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Camping setups - Exterior.
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canasync
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PostPosted: Wed Jan 04, 2012 9:39 pm    Post subject: Camping setups - Exterior. Reply with quote

Thanks to randywebb for the idea of this thread.

Go ahead and post your camping setups, this includes cooking setups, tables, chairs, lighting, tents, trailers, levelling solutions, showers, hot tubs, etc.


You may be saying hot tubs? What the heck?

Well here in Canada we like roughing it. Check out the link below.

http://bb.bc4x4.com/showthread.php?123314-How-to-build-a-hot-tub
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randywebb
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PostPosted: Wed Jan 04, 2012 9:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

outfit the thing with some of the onboard jacks that race cars use to jack up during a pit stop -- use them for auto-leveling at the camp site
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Timwhy
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 4:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

My camping setup consists of the BD awning, coleman camp kitchen and my home made chuck box.
The lighting is 12 volt from the christmas light shop. I carry and use my leveling ramps when needed.
Also bring an outdoor carpet to put in front of the slider with a floor mat to wipe your feet. The usual
camp chairs are brought along and are stored either in the luggage rack when space is at a minimum.
My hitch haul usually carries my camping box, which has all the outdoor supplies in it. 5# lpg tank
from the camp stove, clothes line, various accelerants, camping wash station (which tends to stay
on the hitch haul) and anything that I think that I will need. The camping box doubles as a place to put
my XM boombox or a card table for cribbage. Here's some pics.
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dobryan
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 8:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

randywebb wrote:
outfit the thing with some of the onboard jacks that race cars use to jack up during a pit stop -- use them for auto-leveling at the camp site


I use two stock jacks, one on each side, to level it side to side. Added benefit is that it stabilizes the Westy from rocking so the sleepers in the top bunk (and the bottom) don't feel it much when someone moves around.
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dubbified
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 8:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ditto there, I've got three, but want another so its a rock.

Soon to make a decision on an awning, wanted to pickup a portable loo, and a camping shower/heater and a portable shower/changing room/loo area..

Also, designing a kitchenette which can be removed, placed outside.
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RadioRental
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 8:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm really curious about using jacks. Is that not super unstable? what's stopping the van from pivoting on the jack arm?
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vwlovr
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 9:21 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

randywebb wrote:
outfit the thing with some of the onboard jacks that race cars use to jack up during a pit stop -- use them for auto-leveling at the camp site


i actually casually researched that idea. it's basically not possible. all the race jacks i could find aren't rated for that much weight and most (if not all) are powered by an external air source, a big ass compressed air tank that a pit crew member plugs into the car. plus they are nuts expensive.

having had experience servicing and fixing my RV's leveling jacks i think you could fab some yourself from generic hydraulic rams, but the pump & manifold assy takes up a LOT of space for a vanny.

still would be cool Smile
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PDXWesty
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 9:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

RadioRental wrote:
I'm really curious about using jacks. Is that not super unstable? what's stopping the van from pivoting on the jack arm?


You're only jacking it up an inch or two at the most to keep the suspension from bouncing. The tire should still be in full contact with the ground. I have two jacks for this as well.
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 9:43 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

PDXWesty wrote:
RadioRental wrote:
I'm really curious about using jacks. Is that not super unstable? what's stopping the van from pivoting on the jack arm?


You're only jacking it up an inch or two at the most to keep the suspension from bouncing. The tire should still be in full contact with the ground. I have two jacks for this as well.

Ditto.

But it helps to get the front end level on 2x6's first.. mostly when on very uneven terrain.
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danfromsyr wrote:
those are straight line runs with light weight race cars for only 1/4mile at a time..
not pushing a loaded brick up a mountain pass with a family of 4+ inside expecting to have an event free vacation..
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skivan
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 11:04 am    Post subject: camp kitchen Reply with quote

this is a good all-in-one camp kitchen for underneath an awning. add a rear bumper mounted swing-away with a bbq, carpet, outside speakers and lights and you're dialed for summer outdoor cooking.

it's $139, but REI often has 30% coupons for REI brand gear.
http://www.rei.com/product/765279/rei-camp-kitchen

i've always liked this idea for a sky chair too. Maybe fit for the jacking points somehow so it's on the side? With an awning it might be tricky.
www.hammaka.com/product_images/m/595/TrailerHitchHmmckMix__88697_zoom.jpg
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randywebb
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 12:11 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

PDXWesty wrote:
RadioRental wrote:
I'm really curious about using jacks. Is that not super unstable? what's stopping the van from pivoting on the jack arm?


