Camping Tips for new owners

AlCat

AlCat

Ranger
Donating Member
I am wondering if the veterans have any tips for us newbies.

Specifically, any tips for choosing a campsite? Do we need to park in "RV" sites, or will campgrounds allow the tear in a tent site?

How about roadside camping? Have you had good luck on BLM land? Forest Service land?
 
Most sites have under 20ft in the equipment category and these are usually sites mixed in tent areas.

Choosing your site stop, get out, pause, survey and work out what space you need where you will pitch your canopy/side tent, access to picnic tables fire etc..

Common sense will dictate but you will usually have to compromise on something. I always try and think of being able to hook up the night before an early departure without disturbing camp to much as this makes it easier for an early start.
 
Barry & Annie said:
Most sites have under 20ft in the equipment category and these are usually sites mixed in tent areas.

Choosing your site stop, get out, pause, survey and work out what space you need where you will pitch your canopy/side tent, access to picnic tables fire etc..

Common sense will dictate but you will usually have to compromise on something. I always try and think of being able to hook up the night before an early departure without disturbing camp to much as this makes it easier for an early start.
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in some areas of California, you are lucky to get a site, at all!! So I am hoping that some sites will accept us even at "tent" sites (not ONLY at RV sites). It's probably a question I need to ask at each campsite. It would be nice to have the flexibility to also be able to use a tent site. But I've never camped with a trailer, so I never had to pay attention to these rules.
 
Barry & Annie gave good advice. You should fit in just about any site available, including tent sites. We've stayed in blm and forest service sites with no problems, since you barely need any room. We just spent 2 weeks out West, doing 1 week each in 2 campgrounds, and hooking everything up the night before leaving each site made departing so much more pleasant and eliminated the chance of disturbing other campers in the early morning. Just be sure to NOT connect your electrical so you don't run the tow vehicle's battery down overnight. Got any trips planned?
 
We have found that many park rangers don't have a problem classifying a teardrop as a tent - perhaps because they are a novelty. The issue we have most often with tent sites is that there is no way to wheel a trailer into the site - many tent sites have a rock or log barrier that you wouldn't have noticed as a tent camper.

Also, I should mention that Ken's warning about not hooking up the seven pin to your tow vehicle the night before only applies if you don't have the isolator.
 
Thanks for the thoughts. I thought that maybe we could fit in tent sites, but wasn't sure. (good point about the rock/log barrier). With the closure of many state parks here in California, I expect it to be even harder to get a site, so it's good to know we may have some flexibility. (of course, all the sites open up as soon as school starts)
 
I just figure if you can fit 2 cars, you're good to go.

Shorter sites, you can usally turn the Drop around sideways so the kitchen is facing the campsite area and takes up less room and usually works a lot better too.

fpoole_SltCrk1009_O_23.jpg



On some sites and I'm learning now to park it at an angle - askew, unhook and then move the drop a little to the left or right of the truck and you can just keep the food/cooler in the truck to lock up at night from crittes.. plus allow for a little more privacy with the windows. Sort of like this...
fpoole_Dosewallips_43.jpg
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ps, I forgot to add, I try at all costs to NOT park near the "Big Boys" RV as they have the generators and outside lights that they "Forget"? to turn off at night...
 
I agree with don't park by the big boys. We go stuck between 2 of them a one site and I felt like I was in a tunnel.
 
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