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Winger77
Very Active Member
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Posted: Tue Feb 12th, 2008 03:28 am | 1st Post |
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I've been collecting all ideas from this forum for camping on a long trip with the wing. So far I have my GPS (Garmin Street Pilot c550)
I ordered a custom fit SheepSkin cover for the wing,,,,,,,
Just finished ordering a tent, (Eureka Timberline 4 person 2 door)
Now I need a sleeping bag and some sort of mattress. I want to keep it lite and not bulky. What do you guys use?
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Ozarkryder
Very Active Member
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Posted: Tue Feb 12th, 2008 05:40 am | 2nd Post |
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Yo! Get down dude! Seriously, I think down is best. There are a lot of synthetic fill bags that are very good, but there is nothing like down. It's comfortable and packs very small in a compression sack. With modern fabrics for the outer cover of the bag I don't worry about getting wet. The old down bags with a cotton outer layer could get wet, and down is miserable wet. I have a mummy bag rated to 0° for cold weather I don't use, since I don't go winter camping anymore, and another much lighter square bag rated at 40°. Square bags let you move around a bit more,and yo can open it up and use as a comforter if its hot out. As far a mattress, I would use a Thermarest type self-inflating pad. Pretty comfortable, and they insulate you from the ground. Air mattresses can get cold when the temps get low (below 60° for me). If you have the room, Aerostich Rider Warehouse has a neat cot that collapses small. Keeps you off the ground, too. They also have a bunch of other motorycle camping gear. the cot is at the bottom of the page. Yeah, it is spendy.
http://www.aerostich.com/catalog/US/Sleeping-Bags-and-Pads-p-1-c-273.html
Here is a link to a great site on motorcycle camping. I disagree about the down sleeping bags, but it is a great resource. Definatly don't need to bring all 232+1 things on the list!
http://wetleather.com/reference/camping.html
____________________
Don
1995 Magenta (OK, go ahead and call it purple) GL1500SE Motortrike (AKA "Her Purpleness"
1990 H-D FLHS
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Cousin Jack
Senior Member
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Posted: Tue Feb 12th, 2008 10:19 am | 3rd Post |
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I have used both down and synthetic bags, and, I respectively disagree about the desirability of down.
The new synthetics are cheaper, nearly as warm, longer lasting, and can be machine washed and dryed.... they have the incomparable advantage of down by virtue of, if they do get wet, they can still keep you warm, and will actually dry on you while you sleep......
Try these:
http://www.wiggys.com/
____________________
"In my opinion, there's nuthin' in the world,
beats a '52 Vincent and a red-headed girl....."
Richard Thompson
Vincent Black Lightning 1952
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DigbyODell
Senior Member
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Posted: Tue Feb 12th, 2008 10:54 am | 4th Post |
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| I would recomend synthetic.. It dries alot quicker, if you do get stuck in a down pour. Just as warm as good old fashion "down", and packs up smaller.
____________________
Diggers Ride
^^99 1500 Aspencade
Da Boss's ride
^^ 86 Yamaha FAZER
rudysbackyard.com
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GLester
Guru
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Posted: Tue Feb 12th, 2008 12:30 pm | 5th Post |
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Heck, when I camp, I just use my cheap Wal-Mart sleeping bag ($26.00), my cheap Wal-Mart tent ($50.00) Several extension cords to plug in my coffee maker, and some clean clothes in case I need to change, and my fold up chair (also from Wally World, about $10.00). It has all served me well. And I haul it all in my homebuilt trailer. Along with a few other things, it carries everything I need for a week of camping with room for groceries. I try to travel light and cheap. (I'm not inherently rich like some people) I stay dry and warm, without breaking the bank.
Gene
____________________
Gene Lester
Present Bikes: 1993 Goldwing 1500A
1981 GL1100
"Loud pipes don't save lives, they just annoy everyone"
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Ozarkryder
Very Active Member
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Posted: Tue Feb 12th, 2008 12:43 pm | 6th Post |
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Hmmmm. Looks like it might be time to check out the synthetic bags again. Been more than 10 years since I've been sleepy-bag shopping. When I got the bag I use on the bike, the down packed much smaller than a synthetic fill for the same temperature rating, and size was an issue for motorcycle camping. Technology continues apace!
