Any Campers Here?

[smokeyblue]

I know it isn't near time to go camping in much of the country, but I am dying to get away. Covid and some serious issues with my travel trailer thwarted my plans this past summer. I have preliminary plans to buy a brand new trailer in the spring and sell my very cute, vintage trailer that is beyond my repair capability and not capable of some of the camping I'd like to do. I'm hoping to have a solar set-up so I can go off-grid.

I live in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan so I have about a million places to go camping with a half-hour to 3 hour drive. I plan to go to a lot of those places. I also love northern Wisconsin and I've never been to door county. A trip out to the badlands isn't out of the the question either. I also like northern lower Michigan, but unless the Mackinac Bridge Authority resumes their program where they will drive your vehicle across the bridge for you, there is no way I am towing a trailer across that bridge!

I'm really curious if anyone else likes to camp? Any suggestions for where I can go? Where are you going or like to go? What kind of set-up do you have?

 

[Katie Dawn]

Howdy! Fellow camper here.

Wanted to let you know there's an entire board on here for campers. I haven't visited it regularly in quite awhile but if you click "Camping Community Board" towards the top that's mostly where people discuss non-Disney specific (general camping) topics.

Our family are tent campers. It would be nice to get a camping trailer one of these days.

 

[NYCgrrl]

Loveee camping and currently doing it with a tent albeit a large one with as many conveniences as I can cram in, LOL.
So many possibilities for doing so as an”Yooper”. I’d just pick a spot that looks good and go .

 

[Sjm9911]

Here is the camping at disney sub fourm.
https://www.disboards.com/forums/camping-at-disney-world.24/If you click there, then on the top is a camping fourm link. Lots of dis campers out there, stop in and say hi! Tent campers are welcome also! Btw, they have some dismeets where disney like folks go camping in a group, so a rally. Others in your neck of the woods have better places for you to go. Im a bit east of you , being on the jersey coast. What camper did you have and what arw you looking at getting? Snow will be melting soon, but not soon enough.

 

[low-key]

I am much to delicate for camping

 

[Sjm9911]

I am much to delicate for camping

Go glamping then, there is camping for everyone now a days!

 

[RamblingMad]

I go camping throughout AZ and CA. It's a lot different than Michigan. I don't really have to worry much about bugs or condensation. The later is a big problem in humid areas.

My suggestion is to go with a REI tent and some MSR stakes. That'll save you a lot of grief. You can get a knock off of a Yeti cooler from Cabela that's just as good but a fraction of the price. I also suggest you setup all of your gear in your backyard to test everything out before you go.

 

[Turn the Page]

Porcupine Mountains. It is absolutely stunning.

 

[bcla]

I go camping throughout AZ and CA. It's a lot different than Michigan. I don't really have to worry much about bugs or condensation. The later is a big problem in humid areas.

Depends on the area. I've worried about bugs in California, and in certain areas there are bears. Very creative bears. Food storage is very important. I've been woken up by a park ranger pounding on someone's RV door, where that person left a cooler outside hooked up to their bumper. I don't know what it's called where there's a platform on the side.

 

[Colleen27]

I don't tow, so my setup is pretty compact - I have a custom-built platform that converts my mini-van into a camper of sorts. We took it cross country in '19, from Detroit to San Francisco the long way around (just shy of 10,000 miles total, through 16 states and about as many national parks/monuments) and it was a good enough fit for my two daughters and I. We didn't do any camping with it this year, though, preferring AirBnB rentals over campgrounds during the pandemic. And next year the rig will look radically different because I'm adding a hard-shell rooftop tent and modifying the platform to something more semi-permanent with space for a small power station and portable solar panel to save stress on my van's battery since we're planning on taking it long-haul again and into more remote areas this time (Alaska). With the modifications, I should be able to comfortably sleep 4 to 5 with two separate, private sleeping spaces - 2-3 on top, 2 inside - just in case my husband decides to join me on one of my "crazy adventures" (his words) or one of the girls wants to bring a friend along.

