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

Mon Aug 11, 2003 12:14 pm

I made a camping box for my '65 that holds a place setting for four people, utensils, coffeepot, can opener, and a quart sized pot. I bought the enamel type stuff and I keep it under the rear facing bench. I am going to make one for my '70 as well and fill it with the same stuff. The box never leaves the bus so I know that I always have it.
The shelf above the rear bench is stocked with a few blankets and a waterproof poncho.
Surpluss stores sell ammo boxes very cheap and they are perfect for a set of tools and they will fit under the rear seats.
When I made my curtains I also made two pillows and they are always in the bus next to my sleeping bag!

Mon Aug 11, 2003 12:25 pm

whenever I go camping it is usually just me and the pooch, so I don't have to worry about packing space as much as most of you. I found bulk screen at Home Depot, it comes in 4' rolls and was pretty cheap. I haven't made a screen yet, but I won't be camping for a while either, so no big rush for me.

if your totally cramped for space, I'd recomend getting a small trailer to tow behind. You would get a lot better mileage towing a small trailer than you would if you loaded up a roof rack. It would be alot more secure too.

Wed Aug 13, 2003 6:44 am

As a newbie I'm interested in what you're willing to leave at a "corporate" campsite during a little day run that requires the van and not just the bicycles. What do you leave behind, a small tent? The ranger station receipt that says the site is occupied until ___ date?

Has anyone come back to their site only to find a squatter?

Wed Aug 13, 2003 8:13 am

I have been that squatter before and I know a small tent would have kept me away. Those tags sometimes blow away or become unable to read when they get wet. Every campground uses a different type of tag; some good, some not so good. I always leave something to let squatters know I plan to return. A bike chained to the picnic table, a small tent, tiki torches, a bale of marijuana, or whatever. Knock on wood, I have never had anything bothered. Well, except for the bale of marijuana.

Wed Aug 13, 2003 9:19 am

We have found that the cabinet in the rear works best for the pots/pans plates and cooking utensils. The closet in the side/middle of bus for cleaning stuff,paper towels and bags of food like chips etc. The ice box is too small for us so we use it for canned goods and small boxed food items, and take along a good size ice chest for our cold items. When traveling the area behind the rear seat has the items we would put in the tent and leave at the site like our sleeping bags, garment bags , and pillows. We also put the campstove and lantern (one small hint propane doesn't stink up all your stuff like white gas will) there as well as they usually end up on the table at the campsite first thing. Bread, goes in the sink while driving as it doesn't get smashed there. We put two five gallon water containers in the walkthrough to help even out the load. Matches mantles and other small items work well in the drawer by the sink.
We have never had any items taken from us at a campsite while we were away ,but we do put the lantern and most stuff in the tent so it's not in plain view and don't leave things like bicycles or wallets lying around. :mrgreen: Enjoy they are alot of fun to camp in!

Wed Aug 13, 2003 7:56 pm

Thanks, NeverHadaBeetle. I was kinda curious because, well, a bus is so self contained.

Nice thread, cool space. I'm lookin' forward to spending more time here!

Thu Aug 14, 2003 1:42 am

We camped at a provincial park about 45 mins. from the city last summer for the first time last year, on the thurs. before a long weekend. We arrived late, but a lot of sites had a small toy tent, like the kind ikea sells for kids to hold spots. Something like that is ideal, because it does the job, and if it gets stolen, it doesn't cost a lot to replace, although you might have to get the campground attendant to get your spot back for you. By the way, when we left the next day, the spots had sold out, even though the campground was still largely empty, and there was a line up waiting for our spot, and the couple of others that were to be vacated that day! Jeremy

Wed Sep 10, 2008 11:39 pm

what u need to do is go camping in places where there aren't a ton of douchebags... :shock: :)

Thu Sep 11, 2008 12:00 am

Holy ancient thread!

Thu Sep 11, 2008 2:01 am

It takes a while to get your list of things figured out. So just go. And them keep a list of the things you should have brought with you. I always have camping chairs but this last time I knew to bring a chaise lounge. Wonderful, but it's to heavy. Need to find a light one. I brought along a fair size carpet for outside the slider. Dog came along and puked on it the first day. So I recently bought a larger, lighter carpet that can be hosed off when I get back home. Then to avoid the personal stink and slime I got a solar shower. Havn't used it yet because the campsite had showers. Someone gave me one of those privacy shelters for the shower and the 5 gallon plastic bucket with the cheapest toilet seat that Walmart had. I have always carried a cheap plastic tarp and a couple $2 large plastic drop cloths. Got a nice first aid kit for my birthday. Hadn't even thought about that one. Also some of those solar powered walkway lights on sale. If the moon is shining they don't help much more. The real, real handy item is a folding camping table. Then you can clear out the bus interior and pile stuff on the table and throw the tarp over it if need be. I learned a long time ago to not leave stuff on the ground at night. It's a bitch to get up in the morning and find a rattlesnake under the stuff sitting on the ground. Make sure you have tools, critical spare parts (throttle cable, belt & whatever else) and your Bentley manual. Check your spare tire pressure before you go. Take lots of paper towels.