____________________
Don
1995 Magenta (OK, go ahead and call it purple) GL1500SE Motortrike (AKA "Her Purpleness"
1990 H-D FLHS
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Jennifer
Senior Member
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Posted: Tue Feb 12th, 2008 01:46 pm | 7th Post |
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| I don't do motorcycle camping, at least not yet. But I did some some neat stuff in this catalog http://www.whitehorsepress.com/
____________________
http://recyclemotorcycles.com/
Previous bikes: 1980 CM400E, 1979 CB750K, 1993 Vulcan 750, 1992 Vulcan 1500, 1999 Shadow Ace 1100,1979 GL1000, gone  also a 2001 Honda Shadow Spirit 1100, and My 1983 GL1100I
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Cousin Jack
Senior Member
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Posted: Tue Feb 12th, 2008 02:18 pm | 8th Post |
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Hey Winger!
Proud of you, Buddy! Sounds like you are on your way......
here are a few more "motorcycle camping" tips, all of which were gained by hard experience and most of which aren't often mentioned in "how to camp" books!
-- carry butane lighters instead of matches, several....some on the bike, some on your person, to light your stove, campfires.... Butane lighters don't get wet!
-- if you are of a certain age, like me, and have a "beign prostrate enlargement" condition, and have to get up some at night...... make sure to take a suitably sized bottle into the tent with you... empty quart-sized Gatorade bottles are perfect. They do away for that miserable 3:00am dash to the bathroom! (Caution: wife might turn jealous and hostile!) (Double caution: if you also have a drinking bottle in the tent, mark them each clearly!)
-- My lovely Red packages our five sets each of t-shirt, underwear, and socks in five separate ziplock gallon sized bags. Take one with clean stuff to the shower, bring it back filled with your dirty laundry. When you are out of the "clean bags," stop at a laundrymat. KOA's by the way, nearly all have laundramats, and are the McDonalds of the camping world. Most are pretty good -- with clean restrooms, showers, and small grocery and convenience stores all on the premises.
-- Carry a supply of plastic garbage bags rolled tight. Many, many uses.......! Line the stuff sacks of your sleeping bags with garbage bags for extra waterproofing... When our tent gets wet, we drop the stuff sack with it into a garbage bag to keep other things dry.... we never bother to machine-dry tents, tumble drying is hard on tents and most will dry in minutes when pitched in the sun.... on cold rainy days when we must ride, we put on our socks, then a garbage bag on each foot, and then the boot (cut the excess plastic bag off at the boot top and throw away) -- this "plastic wrap" under your boot keeps the tootsies warm and fairly dry!
-- A little bitty candle lantern (from a mountaineering or backpacking shop) on a picnic table will make your dark campsite cheery and homey.... a real fire is better, but sometimes forbidden.
-- If you are a reader, carry small led hiking headllamps and one book each. Don't carry more; there are free book exchanges in many campgrounds. If you aren't a reader, carry the headlamp anyway. Invaluable.
-- If you are gonna be in high mountains or are riding in cold weather, carry two old-fashioned hot water bottles. Use them for standard water carriers, and, if it is cold at night, boil some water, pour in the leak proof (hopefully) water bottles and put them in your sleeping bags! Toasty! Will increase the comfort range of your bags considerably!
-- If you are a breakfast person, get up, strike camp, make hot coffee..... then ride a hundred miles and find a McDonald's for breakfast..... not bad stuff really, and you can't cook a breakfast cheaper than they can give you! We snack out of supermarkets during the day, and only cook once a day. Toward the end of the day, we stop at another store to get the ingredients of a supermarket stew! Do all your cooking in one pot.... it is possible!
Hope some of this is valuable! See ya out there!
____________________
"In my opinion, there's nuthin' in the world,
beats a '52 Vincent and a red-headed girl....."
Richard Thompson
Vincent Black Lightning 1952
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Cousin Jack
Senior Member
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Posted: Tue Feb 12th, 2008 02:23 pm | 9th Post |
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Whoops! Just read your first post again!
