Using Tarps for Camping, RVing, and Boating

Tarps are a handy resource in just about any camp (or around home too).   They can be used for extra shade, extra rain protection, to cover equipment, and as ground cloths under or inside your tent or even to make a tent.   Tarps come in many different strengths.   The lightest and least expensive tarps (not counting plastic drop cloths) are polytarps and they come in different colors.  The blue tarps are usually the lightest and least expensive.  They will normally be sufficient for most camping temporary tasks.  For a stronger tarp (good for under your tent or longer term use), choose a green "farm tarp" or one of the heavier silver tarps.   For really heavy duty applications, go for a heavy canvas tarp.  There are different grades or weights of canvas tarps, depending on what you need to cover and for how long.  Another consideration is whether the tarp will be stationery or on a vehicle or otherwise subjected to high winds and extreme weather.  How heavy a tarp you need depends on how you're going to use it and how far you have to carry it!   Heavy canvas tarps will be the most durable and provide the most protection, but they are very heavy to carry around if you're hiking or have any distance to tote your equipment from your vehicle to your camp site.  They also tend to be stiff and somewhat harder to work with, especially when its cold.  Light weight "poly" tarps are usually sufficient without the added weight and they take up far less room.  And they are inexpensive and are usually waterproof. u But there are even heavier alternatives out there.  My parents have roll up tarp "walls" on their carport in Oregon.  They are made of the heaviest canvas I've ever seen, at least 3/16" thick and the weave is as coarse as a wood rasp (I  have had the skinned knuckles to prove it)!  They've been in use for over 50 years  of Oregon rain and are still going strong.   They are permanently mounted to the carport but can be rolled up when necessary.  Of course, they are WAY too heavy to consider for camping.   Plastic painter's sheets are just the opposite -- very light, very thin plastic film.  It is inexpensive, waterproof, and easy to carry.  But it isn't very sturdy and is easily punctured or torn. You might use one or more temporarily to keep the rain off, but they won't provide much shade and probably won't stand up to wind and weather very well.  Using one as a ground cloth is pretty much an exercise in futility.  They are so fragile that small twigs and pebbles will easily make holes in them and render them useless.

Tarps come in a variety of sizes so you can usually find one close to the size you need.  Harbor Freight has a wide selection of tarps in various strengths and sizes.  Watch for their ads and flyers and you can often find them on sale to save even more money.

Actual measurements of tarps are usually slightly smaller than the advertised size.   For example, an 8x10 tarp will probably actually measure 7'6" by 9'6".  Be sure to take that into consideration when you buy a tarp.   The actual finished size is usually marked somewhere on the package.   If you want a ground cloth for an 8x10 tent, you may have to buy the next size bigger tarp and fold the excess under.  On the other hand, using a standard "8x10" tarp fits nicely inside an 8x10 tent and even might be just right for use under an 8x10 tent.  It would likely be about 2-3" smaller than the tent on each side so it wouldn't stick out and collect run-off. But -- it could also leave 3" of tent floor exposed to the damp ground and/or debris.  Since you usually won't be walking that close to the walls, the 3" probably won't be a problem.  The trimmed size is usually very good for an inside layer to protect the floor.

For best results as a ground cloth, use a heavy duty tarp underneath your tent to protect the floor against debris and ground moisture.  Use a second tarp inside your tent for added waterproofing to your sleeping bags don't absorb moisture.  The inside ground cloth doesn't need to be as heavy as the one underneath the tent but it should be waterproof, like a plastic tarp.   Using closed cell foam sleeping pads beneath your sleeping bags will give you even better protection and comfort.  Even if you are using sleeping pads to protect your sleeping bags, having an inside ground cloth covering the entire tent floor will help keep the floor clean and be more comfortable when you are moving around in stocking feet and will help protect the floor from damage.   For exceptional comfort, add foam tile to cover your tent floor inside.  It will be like having a wall-to-wall sleeping pad.  The foam tiles are light weight, easy to assemble, and easy to clean.  With both foam tiles and a sleeping pad, you'll be sleeping on cloud 9!

With use tarps will eventually loose some of the their water repellent capability.  Repeated folding, crushing, or whipping in the wind breaks down the structure and wears away the coating. When your tarp begins to get soft and fuzzy and the color begins to fade it is probably time to replace it.  Not only will it have lost some of its ability to keep you dry, it will have been weakened and may rip in the next strong breeze.  Most polytarps will be kind of shiny when they are new and begin to dull as they age.  Sometimes you can extend a tarps waterproof lifetime by spraying it with a waterproofing like Camp Dry.

Tarps can be hung between trees or vehicles or on poles to form a makeshift canopy to provide shade or protection against light rain.   Tarps can be added as an extra "rain fly" over tents for extra protection against rain and sun.   Tarps can be used to cover your firewood and your camping equipment and OHVs to protect them from weather.   I've even seen multiple tarps used to cover an entire camp site.  The center was very high, both for rain run off and to allow building a campfire.  It rained almost that entire weekend, but the large, extended family stayed dry and enjoyed their outing.  Some of the teens had fun dumping the water out of the low spots periodically to help prevent the tarps from coming down.

You can make your own tent using tarps.  A simple shelter can be made by hanging a single tarp over a rope or other cordage or a rafter stretched between two uprights  For more weather protection, use multiple tarps to also enclose the open ends. .  Or you can use one to make a simple lean-to ito keep the rain off.

Tarps are often used to cover equipment in the bed of a truck or utility trailer during transport. They need to be securely anchored to withstand the wind forces that occur at highway speeds.  For the best protection against rain, drape the tarp over the sides of the bed and secure it underneath.  If you leave it inside the bed water can run down and soak your cargo.  In camp they can protect equipment from sun and from rain and snow.   They provide some level of security too -- sometimes just keeping your stuff out of sight avoids it being "acquired" by opportunistic thieves.   "Security by obscurity" is a valid and valuable way of protecting your stuff.

