http://www.campingroadtrip.com/camping-and-rv-forums/forumid/66/scope/threadsAsk a question or share anything to do with camping gear and equipment.2013-05-21T17:43:44Z2013-03-30T13:10:55Z302013-03-29T18:06:46Zgeorgitohttp://www.campingroadtrip.com/camping-and-rv-forums/forumid/66/threadid/3388/scope/postsUnless you're a complete OC when it comes to packing, we've all forgotten something at home when we go out camping. Ironically, many of them are those that we really need the most. So it's time to come out clean: what is the one camping gear or equipment that you always tend to forget? I'll start. Mine will have to be my lighter. It came to a point when my wife would keep one inside her pouch bag just in case. 12013-03-29T04:49:39Zel fullerhttp://www.campingroadtrip.com/camping-and-rv-forums/forumid/66/threadid/3383/scope/postsI recently saw a whole of these surge protectors on sale when we visited a Camping World store this afternoon. The thing is, I haven't really seen anyone use this, at least not in the campgrounds I've visited since I started RVing three years ago. But I'm guessing it also could be because they are quite expensive. I didn't see any in Camping World that's under $300. Do any of you use it? Is it really a must-buy? What model and where should I look to get one? 22013-02-20T05:03:12Zejdixonhttp://www.campingroadtrip.com/camping-and-rv-forums/forumid/66/threadid/3253/scope/postsNot sure if this is the right place to post this. Please feel free to move this to the right place if ever. I accidentally spilled some juice on my Laptop while on vacation in Mexico. Took it to a repair shop while I was there. They managed to get it to boot, but everything is now screwed up. No matter what icon I click on the desktop, it only opens up the photo editor. When I talked to them, they said that the keyboard is the one that's faulty now because of the juice. Best option that they gave me was to either get a new laptop or use a USB keyboard. Did a bit of canvassing and found it would be cheaper for me to just get a 'new' one. Found a few computers on eBay. My question is: is it possible to take out the hard drive from the new laptop that I'm getting and then just put in my old one? There are a lot of important files in there that I really need and can't afford to lose. Thanks a lot in advance! 52013-02-07T03:13:58Zharoldhttp://www.campingroadtrip.com/camping-and-rv-forums/forumid/66/threadid/3164/scope/postsAfter 12 years, my Cuisinart coffee pot finally gave up on us. A friend of mine suggested to try out Kurieg, but since I grind my own coffee beans, I'm thinking that I really won't get my money's worth with that. Bunn stores and keeps the water hot all the time, which seems like a waste of energy for me. What coffee pots do you use, and how much did you pay for it? 52013-02-06T03:38:37Zlizzpretohttp://www.campingroadtrip.com/camping-and-rv-forums/forumid/66/threadid/3162/scope/postsMy husband and I currently have a plan with Verizon. It's about $150 for our two phones and a data plan. When we asked about adding a data plan for our iPad, they told us that it will be another $30 if we do that. I came across some cards for sale in WalMart that are a more pay as you go Internet plan. I tried to ask the sales people there how it works, but no one seems to have an idea how. Has anyone used this? How does it work? Anyone have any other suggestions on alternatives?62013-02-11T11:56:11Zhenryinreallifehttp://www.campingroadtrip.com/camping-and-rv-forums/forumid/66/threadid/3193/scope/postsDoes buying more expensive stuff mean that you're getting better quality camping equipment? I recently had a debate with my brother on this after he told me that he spent about $500 for a sleeping bag. He told me that it would eventually come out cheaper in the long run because he won't have to change it as often. Does he have a point, or am I just being too much of a Scrooge?22013-02-08T04:41:22ZMatthewhttp://www.campingroadtrip.com/camping-and-rv-forums/forumid/66/threadid/3178/scope/postsAnyone here using a Magellan GPS? We recently got a Magellan 9145 LM for our Class A for our upcoming trip. The reason is because we were told that it gives really detailed information about low bridges and that sort of thing. The campground we'll be staying at warned us that there is a low bridge along the road going there. The thing is, even though after I typed in my RV type and all the other information, there seemed to be no difference with the information it's showing. I was wondering if there are any other settings that I need to do. Thanks in advance for your help.22012-07-05T16:19:57ZMatthewhttp://www.campingroadtrip.com/camping-and-rv-forums/forumid/66/threadid/2563/scope/postsOne of our kids just came back from spending a few days doing some backyard camping in his best friend's house. He started raving about the inflatable bed that they used during that time and is now begging us to get him one. My wife is all okay with it, but I've read with so many different articles on how easily these get ruined and have leaks. We'll be camping in a couple of weeks with my son's best friend's family two weeks from now, and he's begging us that we get him one before then. Is it worth giving in or not?72013-01-22T16:57:15Zmary22http://www.campingroadtrip.com/camping-and-rv-forums/forumid/66/threadid/3110/scope/postsMy husband recently got an iPhone5 and we noticed that it's got a feature that lets us use this as a wifi hotspot. I was just wondering if any of you have used your mobile phone as a wifi hotspot when you're out camping? How reliable and fast is it? How about the charges?62012-11-01T14:09:38ZTShislerhttp://www.campingroadtrip.com/camping-and-rv-forums/forumid/66/threadid/2881/scope/postsWhile cleaning up my parents' garage here, I