Thu Sep 11, 2008 7:35 am

I have a small generator and a 5000BTU A.C. for remote camping. It gets really hot & humid in Louisiana. So to make sleeping bearable in the summer it's a must for me.

I'll pack everything else around those items!!
I also got the outside the bus brackets and made a large table bracket out of fence post.

I haven't used it yet, but I got this for storing stuff and securing the campsite while gone. It's a Reimo Tour Easy

Thu Sep 11, 2008 10:41 am

compression sacks for all clothes and compression dry sacks for all wet clothes and such......shrinks size of things by 50% or more. they kick ass.

Thu Sep 11, 2008 12:13 pm

One thing we like to do on camping trips is to line our cooler up with the sliding door, hinges toward the center of the bus. This gives access from the inside to the cabinets, gives our dog a little path from the bed up to the front, and allows cooler access from the outside during short stops (gas stations, views, restroom, etc).

That all flies out the window when doing two week or longer trips, though:

Also, despite the picture, our dog is not allowed to stand on the counter.

Thu Sep 11, 2008 12:45 pm

mattirobi wrote: One thing we like to do on camping trips is to line our cooler up with the sliding door, hinges toward the center of the bus. This gives access from the inside to the cabinets, gives our dog a little path from the bed up to the front, and allows cooler access from the outside during short stops (gas stations, views, restroom, etc).

That all flies out the window when doing two week or longer trips, though:

Also, despite the picture, our dog is not allowed to stand on the counter.

what about either

a. strapping the dog to the roof.

or

b. tying his leash to the rear bumper and have him hoof it, it's not like the top speed of our busses is that fast.......

seriously the dog looks a litte confused as just to where he's meant to fit, hahaha i like the photo man! cheers!

Fri Sep 12, 2008 1:40 am

Teach the dog to drive and take a break! :P

Fri Sep 12, 2008 7:14 am

holy cow mattirobi,!

do you crawl up hills in first gear with all that load?

Fri Sep 12, 2008 1:45 pm

norcalvw wrote: holy cow mattirobi,!

do you crawl up hills in first gear with all that load?

I was up in his neck of the woods a while back. And didn't see many hills. But there are sure some big mountains.

Fri Sep 12, 2008 2:03 pm

i can't get over the amount of stuff everyone says they take camping!! i mean it sounds like everyone packs their bus like the lasst pic posted and sets up camp for a month with tents, tarps and door mats!! i can't believe it!!!
i seriously am amazed......it looks like so much trouble, hassle and NO fun to travel like that!
i leave LOO LOO, my bus, loaded with utensils, 2 sleeping bags, two pillows, flash light, knife, axe, 2 adult chairs and one childs chair.
Until i put in a back pack, cooler and case of beer she looks completely empty!!
two adults and one 3 year old for 10 days and our stuff all fit behind the "couch" in my 77 westy....
i saw the bus as a way to get away from the "set up" of your camp site....
roll in, pop the top, start a fire....eat drink sleep, go play all day.....
am i alone on this one? :?

Fri Sep 12, 2008 2:15 pm

Desertbusman wrote: norcalvw wrote: holy cow mattirobi,!

do you crawl up hills in first gear with all that load?

I was up in his neck of the woods a while back. And didn't see many hills. But there are sure some big mountains.

Yes, there are some mountains up here for sure, see my gallery.

This picture was taken on the way to drop off George (the dog) at a friends house before the trip. He requires a lot more comfort when riding in the bus. Normally we pack lighter, but we were heading to the Telluride Bluegrass Festival, and so we had a ton of stuff (including two banjos).

And both mine and topbud's buses went over Lizard Head Pass (+/- 11,000 ft.) several times in third gear with this load!

Fri Sep 12, 2008 2:28 pm

MOX wrote: i can't get over the amount of stuff everyone says they take camping!! i mean it sounds like everyone packs their bus like the lasst pic posted and sets up camp for a month with tents, tarps and door mats!! i can't believe it!!!
i seriously am amazed......it looks like so much trouble, hassle and NO fun to travel like that!
i leave LOO LOO, my bus, loaded with utensils, 2 sleeping bags, two pillows, flash light, knife, axe, 2 adult chairs and one childs chair.
Until i put in a back pack, cooler and case of beer she looks completely empty!!
two adults and one 3 year old for 10 days and our stuff all fit behind the "couch" in my 77 westy....
i saw the bus as a way to get away from the "set up" of your camp site....
roll in, pop the top, start a fire....eat drink sleep, go play all day.....
am i alone on this one? :?

my thoughts too, i've grown up thinking if you can;t carry it all you don't need it, i'm used to hiking 10 or miles in and setting up camp from a 30 lbs back pack. i'm surprised no one packs a inflatable swimming pool for camping trips!! so much stuff!!! seriously i plan on packing like you a few camping chairs an axe some clothes in compression sacks and food and utensils can go in the cabinets, with all of the storage space in these things i see no need to have tupperware or whatever stacked in the back.