We have found several uses for tarps on our sailboat.  Because wind driven rain can sometimes blow under the companionway slide we usually drape a small polytarp over the cabin to protect the companionway from the rain when anchored.  We hang a larger tarp over the boom and tie it off to the lifelines to make a "boom tent" for extra shade in the cockpit when at anchor.  Tarps can be used as temporary sail covers if you don't want to take the time to flake the sails and put them away when you stop for a while.  Large tarps can be used to cover your boat to protect it from the elements during the off season.

Small holes or tears can usually be repaired using duct tape or vinyl tape.   Make sure the surface is clean and dry before applying the tape.  For added security, put tape over the damaged area on both sides of the tarp.  Because of the oily waterproofing used on canvas tarps, regular tape may not always stick well.  If any tarp is exposed to wind and weather, the tape may come off.  For best results stitch a waterproof patch in place and seal it with tent seam sealer -- or just replace the tarp.   If there are too many holes and repairs, it becomes something like a description I once heard of how to make a net:  take a bunch of holes and sew them together.   You'll want to replace your tarp long before it reaches that stage. 

Tarps usually come with metal grommets evenly spaced around all 4 sides.  These are useful for tying or staking down the tarp.  If you have a tarp without grommets or need more grommets you can buy grommet kits at most camping stores.  They usually include two-piece grommets, a tool for punching the right size hole in the tarp, and a tool for "setting"the grommet.  That tool consists of a shaped bottom plate that holds the flat piece of the grommet and a driver tool that is used to rivet the second piece to the first using a hammer.  You can also buy tarp clamps that will add "eyes" for attaching ropes without punching holes in the tarp.  Another trick for securing a tarp is to out small rock or short twig near the edge and wrap the tarp around it and secure it with a piece of rope or twine and tie a guy rope to it.  There are also tarp clamps you can use in place of grommets  Here is an example of commercially available tarp clamps:

                                                        

You can buy them at places like Walmart, Harbor Freight, Home Depot, and Amazon.

Tarps and tent fabrics degree of water proofing are measured by something called hydrostatic pressure.   It represents the pressure necessary to force water through the fabric.   Heavy rain and wind-driven rain will create a higher hydrostatic pressure than light rain so you need a stronger fabric to keep out extreme weather.  A rating of 1000 mm hydrostatic pressure is regarded as shower resistant.  1500 mm rating is sufficient for a summer tent.   2000 mm is the minimum for an all season tent.  Higher ratings of around 3000 mm are used for expedition tents and 5000 mm for really good quality ground cloths.  You probably won't find the ratings for a particular item without doing some extra research.

We use a small polytarp to cover the cabin on our sailboat to prevent wind-driven rain from blowing under the companionway slide when the boat is not in use.  We pull a larger tarp over the boom and tie it off to the lifelines to make a "boom tent" for added shade in the cockpit when at anchor.  Commercial boom tents can cost hundreds of dollars.  They may look nicer, but don't really function any better than an inexpensive tarp.

Small tarps can be used as emergency ponchos.  The only downside is that you need to cut a hole in the middle to put your head through, perhaps limiting its value for other uses.  For short term use you may be able to just drape it over your head and shoulders like a cape.  Conversely, ponchos can sometimes be  used as small tarps.  The built in hood helps compensate for the hole in the middle.

In an emergency you might cut open a large plastic trash bag and use it as a small tarp, but for best results keep a variety of tarps on hand to accommodate different needs.  Small tarps are surprisingly inexpensive.   I often see them at dollar stores.  Large plastic garbage bags make pretty good ponchos too, and they're a lot cheaper than tarps.

Tarp it!

Blog Policy on Endorsements

In some places in this blog I have openly endorsed certain companies and certain products and even included links to relevant web sites.  Sometimes I provide a link to a product as an example.  In such cases please do not construe that as an endorsement of the specific brand although I wouldn't be including them if I didn't find them personally acceptable.  I have received no compensation for these links or endorsements.  I list them because I have had good experiences with the products and/or the company.   I receive no compensation from guest contributors either.   I carefully consider any submissions to be sure they fit the overall purpose of this blog and provide readers with valuable information.  While I allow guest contributors to post links to their own websites and products, I try to make sure all such postings are compatible with my endorsement policy.   I will not accept blatant brochures that have no intrinsic value to my readers -- they must at the very least pose a reasonable source or solution to issues.

Most consumers are quick to complain when they receive poor service and slow to take action when things go well.   It is a natural human response. However, in this blog, I strive not to bad mouth any product or company.  If there are specific product failures or defects, I may report them.  I have made and will continue to make special mention of products and companies that exceed expectations.  They deserve some positive attention.   All too often in today's very impersonal commercial world individual customers get lost in the numbers and statistics. Those companies who respect their customers and stand behind their products are worthy of special mention.  I believe doing so not only benefits the companies but provides a valuable service to my readers.  I know I would certainly be more comfortable knowing a product or a company had received a good review and was recommended by someone knowledgeable that I could trust.  I strive to be that someone for my readers.

So, when you see links to product web sites within my articles, they are not paid advertisements.  I provide the links for information purposes and to aid my readers in researching products I have reported on. You won't see Internet ads on my blog since I would not be able to control the quality or relevance of the material.

My endorsements are unbiased, except by my personal opinion of the product, service, or company.

History of Motorhomes & RVs

How long have motorhomes been around?  I guess that depends on whether you're talking about home made rigs or factory built jobs.  People started making modifications to cars and trucks, creating "housecars" almost as soon as motor vehicles were introduced.  Supposedly the first motorized factory RV was Pierce-Arrow’s Touring Landau, which debuted at Madison Square Garden in 1910.  The Landau had a back seat that folded into a bed, a chamber pot toilet and a sink that folded down from the back of the seat of the chauffeur, who was connected to his passengers via telephone.  The Motorhome Hall of Fame Museum includes a 1915 Model T Ford with a 1916 "Telescope Apartment" and Mae West's 1931 motorhome, so custom made variations have been around a long time.  Ray Frank is credited as being the father of the class A and with coining the term "motorhome", and built his first motorhome in 1953.  His company, Winnebago, began their famous production motorhome line in 1966. They did so well that for many years "Winnebago" was (and often still is) synonymous with "motorhome".   If you search the Internet you'll find all kinds of home-made motorhomes, some that look like Lil Abner's shack mounted on a flatbed truck, some made from old school buses, some luxury Class As built on Greyound and Prevost bus chassis, and even some made from double decker London transit buses.  The variations are endless.  One I saw, that I guess could be called a Class B motorhome, was made from a Volkswagen van and used the body of a Volkswagen "bug" as an extended top.   Kind of clever, but very strange looking.  I assume the extra set of headlights on the bug were not for highway use.  Similarly, there is a "Super C", built on a heavy duty truck chassis that uses an entire VW bus as a "bubble top".