stumbled on this box with a canvas tent in it. The canvas is still of good quality. I'm thinking of asking dad if I could get it. The thing is, I can't find any info on how to set it up. There's no manual or anything inside the box other than a tag that says Golden West Professional Backpackers tent. Been trying to find some info about it but no luck. Anyone here that can help me out?42012-04-12T12:59:46ZTShislerhttp://www.campingroadtrip.com/camping-and-rv-forums/forumid/66/threadid/2052/scope/postsDo you guys allocate a specific budget when it comes to your camping gear? When would you consider buying something reasonable and when would you consider it a bit on the extreme side?92012-08-28T09:36:30Zangelahttp://www.campingroadtrip.com/camping-and-rv-forums/forumid/66/threadid/2736/scope/postsWe normally camp using a trailer but we were thinking of doing a bit of tent camping later this year just for the fun of it. It's been a while, and it would be really nice to do it again. My question is about those battery powered fans. Found a few cheap ones that run on 4 D-cell batteries. But I'm wondering how long will they really last. Many of the descriptions I've seen have them lasting up to 36 hours, which I somehow find it hard to believe. I don't want to get something cheap and then have to wake in the middle of the night just to change the batteries. Has anyone tried these? What models would you recommend?72012-07-27T12:16:22Zejdixonhttp://www.campingroadtrip.com/camping-and-rv-forums/forumid/66/threadid/2665/scope/postsWith GPS machines available these days, a lot of people don't find it necessary to bring a compass anymore with them when camping. But not me. Yes, I use a GPS, but I still bring my compass with me, partly 'coz it's got some sentimental value (it's my grandfather's compass that he used back in WWII). But more so that at least I got a backup in case the batteries run out. How about you guys? Do you use a compass still or not anymore? What other directional tools do you use? 52012-06-07T03:25:04ZMatthewhttp://www.campingroadtrip.com/camping-and-rv-forums/forumid/66/threadid/2406/scope/postsWill be heading out for a few tent camping trips while my best bud is visiting from overseas. Need to get a new lantern, but it's been a while since I've been tent camping. I've always used a gas lantern back in the day. Now, I see that there are now propane and LED lanterns. I'm torn. Which would you recommend? Looking of course for something that I can use while RVing, too.102012-06-11T04:54:20Zpadmejhttp://www.campingroadtrip.com/camping-and-rv-forums/forumid/66/threadid/2431/scope/postsMy husband and I recently downloaded FoxFi so that we can use our phones as a remote WiFi router. I use an iPhone with AT&T while my husband is using a Samsung. We both have really good signal while we were in the campground. But when we tried to use it, it was so slow. As in the speed of the dial up modem days when the Internet was just starting to become popular. Yes! It's that slow! I thought that for as long as we have really good cellphone signal, FoxFi should work really fast and fine. Has anyone ever used this app? How do we fix this? Thanks in advance.62012-06-04T04:46:40ZMaggiehttp://www.campingroadtrip.com/camping-and-rv-forums/forumid/66/threadid/2384/scope/postsMy brother uses an old Pantech UM175 USB modem or something like it as well as a Wilson yagi, amplifier, and panel antenna. They were having some problems getting a signal while we were out camping last weekend, but it worked fine with our Thunderbolt. I'm guessing that they would need a new USB modem. My brother tried calling VZW and they recommended for him to upgrade to a 4G smartphone with a new contract. My brother is very happy with his 3G non-smartphone (don't ask me why), and is just not interested with getting a 4G or a smartphone or both. My question is if he can get a new VZW 551L 3G/4G modem from VZW without a new contract? If so, where? Also, what other options can he look into? 22012-05-21T02:11:47Zmikeporterhttp://www.campingroadtrip.com/camping-and-rv-forums/forumid/66/threadid/2286/scope/postsI currently have Street Atlas 2011 with GPS. It just shows me where I am but it doesn't really help that much when it comes to planning a trip and help me get directions. I heard that CoPilot is good. Has anyone used it? What other GPS software programs can you suggest? 52012-04-19T03:17:08Zlizrfousthttp://www.campingroadtrip.com/camping-and-rv-forums/forumid/66/threadid/2080/scope/postsI usually get mine from REI, but I'm really quite surprised that some of my friends manage to get their camping stuff in places like Walmart for a fraction of what I'd spend. So, now I'm curious (and partly to help widen my shopping places list), where do you get yours?82012-04-25T02:40:07ZMaggiehttp://www.campingroadtrip.com/camping-and-rv-forums/forumid/66/threadid/2119/scope/postsI've been thinking about buying a new camera to bring with me during my camping and hiking trips. I currently have an old Canon T50 with all the lenses and filters and stuff. I'm really looking for a model where I can, hopefully, use my filters and lenses too. Also, I need one that can take really good pictures even when shaking (I have really nasty hand tremors). I know that tripods can help deal with that, but I just don't have the patience to set it up to take pictures. 42012-04-26T03:13:57Zjosh54http://www.campingroadtrip.com/camping-and-rv-forums/forumid/66/threadid/2126/scope/postsI know that the color of the tent does not really matter if you're going camping in a private park. But what about if you're really planning to rough it out? Will the color of your tent affect your safety?4http://www.campingroadtrip.com/DesktopModules/Forum/Forum_Rss.aspx?forumid=66&tabid=90&mid=545&threadspage=2