcycle tour. I think mainly its because in my old country we did not have the luxury of the good weather and safe camping spots, so I want to enjoy it here as much as I can.

 

[omnivore]

When I camp on the bike, in the US, I never spend more than $15/night on a site.....And that's on the days when I need a shower cuz I can't stand my own stink anymore,LOL. Many times I will just dry camp wherever I like.

 

[Wadadli]

If you want to camp then I say camp. It's a great experience. I guess my point was if you are doing it to save money but are going out to buy all the gear its going to take a couple of season's worth of trips to make it less expensive than using hotels.


Here is my bike loaded with camping gear. I was able to keep all my camping stuff to the yellow duffel. The weight did not seem too bad but getting on and off the bike was a bit of a gymnastic move. I would have preferred to lose the bag, save the weight and swing my leg over the bike like I normally do. Hard to look cool when you are hopping around on one foot trying to kick the other between the tail bag and the tank

 

[CruisnGrrl]

Here is my set up from my trip out west...

The tank bag is the "backpack helmet bag" from icon and I would keep my purse, snacks, a gatorade, flash light and some basic tools.

The side cases are 36? litre givi hard cases. In one side case I would carry clothes, the other everything else (toiletries, food, bug spray, hatchet, tarp, etc). The side cases are not water proof.

The yellow bag is a "dry sac" and in it I have my 20 year old sleeping bag (you probably can get smaller bags perform just as well but it's paid for), a self inflating air mattress (i find it takes a couple hours to inflate properly) and a fleece sweater that doubles as a pillow. under the cargo net I have rain gear and boot covers. Not really visible are my 2 person tent, fold up stool, soft cooler, bike cover and extra jacket.

for my trip i brought a mesh jacket with liner and a leather jacket. there were a couple evenings and mornings that i wished for the leather's liner.

 

[ItIsWhatItIs]

Here is my set up from my trip out west...

The tank bag is the "backpack helmet bag" from icon and I would keep my purse, snacks, a gatorade, flash light and some basic tools.

The side cases are 36? litre givi hard cases. In one side case I would carry clothes, the other everything else (toiletries, food, bug spray, hatchet, tarp, etc). The side cases are not water proof.

The yellow bag is a "dry sac" and in it I have my 20 year old sleeping bag (you probably can get smaller bags perform just as well but it's paid for), a self inflating air mattress (i find it takes a couple hours to inflate properly) and a fleece sweater that doubles as a pillow. under the cargo net I have rain gear and boot covers. Not really visible are my 2 person tent, fold up stool, soft cooler, bike cover and extra jacket.

for my trip i brought a mesh jacket with liner and a leather jacket. there were a couple evenings and mornings that i wished for the leather's liner.

Have not been followng thread, all the best on your trip. Something to consider for your side cases. My backpack is not waterproof, I use my raincover for my bicycle panier bags: Works great. You should be able to buy panier rain covers for about 10 bucks.

 

[rafiki911]

Been camping a few times now with the bike and have figured out what works for me. I bought a bungee net and bungee cord(long one with out hooks) and wrap the gear first with the cord tightly then with the net for extra security.

Thinking of getting a duffel bag to just stuff the gear into cause it's kind of hard to balance everything on the bike before getting the cord around it if your alone, which I have been each time I've put this together. Got it down packed to a science now though. Takes me about 5 minutes.

Oh the gear that I bring is: sleeping bag, self inflating mat, tent, waterproof bag with clothing and everything else, and a small camp chair.

 

[shanekingsley]

There is an outlet store for Europe Bound on Queen st east near parliament - never been inside but they say it 50% off everything and more.

 

[djez]

My bike setup camping 8 days of 10 day trip to newfoundland, done 2-up with my wife and with another couple on a yamaha thunderace. Missing in the pic is camping mat which was strapped on top of the topcase. I did cook on this trip but had no stove yet only a small grill stand to put over the campire. I did made several stove using coke cans and after some trial i got 3 for specific use.

 

[CruisnGrrl]

My bike setup camping 8 days of 10 day trip to newfoundland, done 2-up with my wife and with another couple on a yamaha thunderace. Missing in the pic is camping mat which was strapped on top of the topcase. I did cook on this trip but had no stove yet only a small grill stand to put over the campire. I did made several stove using coke cans and after some trial i got 3 for specific use.

how small are your sleeping bags? I find that is the bulk of my strapped on gear (it and the camping mat fit in the yellow bag in my pic)

 

[djez]

2 sleeping bags and the tent in its individual compression sack all can fit in one side case. My sleeping bag is the puffin 200 rated to 0deg, my wife's sleeping bag is the same size but different brand. Tent, rain fly and print will compress same size as the sleeping bag. Poles fit in any of the cases.

For this trip learned how to make the sleeping mat from CT smaller by cutting it up so it can folded it into a small rectangle, then cuts were taped with duct tape, smaller than rolling it into a tube.

Tent,cooking eating supply, collapsible ice chest and water jug, rain gear on top case. 1st side bag have my clothes, sleeping bag, 2nd have my wife's clothes her sleeping bag and our sandals( I have more clothes than my wife). Tank bag has my SLR, 1 change shirt and socks for both of us.


I think we did packed efficiently on this trip, but on my last trip west I think I brought too much.

Our trip out west report is here http://www.gtamotorcycle.com/vbforu...-Report-Trip-to-Canada-s-easternmost-province

 

[CruisnGrrl]

even with a compression bag my sleeping bag goes from the size of 2 basket balls to 1 basket ball. it's good to about -15 (or at least it was when i bought it 20 years ago) It's i think filled with poly or something else that isn't very small but has excellent warmth and drying properties when it gets wet.

 

[GAR]

It's incredible to see camping w/ two up, I travelled light on my own & thought that was pretty good!
Think I'll put on the tank bag for the next one out West, after doing the East Coast.

 

[djez]

It's incredible to see camping w/ two up, I travelled light on my own & thought that was pretty good!
Think I'll put on the tank bag for the next one out West, after doing the East Coast.

View attachment 25854

As experienced on our 2-up east coast trip, we planned well. We did a test camping in PA to determine what and what not to bring a week prior to the trip.
But on my last trip solo to West, I think i bought too much and still find some stuffs i need missing like my SLR)

I think it all come down to preparation and making sure you and your 2-up agreed on what and and what not to bring.



I think its worth to get a smaller sleeping bag for the trip at -15 I would rather be in a motel although I did enjoyed a camping trip att -5 in the rain before( stove in the tent vestiibule and a good sleeping bag kept me warm --or its all the alchohol).
Im looking for 2 sleeping bags that zip together so that me and the wifey can snuggle together, they have one in Costco but its too big for my taste.

 

[wonderings]

I use 2 light 10+ sleeping bags, both of them in my bag are maybe the size of 1 basketball. Now thats for the summer obviously, winter is a different story.

 

[atss2006]

Went to Barber in Alabama then to the dragon. First time for a long trip with the bike and first time camping.
Here's the bike loaded up.

Heres all the gear I took along