For a look at some really creative "motorhomes" see Old and Unusual Motorhomes.  (Sorry, this link seems to have been disabled but I'm leaving it here in case they fix it.)

Here are some more odd RV photos Malia Smiles Unique and Strange RVs. (Sorry, this link also seems to have been disabled but I'm leaving it here in case they fix it.)

And here are seven more Strange RVs for your amusement.  (Sorry, this link also seems to have been disabled but I'm leaving it here in case they fix it.)

Wow!  I'm batting 1000 on lost pages!  Too bad they're gone.  There were some really neat and unusual motorhomes on those sites.  

Check out these unique motorhomes, from Caddys to VWs. (This one still worked when I checked it 12/07/2020).


How about this Castle Truck?

I guess YOU are the motor for these "motor" homes: Bicycle Motorhomes. I sure wouldn't want to pedal one of those up any hills! If you look closely at the pictures you'll even see a shopping cart tent trailer!

Here are some more unusual RVS.   There is no limit to the imaginative creations people come up with.

And the list goes on with these weird campers.  The first one in the list is the previously mentioned Super C with the VW bus as a bubble top.  And be sure to scroll down far enough to see the Wothahellizat.

Think slide-outs are a modern invention? The 1915 Model T with Telescope Apartment mentioned above had multiple slide-out compartments, including the main telescoping section.

The interior treatments can be just as unusual and innovative as the shells.   I saw photos of one double-decker London Transit bus that had been converted into a motorhome.  The owner had appointed the interior in the style of an 1800's private rail car, giving it a very unique kind of elegance and luxury.  I've seen Class B van conversions outfitted with acres of crushed velvet, yielding the appearance of a brothel on wheels.   Fisherman decorate their rigs with fishing memorabilia.   Hunters usually don't have room for large trophies, but like to turn their rigs into mobile hunting cabins, with lots of plaid upholstery and fur rugs.  Surfers remove cabinets and furniture to make room for their surf boards.

Over the years there have been many experimental motorhomes.  One I recall seeing had an innovative, clam-shell design built on  a Toyota  hatchback.  The top was split down the middle and hinged on each side just above the wheel wells.  When opened, there were twin beds on each side and when closed up the whole thing wasn't much bigger than a station wagon.  This one never made it into production.  I think buyers were more interested in bigger, self-contained units.  I've even seen some custom rigs built on a motorcycle and even on a bicycle!  The running gear for the motorized version was based on a tricycle style motorcycle and the body was reminiscent of meter-maid scooters.   Looked like the bed was a folding cot arrangement that would accommodate a full-size adult and it had lots of little cabinets and cubby holes for organizing gear.  I didn't get a chance to explore kitchen or sanitation facilities but I expect there wasn't much -- perhaps something along the lines of a teardrop trailer, if that.   However, some motorcycle-based units appear to be fully functional units resembling a Class C rig.  There have been variations of attachments for station wagons and SUVs that often include a "penthouse" bedroom on the roof.  Though not in any sense a motorhome, but a rather innovative vehicle for car camping, was the "sleeper seats" in AMC sedans (Hudsons and Nashes) in the late 1950s.  The front backrests folded down until they were level with the back and front seats, creating a wall-to-wall bed inside the car.  Toss a camp stove and an ice chest in the trunk and you could go -- and stay -- just about anywhere. They were surprisingly comfortable.  My family had one when my brother and I were teenagers and together with our Mom and Dad we spent several nights sleeping in the Hudson during a visit to Yellowstone Park.  The only discomfort I remember were the mosquitos.   We left the windows open a couple of inches for fresh air and the mosquitos were ferocious.   Inside the car they sounded like B-52's buzzing overhead!  We decided if we did that again we'd figure out a way to rig screens over the openings.  The very first "motorhome" I ever saw belonged to my Scoutmaster when I was a kid.   He had removed the bed from a pickup truck and mounted an old Shasta trailer on the back of the truck.  That must have been in the mid 1950s. My first factory built motorhome was a 1969 Ford Class B van conversion.  After I bought it I learned it had been custom built for an engineer who lived in it while working in the middle East.   The only modification to the original Ford "Supervan" body besides interior appointments was the addition of a pop-top so it had stand up head room in camp -- and a place for two extra beds (cots).  Its "furnace" was a tiny 4000 BTU propane heater, which I learned one winter in Chicago, didn't work when it was 20 below zero because the propane was too cold to vaporize.

Perhaps one of the most unique motorhomes every built was Charles Kellog's "Travel Log", hewn from a single redwood log and mounted on a Nash Quad truck chassis.  Completed in 1917, Charles hollowed out the log himself using an axe.   The finished motorhome had all the basic amenities of modern units sans the bathroom and shower.   He toured the entire United States several times in his one-of-a-kind vehicle.  Click here for more information about Charles Kellogg and his unique motorhome.

 And here is a home made motorhome built as a permanent yet portable residence:   Truck Castle.  Be sure to watch the whole video to see all of its many unique features. 

One of the first patented camping trailers was a tent trailer manufactured by The Campbell Folding Trailer Company.  The patent was applied for in 1914 and granted in 1916.   The Detroit Trailer Company supposedly built the first tent trailers in 1913 as options on their auto trailers.  The first mass-produced tent trailers were introduced in 1916 by the The Shattuck Trailer Company. Another offering from the same era was the Prarrie Schooner by A.P. Warner.  Both soft top and hard top folding camping trailers made their debut in 1916.

