Quick... what's your best camping item?

[kakwajeep]

I like the idea of an air mattress under the tent. Does it really work? That camp fire grill is cool. My favorites are:
food
water
extra warm sleeping bag/bags (fleece pants for a pillow - don't laugh they really work and keep you warm around the camp fire too).
air mattress/mattresses
axe/hatchet,
extra flashlights and batteries (we like the glow sticks to hang around camp...you can see and they're not so bright you can't sleep),
first aid kit,
tent/tarp,
bug spray,
sun screen,
extra tarp for overhead/ over table, (eating not in the rain)
cookware,
matches/lighters,
rope & sealable plastic pail (to tree your food from bears),
toilet paper,
compass/gps
big dog or man with rifle - both if possible (camping in bear country always keeps me on edge)
folding chairs
Leatherman is a must (all my guys have one)
propane stove/ lanterns
paper/ pen
These are a few of my favorite things. Be warm, safe, dry and have fun. That's camping. Unexpected things will always happen no matter how prepared you are. A good sense on humor also helps.
I agree with jeepjunky. Take a few (close to home) practice camping trips.

[Timber]

This is a good thread, I've camped in the rain for a week at a time by myself, even in the snow a couple of days, and there has been many good suggestions so far, but to answer your specific question of...Quick...what's your best camping item?

It have to be... to have many ways to start a fire, it could save your life more than anything else.

Then after that, you can add almost any luxury, you want! Including a credit card to go to a local motel, and sleep in a warm bed!:

[Jim_Lou]

Camping hasn't been my thing for quite a few years, mainly due to lack of opportunities, but when I did go camping it was the minimilist method. My main equipment was a large piece of clear construction plastic and a blanket or sleeping bag depending on temperature. For the night I'd find a suitable spot with a moderate slope, prepare a base of soft sand, leaves or pine needles, put the plastic down, lay cross-slope on it, and pull the uphill edge over. If it rained I'd just scoot a little deeper into the fold. If it was windy I'd weight the downhill with rocks.

For our honeymoon The Boss and I did a four-day canoe float trip on the Current River in the Missouri Ozarks that way. One day a sudden shower came up. We pulled onto a sand bar, pulled the plastic over some willow saplings and made a see-through tent in seconds.

[barrelroll]

If i'm going wheeling/ camping with no mutt or passangers the list is pretty simple

Lots of beer in cooler
Pack or 2 of smokes and a lighter
a couple cans of food (chili, soups)
something to open cans (usually found in trail rig's tool box)
something to pluck cans out of fire (usually found in trail rig's tool box)
eating utensil (usually found in trail rig's tool box)
Lunch/ trail food
some water
maybe a coffee pot/ coffee/ coffee cup (cup is usually found behid tow rig seat)
sleeping bag
maybe a change of clothes/ boots thrown behind the seat of the tow rig
Tow rig with a front bench seat I sleep perfectly on (no tent, air matress, duffle bag, ect. needed, it's my mobil tent/ camper)

If I have passangers or the mutt i'll throw in a tent, pad, and blinket for the mutt to sleep on along with dog food/ bowls/ cable.

Can you tell i'm a bachlor that isn't picky.

When we go to camp (40 acer parcel with a fire pit, no drinkable water close by) they are usually last minuet decisions and planning is at a minium. I used to do the live off hot dogs and sandwiches routine and it's just not filling. Doing dishes is a pain in the rear and all the cooking crap takes space/ planning so I started doing the can of soup or chili on the fire thing, no dishes (well a spoon you can lick clean) and a pretty decent meal with a couple pieces of bread and some beers. I might bring a frying pan to make eggs with 1 day and then just bring it home to wash it.

Some Other things are a jeep back seat is an awsome camp chair. Expanded metal works pretty good as a grill, make a radiator protecter, pull it off as a grill and put it back on your rig. Rigs are good starts for tarp shelters. Have dual purpose items (trail gear that works as camping gear and visa versa). Wheeling with camping gear in the back of the rig kinda sucks, if you have to make sure it's secured and water proof.

[mach2_nh]

Well whats my best? as in if i only had one thing with me?

A good Knife. You can do alot with just that.

[Aaron871]

I'm with Andy, most of my camping utilities are already in the trail rig.... lol

I used to go with just an old army mess kit for cooking, but as age catches up, I have became more of a "high maintanence" camper.

I wish I could figure out how to take a camper and trailer a rig without a slide in. They are too much of a PITA to slide in and out. The wife wont let me get a school bus for a tow rig..... oh well..



Where is Caver Dave? He would tell you to get a head lantern.... those are great at nite.

[jeepgod]

the officer of the day.. O.O.D.

for you civilians.. that would be Captain Morgan...

[Caver Dave]

Uh, that would be a HEAD light! But I agree that they leave your hands free for other things like repairs, setting up camp, &

ARRRRR! Just had little "taste" o' the Captain this evening myself...

As a long time "camper" (10 years worth in the Scouts, 4 years in the Marines, & and many since just "communing with nature" )... Some of my favorite camping items so far have been:

#1 - A $35 WallyWorld "Camp cot"... cause the older I get the harder the ground seems to be... I snore just fine on the thin foam pad and coil spring suspension

#2 - The Coleman tents (both "3 man" & "5 man" models) with the woven poly bottoms... screw a "ground cloth" or plastic with these! I once setup the 3 man in the direct flow of all the water running through 4 campsites... last spot available (The Famous "Waterfall Ride" (Were back...))... Chris, Pat, or Mob feel free to comment on how @#$% much it rained that weekend! One of Mrs. Elusives friend was flooded completely out (*everything* drenched!) and the $40 Coleman took 6" of water around the sides with less than a tablespoon ending up inside. I bought the exact same model in the 5 man because it will take a camp cot on each side w/ a "night stand" (RubberMaid tote) in the middle and is great for 2 when my brother joins me... NEVER been wet!

#3 - 2... yes, 2 different sleeping bags. After many years of camping year round with a winter weight (-5*F) bag and sweating my @$$ off in anything above 30*F... I got a "3 season bag"... an extra flat sheet is nice to tuck inside the bag for damp weather.

#4 - A camp chair with a foot rest... great for snoozin' JeepGod style

OK, too much Captain... time to sleep!

[babypoo]

My two best items are my wife...she knows how to cook a great meal while cooking on a fire and she's fun to play with and you can't have her. Second is beer which I'd be willing to share. But in all honesty we prefer to camp with all the comforts of home and a good cooking and utensil set is the best investment we've made cast iron and steel none of the formed aluminum it distorts way too easily on a hot fire.
John

[jeepjunky]

I have been thinking on this...its got to be my daughters! without them it is just sleeping outside!
That said I MAY get to goto Moab this may for a few days solo