Picking your brains on a few things (tent camping related)

[Laurabearz]

Hello everyone! I am new to tent camping (as an adult, doing all the work, loved it as a child lol) and I have a whole bunch of questions for general tent camping, so I thought I would toss them out to you all...

I have found and booked our first camping trip for a State Park up in Wisconsin this May. I know our reserved spot is one of the least desired spots, because it's often the last reserved area of the park So while the Park is nice, I am prepared to deal with our location lol

Anyway to the questions...

Most camp sites have the concrete drive and a sandy patch behind it for tents and such.

-When I read Campsite descriptions it often states how long of a parking pad there is... since we are tent campers do you think I should look for shorter parking pad sizes (when booking site unseen) or longer ones... What we want is a larger tent pad.. and just room enough for our Van...

-Do the tents normally have to be completely on the sand or can they do into the grass or on the concrete a bit?

In our case it's Gravel instead of concrete.. do you think it would be ok to set up our Screen house on the gravel, if our sandpad is too small for both, or is the gravel to rough on the tent... (Coleman 15/12 screen house)

Since we are going in May I want to be prepared for rain.. Is it normally ok to use surrounding trees to support over head tarps? Or should I bring extra poles and stakes? I think I grasp the whole concept of keeping rain out.. nothing touching the sides, tarp under the tent but not extended beyond the edges, making sure tent is up firmly but not over stretched etc... just need to know if Trees are fair game as support...

We would like to be able to run my DH's Sleep Apena machine and a fan in the tent... our site has Electicity 30 amp... what does that mean? I know there are 15 amp and up.. but what does that mean? lol Are their different shaped plugs? or all three pronged normal ones? (Is this a really lame question?)

Also we might camp over the summer and was looking at AC units... What amp would I need to run Apena, Fan, and AC unit (small window unit dont own it yet)

Ok I think that's it for now... but I am sure there are more to follow

 

[disney4dan]

We would like to be able to run my DH's Sleep Apena machine and a fan in the tent... our site has Electicity 30 amp... what does that mean? I know there are 15 amp and up.. but what does that mean? lol Are their different shaped plugs? or all three pronged normal ones? (Is this a really lame question?)

Also we might camp over the summer and was looking at AC units... What amp would I need to run Apena, Fan, and AC unit (small window unit dont own it yet)

Ok I think that's it for now... but I am sure there are more to follow

First, the 30 amp listed for the site means that it is likely to have both a 30-amp style plug that is similar to an electric dryer type plug in a house. I did a quick google and have not found too many good photos, but I seem to recall Larry had a few shots in a thread a while back.

Also, most campgrounds that offer 30-amp also have two regular household type plugs that are usually 20-amp rated.

If you plan on running an AC, sleep apnea machine and fan, etc. then my suggestion is to go with one of those handy little gadgets called a travel trailer or RV where they have convenient places to store the tent! They also do pretty good at keeping the rain out.

All kidding aside, if you plan on that many electrical appliances, you will want to invest in some good quality extension cords that can handle the load. You can make, and maybe buy, a setup that would allow you to take the 30-amp, 240 volt plug and convert to a group of 20 amp, 120 volt outlets which will allow you to have more things running. I'm not sure what "quality" current your sleep apnea machine will need. Some campground electrical circuits suffer from voltage drop and brownout conditions when too many people are running appliances.

 

[BigDaddyRog]

30 amp plug...

 

[Laurabearz]

So if a site says it has 30 amp service that's the only plug it will have? It wont have any normal household type plugs? Or more often than not there are 20 amp plugs... But we should be prepared with a converter just incase our 30 amp site doesnt have 20 amp service?


As for the electronics... Trust me when I say the WHOLE campsite wants my DH to have his Machine of Shame (as he calls it) I happened to need moving air and can't sleep without it, and there are places we would love to camp in mid July, where the heat would be unbearable at night without AC, yet the attractions in summer are worth being there at those times..

Now while some of YOU may have room to keep an RV/Popup thingamabob where YOU live, WE dont. And half the fun is trying to stay dry and cool in our tent, and with a little help from our friends I hope we can...