A 1913 Earl travel trailer is purported to be the oldest non-tent trailer RV.  It was built and named for and used by a Cal State University professor as his home on field trips.   It now resides in the Motorhome Hall of Fame, displayed along with a 1913 Model T convertible.

Tin Can Tourists is an organization dedicated to promoting and preserving vintage travel trailers and motor coaches. It is open to everyone. You don't even have to own an RV to participate.

I began my own affiliation with motorized camping in a 1951 Chevy Suburban.   It began its life as school district maintenance truck.  It still had the faded utility green school district paint and if you looked closely you could make out its district vehicle number where the decals has been removed on the doors.  My boys affectionately called it "The Big Green Truck".  When I got it the whole back end was empty.  It had the original bench seat in front and the open space in back was ready for customization for camping.  About the only semi-permanent modification was the addition of curtains all around to add a bit of privacy and climate control.  Sleeping accommodations at first consisted of a couple of sleeping bags.  Then I swiped a "bunky board" out of one of the kid's bunk beds and supported it on 2x4 slats that rested on the window frames to provide a "loft" for the kids to sleep on.  The "galley" was made up of a Coleman stove, and ice chest, a 3-gallon plastic water jug and a plastic dishpan.  Even as rudimentary as it was, it sure beat wrestling with a tent in the dark or the wind and was a lot warmer and drier when the weather turned bad.  Our next vehicle was a 1969 Ford Class B van conversion.  It had a pop top complete with cots for the kids, a rear dinette that made into a reasonably comfortable bed, a stove, a 120 volt/ 12volt refrigerator, and a tiny little 4000 BTU propane furnace.   We felt we were in the lap of luxury making ice cubes while driving down the road!   It was quite adequate, even comfortable, for our little family of four.  As the family grew, so did our RV needs and we upgraded to a 19' Travette Class C motorhome.  Wow!  Now we thought we really had it made.  It was nearly self contained though it lacked a generator.  Having a real bathroom and shower with hot water when camping was an extraordinary luxury for us at the time.  The 12-volt "swamp cooler" did its best to keep us cool, but often it seemed all it really did was increase the humidity.  I have a suspicion that part of the problem was that at frist we didn't know enough to leave a couple of windows open to allow proper air flow.  Eventually we graduated to Class A motorhomes with generators, roof A/C, and other advanced luxuries.  By then we were in camper heaven!

No history of motorhomes would be complete with mentioning the Classic GMC motorhome.   Manufactured in the 1970s, the were quite ahead of their time.  They were powered by a GM Tornado V-8 engine with front wheel drive.  They had a fairly low profile and center of gravity and the design was so futuristic they are still in style.  In fact, there are many of them still on the roads and there is a pretty good demand for them, with restored or renovated models bringing prices around $50,000!  Supposedly you can find fixer-uppers for about 1/10 that price, if you have the means and incentive to restore them yourself.

Of course if you want to really explore the history of mobile living spaces, you will have to include the covered wagons that carried the American Pioneers across the prairie and the horse drawn trailers built and used by the Romani "Gypsies" as living quarters in Europe since he early 19th century.

Make your own history!

Tent Camping Tips

Tent camping can be fun and inexpensive.   It provides one of the most basic back to nature fun experiences possible.   It can also be frustrating and uncomfortable if you aren't properly prepared or don't set up your tent right.   It isn't any fun if your tent collapses on you in the middle of the night or it leaks or rain runs underneath and soaks through!   

The first thing to do to ensure a comfortable stay is to buy the right tent and then learn hot to set it up properly.  I suggest you get one rated for 1 or 2 more people than will be sleeping in it.   I have found many tent experts who give the same advice.  That way you have some extra room for gear and for indoor activities other than sleeping, like getting dressed or just hanging out during bad weather.  However you may want to consider that a larger tent will be harder to keep warm so if you are planning to use it in cold weather.   Don't go overboard on going large!  

Next, learn how to set it up correctly.   I know this advice flies in the face of all the macho guys out there, but READ THE INSTRUCTIONS!  If nothing else, if they product was manufactured outside of the U.S.A., the English translation of the instructions can be quite entertaining.  The translations are often hilarious.  But on a more serious note, the manufacturer often provides tips that make setting up the tent a lot easier.  Sometimes it may not even be possible to set it up if you don't do it right.  Practice setting up your tent at home where you have a nice flat grassy lawn and plenty of time.  Pay close attention to the order in which steps occur.   Doing things out of sequence can make it difficult or sometimes even impossible to get your tent set up.  Pay attention to where you set your tent up.  You need fairly level ground, free of debris.  You also need clearance over and around the tent so it isn't in contact with branches that will make an annoying sound when the wind blows and could damage the tent.  When setting up under trees, watch out for "widow makers" -- dead or broken branches that could fall on you or your tent when the wind blows or a bear shakes the tree.  In winter watch out for snow accumulation the the trees.  Warmth from your body(s) in the tent and/or your campfire may cause snow in the branches to slip off and fall onto you and/or your tent.  Choose a spot that is as level as possible.  If you must set up on a slope, make sure you orient your tent and your sleeping bags so your feet are downhill.  If you try to sleep across the slope,  you'll roll downhill during the night.  If you sleep with your head downhill, you'll end up with stomach acid creeping up your throat as you sleep and that is definitely NOT pleasant!

