TheSamba.com :: View topic - Tell me about how you set up your camp site.

Sun Aug 10, 2003 3:04 pm

We finally got our 76 Westy on the road after a slew of problems. As of
this week end, we've been camping in it 4 times. I've scanned different web pages for suggested items to take/pack, so I have most of those things down pretty well. We are keeping a list of little things we need.

What I'd like to hear about are ways you all keep your camper organized
while camping- We're getting good at putting stuff right away, but there
has to be more to keeping things organized. What kinds of containers do you use for wet/dirty clothes, where do you put the table at night, what do you keep in the overhead compartment (we have a couple board games in there which take up space, and we have the front curtains and rear screen), what do you keep in below the bench seat?

How about mosquitos? We have the rear screen, and I know a sliding door
screen is available, but it's a little pricey if I recall correctly. Have any of you thrifty people come up with a cheaper alternative? How about
the front windows?

Outside. We have a largish pavillion type of thing with a roof and no
sides which folds up nicely. It's nice for sunny days, however, it's worthless in the rain. The rain splashes in, and if we set it up right outside the sliding door the rain pours off the roof and gets the inside of the open
door wet- I know, close the door, but it's nice to have it open. I'm going
to get a tarp to bridge the gap- any other cheap alternatives?

Rain- what do you all do in the rain? We have a mat outside the door, and
we have to take our shoes off to keep the inside clean/dry. Any suggestions for camping in the rain? PA has had an exceptionally wet summer this year.

Sun Aug 10, 2003 3:23 pm

Haven't got my 71 Westy on the road yet, so no camping stories to share (that will change very soon!). I am planning on TupperWare type containers for a lot of things when I do finally get to go. They have an endless variety of sizes and shapes, plus they're pretty well water tight.

Mine came with the original drive-thru side tent, but I have looked at some of the generic after market ones on the net. I don't recall the brand, but one I really liked had roll-up sides so that it doubled as an awning and tent. Seemed to mount to the gutter in a way that would prevent the run off problem.

As for the muddy shoes - I've already thought of that because of my youngest step-son. He could get muddy taking a shower! Again a TupperWare tub - he can drop his shoes (and any other muddy items) in it, then we can put the lid on to keep bugs, etc. out, and any odors in!

Hope you're enjoying your bus, I can't wait till I get to use mine, afraid I might wear the poor thing out during it's first camping season.

Sun Aug 10, 2003 3:30 pm

JDawg,

It's awesome. We have two daughters- 4 and 6- talk about family bonding!!

Sun Aug 10, 2003 3:34 pm

Do they both sleep "upstairs", or do have the child cot for the cab?

Sun Aug 10, 2003 3:38 pm

Both sleep upstairs. The younger one is always a little scared at first, but we got them both little flashlights and it helped. I'd still like to get a cot for those times she doesn't go to sleep right away and also to store stuff- not at the same time she is sleeping in it though:)

Sun Aug 10, 2003 3:44 pm

I'm doing my first overnighter this Saturday.....only in the field for a Sunday show, but hey, gotta start somewhere!

I'd be interested in some tips also.

Sun Aug 10, 2003 3:46 pm

I found a cot on here, but have to wait for the guy to finish racing season so he has time to ship it. They do come in handy for storage - when not occupied. The 71 just has the single cot in the top, so it will work for the 15 yo - unless I decide to boot him out to the tent!

I had thought about redoing it with the later layout, but it it so original that I decided to keep it that way. Belonged to my dad since the early 80's and I just inhereited it. He passed in 91, and it has just been mostly sitting since then. One short road trip about 5 years ago, and started about once a month since. I live in the upper Mojave Desert, so no rust, but the dry heat has taken it's toll on everything that's not metal. Even though it's new to me, it's already part of the family and comes with great sentimental value.

Sun Aug 10, 2003 4:01 pm

I have seen a couple of links in the old forums for sites containing lists of supplies for camping. I checked one of them a while back - man what a list! I'd venture to say it was pretty complete.

