Tent camping, but traveling by airplane

[dydo2424]

Can anyone tell me if they've been adventurous enough to tent camp at FW, but have flown by plane to get there? Any suggestions on the packing? I am considering a quick trip for me and my soon to be 6 year old daughter and thought we could have a great time at FW. Then I thought - how on earth will I get my stuff there? I know anything is possible, but any hints would be greatly appreciated!

 

[romarbeardies]

Can't wait to hear the suggestions this group comes up with because it is something I have though about as well.

 

[lisa8200]

I believe that Carol ( clkelly ) has done this so, hopefully she will see this and help out. I have heard lots of ideas on this including shipping your stuff to the fort instead of binging it with you .

 

[clkelley]

It used to be quite possible, even as a solo person, but with the current airline checked luggage restrictions, it's a bit more difficult.

If you go on Southwest, where you can still check two items per person, it's quite doable. If you fly on an airline where you can check 1 item, it's still possible with 2 people.

For two people, with a 1 bag checked luggage limit, you can do the following:

Go to Wal-Mart in the automotive section and get a "Locking Trunk Locker". It is a plastic footlocker that is airline legal as far as size.

Also try to find the largest duffle you can. (Hopefully one that will accomodate two folding chairs.)

Also, you can bring a carryon bag per person, (A 21" rollerbag)

and a personal item per person. (A school bookbag. This is your shower bag)

You should bring the following:

A tent big enough for both of you, plus your gear.
Some type of folding shelter or screen room (EZ-Up type shelters are too big).
Two of the bag folding chairs
Two twin air mattresses or 1 queen
Sheets, blankets, small or inflatable pillows
An air mattress pump
A battery operated or electric lantern
A small light for inside the tent. I like those Coleman Tent Lights that are magnetic
Extra batteries
Two - Three changes of clothes
Laundry supplies in ziplocs if you need to wash
A set of toiletries for each of you
Towel and washcloth for each of you. (I recommend older thinner towel, a big thick one will not dry hanging outside in the humidity, unless you pop it in the dryer each day.)
A clothesline (or you can hang your towel from the poles inside your shelter)
A minimum 40 foot OUTDOOR extension cord
A power strip
Chargers for cell phones, camera, etc.
A small fan
If it's going to be coolish, an electric mattress pad
A lock for the footlocker (not used on the plane, but used on the footlocker while you are away from the tent)
Rain Gear
I find those quick clips in various sizes are good for lots of things like hanging the lantern from your shelter, hanging keys on a loop inside the tent, etc.
Garbage bags
Large ziplocs
a package 8 inch cable ties and a small set of wire cutters to clip them if you use them.
If you have room, a small string of christmas lights and a timer, that way when you return to the campsite at night, it is easier to find your site.

In your footlocker and large duffle, put the tent, shelter, chairs, linens, your liquid toiletries, air mattress, your clothing. On the tent, shelter and chairs, don't pack the original bags they came in. Just extra weight and harder to pack the tent and stuff back into them.

In your carryon and personal item, pack anything that is small but heavy, such as your lantern, extension cord, tent stakes, power strip, air mattress pump., extra shoes

You don't need to worry about your clothes, tent, bedding, chairs being bothered, but if there is anything you want to leave at camp, then lock it inside the footlocker while you are out.

Hope this helps!!!

 

[ntsammy5]

Carol's got a good list - the other alternative is to pre-ship stuff to the Fort. They will hold it for you.

I've never done this, it's too much of a hassle for me, BUT it will work.

I'm old and decrepit anyhow. Plus we can stay in a timeshare for under $50/night. PLUS, if I stay at the Fort I can usually cajole my sister into letting me stay with her.

 

[lisa8200]

I believe that Carol ( clkelly ) has done this so, hopefully she will see this and help out. I have heard lots of ideas on this including shipping your stuff to the fort instead of binging it with you .

Carol's got a good list - the other alternative is to pre-ship stuff to the Fort. They will hold it for you.

I've never done this, it's too much of a hassle for me, BUT it will work.

I'm old and decrepit anyhow. Plus we can stay in a timeshare for under $50/night. PLUS, if I stay at the Fort I can usually cajole my sister into letting me stay with her.

these two post look surprisingly similiar..either great minds think alike or, someone is trying to steal my thunder...

 

[ntsammy5]

these two post look surprisingly similiar..

You're old and decrepit too?


It still freaks meout when you post under this name!

 

[lisa8200]

You're old and decrepit too?


It still freaks meout when you post under this name!

Just doing my small part to keep everyone on thier toes

 

[kneemeister]

I'm hear now, after a flight last night from DTW. I had to pay NWA $40 for the privilege of two max size/ close on weight bags, that last year were free

Last year I used ME to get to the fort, but this year splurged on a car from Hotwire....got a smokein' Eclipse for 8 bucks a day from Avis, I reserved just a regular compact, but they had a couple problem customers in line ahead of me, so I played it up nice and friendly, hehe , I felt so stuck without a way to go sightseeing and shopping last year.

In a large Duffle, 10x12 tent, power cord, mattress, blankets, pillow, table cloth and light. Got the bag at walmart, for 30 bucks, has wheels and all and it zips in two compartments so the tent and cords could go on the bottom and I still had a regular duffle area on top fro the blankets and pillows.
The max bag size is 62 inches L+W+H, this bag comes out at 60.5 inches.,

In the other, just a large Pullman, Sheets, and a weeks worth of clothing and shoes.

This morning I got a throwaway ice chest and a 5.00 clearance fan from the Wal-Mart on Vineland

 

[dydo2424]

Wow! I'm starting to get the picture now! Thanks all for your suggestions. I am going to save this info. I am from a family that grew up camping - sometimes not even in a tent. My husband grew up camping at the Hilton or Holiday Inn so we haven't invested much into camping gear. My mom gave me a great tent that's easy for 2 people to put up, but I don't think my daughter and I could manage it, it's a pretty tall dome tent.

I need to get my kids out and trying this so all of your expert suggestions are very much appreciated. See you one day at FW!

 

[kab]

If you need help with your tent call up front and they'll send someone to help you put it up. Kurt

 

[dydo2424]

If you need help with your tent call up front and they'll send someone to help you put it up. Kurt

REALLY!!? Man, I should have booked that trip already!!! Thanks for the info.

 

[kneemeister]

If you need help with your tent call up front and they'll send someone to help you put it up. Kurt

Wish I knew that last week when I got there, that tent was much harder to set up on the loose sand pad than when I practiced on the hard clay soil at home, hehe.

Oh, and due to Delta's $50 fee for second bags, I actually gave the tent away as I was packing last Saturday morning, I was able to get everything else including the new fan in the large duffle, and a smaller cheap 12.00 duffle I picked up at the walmart on 27 on the way back from Zepherhills. I couldnt see paying 50 bucks to ship a 50 buck tent. So the site across the way got a new tent for the nephews. The 20 year old torn and battered Pullman was left in the trash.