Tents have been around in various forms for thousands of years.   Desert nomads have lived in them (and still do).  Armies have conquered the world in them.   Mountain climbers use them when scaling the highest and most dangerous peaks on earth.  Even though they are very portable and transient, they quickly become home to their occupants.  By making an informed choice of tents and then augmenting your choice with selected camping accessories you can customize your experience and truly make your tent your home.  There is no place like home -- even if its just a portable home for a few days now and then.  We all like to have some space we can call our own.   The shape, the color, and features (such as vestibules and awnings) may each contribute to your enjoyment of your tent, so don't be shy about shopping around or occasionally switching tents to suit your needs and your mood.  You might hang on to your old tent for a while in case you change your mind about the new one.  It may also become part of your emergency supplies or you might use it as a loaner when you invite non-camping friends to join you on an outing.  If you determine that you no longer have ANY use for your old tent, you can always put it in a garage sale or sell it via newspaper classifieds, or web sites like craigslist.com or ebay.com.  Speaking from personal experience, don't be too quick to dispose of any of  your old camping equipment.  Chances are as soon as you get rid of it a family member, friend, or neighbor -- or even you -- is going to need it.  Our kids convinced us to sell off a lot of camping equipment when we moved and some of them were back asking to borrow stuff less than a month later!

Truck and SUV tents connect to your vehicle and allow you to take advantage of some of the features of the vehicle.  By mounting to a vehicle they are usually a little more stable than tents on the ground.  Sometimes you can even use the vehicle heater to warm the tent and use interior lights for illumination.  Roof-top tents and truck tents get you up off the ground, away from ground moisture, uneven ground,and creepy-crawlies that may come looking for warmth or to feast on your tender body.

Tent floors.  Most modern tents have built in floors.  Simple pup tents, military "shelter halves", and some old style cabin tents do not.  Having a sewn in floor has several advantages.   For one, it helps the tent keep a defined footprint.  For another, it prevents breezes and insects and water from coming under the walls.  You will want to protect the floor by placing a suitable ground cloth (tarp) on the ground under your tent.  Make sure it doesn't stick out past the walls or it will collect run-off from rain or dew and channel it under your tent.   I like to use a second ground cloth inside my tent to provide additional protection.  A neat trick is to use interlocking 2' square foam floor tiles inside your tent.   That gives you a cushioned floor to walk or sleep on and insulates you from the cold ground.  It also protects the floor from getting damaged from walking on it. You can buy foam floor tiles at home centers.  Typically they are a dark gray color, but sometimes you can find other colors that would be more fun for camping.   A set of four in primary colors at Home Depot is about $18.00 - $24.00.  I've seen sales at Harbor Freight for as little as $4.99 for a set of 6!  They are usually used to cushion the floor in front of work benches where workers have to stand for long periods of time.  I use them in my enclosed motorcycle trailer in front of my workbench.  In addition to cushioning the floor, they absorb the shock from dropped tools or parts, reducing the potential for damaging both the floor and the dropped items.  You might use tarps and/or foam tiles as a floor in a cabin tent that doesn't have a built in floor.  You still need protection against ground moisture and any kind of floor will help keep your sleeping bags and other gear cleaner and drier.  A clean floor prevents getting debris in your socks, which can be very frustrating and irritating.  If your tent doesn't have a sewn-in floor (pup tents seldom do), use a tarp to protect you and your gear from dirt, moisture, and pests.

Tent pegs or stakes.  Tent pegs or stakes are available in different sizes, styles, and different materials.  Bright yellow plastic stakes are easy to see and light weight to carry.   Steel or aluminum stakes are very sturdy, but are heavier and sometimes get bent.  Some that are like big nails are especially good for driving into hard ground where those formed from sheet metal or made from plastic might bend or break.  Delta brand "dog leg" tent pegs are supposed to be extra secure.   They are designed so the more the guy rope or tent loop pulls on the anchor point, the more it forces the tip into the ground.   They are a little pricey, but probably well worth it.   For loose sandy soil I made my own giant tent pegs from 3/8" rebar.   I welded a washer to the top of each one and cut the bottom at an angle to give it a point to penetrate hard ground.  The extra length and the rough texture on the surface of the rebar helps anchor them in loose, sandy soil.  When it comes time to pull up stakes, I use a pry bar with an angled tip.   For round stakes, like my home-made rebar or the nail-like tent stakes, twisting them with a pair of pliers before pulling them often makes getting them out easier. You might add some inexpensive solar yard lights (check your "dollar" store) near each stake so you don't trip over them at night.  A tent stake pulling tool also comes in handy and eliminates a lot of bending over.  These tools have a hook on one end and a T-handle on the other so you can snare the peg with the hook and pull it out with bending way over.   Make sure you pull the peg straight out at the same angle the peg is in the ground.   If you pull it at a different angle it will be a lot harder and may bend or break the peg.  It is sometimes tempting to pull up the pegs by pulling on the tent fabric they are looped through. Avoid doing this as it is a good way to tear the loops loose or rip the tent.

Tent poles.  Dome tents usually have shock-corded poles that keep the pieces together and how the poles go together is usually obvious.   All you have to do is slip the assembled poles into the right sleeves on the tent.  Metal tent poles are often several separate pieces that have to be assembled. Sometimes they come color coded or marked with letters or numbers so you can tell what goes where.   If yours isn't marked, use a fine tip permanent Magic Marker to label them as you figure out where they go to make putting it together easier in the future.   If you have trouble with metal poles coming apart at the joints you might wrap each joint with a little duct tape or vinyl tape.  It will make disassembly harder, but it will keep things together while you erect and use your tent.  Self supporting tents (like dome tents) don't require guy ropes, but many other styles do.  Always use guy ropes for added safety with self-supporting tents.  Some ropes or cords come with cord locks.  If yours doesn't have them, use a taught-line hitch to connect the ropes to the stakes to make keeping them tight easier.  Another simple way of tying guy ropes so they can be easily adjusted is to bring the tail back from around the stake, wrap it around the rope and under itself as in the first step of a taught-line hitch, then just tie off the end further up the rope using an ordinary overhand knot.  To tighten the rope, pull the first loop to remove slack from the rope, then slide the knot up until the rope is tight between where it loops around itself and the knot.  Ropes and the stakes they are tied to often create a trip hazard.   You might want to tie some brightly colored pieces of ribbon or trail marking tape on the skinny little ropes to make them more visible.   I recently saw some glow in the dark rope to reduce tripping over the ropes at night.