You're only jacking it up an inch or two at the most to keep the suspension from bouncing. The tire should still be in full contact with the ground. I have two jacks for this as well.


Right. And the jacks do not need to support the full wt. of the vehicle.

Dunno what to do re the compressed air requirement -- linear electric motors??
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 12:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

j_dirge wrote:
PDXWesty wrote:
RadioRental wrote:
I'm really curious about using jacks. Is that not super unstable? what's stopping the van from pivoting on the jack arm?


You're only jacking it up an inch or two at the most to keep the suspension from bouncing. The tire should still be in full contact with the ground. I have two jacks for this as well.

Ditto.

But it helps to get the front end level on 2x6's first.. mostly when on very uneven terrain.


X2 to all the above.
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https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=620646

Building a bus for travel in Europe (euroBus)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=695371

The Western Syncro build
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=746794
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Ahwahnee
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 1:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Kelty makes some free-standing units that have the advantage of folding down to a very small package when not in use. We only use it when camping in areas where rain happens but handy for sheltering the picnic table & chairs.

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danfromsyr
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 2:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

sometimes we bring a small RV propane oven (for lasagne or apple crisp Razz )

depends on the plans for the wkend and who all is coming or what all is doing.

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bugjuice82
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 3:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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I carry a few empty sand bags for light leveling. Just fill it up on site and drive onto it. I looked into the stackable plastic leveling ramps at RV stores, and deemed them to take up too much room.
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andy syncro-nutz
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 4:47 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

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PostPosted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 4:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ahwahnee wrote:
Kelty makes some free-standing units that have the advantage of folding down to a very small package when not in use. We only use it when camping in areas where rain happens but handy for sheltering the picnic table & chairs.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


I like the looks of that campground - where is it?
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SCM
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 5:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It would be interesting to hear what kind of "camping background" everyone came from prior to getting their van and what their current set-up consists of. My wife and I were always quite minimalist with our camping stuff. Until we got married 7 years ago we cooked on our Whisperlight backpacking stove even when car camping. Then we got a 2-burner Coleman as a wedding gift. We easily fit all our gear in our car and felt quite decadent about it.

Now with the Westy our "set-up" consists of two lawn chairs and a folding table. I'd like to get an awning but otherwise if it's not already built into the van I don't think we'll pack it.
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 6:22 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Cooking setup: I use the Westy kitchenette (cook inside, eat outside if it's warm); JetBoil for boiling water for tea, coffee, hot chocolate.

Tables: Westy tables using outside table stand, campground picnic tables.

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Chairs: Cheap-o folding chairs; they usually travel via the luggage bin.

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Lighting: Westy interior light(s); Gorilla light with magnetic feet; head-lamp for walking around at night; battery-powered lanterns (hang from the awning, hang from the gutter mounts, or set on tables); a string of decorative LEDs for the awning.

Leveling: Lynx levelers.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


Shower: Zodi Hot-shower with rear hatch curtain (shower doesn't go on every trip).

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Sleeping: If dad is coming, cot is thrown in (he prefers sleeping outside).

Tent: Westy tent. Home-made rain-fly.

Awning: TransAwn 2000. If staying in one place, the TransAwn enclosure. Currently making an awning for the driver's side.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


SCM wrote:
It would be interesting to hear what kind of "camping background" everyone came from prior to getting their van and what their current set-up consists of.


Camped with the parents as a kid, usually 2-week trips (stayed in one place): tents, sleeping bags, pads, pillows, 2-burner Coleman stove, couple of Coleman lanterns, flashlights, tables, cots, tarps, shade screen with poles, coolers, chairs, dishes, utensils, tons of food, and so on. If we car-camped, we didn't take nearly as much stuff. Over time, those 2-week trips contained fewer and fewer things.

The Westy simply has most everything I need built in... much simpler. Just pack a clothes bag, add some food and hit the road.

Dad is a river rat: He's been down the Colorado every year for the past 20 years. Minimalism is key for those kinds of adventures.
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PostPosted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 10:25 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

River Rats are far from minimalists. coolers of beer, groovers, big stoves...more beer
I know about them folk..
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