Family car camping

[trk3263]

Wife and I decided to sell the trailer and buy a tent.
We bought an REI Kingdom 6 and looking to see what other items are must have to keep the girls (wife and kids) happy.

What do you guys use for a grill/stove when car camping. I am looking at the Camp chef combo stove so we can grill and boil water.

What is everyone using for ground pads or mattresses. The wife was talking about a cot but I told her no. Do you suggest individual air pads or a bigger multi person air mattress.

Any other items that I should get to make sure everyone is happy with the car camping setup let me know.

 

[KMT]

If car camping, I bring a queen sized air mattress (about 5" thick when inflated). A battery powered pump is great. A two burner propane stove works well. Mine is a Coleman. Nice folding chairs with high backs are great. Weight doesn't matter. Your car won't mind hauling them around.

 

[tttoadman]

Bring some of the thin egg crate foam to put on top of the air matress to cut the quirmy(sp?) noise down.

I just bought a Kingdom 6 used with the garage add on. Did you get that with yours. it looks like a killer way to keep the tent clean.

 

[ChrisS]

I have the camp chef combo and hated the grill, so I bought a griddle top for it to use instead. I used the grill a couple of times, but it gets really messy and I didn't want to leave a greasy stinky grill at my campsite or have it leak out over other gear.

The wife and I have alps comfort series self inflating mattresses. They're fairly cheap, durable, and have a soft top. Super comfortable and I'm not sliding off the side or sinking towards the middle of a blow-up mattress.

 

[trk3263]

Bring some of the thin egg crate foam to put on top of the air matress to cut the quirmy(sp?) noise down.

I just bought a Kingdom 6 used with the garage add on. Did you get that with yours. it looks like a killer way to keep the tent clean.

I did get the garage attachment. Should be here in a week or so.

 

[trk3263]

I have the camp chef combo and hated the grill, so I bought a griddle top for it to use instead. I used the grill a couple of times, but it gets really messy and I didn't want to leave a greasy stinky grill at my campsite or have it leak out over other gear.

The wife and I have alps comfort series self inflating mattresses. They're fairly cheap, durable, and have a soft top. Super comfortable and I'm not sliding off the side or sinking towards the middle of a blow-up mattress.

The camp chef I am looking at has the grill and griddle setup. My concern is similar in the fact I don't want it getting all nasty to load back in the car but not sure the alternative. We are looking for a cargo carrier for the top of the car so would probably keep it in there.
I will check out those mattresses.

Thank you

 

[gwl79902]

I much prefer using cots over air pads any day. You do need a pad with a cot but aples makes some nice cots if you have room to pack them

 

[Where's Bruce?]

If I have a lot of people to feed, I bring the folding grill and big pot and make buffalo chili.



Air mattresses conduct cold directly to you so get something with some insulative properties (EXPED synmat or equivalent) or do what do, take a closed foam mat.

 

[trk3263]

I was looking at these Luxury Lite UltraLite Cot which I heard about on the Gitty Bowmen

 

[jmez]

I like the big queen sized air mattress when car camping as well. If I'm camping with the family the temp isn't going to be low enough to have to worry about the mattress conducting cold air.

Portable grills are messy. We use a 2 burner coleman stove and if grilling use a set up like Bruce's, you can burn the grease off of it when you are done grilling. Tote it around in a cardboard box and no mess. Also if car camping it is usually at a campsite somwhere and all of those have grills.

 

[Darren Best]

http://www.camptime.com/roll-a-cot.htm

Best cots made, hands down. I have two that are over 20 years old and show almost no wear and have been used by teenage boys.

Get the XL, long and wide, you can thank me later.

 

[husky390]

These work pretty well. I'll also use one of the heavy duty folding plastic tables you can buy at Walmart (like what Bruce has in his stove pic). I just use a 2 burner coleman propane stove. My wife likes air mattresses, I prefer cots.


http://www.rei.com/product/378009/c...xzx_dc|pcrid|52774015120|&lsft=cm_mmc:cse_PLA

http://www.rei.com/product/879892/r..._mmc:cse_PLA&gclid=CJH7xt3c4MYCFQIEaQod6VoEVw

 

[airlocksniffer]

Just picked up a twin sized memory foam pad at Costco for $80. Our friends who do a lot of car camping swear by them.

 

[The John]

If you're going to car camp a lot, i suggest that you pick up some plastic totes to keep your stuff organized and together for the next time you go out (plus it makes packing easier).

My wife loved it before we bought our trailer.

 

[trk3263]

Great feedback thanks guys I didn't think I would get this much action. Where's Bruce you have an awesome setup.

Stove Grill so I was looking at the Camp chef combo but after these posts and stinking about it the grilling part is what is so messy. I am thinking just the flat griddle would be best for clean up but maybe not even have a grill like that and just use a campfire. Still get a stove for boiling water and cooking on but would be much cleaner? I do have a small tailgater weber that I can always use for grilling but most of the time we use the fire for hot dogs and our mountain pie makers will get used more.

Side note if you never used a mountain pie maker you need to get one. Grilled Cheese in a mountain pie maker is the best.
Get a good quality cast iron one or it won't last long:
http://www.rei.com/product/752497/c...oYW_dc|pcrid|52774011400|&lsft=cm_mmc:cse_PLA

 

[husky390]

I like the black plastic totes with yellow lids that Costco sells. I have an SUV and I'll keep my stove and cooking stuff in one of those totes so I do not have to worry about grease or smells while driving to and from the woods.

 

[Backpack Hunter]

I'm a fan of the Queen size air matress, the Coleman stove plus lantern with a 20lb propane tank, and cast iron cookware. Plastic totes work well to keep things organized.

 

[Becca]

If you want an excellent double air mattress, check out the light speed air bed. We messed around with the cheaper Coleman ones for years, and they always ended up leaking plus they are super heavy. We use ours roughly 10-20 nights a year, either car camping or for boat/ATV/base camp type trips where we aren't backpacking. You can also fit two of them into an SL5 tipi or nest (I presume the Cimmaron would work as well, but we haven't tried) with the pole in between them and sleep 4 in total luxury

We got the lightspeed air bed at Costco, but Amazon sells them as well :

http://www.amazon.com/Lightspeed-Outdoors-2-Person-PVC-Free-Operated/dp/B00IHX26X6

For camp kitchen, we have a nifty soft sided cook box that stores a Coleman stove and also has a table the folds over the top. Pretty similar to this one: http://www.rei.com/product/879893/rei-camp-pack-n-prep-tote-table-special-buy

I am also a big fan of the roll a table, handy to cook or prepare food on, as well as fold up camp chairs if you want to have a sit down meal or play cards.

 

[Where's Bruce?]

I prefer to stick my stuff (paper plates, lighter, TP, plastic wear, napkins, coffee and cups, propane canisters, etc) in a big clear plastic storage bin with a clear lid. Makes grabbing what I need a breeze. A couple of tables and tarps are helpful too.

 

[5MilesBack]

The coldest sleeping I've ever experienced was sleeping on an uninsulated air pad on the ground........in the summer.

For car camping (or better....truck camping), I take the canvas wall tent, five cots, plenty of foam pads, sleeping bags, 6 foot folding table, Coleman stove, sometimes the large two burner stove with griddle that hooks to large propane tank, lanterns, and plenty of bins for food and gear. Definitely want bins for food to keep the mice out. I also bring a water bucket trap for the mice.