Spare parts and repair kits are good to have on hand.  Stakes and poles get damaged or misplaced quite easily, so having some extras on hand can save the day.  Being able to patch minor damage when it occurs can help prevent it from getting worse.  I like to carry a pack of various colored nylon repair tape for fixing tents, sleeping bags, and apparel.   Some repair kits include extra netting for repairing screens and some sleeves for fixing broken shock-corded tent poles.  A roll of duct tape will always come in handy for tent repairs.  If nothing else works you can always splint a broken pole using a stick or piece of fire wood and duct tape.  You can sometimes repair small tears in the screens using Superglue or Goop glue.

Rain flies are a integral part of double wall tents.  Single wall tents can often benefit from a rain fly, tarp, or canopy to shield them from excess sun and rain.  If you plan to use your tent in cold or snowy weather, look for one with an extra long rain fly or sew a skirt to the bottom of the fly so it reaches almost all the way to the ground.   It will prevent snow from blowing up beneath the fly.  Dual wall tents often have screen segments for ventilation near the top.  A short fly might allow snow to blow up onto the vents and into the tent.

Choosing the right tent.  Having the right tent will make your outing more fun and more comfortable.  Having the wrong tent can be a real pain, sometimes quite literally, if you don't have room enough to stretch out or stand up.  Choosing the right tent means choosing the right tent for each set of circumstances.   If the number of people and where you go and what you do is consistent you can use the same tent over and over.   But if you have a differing number of people or different kinds of locations frequently, you may need different kinds of tents.  Having a tent that is too big just means you have more weight to carry and it takes up more room.  And it will be harder to keep it warm.  A really big cabin tent offers a lot of room, but having the right size dome tent will be a lot easier to transport and to set up and will be easier to keep warm on cool evenings.   Double wall tents (those with rain flies) are usually warmer in cold weather and cooler in warm weather.  Tents with built in vestibules and closets help you organize your gear and keep dirt and debris out of your tent.  I like having a canopy on the front of my tent to shade the entrance and provide a little shaded sitting space.  Pop-up tents are really easy to set up but can be difficult to get back into the bag.   Self standing tents work well on hard surfaces.  You will probably want to stake down any tent you erect on sand or other soft ground and you may need special stakes or special procedures (like a deadman anchor) in soft sand etc.  A deadman anchor is a large piece of wood, pipe, or rock buried in sand, snow, or soft ground to which you connect your guy ropes instead of hooking them to stakes that might easily pull loose.

You may need extra room in your tent -- or an extra tent -- to store your gear.   Having room for gear in the same tent you sleep in means you will have a larger volume to keep warm on cool nights, but it is convenient if you need something after you're retired for the night or before you are ready to go outside in the morning.  A separate tent for gear gives more flexibility and sometimes avoids unpleasant odors in your sleeping area and allows you to have less space to heat to keep YOU warm at night.

Tent lighting is important.  Most tents allow in enough light during the day or have windows or vents that admit light so you usually don't need artificial light except at night.  For nightime use the best choices are battery operated lights or glow sticks since there is little risk of fire.  Batteries will last longer if you use LED light bulbs.  Gas lanterns and candles are traditional sources of nighttime illumination, and often provide much desired heat on cold nights, but they can ignite even fire-retardant fabrics.  If you do choose to use gas lanterns or candles, exercise caution.  Most tents fabrics are treated to be fire retardant, but this will still melt or burn when it comes in direct contact with open flames or even the hot parts of a lantern or heater.  You must also be aware that flames consume oxygen and may give off toxic fumes so make sure you have adequate ventilation.  That means having at least two openings to the outside -- windows on opposite sides or a top vent and a low opening under the door, for example.  Your goal is to encourage cross ventilation to ensure removal of fumes and sale air and bring in fresh air for you to breath.  It may be tempting to close vents in cold weather, but ALWAYS leave a little room for ventilation if you're using any kind of combustion inside your tent.  When using candles it is a good idea to put them in a "candle lantern".  They are attractive lighting devices that offer some protection against a candle getting knocked over and starting a fire.  If you like arts and crafts you can probably make your own candle lanterns out of soup cans.  Just about anything that will contain a candle if it gets knocked over will help prevent a fire.

Temperature control is difficult in a tent.  A tent offers a surprising amount of protection against the elements, but it can only do so much.  Just keeping you out of the wind or sun  adds a lot of comfort and conserves a lot of heat.  However, even the heaviest canvas tent provides very little insulation to maintain a comfortable temperature inside.  Using a rain fly or covering your tent with a tarp will help keep it warmer in winter and cooler in summer.  Good cross ventilation goes along way toward reducing excess heat or moisture buildup from condensation inside a tent.  You might supplement natural ventilation with battery operated fans when it is warm.  If you need additional heat on cold nights, the heat from a Coleman lantern is sometimes enough.  If not, use a catalytic tent heater, but take care to follow the manufacturer's instructions for ignition and for ventilation during use.  It may seem a little at cross purposes to have to open windows when you're trying to warm up the interior, but ventilation is ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY -- unless you want to get really sick or even die!  Some old-time solutions include using heated stones or potatoes to warm your sleeping bag and tent.  You can put them at your feet or tuck them into your armpits.  Just make sure they aren't TOO hot!  Wood burning tents stoves are sometimes used successfully in large canvas cabin-style tents, but you must exercise caution to avoid suffocating or catching your tent on fire.  Such stoves are usually not recommended for use in light weight nylon or other synthetic fabric tents.  Stoves must have a stovepipe to the outside, protected by a fire-proof "jack boot" where it passes through the tent fabric.  You might also need a heat shield between the stove and the tent wall.  And again, you must provide adequate ventilation to maintain a breathable atmosphere inside the tent as the fire consumes oxygen.

Tent up!

RV/OHV/Camping Risk Management

Like just about any other recreational activity, RVing, OHVing, and camping have a certain amount of risk.   But unless you are reckless or careless the risks shouldn't be any higher than most other leisure time pursuits.   In fact, the statistical probability of being injured jogging is probably higher than getting hurt riding your OHV if you are wearing proper personal protective equipment and riding reasonably and responsibly.  That having been said, you must still exercise a certain amount of common sense.

