Motorcycle camping tricks'n'tips

[ST2UP]

It occurred to me that we may all have those little bizarre camping tricks and tips that are really worth sharing to keep them alive. There is no future in keeping quiet on these practical and innovative ideas that makes travelling light on a bike so much easier and fore filling.

So let's hear your tried, tested and proven ideas and the fails along the way......

 

[ST2UP]

Here is just one of mine...tried tested and used over many years on bush camping trips.

When we camp we love a modest fire and intensionally look for suitable locations based on this....sometimes for cooking and occasionally for warmth, but mostly just to sit around and stare at the fire.


In Place of fire lighters or other aggressive forms of ignition I started gathering and storing in a sealed ziplock bag the lint from the cloths-dryer filter, mix a little Manuka shavings (fat wood ) into the bag and you have a red hot solution for starting a camp fire even with less than perfect wood. I tend to use a ferrocium  stick to start the lint with ease.


The other solutions to the same problem instead of commercial fire lighters and matches is to use cotton balls soaked in a little Vaseline, used teabags soaked in kero and allowed to dry in the sun then kept in a tabaco tin or magnesium shavings.....I have used all of these additional methods with varying degrees of complete success.

So what's your tips ??

[alans1100]

I've never had much trouble getting fires going (even our combustion wood heater) with the leaf and twigs laying under most trees; a match maybe two or a cig lighter is enough. For me a fire is a winter only thing.

Generally I recycle the water from the Esky for washing dishes etc. Might even give myself a wash over after a hot day on the road. I have a small bucket that I kept from our laundry soap.

On hot nights I only put the inner mesh part of my dome tent up. Just like sleeping under the stars without the bugs getting to you.

I freeze water in 3 or 4 two litre soft drink plastic bottles for the Esky so I don't need to buy ice for a few days. As the ice melts it gets recycled to drinking or food cooking water (this too can be used for washing up after).

[StinkyPete]

Tent Pegs for Hard Ground
When camping on the bike, I don't want to be carrying 3 kg of bulky hard ground tent pegs, so mine are all thin and lightweight pegs.   I do, however, carry just one seriously heavy duty peg for hard ground.   If it's needed, I'll make the necessary hole with the heavy peg, then pull it out and insert the lightweight peg.

[spanner]

Similar to Alan with the frozen water but we used 3/4 full wine bladders.

The reason for this is that when they are no longer frozen or full of potable water we can then scrunch them up and they take up almost zero room.

Also they will often be able to squeeze into a come ground freezer if they have one in the park you are at...... some do have these facilities.   

The other thing I do like ST2UP is to collect in a large ziplock bag ( I think they are called storage size) a whole bunch of very thin kindling. We have a few acacia trees and these make great kindling when their branches die off.  I keep them in a plastic zip lock because the kindling bag is not always in a water proof place.

[Totgas]

Here is just one of mine...tried tested and used over many years on bush camping trips.

When we camp we love a modest fire and intensionally look for suitable locations based on this....sometimes for cooking and occasionally for warmth, but mostly just to sit around and stare at the fire.


In Place of fire lighters or other aggressive forms of ignition I started gathering and storing in a sealed ziplock bag the lint from the cloths-dryer filter, mix a little Manuka shavings (fat wood ) into the bag and you have a red hot solution for starting a camp fire even with less than perfect wood. I tend to use a ferrocium  stick to start the lint with ease.


The other solutions to the same problem instead of commercial fire lighters and matches is to use cotton balls soaked in a little Vaseline, used teabags soaked in kero and allowed to dry in the sun then kept in a tabaco tin or magnesium shavings.....I have used all of these additional methods with varying degrees of complete success.

So what's your tips ??

So the old bucket of petrol doesn't work for you? 
A.

[Totgas]

As a general rule, whilst a water view may be attractive, so are you to the insects that inhabit such areas.

[Pocket STocker]

I do this for camping and travel on the bike in general, but rolling your cloths up instead of folding flat save heaps of room.

May not apply for camping on the bike but if travelling for longer periods with a trailer this may be useful.
When we had our camper trailer behind the 4 wheel drive we had a bucket with a lid that I half filled with water and added a few items of clothing and washing powder and the movement of the bucket mounted to the back of the trailer washed our cloths brilliantly. Just rinsed them that night when we got into camp.

A little bucket on the bike trailer could've used for this and showers etc.


Pockey 

[StinkyPete]

When bike touring, I put my clothes into a sleeping bag compression bag, and then quash the guts out of them to save space.

[Totgas]

When bike touring, I put my clothes into a sleeping bag compression bag, and then quash the guts out of them to save space.

I prefer wearing most of mine, there's that wind chill factor to consider....

[Abe]

I cut an old T-shirt into little strips that fit into an a 35mm plastic film canister (yes, hard to find, but use something similar) , Then, when I light the citronella candle outside, I dip the cotton strips into the liquid wax, let it dry and stowe.

Also, use a cotton ball, half lightly coated in Vaseline.

[ST2UP]

While we are talking fire lighting......Doritos work a treat 

There just cardboard soaked in oil 

[NTRebel]

While we are talking fire lighting......Doritos work a treat 

Which flavour plain or mexican

[ST2UP]

Ice lasts longer in your Icebox if you keep it off the ground so air can circulate around it 

[ST2UP]

If using Canvas products (swags, tents etc) and your seams are leaking......rub the inside seam with a candle stick and then the outside after it dries out. 

[Brock]

If sleeping under canvas, and its raining do not touch the roof. A leak will develop if you do.

It was always a good trick, in a land rover to touch the canopy over some ones head in the rain.