http://www.campingroadtrip.com/camping-and-rv-forums/forumid/23/scope/threadsBeginners guide to Camping, everything you need to know to get started2013-05-22T01:51:36Z2013-03-18T04:18:28Z302012-05-04T04:39:54ZMatthewhttp://www.campingroadtrip.com/camping-and-rv-forums/forumid/23/threadid/2184/scope/postsWe always bring along a small container with cotton soaked with some petroleum jelly and use it to make a fire whenever we go camping. What about you guys?122009-10-14T22:17:45ZOur JeepLife 2http://www.campingroadtrip.com/camping-and-rv-forums/forumid/23/threadid/75/scope/postsBecause of my lower back pain.. which stems from my fathers side of the family, It's sort like having hip displasica, some times painful, but more over can and I have contorted it with Proper exercise and strengthening. Our last outing wasn't so pleasant. Staying at the Enota Mountain Retreat, In GA I found myself with major back pain due lifting some gem mining buckets at a local Gem Mine.. Most of these buckets had been filled with rocks instead of the typical sand or silt product. I felt like Charlie Brown On Halloween. 'Say Charlie, What Did You Get In Your Trick Or Treat Bag?'.. 'All I Got Was A Rock'. Anyway.. I've been biding my time and biting my tongue on this cleaver way to soften the ground while camping.. Most hardware stores like Lowe's or Home depot have foam 'http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=11089966>Gold's Gym Exercise Pads' which lock together like giant puzzle pieces. Some come in array of playful colors squares measuring 2' x 2' while more are a more natural color or shade of gray or black. These mats are most commonly used in basements as excise floors and kids play areas. We Set up tent, took some measurements and determined that we needed four packs of four mats each.. which would covered the entire floor surface area of the tent. Heading back into town. We located the nearest Home deport (which at the time was the closest to our camp site) and bought the packs of mats. Selecting the gray colors mats over the kid friendly 'Day Glow Green, Red Yellow and Blue' Which came to roughly $28.00 per pack. (Found out Wal-Mart has them cheaper, But it was to late to complain) Arriving back at the camp ground.. We moved the tend aside.. and began placing the 2 x 2 puzzle mats down on the ground.. then picking up the tent and setting it directly on top of the mats. It worked! Thou the mats offer some comfort more so then the ground. They do offer a thermal barrier as well.. Not sure the 'R-Value' but we did feel warmer that night. Next season, We will go into more detail about how one is to carry this much foam padding and have some pictures to boot: http://virb.com/OurJeepLife2>Our JeepLife 2's Web site 62010-01-12T20:33:29Zpadmejhttp://www.campingroadtrip.com/camping-and-rv-forums/forumid/23/threadid/370/scope/postsJust came across this information on selecting a proper back country camping site. Hope it's useful! There are many hints and tips that you should look into before going into backcountry camping. It may be a very exciting thing to do, but remember many of these places have little or no observation by park rangers, or other people, and very often you're responsible for your own safety and for your own wellbeing when you're camping in the wilderness. Below are some things that you might want to consider when doing backcountry traveling. LOCATION This is really important, as there are a lot of areas that can have major issues. Some of the things that you may want to consider in this area are: 1) Wild Animals? : Check for any dens, or other habitats close to where you're wanting to camp. Are there any dams, is there waterfalls, or other sources of water that is very close to where you're planning on camping? Camping near loud sources of water i.e. creeks, rivers, waterfalls, whitewater etc. is not a very recommended thing, as this is where a lot of wild animals such as bears, love to look for food. Also, look for places that are away from sedge grass (long weedlike grass). Stay away from any thick underbrush as well as this can hide many animals, and you might surprise them. Also look for signs of animals or if they have been here. Chances are, is if they have been there once, they will be back. 2) Slopes? : Check for the stability of the slope. If it is going to rain, is there going to be a chance that there will be a mud or landslide? If it is winter, is there a chance of an avalanche? When assessing slopes during the summer, look for insecure trees, or very muddy slopes, chances are is this is where you do not want to be. Also in the winter, check for slabs of snow that look very unstable. You do not want to stay in this area either. 3) Land? : Check for the firmness of the land. You want to stay in a place that will drain well if there should be heavy rain when you're sleeping etc. If there is insecure ground, or loose gravel etc. this might not be where you want to be either. You want to also choose an area that might be able to provide you some softness as well. Tree boughs like pines etc., can provide good padding. Also some grass would be ideal, but make sure that it is not the sedge grass. Check to see if you would be able to get some ground that may have some sponginess, but not too spongy or you mgiht find some problems. 