I have been accused of being a "risk taker" for riding dirt bikes.  What my accusers don't realize is that, statistically, the biggest danger I faced going dirt biking was driving on the southern California freeways to get there -- a risk they shared going to the mall!  Admittedly there is some chance of injury operating any off-highway vehicle.  But there is also some chance of injury playing golf or tennis or bowling.   Same with running, playing basketball, or football or just working out at the gym.  In fact, the frequency and severity of recreational football injuries is far greater than those of dirt biking.

There is risk in almost everything we do.  The key to safety is in managing the risk.   I use what I egotistically call "Lemont's Law":  If either the probability of an undesirable outcome is high or the consequences of a negative outcome are unacceptable, I avoid the activity.  In other words, if it is highly likely you will be injured or break something or if the kind of injuries or damage you might get are severe regardless of the probability, back off!  Don't do something you know is going to hurt you and don't do something if the negative consequences are unacceptable, even if the probability of a bad outcome is fairly low.

That doesn't mean you have to forgo the fun stuff.  Just make sure you and your equipment are up to it.  I often counseled my sometimes over-eager teen riders to back off just 1/2 of one percent.   I observed that it was often that little extra push that carried them into dangerous territory.   My oldest son finally realized that when you reached the "just one more jump" or "just one more hill climb" point in an outing, it was time to pack it up and go home -- BEFORE that "one more".  That last attempt was often the source of most expensive accidents and extensive and painful injuries.   I recall one such "last hill climb" where he made it almost all the way to the top, then flipped his brand new KX250 and it landed on its right side on the rocks with very disappointing and expensive consequences. Fortunately he was not seriously hurt, except his pride and his wallet.   That might have been the event that finally convinced him that it was time to go home before doing "just one more".

The perception of risk is often colored by prejudice for or against a particular activity.   For example, California passed a motorcycle helmet law a few years ago, largely based on distorted cost of motorcycle accidents to California taxpayers as reported by the legislative sponsor of the law (he later admitted his bloated figures included the cost of ALL motor vehicle accidents).  Yet, even though the rate for head injuries for equestrian accidents is much higher than for motorcycle accidents, there has been no public outcry for an equestrian helmet law.  The public perceives riding a motorcycle as inherently more dangerous than riding a horse.  Unfortunately, a lot of people practice the concept "Don't confuse me with the facts, my mind is made up."  I was amused when a group of street motorcycle riders gathered at Los Angeles City Hall to protest a previous proposed helmet law.  About 1200 riders showed up, ALL wearing helmets!  Wearing a helmet is just common sense, but they felt it should be their choice.

Many activities associated with camping and RVing have a certain amount of risk.  Campfires are probably one of the most common causes of injuries among campers.   But the only time campfires are outlawed is during fire restrictions which have nothing to do with risk of immediate personal injury.  Campfire accidents include grabbing a hot pan with bare hands, falling into the fire, catching clothing on fire, being burned by embers ejected from the fire, and burning or otherwise injuring bystanders with marshmallow and hot dog cookers.   As campers we (usually) successfully manage the risks of a campfire by following proper safety procedures.   Fishing is another very popular pastime, yet it is also fraught with danger.  Hunters sometimes shoot each other.  Fisherman have drowned when they fell into a stream or lake or fell off of a boat.  They have injured themselves or bystanders with errant fish hooks.  Hikers all too frequently sprain or break an ankle.  Bird watchers have fallen out of trees.  Most of these accidents are preventable just using sense and by using proper safety equipment and following appropriate safety procedures. 

Some people see boondocking or even staying in a campground as inherently risky.  As a result come campers choose to arm themselves with pepper spray or even firearms.  If you feel the need to arm yourself, make sure you get proper training and licensing and check local laws and regulations.  We boondocked in the Mojave Desert every holiday weekend for almost 30 years without any problems with crime or feeling unsafe.

Managing the risk of camping, RV, and OHV activities is mostly a matter of applying some common sense.  Unfortunately, it seems there is nothing quite so rare as common sense.  First of all, choose activities that are suitable for your physical condition and avoid things that might aggravate an existing injury or weakness.  Second, wear proper personal protective equipment (PPE) when participating in physical activities.   Third, learn how to do what you're trying to do.   There is a right way (a safer way) for hiking, hunting, fishing, hunting, horseback riding, OHV riding, camping, and RVing.  Fourth, recognize your limits.   Professional drivers, motocrossers, and water skiers can do things that are WAY beyond the skill of most people, but seeing them in movies and on TV, people try it anyway, in spite of the "don't try this at home" warnings that usually accompany dangerous professional performances.  If you really want to perform some of those outrageous stunts take the time to learn how to to them right and to build up your skills so you can do them safely.  If possible, find someone with enough expertise in performing the stunt to be able to teach and coach  you how to learn  how to do it safely.

As Rocky Balboa says: "Not so bad!"

Hey, Campers! It's not Styrofoam, It's Styrene, and its OK

 That's right.  The disposable cups, plates, and bowls we commonly refer to as Stryofoam are not really Styrofoam.  Styrofoam is a trademark of Dow Chemical and applies to their specific brand of styrene insulation products. Dow doesn't make any styrene dinner ware, so technically, there are no Styrofoam cups or plates, even though we call them that.