 

[AuburnJen92]

there are regular plugs at the sites...i think there was four, but don't quote me on it

 

[BigDaddyRog]

Most campgrounds will have both....Plug for RVs as well as regular plugs, make sure you get "outdoor" extension chords.....I cant sleep well without a decent air current either...and used to have HORRIBLE sleep apnea! So I can certainly understand ya'lls position.

 

[Laurabearz]

Between our Halloween and Christmas Decorations we are well stocked up on some serious outdoor extention cords. But 100's of feet of that is no good if we have no place to plug it in

So what about using the surrounding trees to aid in securing your shelter? Is that frowned upon?

 

[BigDaddyRog]

Ive seen it done many many times...as well as hanging hammocks and clothes lines....I doubt there would be a rule against it. Do it and if they dont like it they will let you know.

 

[disney4dan]

So if a site says it has 30 amp service that's the only plug it will have? It wont have any normal household type plugs? Or more often than not there are 20 amp plugs... But we should be prepared with a converter just incase our 30 amp site doesnt have 20 amp service?


As for the electronics... Trust me when I say the WHOLE campsite wants my DH to have his Machine of Shame (as he calls it) I happened to need moving air and can't sleep without it, and there are places we would love to camp in mid July, where the heat would be unbearable at night without AC, yet the attractions in summer are worth being there at those times..

Now while some of YOU may have room to keep an RV/Popup thingamabob where YOU live, WE dont. And half the fun is trying to stay dry and cool in our tent, and with a little help from our friends I hope we can...

First, want to make sure that my sorry attempt at humor did not come across as a slam - most people here tend to try and throw some form of humor in their replies, and sometimes it falls flat. So, my little comment about buying an RV was not meant to be taken seriously.

But back to the more important stuff like getting you some answers! I knew with a fresh cup of coffee in me and a good night's sleep I could find this link. It's a site operated by a regular poster on this board and it also includes information on camping in general. http://www.title-3.com/FWFacts.htmThis page has a photo near the bottom which shows the electrical hook-ups at the Fort. Some are changing from what I hear as they update, but this website has lots of great information. Also, I think the thread with photos of tent camping will include a lot of what you will want to see. There are all kinds of set-ups that show air conditioners in tents, portable refrigerators, lots of lights, etc. so you should be fine and the amount of appliances that you are bringing is actually not as much as what some posters have shown in their setups.

Also, forgive my ignorance on the sleep apnea machine, but I'm not sure if it's a critical device where his health might be in jeapardy if the voltage does not work correctly (like pacemaker kind of necessary) or just quality of sleep and therefore overall long term health and happiness. I don't know if the electricity at the Fort is subject to voltage drops or spikes at all as we have not stayed there in our RV yet. Some people install current protectors on their heavy duty electrical connections so that it does not damage any expensive electrical devices.

Hope you have a fantastic and "cool" time at the Fort. Just like fishing, a bad day at WDW still beats a good day at work anytime!

 

[GoofyGang]

You may want to check the website for your state parks or make a phone call. Here in Florida it is prohibited to attach anything to any vegetation. They do check and they will make you remove it. (first hand experience)

 

[Laurabearz]

Sleep apena is where someone stops breathing many many times a night. One of the sypmtoms is extreme snoring.... EXTREME SNORING.. So while he most likely would not die if he didnt have his machine, he would be tired and crabbby AND the WHOLE camp ground would be tired and Crabby because, in the case of my DH, his snoring is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO LOUD, when his machine breaks he is sent to the basement 2 floors away behind 2 closed doors where it still keeps me awake at night. Poor man.

As for the Exact outlet I dont need that, because we are not camping at the FOrt, we are camping in Wisconsin

And I will check Wis. State park site for info on hanging things from trees th anks!

 

[ntsammy5]

Here in Florida it is prohibited to attach anything to any vegetation.

Yeah, that happens in NY too, but it's campground specific.

We usually try to avoid putting up tents on/near pads because it can be a hassle with the stakes. Try to keep everything in the sand/grass as much as possible. But having said that do what ever works.

In WS in May I don't think you'll end up using A/C. I love southern campers. They never go without A/C.


Have fun. Make sure to pack the beer!

 

[Laurabearz]

hehe.. No the AC is for a trip in mid JULY... It will be chilly in May in Wisconsin lol

Well I just spent a couple of hours poking around the Wisconsin's Dept of Natural Resourses website and can only find rules about firewood and partiing to loud....