Sun Aug 10, 2003 4:13 pm

I've got a 71 Westy. I use the storage under the rear seat for my tools, and small floor jack. I aslso keep spare parts there too. I keep clothes in the rear compartment and luggage behind the seat above the engine. When I camp, I put up the front cot and use it for storage.

In my 88 westy, I fill the cabinets with things like the board games, balls and frisbees.My luggage goes behind the rear seat and I usually put it in the front seats or on the upper bunk when camping.

I guess what works for me is packing in a duffle bag and living out of it inside the camper. This gives me freedom to move it around a lot.

Good luck

Sun Aug 10, 2003 4:18 pm

Rubbermaid containers- you can buy them at Target, etc. are great for storing stuff.

You can make add a tarp with one of those blue tarps the sell at Lowes/Home Depot/ Wal Mart, a couple of spring clamps, a set of poles, and some line. You can make it the length of the bus if you wanted. Clamp the tarp along the rain gutter. Ghetto, but it works. Wet stuff (I kayak and canoe) and shoes go into another RubberMaid container. You can strap these onto the roof cargo area if you want.

You have a lot more people than I do so I don't have anywhere near the problems packing that you do. Have you considered getting a (narrow) cargo box like a Yakima or Thule? You could put your clothes and lightweight stuff up top. I put food and cooking stuff under the sink (heavier stuff lowest). Utensils, matches, etc in the top drawers. Blankets in the back, clothes overhead, tools and other camping gear under the bench (keeps the weight low and the bench seat top locks down which I feel is important in the event of a wreck), beer in the cooler, junk (frisbees, extra shoes, etc) in the side compartment. Canvas cot, curtains over the closet.

Obviously safety is a concern so I try to keep the weight low and secure anything I don't want flying around the bus in the event of a wreck.

Sun Aug 10, 2003 4:20 pm

Although I think he's kind of snooty, Capt. Mike has a pretty good list of items to pack and how to pack them at www.westfalia.org.

A camping friend of ours gave us a list made in Excel to us complete with check boxes. Most of the little things stay in the camper all the time, so when we're ready to go all we have to take is fresh food, fill the water tank, and pack our personal belongings.

Something else I leave in the camper which is REALLY helpful are our levelers. I made two ramps out of scrap wood (treated decking boards) from a deck I recently built-- 4 pieces of wood (30, 24, 18, 12) screwed together. The pair form a big block on top of each other. We have room for them in the back, but they could go on the luggage rack. We cary a little level in a drawer and pull it out when we're ready to park. Makes for a nice level site. Most of the time, we only need one under one wheel.

Sun Aug 10, 2003 4:27 pm

I just got back from an awesome camping trip over to Seward, AK. Talk about packing them in, it was myself, my wife, our two year old, mother-in-law and the black lab. So needless to say I was really glad we had nice weather so we could be outside often.

Overhead is great for diapers, wipes, toys, flashlights and books. Under the rear seat I use for tools, the jacks and some of the kitchen tupperware type stuff. We have no tables so don't have to worry about storing those.
I was thinking of getting a small piece of astro-turf for outside the door. No awning but thought that would be a nice edition. Another idea I had was to take along a small tent to store stuff in over night outside, but in bear country you do not want to leave much outside (other than the mother-in-law).

Happy camping.

Sun Aug 10, 2003 4:31 pm

A side tent is great if you have the money. One of the outdoor carpets for RVs works good in front of the door. A rubbermaid dish washing type of container partially filled with water works beside the door for washing feet, shoes, along with a towel close by. I put a mat just inside the door for final wiping and keep a hand broom between the passenger seat and door. The slider screen is about 60 or 70 bucks. Thats worth my time and effort to fabricate one. The front windows have an aftermarket louvered and screened insert, but I haven't seen one in person. Rubbermaid is my pal when it comes to containers. They seem to have the selection and quality, but the price can change dramatically between stores. Tackle boxes of all different sizes also help, especially with little spare parts like fuses, bolts, and bulbs. Cheap duffle bags work for areas that aren't square. To me it's absolutly amazing the amount of stuff that can fit into a Westy. I am like a pack-rat/ MacGuyver mix so I really have to limit myself in what I bring or else the bus gets too heavy. I guess thats why I have the KYBs. Dave

Sun Aug 10, 2003 4:54 pm

farmersdahtr,
Right on about the hand broom!!! I'm a sweepin' mo' fo' when we're camping. It's amazing how much stuff gets tracked in. We just got a mat for outside, but I like your idea about the wash basin and inside mat.

