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Sprink1es Samba Member
Joined: March 04, 2014 Posts: 76 Location: WI
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Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2017 10:55 pm Post subject: What's your favorite camping item you bring in your bus? |
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I generally go to two multi-day music festivals in my Westy every year, and try to do as much camping as I can. I've learned a lot owning my '77 for 4 years now and reading on The Samba for longer yet. But almost every trip I learn something or have a new idea for the next time. Some of my go-to items:
EZ-canopy or a 4-post unit. I'm a shade guy
If it's hot - I hang a 12" fan between the two front seats and aim it at the z-bed. Life saver on summer nights (let alone on "night 3" at a rock festival after 15 20 cocktails)
If it's cold - Buddy heater. Safe, portable, cheap, crack a window just in case
My fav - a cooler stereo I built. Runs all day off a car battery (inside), can drag the tunes wherever we end up sitting.
I have a hundred other tips/items I've learned to bring over the last few years, but I don't want to bore everyone! Anything cool/random that you guys always make sure to bring with?
My 77 in 2015
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kooper271 Samba Member
Joined: March 22, 2016 Posts: 337 Location: Ohio
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Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2017 6:23 am Post subject: Re: What's your favorite camping item you bring in your bus? |
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Do you have any pictures of the stereo? |
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vwwestyman Samba Member
Joined: April 24, 2004 Posts: 5680 Location: Manhattan, Kansas, USA
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Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2017 6:24 am Post subject: Re: What's your favorite camping item you bring in your bus? |
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I've become a fan of the Ryobi brand 18 volt battery-operated tools.
For camping, they have a lantern that is much easier to use than a traditional one. The biggest thing on a hot summer trip last year was a fan that works off either the batteries or you can plug it in. Lasted 7 hours on a large battery so that was pretty good and just about right.
I also bring along a tire and raft pump, for just in case. I've used the raft (high volume/low pressure) pointed strategically to get a campfire going more quickly.
I haven't needed to try it yet, but I've read about people using the batteries to charge up a flat car battery. Ryobi doesn't make a booster pack to use with the batteries, but the person said he held the jumper cables to the positive and negative sides of the battery and it worked OK.
I got a reciprocating saw for Christmas which would be useful for cutting small to medium pieces of firewood. _________________ Dave Cook
President, Wild Westerner Club
1978 Champagne Edition Westy, repowered to '97 Jetta TDI
1973 Wild Westerner
My Thing |
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kooper271 Samba Member
Joined: March 22, 2016 Posts: 337 Location: Ohio
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Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2017 6:33 am Post subject: Re: What's your favorite camping item you bring in your bus? |
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I haven't been out in my bus yet, but I'll have to look into the Milwaukee version of that lantern. I swear these Fuel batteries last forever. |
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rusty busty Samba Member
Joined: May 27, 2015 Posts: 310 Location: Vancouver BC
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Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2017 7:07 am Post subject: Re: What's your favorite camping item you bring in your bus? |
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kooper271 wrote: |
I haven't been out in my bus yet, but I'll have to look into the Milwaukee version of that lantern. I swear these Fuel batteries last forever. |
Milwaukee fuel ftw! Although I think Milwaukee and ryobi are owned by the same company.
I've got too many Milwaukee tools to count. This light is the one I have. It's awesome. It'll light up a room, or an engine bay.
I also picked up their fluid transfer pump recently for work but it would be awesome for taking a shower when camping.
I mostly like to keep it simple when camping or going to festivals. Just the basics usually. Butane stove, 12 volt mobicool cooler, chairs, my bike, shrooms, bluetooth speaker, etc etc.
vwwestyman wrote: |
I haven't needed to try it yet, but I've read about people using the batteries to charge up a flat car battery. Ryobi doesn't make a booster pack to use with the batteries, but the person said he held the jumper cables to the positive and negative sides of the battery and it worked OK.
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I've tried this. I accidently left my 12 volt cooler plugged into my work truck for too long. When I turned the key it was doing that click click click thing so the battery wasn't completely drained, it just needed some help. I hooked up a ridgid 4.0ah battery with some wire I had. Still not enough juice though. Then I hooked up my Milwaukee 5.0ah battery and it fired right up! _________________ 1978 CEII Get-away hightop
Last edited by rusty busty on Mon Feb 27, 2017 7:15 am; edited 2 times in total |
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TDCTDI Samba Advocatus Diaboli
Joined: August 31, 2013 Posts: 12815 Location: North Carolina
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Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2017 7:09 am Post subject: Re: What's your favorite camping item you bring in your bus? |
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Toilet paper. _________________ Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.
GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!
An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.
Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it. |
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kooper271 Samba Member
Joined: March 22, 2016 Posts: 337 Location: Ohio
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Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2017 7:28 am Post subject: Re: What's your favorite camping item you bring in your bus? |
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rusty busty wrote: |
kooper271 wrote: |
I haven't been out in my bus yet, but I'll have to look into the Milwaukee version of that lantern. I swear these Fuel batteries last forever. |
Milwaukee fuel ftw! Although I think Milwaukee and ryobi are owned by the same company.
I've got too many Milwaukee tools to count. This light is the one I have. It's awesome. It'll light up a room, or an engine bay.
...