If it is going to be cold, you can't beat Thermorest mattresses. They insulate you against the cold, and provide a modicum of comfort. Expensive......
My wife and I, if we know the temperature will not be overcold, now take a Coleman airbed....... much more comfortable, but much colder!
"You pay your money, you take your chances!"
____________________
"In my opinion, there's nuthin' in the world,
beats a '52 Vincent and a red-headed girl....."
Richard Thompson
Vincent Black Lightning 1952
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Rabbit
Forum Greeter
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Posted: Tue Feb 12th, 2008 02:37 pm | 10th Post |
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| I still have all my camping gear from when wife and me went back packing. works on motorcycle also
____________________
Riding Motorcycles For 50 years 1998 Goldwing SE
Honda 50
Kawasaki 250
Honda CB 650
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Jluvs2dive
Guru
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Posted: Tue Feb 12th, 2008 07:10 pm | 11th Post |
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That's great info CJ!! Maybe we can get Steve to put this in the Reference/FAQ forum. 
John
____________________
 Blue 2000 GL1500SE
also
86 GL1200 Aspy
84 Inst.
84 Aspy
past
87 Inst.
84 STD.
80 Yam Midnight Special 1100
79 Suz SP400 Enduro
72 Honda SL350
81 Honda XR500
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Timmus
Senior Member
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Posted: Tue Feb 12th, 2008 08:32 pm | 12th Post |
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A couple of other suggestions;
Buy an LED headlamp...I bought my first one about 3 years ago and it is the THE most useful thing I've bought for hiking in years...I can't believe how useful they are...since I bought my first one, I have bought one to keep in my jeep, one in my wing, one in my toolbox and one on my workbench.
Also, get some poly-pro undergarments, especially if you're going to be out in the cold....remember this, cotton kills. Wet cotton will wick away all your body heat causing hyperthermia...polypro underwear (and other clothing) won't...it dries quickly and keep you warm when it is chilly and cool when it is hot out...I started using it about 5 years ago, moving away from wool and what difference...there are different thicknesses for different temps.
Just my .02
....and oh, I used down bags for 20+ years...I am now using only synthetics...they clean easier, they are half (at least) the price for a given temp rating and they last at least as long, usually longer. They may weigh a bit more ,all things being equal, but overall they are alot easier to care for and although I was a "down-snob" for years and years, I've finally been enlightened....I still can't let go of one of my down jackets though....
OOPs saw that CJ recommended the headlamp already......yeah, what he said!
Last edited on Tue Feb 12th, 2008 08:36 pm by Timmus
____________________
"Give me some wings I can glide upon" - Gordon Lightfoot
Bikes from previous lives...
1976 CJ360-T
1978 CX500
In Process...
1982 CX500 Custom
"Live Free or Die: Death is not the worst of evils" -General John Stark-
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DougW
Senior Member
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Posted: Wed Feb 13th, 2008 12:50 am | 13th Post |
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For the portable urination station we use a folgers 3lb plastic coffee container. It has a handle built in so it is easy to hold, and a snap on lid. Line it with a small plastic bag, then stuf Depends into it. No drips that way, all you do in the morning is tie the plastic shut and toss it away. The wife uses it, she had a bit of geting used to it as it is a good bit smaller than the seat on a standard commode but she manages quite well. It really is nothing more than a modern adaptation of an old chamber pot.
____________________
Home Security System designed by Bill Ruger
'94 Teal SE
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Winger77
Very Active Member
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Posted: Thu Feb 14th, 2008 02:21 pm | 14th Post |
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Great stuff gang. I'm taking notes here. Now the Gator Aid and the Folgers trick is something to think about. Maybe I should practice my aim with these
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wingnut
Admin
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Posted: Tue Feb 19th, 2008 05:28 pm | 15th Post |
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| It's been suggested that this thread would be useful for the reference forum even though it isn't strictly a tech thread. I do think that it deserves to be moved there.
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Steve Saunders,
Admin and Founder Member.
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venturer9
Member
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Posted: Fri Jun 20th, 2008 02:55 am | 16th Post |
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Like GLester, I tend to go for the cheap.... Have camped in 18degree and 124degree weather and all done with the aid of a $32.00 tent and an $18.00 sleeping bag. If its cold add a couple of layers of clothing and if its hot, sleep like momma brought ya into the world.
