Thinking About Maybe Tent Camping, maybe, perhaps

[jsmla]

We just aquired a new tent. It's a large one (15 x 10) and I'm thinking about using it for our upcoming trip. We're going in January but we always go in January and more times than not it's been warm enough to swim (highs in the 80s lows in the 60's). If it does look like it won't be freezing I think we'll try it. It would be a new experience and we'd save a ton of money driving the Toyota instead of towing the camper behind Scott's gas hog of a truck.

Anywho, I have a couple of questions for you tenters out there.

We've requested the 300 loop. If we tent we won't bring the dog. Should we request something different? We like to be near the boat to the MK. What's the difference in price b/w preferred and partial hook-up sites?

Are the comfort stations nice or will I have to rent a hotel room to shower?

How do you wash dishes? If we stay preferred can I pour the grey water down the sewage hookup? If we change sites what do I do?

I'm thinking I'll bring our electric cooler, crockpot and electric skillet. We'd probably barbeque a couple of times. We prefer to eat most of our meals in. Other than food, what else do you recommend?

How do you store stuff? Things like cooking equipment, dishes, cleaning supplies and clothes. I'm thinking Rubbermaid totes, is there something better out there? Our tent has two rooms so we were going to use one as a bedroom and the other for the rest.

What do you do with your valuables like the TV while you're out?

And, not to be gross or anything, but does anyone use a port-a-pottie? I have the bladder of a gnat and would love to have something for those midnight trips. We have a little tent we could keep it in. What are the best kinds of portable toilets?

I know there's lots of things I'm not thinking of and any suggestions at all would be greatly appreciated!

Jennifer

 

[schmitty]

Not sure of the price difference but the comfort stations are nice and clean. They are open 24 hours so you don't need to bring a portapottie. Put everything valuable in the tent and get a little lock for the tent or get a lockable chest and put stuff in that or even your car you can put it in. Once you clean things out you can put them in your car or tent whatever you perfer. If you use biodegradable soap you can just dump the water in the grass.

 

[clkelley]

We've requested the 300 loop. If we tent we won't bring the dog. Should we request something different? We like to be near the boat to the MK. What's the difference in price b/w preferred and partial hook-up sites?

In January, a partial hookup site should run around 45 a night. The one thing you might run into a problem with on a preferred site is that in some sites there is less sand pad to set your tent up on. If you want to stick with a preferred site, just let them know you need one with a large sand area.

Are the comfort stations nice or will I have to rent a hotel room to shower??

The comfort stations are immaculate. Lots of hot water, good water pressure!!

How do you wash dishes? If we stay preferred can I pour the grey water down the sewage hookup? If we change sites what do I do???

If you stick with preferred, then yes, you can pour the grey water down the sewer, if you move to partial, then there is a large sink in the laundry room in the comfort station to dump grey water and wash your dishes.

I'm thinking I'll bring our electric cooler, crockpot and electric skillet. We'd probably barbeque a couple of times. We prefer to eat most of our meals in. Other than food, what else do you recommend? ???

I eat out mostly, I just brought breakfast stuff

How do you store stuff? Things like cooking equipment, dishes, cleaning supplies and clothes. I'm thinking Rubbermaid totes, is there something better out there? Our tent has two rooms so we were going to use one as a bedroom and the other for the rest.

Rubbermaid works well, also Wal-Mart has a locking plastic footlocker.

What do you do with your valuables like the TV while you're out?.

I used the locking footlocker for the laptop

And, not to be gross or anything, but does anyone use a port-a-pottie? I have the bladder of a gnat and would love to have something for those midnight trips. We have a little tent we could keep it in. What are the best kinds of portable toilets??.

I have a two piece Thetford portable toilet in my T@B, but before I got it, I had a hassock portable toilet when I tent camped. (Wal-Mart) It is basically a bucket inside another bucket with a seat. You put some water in it and the blue deoderizer stuff. Then every couple of days carry it to the comfort station and empty it. While the two piece toilet is kind of nice to be able to "flush", the hassock is actually easier to empty and set up, and it's less expensive.

I know there's lots of things I'm not thinking of and any suggestions at all would be greatly appreciated!

Jennifer

Obviously, chairs, some type of shelter or screen house besides your tent. A set of toiletries for everyone so you can shower at the same time. Shower shoes. Battery or gas lanterns for light. Power strips and at least a 40 foot outdoor extension cord.

 

[LarryJ]

Jennifer,

As far as storing things as others have suggested just make it a little hard to get to. I would lock up the "crown jewels" in the car, but I highly doubt anyone will mess with say a TV only worth $50 or so and again don't think security is that much of an issue inside the campground.

IIRC the non partial sites (eg. those with sewer) not only have the sewer pipe, but a small sink type drain that you can pour stuff into, it's like 10x14 inches.

Larry

 

[jsmla]

Thanks sooo much for the help! Hubby has nixxed the non-preferred because of the no cable TV thing. We're going during play-off season and football is way more important than Disney World to Scott. Scott only just tolerates the Disney thing. Besides, if it's freezing out we'll end up bringing Dino instead of the tent. With Dino we'd go ahead and bring Jack the Shih Tzu and 300 will just be better for us.

I'm going to run the locker thing past Scott. I'm not all that worried about it. Our camping stuff is mostly old junk that I can't imagine anyone bothering to steal.

Another question: What do you do with your hanging clothes? I'm thinking we have two options, keep them in the car or bring along this portable hanging thingie that DD used when she was dancing. I'm filling up that front room fast!

Thanks again!

Jennifer

 

[clkelley]

Thanks sooo much for the help! Hubby has nixxed the non-preferred because of the no cable TV thing. We're going during play-off season and football is way more important than Disney World to Scott. Scott only just tolerates the Disney thing. Besides, if it's freezing out we'll end up bringing Dino instead of the tent. With Dino we'd go ahead and bring Jack the Shih Tzu and 300 will just be better for us.

I'm going to run the locker thing past Scott. I'm not all that worried about it. Our camping stuff is mostly old junk that I can't imagine anyone bothering to steal.

Another question: What do you do with your hanging clothes? I'm thinking we have two options, keep them in the car or bring along this portable hanging thingie that DD used when she was dancing. I'm filling up that front room fast!

Thanks again!

Jennifer

I had a portable hanging rod when I tent camped. However, in the T@B, I just have a set of plastic drawers. Shorts and t-shirts really don't need hanging.

 

[ntsammy5]

We're going during play-off season and football is way more important than Disney World to Scott.

Boy, Carol and Larry came up with impressive answers. Campers extraordinaire.

Don't forget the beer. For watching playoffs of course!