Then I hooked up my Milwaukee 5.0ah battery and it fired right up! |
Have you seen those milwaukee light towers? They look badass, but way too much for camping.
and yeah, these 5.0ah batteries are awesome. Way to just drop shrooms in your list casually |
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richparker Samba Member
Joined: November 24, 2011 Posts: 6932 Location: Durango, CO
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Sprink1es Samba Member
Joined: March 04, 2014 Posts: 76 Location: WI
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Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2017 8:00 am Post subject: Re: What's your favorite camping item you bring in your bus? |
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kooper271 wrote: |
Do you have any pictures of the stereo? |
I upgraded the bus stereo too with a 4ch amp, but it's then I you have to blare that for everyone to hear it... the cooler is much easier. Originally built it for river rafting trips
Fully water proof, full size deep cycle battery, 720w amp, hooked up just like you would a car stereo. It's like 85lbs though |
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kooper271 Samba Member
Joined: March 22, 2016 Posts: 337 Location: Ohio
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Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2017 8:02 am Post subject: Re: What's your favorite camping item you bring in your bus? |
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Sprink1es wrote: |
..It's like 85lbs though |
At least you have wheels.
That is awesome! |
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rusty busty Samba Member
Joined: May 27, 2015 Posts: 310 Location: Vancouver BC
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Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2017 8:16 am Post subject: Re: What's your favorite camping item you bring in your bus? |
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kooper271 wrote: |
Have you seen those milwaukee light towers? They look badass, but way too much for camping. |
Ya I've seen them. They are a bit much for camping, and a bit much for my wallet. The one I got was $$. Those light towers are $$$$.
For that kind of dough I'll run a cord _________________ 1978 CEII Get-away hightop |
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Sprink1es Samba Member
Joined: March 04, 2014 Posts: 76 Location: WI
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Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2017 8:36 am Post subject: Re: What's your favorite camping item you bring in your bus? |
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Lights is a very important subject. OEM interior lights are inadequate. There are multiple threads of ideas and different products, but I ran LED ribbons along both sides of my bus on a dimmer switch. Much better even light than just hanging a lantern.
Outside, the best solution I found is to hang rope lighting along the perimeter of my canopy. LED on a 12v connector, directly off my aux battery. More light then you'll ever need outside! Haha
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HelmutofBuffalo Samba Member
Joined: August 22, 2005 Posts: 554 Location: West Coast of New York
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Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2017 12:07 pm Post subject: Re: What's your favorite camping item you bring in your bus? |
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You know... I really love the Bay Window Forum...The information, technical advice and stories are priceless. However sometimes ya'll just get too technical and miss the obvious.
A repost from the Beers and Bays forum:
Fantasy
Reality
_________________ 1979 Type I Convertible |
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alman72 Samba Member
Joined: October 09, 2014 Posts: 2573 Location: MICHIGAN
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Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2017 12:31 pm Post subject: Re: What's your favorite camping item you bring in your bus? |
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Jen never camped a day in her life. look at her poor choice of hiking boots, and she did not bring a real beer, she poorly photo shopped one in. She is still invited tho. |
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richparker Samba Member
Joined: November 24, 2011 Posts: 6932 Location: Durango, CO
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Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2017 1:08 pm Post subject: Re: What's your favorite camping item you bring in your bus? |
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^Jenn looks more like a glamper not a camper.
That 86lbs getto blaster seems alittle excessive, unless you're throwing a rave in the forest. _________________ __________
’71 Westy build
Adventure thread
’65 Deluxe Build |
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HelmutofBuffalo Samba Member
Joined: August 22, 2005 Posts: 554 Location: West Coast of New York
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Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2017 1:19 pm Post subject: Re: What's your favorite camping item you bring in your bus? |
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alman72 wrote: |
Jen never camped a day in her life. look at her poor choice of hiking boots, and she did not bring a real beer, she poorly photo shopped one in. She is still invited tho. |
See what I mean about getting all technical
1. There's a first time for everything, and as long as your in a Bus.. anywhere is technically "camping" , just say'n
2. Hiking hiking Who said anything about hiking She don't need to do any stinking hiking
3. I admit, I poorly photo shopped the beer, but that was only to adhere to strict Forum guidelines to qualify for the Beers and Bays forum. Most who viewed the photo there couldn't even find the beer _________________ 1979 Type I Convertible |
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Sprink1es Samba Member
Joined: March 04, 2014 Posts: 76 Location: WI
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Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2017 1:22 pm Post subject: Re: What's your favorite camping item you bring in your bus? |
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Heh heh, no ghetto music in that bad boy. But she's for music festivals only
I thought the beer and the girls were givens. What you do when you get there is where I keep having new ideas |
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jtauxe Samba Member
Joined: September 30, 2004 Posts: 5778 Location: Los Alamos, New Mexico
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Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2017 1:24 pm Post subject: Re: What's your favorite camping item you bring in your bus? |
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My wife! _________________ John
"Travelling in a fried-out Kombi, on a hippie trail, head full of zombie..." - Colin Hay and Ron Strykert
http://vw.tauxe.net
1969 Transporter, 1971 Westfalia, 1976, 1977, 1976, 1977, 1971, 1973, 1977 Westfalias,
1979 Champagne Sunroof, 1974 Westfalia Automatic, 1979 Transporter, 1972 Sportsmobile, 1973 Transporter Wild Westerner, 1974 Westfalia parts bus, 1975 Mexican single cab *FOR SALE*, 1978 Irish 4-door double cab RHD
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CarlosZ Samba Member
Joined: April 23, 2016 Posts: 319 Location: Los Angeles
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Posted: Mon Feb 27, 2017 2:49 pm Post subject: Re: What's your favorite camping item you bring in your bus? |
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Weed, Beer, light, broom and shade. |
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HelmutofBuffalo Samba Member
Joined: August 22, 2005 Posts: 554 Location: West Coast of New York
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Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2017 8:08 am Post subject: Re: What's your favorite camping item you bring in your bus? |
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Seriously... I like to travel with a bundle of wood (enough for a campfire) shrink wrapped, to keep dry (like the ones you see for sale outside of convenience stores) tied to my luggage rack. Nice to have if you get somewhere and there is no wood available or it has been raining and everything else is wet. A candle is great for starting fires in most conditions. _________________ 1979 Type I Convertible |
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