Did you say you've made a sliding door screen?
I could do them easily for the sliding door and front windows with same magnets, but I'm unsure where to get the netting. :shock:

Sun Aug 10, 2003 5:11 pm

Camping with my wife is anything under $80.00 per.nite w/o a mint on the pillow

Sun Aug 10, 2003 7:58 pm

No, I meant that I would rather pay that amount than to make one that would not compare in quality. I forgot that I also cut the handle in half on a regular broom for the mat outside and the tarp thats the floor of the sidetent.

Sun Aug 10, 2003 8:27 pm

Have to laugh at myself, I was thinking rubbermaid when I said tupperware.

Sun Aug 10, 2003 10:08 pm

Rubbermaid indee! It's our organizational saviour on camping trips. We went for a big trip to Oregon a couple summers ago with 2 adults and 2 kids in a Ford escort, and the rubbermaid bins were what kept us sane! We got a westy because of that trip, and we still use rubbermaid bins to keep stuff organized, get 'em at Walmart. We have the 74 layout so the table folds up against the wall, tools, jack cords and stuff goes under the bench seat, maps and drinks and stuff in the little seat box between the front seats. Clean clothes are in a soft suitcase, which travels over the engine compartment along with the bedding. Dirty clothes go into a green garbage bag. Food in the fridge, water actually doesn't go in the tank for us, we bring a bottle that would be tipped upside down on a water cooler with a lid. We have been cooking on the two burner stove, but now we got one of those thermos bbq's that fits nicely on the luggage rack travelling and can be set up on its own, or on the picknic table. Dishes are done in a rubbermaid container, with the dirty water dumped well away from the campsite, or in the marked area.My bike when we take it goes on a rack that hangs in the front or back of the bus depending on how I feel, and gets locked to the back bumper at night. We have the mounts for the child's cot, but no cot, so last week I got a 10 foot length of electrical conduit the other day to make some supports, and I'll get some canvas and sew a cot for them. Most of the stuff gets stored on the front seats while we're sleeping by the way. We have some rag rug mats for inside and outside the bus, easy to take out and shake when stuff gets tracked in, and a hand broom. We use tarps ropes, found poles and trees to rig up an awning when we camp, but I'd like to get something that's attached to the side of the bus. I'm also going to make screens, you can by bug screen material at Walmart for replacing the screen in your screen door, It's not too expensive, and it's good quality, I made a slotted hanging screen ourt of it for our double doors at home so the kids can run in and out without destroying a screen door. I'll probably use snaps to secure it, there are some in place already in the van, and they're easy to put on a screen. Jeremy

Mon Aug 11, 2003 8:35 am

Hey BajaTacoma; you can't say kayak or kayaking on TheSamba any more. Everett's server is touchy about those words for some reason. Canoe, boat, paddle, bike, k*a*y*a*k, and backpack are fine, but say the word kayak or kayaking and your history. :D

I whitewater kayak :) and camp a lot so 90% of the time it's rain. I lay down a 10'x12' tarp and drive my bus onto it with the passenger side tires holding down two of the corners. This keeps it from bunching up and tripping you and it also keeps if from blowing away. Works better than a small mat or rug and gives you much more coverage. It's easy to sweep off also. When I break camp, I roll it up and toss it into the luggage compartment in the fiberglass top. Good luck.

Mon Aug 11, 2003 11:39 am

Buy some seagrass matts to put inside the bus and right outside the door. These mats are really cheap (just a few bucks a foot) and they last forever and look great too. The best part is the dirt falls down the cracks in the mat and does not stay on top. Once you get home just pull them out and give them a good shaking (they don't hold dirt at all). You can buy them at places like Cost Plus World Market and Pier 1 Imports (or similar type stores), at Cost Plust you can have them cut to the exact length you need. They are also easy to tie together so you can custom fit them to your bus.