Why would Styrofoam be the subject of a camping blog?  Well, lots of the disposable dishes we use when camping are made of what we call commonly call Styrofoam.  So are many of the packages our provisions come in.   Technically, these containers are made of polystyrene, not Styrofoam. No matter what we call it, it is inexpensive, light weight, and, according to some studies, has a lower overall environmental impact than paper dinnerware, although it is slow to decompose in landfills or along the roadside.  There are various warnings given about burning "Styrofoam" with claims that it gives off toxic fumes.  The carbon-hydrogen ratio in styrene is about 1:1 and it gives off a lot of water vapor, CO2, CO, and carbon, hence the black, sooty smoke.  There may indeed be some styrene in the fumes, but from what I've been able to find, it is a small amount and most of the fumes consist of CO2 and water vapor. However, Carbon Monoxide (CO) is one of the byproducts and is indeed a dangerous gas and should be avoided.  Some reports claim burning styrene is less toxic than burning ordinary wood but first hand accounts by a fire fighter give the opposite opinion.  He found if he entered a fire where there was "Styrofoam" without wearing his mask and breathing apparatus (why the heck would he do that?) he'd get sick but didn't get sick around ordinary wood fires.  Perhaps he was allergic to something in the smoke from styrene.  True Styrofoam is used as insulation in many RVs.   Sometimes you can add Styrofoam panels to enhance the insulation in closets and cabinets or when you have walls open for repair.   I pulled the cab headliner down in my Class B van conversion and inserted a Styrofoam panel that kept the cab warmer in winter and cooler in summer.  Styrofoam used as insulation shouldn't ever be a problem, unless your RV catches fire.  Campers are more likely to be exposed to possible risks burning styrene plates, cups, and bowls in their campfires.   But unless you burn a lot at once and you stand downwind and deliberately inhale the smoke you probably won't be in any danger.  As mentioned above, most of the by products are water vapor and carbon dioxide, not much different from burning wood or paper.

There is some concern that styrene from foam containers leeches into the food in them.   One article claimed over three years of drinking four cups of coffee per day from a styrene cup you would ingest the equivalent of an entire styrene cup.  Though certainly not an accurate representation of how it might affect one, I have visions of thousands of little white foam BBs flowing in my bloodstream. Ycch!  But styrene occurs naturally in many other sources ranging from cigarette smoke to cinnamon, so it is pretty hard to avoid it completely.  There are some studies that claim styrene mimics estrogen and can affect hormonal balance.   Wonder if the big macho guy slurping down a steaming, extra large double latte from a styrene cup every morning knows that.

What does this mean to campers?  First of all, the amount of Styrofoam we would normally be burning when disposing of our plates and cups will be fairly small and, burning them in an open campfire should provide sufficient ventilation to prevent any serious threats.   They also burn very quickly, minimizing exposure.   However, I would not recommend standing downwind of your fire when burning plastic plates and cups where you might get higher concentrations.  Of course you don't want to stand downwind anyway, unless you WANT to smell like burning garbage!  If nothing else, the lack of definitive information leaves the possibility of dangerous fumes.  Styrofoam is listed as an aromatic hydrocarbon and does give off some soot when it burns and soot is not a good thing to be breathing unless you want black lungs.  And I really don't like the idea of breathing carbon monoxide at all!   I would try to avoid burning large amounts of styrene containers all at once but prefer to burn them fairly soon after use rather than accumulate a big bag and then burning them all at once.  I wouldn't want to burn them in an indoor fireplace or woodstove.

The bottom line: don't panic if you accidentally toss some Styrofoam into your campfire, but to be on the safe side, avoid it if you can.  If you do choose to burn it, burn only a few items at a time.  I would definitely avoid collecting a huge bag of Styrofoam dinnerware and putting it all on the fire at once.  And remember to stand upwind of the fire. If nothing else, the burning foam and the garbage left on the plates will create some rather nasty smelling black smoke that you won't want collecting in your hair or on your skin or clothes let alone getting in your lungs!   Inhaling any byproducts of combustion is never a good thing.

It is likely the benefits of Styrofoam plates, bowls, and cups for campers out weigh the risks. Light weight, strength, resistance to heat transfer,  low cost, and convenience are some of the benefits.  And even though it is slow to break down in landfills, its overall environmental footprint is pretty favorable.  I'm going to continue to use them, and try not to breathe the smoke when I put them in my campfire.

Maybe strofoam-ing at the mouth isn't as bad as some people make it out to be.

Rock My RV

Rock My RV is a "reality" TV show hosted by rocker Bret Michaels.  See Rock My RV.   It follows the pattern of shows like Pimp My Ride, Overhaulin', and Trick My Truck but for RVs.  Bret draws on his extensive experience living in a custom coach about 9 months each year, coaches he personally designed, to redesign viewer's rigs.  The results are outrageous.  You'll view RVs with nicknames like the Stealth Bomber and see the transition from ordinary or even dilapidated to extraordinary.  I saw one in which they hinged the rear cap to lay down and create a huge canopy bed!  Most of the upgrades are truly innovative.

If you think you've seen it all, think again!  These guys completely gut existing RVs and refit them with extreme makeovers.   Wouldn't it be nice to have that kind of resources?  Even if you don't find a new idea or two for your rig, you will probably enjoy and be amazed at the creativity and the transformations.

Can you Rock YOUR RV?  While I expect it is unlikely any of us have the motivation let alone the time and money to take on anything close to the scale of Rock My RV, installing some custom features in your rig may be within your reach.  Think about what special functionality you might like to have and then be creative in how you accomplish it.  Upgrading worn and outdated Formica counter tops might be more affordable than you think if you track down some remnants left over from residential construction. You may even find granite counter tops there that would meet your needs.  One of the first things to do is measure your rig and decide what existing components might be sacrificed to make room for your preferred innovations.  Some changes, like new counter tops, won't involve major rebuilding, but others might.  Can you fit the audio/visual components you want for your Home Theater System into existing cabinets or do you have to rip them out and start over?   Some good functional changes can be fairly easy and inexpensive, like replacing a kitchen or bathroom faucet with a high rise bar faucet, but any major upgrade, like cabinets, furniture, and appliances is going to take some serious planning and some serious money and/or effort.  Swapping out sinks isn't too big a job, if you can find acceptable replacements of the same size and shape. You could probably install a slightly larger sink if you are handy with a jig saw, but going smaller would require a major countertop overhaul or replacement.  Adding a microwave or an ice maker should be within reach if you have available cabinet space that can be adapted and you're handy with tools and comfortable and competent doing some additional wiring.  Redecorating a bedroom can be fairly easy and inexpensive if the existing mattress is acceptable to you.  New bedspread and shams together with some new curtains or other window treatments can transform a bedroom quickly and fairly inexpensively.   See my previous post on Personalizing Your RV for some additional suggestions.

Rock on!