Camping Trip Must Have...

[dclassens]

I am going on a 1200-1500 mile camping trip with nothing more than a truck tent, a cooler and a fishing pole. I will spend all of my miles in fairly remote areas of the U. P. in michigan. I would like a list of ideas of what I should take to make sure my Dodge Cummins is as reliable up there as it is all around town. Ideas like:



spare fuel filter

spare tire

hand tools

fuel conditioner

jack



Any thing I need to make sure I have a perfect camping trip with no breaks.

Thanks

Dave

P. S. any other camping tips would be helpful.

 

[fkovalski]

Bring an extra serpentine belt!

... any other camping tips would be helpful.

If you are unfamiliar with area... . bring maps... and not just 1. National Geographics has some excellent wax coated maps. Compliment these with USGS topo maps as well. I have found, for examople, that roads on 1 are not shown on others. Using the 2 together, one can corrolate exact locations. A GPS would be recommended as well. I always bring a peacekeeper, but I will let you decide if that is appropriate for you.

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

Bring a camera, and toilet paper.

 

[dclassens]

I have added a GPS and a new belt to my list. So far so good. This is exactly what I wanted. Please keep these ideas going.

Dave

 

[moparguy]

This is gonna sound kinda hokey, but we always carry a lantern/hat rack/coat hanger ect.



A few years ago I took a 7'stick of 1/2" rebar and welded horse shoes up and down it. It's made many camping trips, always gets comments and is great for hanging stuff on. We usually drive it into the ground at the horse trailer door, then hang a lantern on it and after that, there'er no telling what might land on it. Wet cloths, towels, hats. Well you get the idea. If you weld the horse shoes on opposite sides it lays flat, taking up very little room while traveling.



Good luck, RR

 

[Grizzly]

This is gonna sound kinda hokey, but we always carry a lantern/hat rack/coat hanger ect.



A few years ago I took a 7'stick of 1/2" rebar and welded horse shoes up and down it. It's made many camping trips, always gets comments and is great for hanging stuff on. We usually drive it into the ground at the horse trailer door, then hang a lantern on it and after that, there'er no telling what might land on it. Wet cloths, towels, hats. Well you get the idea. If you weld the horse shoes on opposite sides it lays flat, taking up very little room while traveling.



Good luck, RR

Along with hand tools, bottled jack, fluids, belts, hoses and so on, I like to take my coveralls and a shop manual.

 

[mjendrejcak]

Bring a camera, and toilet paper.

not to be used at the same time i hope.

 

[woodsrat]

TDR travel companion

 

[AKAMAC]

Hachet, tarp, 100' parachute cord, plastic tent stakes, fire-starter and steel wool, some 2x6x16" cribbing (can be used for fire wood in a pinch), ice chest with block ice only.

Truck stuff: tow strap, bottle jack, spare LP with tools to change it.

The camp stuff will fit into a small tool box less cribbing, the tarp will give you rain protection and a place outside the tent to settle. The cord and stakes allow you to build it. Steel wool is a great fire starter! Cribbing is for jacking/I'm stuck/I need a block of wood now. (Dry fire wood)

The truck stuff is self-explanatory. You don't want to jack the front end up with the factory jack. You don't want to wait for a new LP to arrive.

 

[Bug Out]

Stay home!!!

By the time you load all that stuff, you might as well stay home! LOL Just kidding.

 

[Nate]

When I go camping, I bring most of my tools, to include a welder (Ready Welder) grinder, sawzall, air tools.



Also a chainsaw and firewood, shotgun, lantern, extra gas and diesel (lantern/Jeep and truck), etc.

 

[jkalchik]

Well... ... having grown up 35 miles northeast of T. C. (Bellaire,) and spent 5 years in school up in the Keweenaw Peninsula (as well as many trips back,) I'd say you're already reasonably well set.



You shouldn't have much of a problem finding diesel, I never have. Just remember that spare Cummins parts will be at least a day away.



I've always liked to stay at Mclain State Park east of Calumet, on Lake Superior.



As much as I hate to say it, there's *NOTHING* really remote in the YooPee anymore. You've got a several hundred mile range on your truck, just make sure to fill up in Escanaba, Marquette, Sault St. Marie, etc. before you head for the hinterlands. Last fall, I was out near the rocket base at the extreme tip of the Keweenaw with zero issues.

 

[GShail]

Don't forget your firearm.

 

[AMink]

BEER! You need something to keep that block of ice cold! :-laf Seriously, if upper Michigan is like I hear, you will probably need some super serious mosquito repellant, DEET filled stuff works the best. Maybe even mosquito netting for your hat. Have fun and good luck! Oh, maybe a come-a-long or handiman jack and a shovel (for flushing!).

 

[CPittman]

The mosquitos aren't that big a deal if you make sure you are in your tent by sunset, and don't leave your tent unzipped during the day.

 

[dclassens]

THANKS so much to all the folks responding. I have my list growing by the moment and I appreciate all the good tips. this site is a gold mine.



Jkalchik, thank for the post. I think we are headed to the copper mines near Houghton, then work the entire southern coast of superior back home to TC.



Thanks

Dave

 

[jkalchik]

<grin> See http://67.184.98.77/Estivant_Pines



These pics were all taken up in the Keweenaw Peninsula a couple of years ago. Some in the Estivant Pines, the sunsets are from Mclain's, and there's a few from the top of Brockway Mountain.



Dave, if you've got a soft spot for thoroughly delectable muffins, jams, etc. , stop in at The Jam Pot (http://www.societystjohn.com/jampot.jp).

 

[jandtjil]

A first aid kit

tent repair kit w seam sealer

a can of brake and a can steering pump fluid

a bottle or three of fix a flat, or an air pump your choice

gloves (no reason to get your hands dirty)

"Oprah" magazine (just kidding!)

some duct tape to hide the huge grin on your face every day



Good luck fishin and bring back some good tales



JJ

 

[Forrest]

Bring something to lay on. I had an oil cooler line break on another truck & I didn't have anything to put down on the ground. Ended up using my sun shield for the windshield. Towels bunch up ... kinda a pain.

 

[dclassens]

This is exactly what was looking for. Thanks a ton. Jkalchik, I posted a few of those photo's on my desktop as the wall paper to get me through this weekend, as I am very excited. We leave on monday.



Dave