4) Trees?: Pick a site that is around large trees, this will allow you to be able to hoist your food and other stuff at least 5-6 feet or more off the ground, so that it would be out of the reach of most wildife. SAFETY Always make sure that you leave a detailed plan with a responsible adult about your intentions, and when you plan on arriving home, and also which route you plan on taking. This way if you get lost or injured, or ill, then at least you will have someone that will be able to notify search and rescue people. Also, if you don't feel safe, do not do it!82009-12-21T21:45:02ZTIMMFITZhttp://www.campingroadtrip.com/camping-and-rv-forums/forumid/23/threadid/348/scope/postsWhen camping, making meals ahead of time can really save you a hassle. I have often found myself bemoaning the task of cleaning up after making and eating a meal. So one day I decided to make meals prior to my trip, and put them into a cooler. I made wraps and sandwiches. It made the camping experience very enjoyable; I was able to spend more time enjoying the company of my friends and family, and less time cleaning!112012-06-21T18:25:10Zel fullerhttp://www.campingroadtrip.com/camping-and-rv-forums/forumid/23/threadid/2495/scope/postsHeading over to North Carolina next weekend with some friends and our families. One of them is quite frugal when it comes to spending and would always bring their own firewood. I've read that state parks are quite strict when it comes to bringing your own firewood into their campgrounds. He said that for as long as the barks are taken off, it should be fine. I'm a bit uneasy about it. The last thing I want is having our trip ruined because of his wanting to bring his own firewood from his backyard.92012-04-23T05:35:14Zgeorgitohttp://www.campingroadtrip.com/camping-and-rv-forums/forumid/23/threadid/2107/scope/postsBack in my younger years, there would be times that I would just suddenly decide to pack my gear and go out camping for the night. Now that I got a family, doing that is just a dream. But it would be nice to get to do that again, don't you think?52010-09-28T18:55:40ZTimothy Fitzgeraldhttp://www.campingroadtrip.com/camping-and-rv-forums/forumid/23/threadid/584/scope/postsHere are two tips for keeping dry when camping: The best places to pitch a tent are well drained flat spots. Avoid low lying areas where water may collect, especially if a sudden rain storm should occur.62011-01-20T15:45:35Zrobertflex2http://www.campingroadtrip.com/camping-and-rv-forums/forumid/23/threadid/704/scope/postsHey Guys, I just bought the 'PICO' charger for I-Phone, it is actually pretty cool, you do not have to worry about being left without any battery. You can carry around this little device an charge your I-phone (everyone knows, I-phone cannot even last a full day). I recommend for all the campers to use it in their tent, it's very useful. You can find an article about it on this month newsletter on campingroadtrip.com62012-08-29T17:26:54Zthe Albanhttp://www.campingroadtrip.com/camping-and-rv-forums/forumid/23/threadid/2743/scope/postsThere are a lot of talk here about camping in different parts of the US, but I wonder if anyone has ever tried camping in another country? I'll be heading over to England early next year to attend the wedding of a good friend of mine. I was thinking of doing a bit of camping while I'm there, just to give it a try. Is it just the same as camping here in the US? Anything that I need to do other than always have my passport with me all the time?82012-06-15T05:18:00ZTShislerhttp://www.campingroadtrip.com/camping-and-rv-forums/forumid/23/threadid/2465/scope/postsI'll start. Before you even head out to the campground, make sure that you all sit down together and agree on the agenda, who brings what and stuff. That way, when you go camping, you'd not waste too much time waiting for each other and arguing. 82011-06-19T03:24:18Zcadence218http://www.campingroadtrip.com/camping-and-rv-forums/forumid/23/threadid/1002/scope/postsI'm new to this forum, however I'm not new to camping and I like what I'm reading from the discussions inhere. 'been a scout master for quite a decade. I just would like to know in relation to Geocaching, if someone here uses a waterproof journal in writing your camping event activities for you to quickly share or update to your blogsites. We used a geocaching journal of nomad adventure during our Philmont PTC trek 24 from last year's hiked at Cypher Mine to Mt Phillips then to Red Hill. One of the boys left it flow through at Cimarroncito river, funny that it did not break up and still in used until now. It adds up to our line of waterproof gears. 102009-07-16T15:30:07Ztomtomhttp://www.campingroadtrip.com/camping-and-rv-forums/forumid/23/threadid/47/scope/posts I am going on my first camping trip soon and I want to know what is better a sleeping bag or an air mattress? Where we are going it wont be cold but we'll be gone for 5 days and I am not sure if I'll get tired sleeping in a sleeping bag after awhile. im taking a small tent and i want to make sure everything fits3http://www.campingroadtrip.com/DesktopModules/Forum/Forum_Rss.aspx?forumid=23&tabid=90&mid=545&threadspage=2