You live in my most frequent camping destination, so a lot of my suggestions are probably in your backyard. We had a great couple of days hiking the Porkies and kayaking at Seney Wildlife Refuge this past summer. We've also done Pictured Rocks, and stay at the St. Ignace KOA about every other summer to visit Tahquamenon, Whitefish Point, Kitch-iti-kipi and once in a great while Mackinac Island. We also really like the area around the Pere Marquette National Forest, in the mid-upper part of the Mitten, around Baldwin and Ludington. It is much less touristy and quieter, with nice fishing and hiking. Port Austin, at the tip of the Thumb, is lovely too, though I'm not sure I'd make the trip if it wasn't as close as it is to where I live.

Further afield, I absolutely adored Glacier National Park. It is without a doubt the most beautiful place I've ever been and I hope to get back there next summer for a couple of days. The Badlands in SD were stunning, but we actually enjoyed the ND Badlands and Teddy Roosevelt National Park more. Fewer people (though that was partly just bad timing - we were in SD just before Sturgis Bike Week) and a really cute, though cheesy-touristy, town at the gateway to the park. And in a radically different direction I just love Shenandoah NP, probably because I grew up camping there. It has a nice mix of wilderness and tourist town, especially if you're traveling with kids.

 

[smokeyblue]

Here is the camping at disney sub fourm.
https://www.disboards.com/forums/camping-at-disney-world.24/If you click there, then on the top is a camping fourm link. Lots of dis campers out there, stop in and say hi! Tent campers are welcome also! Btw, they have some dismeets where disney like folks go camping in a group, so a rally. Others in your neck of the woods have better places for you to go. Im a bit east of you , being on the jersey coast. What camper did you have and what arw you looking at getting? Snow will be melting soon, but not soon enough.

I have a 13' 1986 Serro Scotty right now. I do love it and it holds sentimental value, but it needs some water damage repair which would include replacing paneling and reinstalling a window. It also needs a new or rebuilt door. Doable repairs, but I don't have the time or desire to do them.

I am looking at R-Pods or possibly something similar. I just need to figure what layout is going to work best for me. I typically go alone, and want to be able to go in the woods so I don't want anything monster-sized.

EDIT: Of course I want to go in the woods, LOL. I mean more off-grid or rustic-type camping.

 

[smokeyblue]

I don't tow, so my setup is pretty compact - I have a custom-built platform that converts my mini-van into a camper of sorts. We took it cross country in '19, from Detroit to San Francisco the long way around (just shy of 10,000 miles total, through 16 states and about as many national parks/monuments) and it was a good enough fit for my two daughters and I. We didn't do any camping with it this year, though, preferring AirBnB rentals over campgrounds during the pandemic. And next year the rig will look radically different because I'm adding a hard-shell rooftop tent and modifying the platform to something more semi-permanent with space for a small power station and portable solar panel to save stress on my van's battery since we're planning on taking it long-haul again and into more remote areas this time (Alaska). With the modifications, I should be able to comfortably sleep 4 to 5 with two separate, private sleeping spaces - 2-3 on top, 2 inside - just in case my husband decides to join me on one of my "crazy adventures" (his words) or one of the girls wants to bring a friend along.

You live in my most frequent camping destination, so a lot of my suggestions are probably in your backyard. We had a great couple of days hiking the Porkies and kayaking at Seney Wildlife Refuge this past summer. We've also done Pictured Rocks, and stay at the St. Ignace KOA about every other summer to visit Tahquamenon, Whitefish Point, Kitch-iti-kipi and once in a great while Mackinac Island. We also really like the area around the Pere Marquette National Forest, in the mid-upper part of the Mitten, around Baldwin and Ludington. It is much less touristy and quieter, with nice fishing and hiking. Port Austin, at the tip of the Thumb, is lovely too, though I'm not sure I'd make the trip if it wasn't as close as it is to where I live.

