New Forum dedicated to heavyweight camping

[Scuba]

Car camping is a different animal than LW trail hiking/camping. Generally car camping is much more forgiving. Throw your hat in the ring and discuss everything here.

[sarge]

Great idea. A lot of times folks ask a question and then they'll get six pages of answers regarding lightweight backpacking when they're really looking for car camping answers.

[UncleMJM]

When I car camp, I pack my backpack as if for a hike so that I am totally self contained, then I put everything else I own in the truck.

[Scuba]

When I car camp, I pack my backpack as if for a hike so that I am totally self contained, then I put everything else I own in the truck.

Sounds like we have the same trip planner.

[Biker Bob]

Mine is from a motorcycle. Bulk rather than weight is critical. It combines some of both but I learn a lot from the backpackers. Maybe in the future a short overnight hike is in the works, but age and inactivity have taken their toll. With the truck, there is room literally for the kitchen sink. Taking a sidecar is another option.

Bob

[tangara]

When I car camp, I pack my backpack as if for a hike so that I am totally self contained, then I put everything else I own in the truck.

Sounds like we have the same trip planner.

Music to my ears. I TRY, every time to figure out what I really need, but end up packing the backpack, but by the time I'm done with the car I have to hold something in while I slam the hatch shut. Maybe I'll worry less about it now that I have company.

[Flynguy521]

Car camping trips are the ultimate shakedowns. I can bring multiple of everything and try it out. If I bring a lightweight tiny tarp and decide I want full coverage, pack it up, walk to the trunk, and swap it for one of my winter dreams. Decide to not unpack a UQ cuz it's hot as hades and then a cold snap unexpectedly materializes, short walk to the trunk for an underquilt.

Best part, someone else wants to try some piece of gear they haven't used yet before biting the bullet, if I have it, they are welcome too it! Scuba shares this philosophy and it is in large part why I have so much gear now. I've been able to see multiple setups that each have merits and decide what I wanted to add to my stable.

I too have adopted the "If it fits...it gits!" philosophy.

[G_Man]

When I car camp, I pack my backpack as if for a hike so that I am totally self contained, then I put everything else I own in the truck.

Sounds like we have the same trip planner.

That pretty much sums it up for me too Pack goes in because all my hammock related gear is in there. Quilts go in storage sacks instead of stuff sacks. Why compress my down when I don't need to, right? Plastic tote with dutch oven, cast iron pan, and miscellaneous cooking/clean up supplies confess along as well. Then it's usually anything and everything else I can make fit......

[Scott]

Butt Bake seems to be a perfect example of this. Throw some water in a pack and hike in while the truck brings in the cast iron, tables, canopies, island.........

Some of us haven't figured out there is a time and place for both. My hike earlier this month, between 3 of us we had 120lbs of packs. Mainly because we don't have the lightweight gear, not that we brought very much extra. Except food we should have eaten but didn't.

When my wife and I were camping a lot, we bought a 4x8 trailer to haul out gear. Two tents, one 240 sq ft with a 7' peak, and one that could hold 4 queen size mattresses. A patrol box that weighed 150lbs fully loaded. Kayaks and bikes for 5. My wife was not into sleeping bags so much, so we even had sheets and blankets on the double thick air mattress... Funny thing is when we had to bug out for a fire, we didn't take any of that stuff cause we were going to be in people's homes not camping...

[stim]

When I car camp, I pack my backpack as if for a hike so that I am totally self contained, then I put everything else I own in the truck.

Same here as well. Except I've never actually hiked out and camped, so I just assume everything I throw in my pack will work.

[Karla (with a k)]

Why call it heavyweight camping instead of car camping?

[sarge]

Why call it heavyweight camping instead of car camping?

Well--

When you consider that the "pack" you're using weighs over a ton-----