I do use a thermorest self inflating mattress, these 69yr old bones have to have something between them and the ground.
____________________
A good day in a car is worse than a bad day on my Motorycle
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Roach
Member
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Posted: Thu Jul 17th, 2008 09:12 pm | 17th Post |
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that eureka tent you bought.... I don't like it. Here's why. The rain cover doesn't cover the entire tent. You're going to get wet if it rains. I use an REI tent which has a rain cover that goes all the way to the ground and includes a large vestibule area.
But the best thing about REI is the life time warranty. (keep the receipt) My poles broke and the tent cover ripped in a horrible wind storm and I asked REI for just new poles, after sewing the cover myself. They replaced the whole tent instead, with a newer model!
You'll pay a bit more an REI tents but you'll never have to buy another one.
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Cousin Jack
Senior Member
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Posted: Thu Jul 17th, 2008 09:41 pm | 18th Post |
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Roach wrote: that eureka tent you bought.... I don't like it. Here's why. The rain cover doesn't cover the entire tent. You're going to get wet if it rains. I use an REI tent which has a rain cover that goes all the way to the ground and includes a large vestibule area.
But the best thing about REI is the life time warranty. (keep the receipt) My poles broke and the tent cover ripped in a horrible wind storm and I asked REI for just new poles, after sewing the cover myself. They replaced the whole tent instead, with a newer model!
You'll pay a bit more an REI tents but you'll never have to buy another one.
Really? Could have fooled us...... been touring with a Eureka tent for years, in wind, rain, and snow..... never have gotten wet.....
Must be something wrong with the one we got...... only keep dry in it.....
____________________
"In my opinion, there's nuthin' in the world,
beats a '52 Vincent and a red-headed girl....."
Richard Thompson
Vincent Black Lightning 1952
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Jluvs2dive
Guru
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Posted: Thu Jul 17th, 2008 09:57 pm | 19th Post |
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Cousin Jack wrote: Really? Could have fooled us...... been touring with a Eureka tent for years, in wind, rain, and snow..... never have gotten wet.....
Must be something wrong with the one we got...... only keep dry in it.....
I'd demand my money back!
____________________
Blue 2000 GL1500SE
also
86 GL1200 Aspy
84 Inst.
84 Aspy
past
87 Inst.
84 STD.
80 Yam Midnight Special 1100
79 Suz SP400 Enduro
72 Honda SL350
81 Honda XR500
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Marcus
Member
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Posted: Wed Jul 23rd, 2008 08:07 pm | 20th Post |
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Here are my two cents on the sleeping bag debate. I have used both (down and synthetic) for 32 years. I have a pretty big family, so I use stuff and pass it on. That way I get to try a lot of stuff. I have also been a Scoutmaster off and on for many years. I have a rectangular down bag that has lasted me since I was 17. I'm 47 now.
It doesn't much matter whether you get down or synthetic except for the price. Both can be very good products or kind of crappy. Look at the style (mummy, rectangular etc.), quality and fit. Most (not all) of the cheaper bags have cheap zippers and fabric. However, if you shop you can find good deals. Get one that fits you. I am only 5'9", but most standard sleeping bags are too cramped for me. Try it on in the store.
Don't try to get one that is good down to 20 degrees below zero, especially if most of your camping will be done in warmer temps. The most reliable way to be comfortable in cold weather is inside of two sleeping bags (preferably a mummy inside of a rectangular bag). As a matter of fact two cheap bags are almost always warmer than one expensive bag.
As has been mentioned before, Thermarest pads are great. And, when I have room, I prefer to sleep on a roll-a-cot. You still need a pad on top of the cot to keep warm. The cot is high enough that you have a place to tie your boots when you gt up. I just came back from Scout Camp. I took the trunk off of my GL1200 and tied a big duffel bag of gear (including the cot) on the rack. It worked great.
http://www.camptime.net/roll-a-cot.htm
Last edited on Wed Jul 23rd, 2008 08:09 pm by Marcus
____________________
Present Bike: '85 GL1200
Previous Bike: '81 GL500I
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