Further afield, I absolutely adored Glacier National Park. It is without a doubt the most beautiful place I've ever been and I hope to get back there next summer for a couple of days. The Badlands in SD were stunning, but we actually enjoyed the ND Badlands and Teddy Roosevelt National Park more. Fewer people (though that was partly just bad timing - we were in SD just before Sturgis Bike Week) and a really cute, though cheesy-touristy, town at the gateway to the park. And in a radically different direction I just love Shenandoah NP, probably because I grew up camping there. It has a nice mix of wilderness and tourist town, especially if you're traveling with kids.

Sounds like a great set up and plans. My original plan was to camp out of my Subaru Outback in similar style. Than circumstances rapidly changed and I upgraded to a full-size pick up. Was going to buy a used topper and camp out of the back of that and I had the opportunity to buy my current trailer.

Sounds like some really great trips. I would love to get out to Glacier, I just haven't done the research yet. I think I'd want someone to tag along if I went that far.

 

[smokeyblue]

I am much to delicate for camping

I think you'd love it.

 

[RamblingMad]

Depends on the area. I've worried about bugs in California, and in certain areas there are bears. Very creative bears. Food storage is very important. I've been woken up by a park ranger pounding on someone's RV door, where that person left a cooler outside hooked up to their bumper. I don't know what it's called where there's a platform on the side.

I've never had any trouble with bears. In CA I always use the food storage containers for bears.

 

[bcla]

I've never had any trouble with bears. In CA I always use the food storage containers for bears.

I've never personally had any problem. However, I can't say the same for my camping neighbors.

 

[RamblingMad]

I've never personally had any problem. However, I can't say the same for my camping neighbors.

Some people don't take seriously not leaving food in their vehicles and experienced issues with bears. I love the video that play at Yosemite Lodge of the bear destroying someone's vehicle.

 

[Sjm9911]

Ive had bears in trees above me when i had a pop up. Black bears, so not the menacing type. They can do damage. Idiot before me was feeding them. So the rangers had to come and move them, but then they, the bears, came back. Im assuming they were destroyed after that as relocation didnt take. But not sure. They cleared us out first. So i didnt get to see. Most places with bears have boxes to store your stuff. When in bear county, put food in the TV, and hide coolers. Even empty they associate them with food.

Yea, a smaller camper is nice. R pods are nice but a bit pricey for me. There are lots of small TT you can tow that will go places. All depends on how far off the grid you want. And what you want to spend. Many do axel flips on the pups because they go more dispursed. Me im ok just on the edge of that.

I went a bit bigger with my TT, so i do like 50 /50 state parks and vacation destionations. Not really off the grid but i can go 5 days without hook ups. And go to disneyworld too!

 

[bcla]

Some people don't take seriously not leaving food in their vehicles and experienced issues with bears. I love the video that play at Yosemite Lodge of the bear destroying someone's vehicle.

I accidentally left a couple of Clip Bars in my trunk. But usually that doesn't result in anything. Usually the idea is that if the bears get a reward for their efforts, they'll keep on doing it. I've heard of some bears that got a good score once with a particular model of car and would try to break into the same model even if there was nothing. I know for sure it's impossible to 100% remove food odors from a vehicle.

But I've seen what happens when a bear box lock wouldn't properly close. That wasn't pretty. I've also talked to someone whose backpack was snatched by a bear. He said he barely looked away when he then saw the bear drag it away.

 

[WebmasterMaryJo]

Love to go camping. My go-to destinations are Sequoia and Yosemite. I can actually tent camp in Sequoia, and kind of camp at Yosemite in the valley. We were going to go this year, but, well, you know. I am hoping we can go in 2021

 

[Katie Dawn]

Some people don't take seriously not leaving food in their vehicles and experienced issues with bears. I love the video that play at Yosemite Lodge of the bear destroying someone's vehicle.

Following food storage guidelines is so important! We mostly camp in the Smoky Mountains and if you're at a campground you're actually SUPPOSED to keep food stored in your vehicle. (Back country camping is different of course.) But we only have black bears here, no grizzlies.

Ultimately it's the camper's responsibility to find out what the regulations are for that area/campground. I teach my kids that not following food storage rules will ultimately/likely result in the bear being euthanized.

https://www.nps.gov/grsm/planyourvi...kept sealed in,containers must also be stored.