I guess I will bring extra trap poles just to be safe....

 

[We4mickey]

I don't think you'll have any problem with using a tree as long as you aren't putting a nail in it. We have done it many times. Our state parks aren't really too bad other than the wood and quiet time. Which park are you going to?

 

[Laurabearz]

We are going to Mirror Lake SP

Our original plan was to try Devil's Lake (or Head I forget at the moment lol) and this past March while we were at Great Wolf we drove through both of the parks, but it was hard to tell with so much snow, and so much of both parks closed...

So I just picked one and went with it... lol

it's our first time camping.. our expectations are very low... and we expect a HUGE learning curve

I also booked a site for end of July to go back when the dells in full swing (when we would like the AC) but we will check out the site on this trip and see if it's worth it. As it is we have the last picked sites on site, so we could be right by the road or who knows what lol

Are you familar with Mirror Lake? If so how bad are sites around 115? lol

if you dont know, we will know in less than a month! haha

Oh and I am way way WAY too excited!!

 

[JCJRSmith]

Sleep apena is where someone stops breathing many many times a night. One of the sypmtoms is extreme snoring.... EXTREME SNORING.. So while he most likely would not die if he didnt have his machine, he would be tired and crabbby AND the WHOLE camp ground would be tired and Crabby because, in the case of my DH, his snoring is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO LOUD, when his machine breaks he is sent to the basement 2 floors away behind 2 closed doors where it still keeps me awake at night. Poor man.

As for the Exact outlet I dont need that, because we are not camping at the FOrt, we are camping in Wisconsin

And I will check Wis. State park site for info on hanging things from trees th anks!

Take it from a sleep apnea sufferer, not having the CPAP functioning will not kill him, but those trying to sleep around him may kill him so they can get some sleep.

True story: the first night I had my CPAP I went to bed about an hour before my wife. Slept like a brick. The next morning she was exhausted from not sleeping because it was "Freakishly quiet" in the room, and she kept checking to see if I was still alive.

 

[BigDaddyRog]

Take it from a sleep apnea sufferer, not having the CPAP functioning will not kill him, but those trying to sleep around him may kill him so they can get some sleep.

True story: the first night I had my CPAP I went to bed about an hour before my wife. Slept like a brick. The next morning she was exhausted from not sleeping because it was "Freakishly quiet" in the room, and she kept checking to see if I was still alive.

My kids wouldnt have friends sleep over because of my snoring!!! It has completely stopped since Ive lost a few pounds though. But I would sit up to sleep as soon as I fell asleep....always woke up wondering"Why am I sitting up AGAIN!!!!" I woke up exhausted every single day...more tired than when I went to bed.

Im much better now...I still dont sleep much..but I blame the DIS for that!!!

 

[clkelley]

One thing you need to get, as all electrical at campsites is not created equal, and since you need to use a CPAP machine is the following:
You plug this into the power pole BEFORE you plug your stuff in, and it lets you know if everything is wired correctly and won't blow up your stuff.

The second two pictures are a 30 Amp to 15 Amp converter, so if you don't have enought standard household receptacles at your pole, you can use the 30 Amp receptacle.

Use heavy duty outdoor extension cords running from the pole to your tent and a good surge protector inside your tent.

 

[Laurabearz]

One thing you need to get, as all electrical at campsites is not created equal, and since you need to use a CPAP machine is the following:
You plug this into the power pole BEFORE you plug your stuff in, and it lets you know if everything is wired correctly and won't blow up your stuff.

The second two pictures are a 30 Amp to 15 Amp converter, so if you don't have enought standard household receptacles at your pole, you can use the 30 Amp receptacle.

Use heavy duty outdoor extension cords running from the pole to your tent and a good surge protector inside your tent.

I love you!!! This is exactly what we needed to know! Thanks! Are these an Ace hardware type item or Home Depot? Or will camping stores have them too?

Also will a spare surge protector from my computer work?

 

[clkelley]

Any and all of the above. Home Depot will have the thingy with the lights on it. (That particular picture is from go-rv.com)

Super Wal-Mart in the automotive/RV section may have the electrical converter. (Although I think I ordered mine from Camping World at the same time I ordered some other stuff.)

Yeah, spare surge protector from the computer will be just fine.