Camping with your plane

[azmuth1]

Campers!

I have made a lot of camping trips over the years from tents with the kids to the current 5th wheel with the better half. This is the first time going to Oshkosh and camping in the 170. I'm looking to input from all you experienced camping pilots on the little tid-bits of info that works good for you...and of course making the camp enjoyable for my better half.

Do you always camp in a tent?...or has anyone removed the seats and bunked in the plane (legally of course!). And I realize weight is a factor.

I have read the Airventure rules.

Thanks,

John

[3958v]

John I am not an expert but unless you have thick skin Oshkosh is not the place to go with out a tent as the mosquitoes will eat you alive. I like to take a cheap air bed to sleep on as it serves two purposes. Its much more comfortable than camping is suppose to be and it also elevates you off the ground in case a lake starts to form around your tent. You also need to take tie downs unless you plan to buy some as all planes must be tied down. I have always camped with at least one other person so taking seats out was not a viable option but I think if I was going alone I would still just tent. Bill K

[W.J.Langholz]

John I'm thinking of camping too. Not at OSH but maybe at the end of George's runway.......NOT! but some where this summer so I have the same questions.
WHere should a guy look for a tent and what should you expect to pay for one?
Anybody have these new style self inflating air mattress, do they really work?

Anybody have a check list of what to bring that maybe they would like to share?


thanks
W.

[Bill Hart]

I used to camp at Sun-N-Fun every year and what I have found is make a list. That list will grow every year as you think of things that you "have" to have with you. All in all its fun to camp with your plane. as a minimum I would want a good tent, sleeping bag (appropriate for the climate), a cooler for drinks and food unless you want to pay to eat three meals a day. With food you will need a way to cook i.e. grill and charcoal or propane. a table would be handy for eating and food prep. something to sit on is nice also.

I have a small generator that I take for lights a coffee pot and an electric griddle for making breakfast.

As you can see this list can get out of control. My friends and I would say "were doin it!" and just have the best times. One year a guy in his 60"s shows up takes out the seats from his 172 and camps with nothing more.

I have always thought he was doing it also........ and maybe HE had it right.

[170C]

I am sure there are others with more experience and suggestions, but I have camped at Oshkosh 4 times over the past 23 yrs. IMHO you can't beat camping with your plane. It puts you in the heart of the activities whether in the north 40 or in the classic (or other) camping areas. Personally I would not want to attempt to sleep in a conventional geared plane such as mine. The angle of the floor would make it uncomfortable and there isn't much room between the "tunnel" and the sides of the floor. Unless you had carpet on the floor a sleeping bag would slide aft all night long. I would consider sleeping in my plane only if it was storming and my tent was flooded. Depending on your desires, take a tent sufficient in size to permit the two of you to sleep comfortably on air matresses, sleeping bags and if space permits take a couple of camping cots to get you up, off the floor of your tent. Virtually a must is a couple of folding chairs to sit in while watching the airshow, eating, visiting with folks,etc. Again if space permits, a tent with room for one or both chairs to be set up in addition to the sleeping area is a big plus--especially if it does rain during the daytime and you want to sit in the tent and be comforable. I prefer a tent tall enough to stand up in, but that isn't mandatory. Surprisingly a tent of the size I use doesn't take up but very little more room in the plane than a much smaller one. A small folding table helps to sit drinks & food on as well as a horizonal surface in the tent, Take at least one garbage bag to collect camp trash in an possibly another one for dirty clothes. A battery powered lantern for the tent is nice as well as one either battery powered or propane powered for the underwing area. As mentioned some kind of cooler for drinks and/or food, Ropes for a clothes line (& clothespens) to dry out towels, clothes. Plenty of sun screen, & mosquito repellant. There are numerous food sources on the grounds with a variety of food types. It can get expensive if you eat all your meals that way so taking some things to fix at your camp is nice or purchase them once there. You can also go off site to vrs eateries. Keep in mind that Oshkosh can be hot as well as pretty darn cool depending upon what mother nature serves up. Both extreme's can be encountered during a stay. Bring a state flag from your home state to display.

[SteveF]

For what it is worth here is the check list I use before Oshkosh in no particular order.


Oshkosh Equipment List

EAA and AOPA cards

Duffle bags - No heavy suitcases

underwear - (use printed T-shirts)

couple pairs shorts

couple pairs blue jeans

one dress slacks

two casual outer shirts

socks

two pairs sneakers or comfortable walking shoes

couple hats

sweat shirt

light waterproof coat

sun screen

sun glasses

shaving kit

any prescription pills

two towels, face cloths

shower shoes/cheep flip flops

air mattress

sleeping bag

pillow

folding chair

backpack like kids use to brings stuff to school

charged up hand held aviation transmitter/radio

Oshkosh Notams

cell phone / extra battery

camera

small amount emergency snacks

couple of small flashlights

batteries for any special equipment

bottled water

Portable plane tie-downs

Tent

plastic spoons, knifes, forks

plastic bowls/plates/napkins

rope/clothes line

large plastic bags

Small cooler

Ziploc Bags

Two pocket knifes

First Aid kit

Coleman lantern

couple rolls toilet paper

Bug Spray

Duct tape

Signs for parking and row number

Sign for VFR departure

compressor for air mattress

Walkie-Talkie

Money

Happy attitude

[azmuth1]

Thanks all for your comments. As expected, you all come through with great ideas and experience. The "happy attitude" is the best...must not forget the reason we do this.

Keep the comments coming. Every idea is worth the read.

Keep 'em flying,

John

[Bill Hart]

Not sure about OSH but at Sun-N-Fun in the camping area there is a water buffalo so I never brought water. Just a5 gallon plastic jug that I picked up a camping supply place. Bring it empty fill it from the buffalo and you have water for coffee brushing teeth and drinking. You will want a smaller water bottle for walking around with. I take one of my sons sports bottles that has a clip on it and I attach it to my back pack for the long hikes around the airport.

I am going to miss Sun-N-Fun this year and now all this talk is making me mad that I wont be there. Oh well may be I can make OSH.

[tigger]

All the previous suggestions have been great. Amazed that Steve's list is almost identical to mine. I've camped at Oshkosh for the last 27 years and each year have tweaked my list. One thing I've found very useful is a silver poly tarp that I drape over the right wing and stake down (make sure to tape over the brass eyelets that will <<not>> be in contact with the wing) to form a lounge/food storage/eating area. This allows me to use a smaller tent.

For years I used a large medium-priced tent with fiberglass poles and anytime it stormed, the tent would lay down, rain would pool on the outside and seep through. About five years ago I bought a new Kelty Mantra 6 tent on Ebay that has 7XXX alloy aluminum poles and it's been an excellent investment. I've never had water in the tent after several serious storms.

Looking forward to camping with many of you this year at OSH.

Lanny

[DaveF]

Not much to add beyond what's been written, but I'll say that you should definitely not sleep in your airplane. If you leave the windows open you'll be eaten by bugs, but if you close them the airplane will fill with condensation.

Also, while OSH is luxurious as camping goes, expect strong winds and heavy rain. Make sure your tent is waterproof and bring extra rigging to keep it up (and down!).

Even if it doesn't rain, the heavy dew will make for wet feet. Bring quick-drying shoes and a foot towel.

[counsellj]

A trick I learned bike touring is bring a bag of baby wipes. They make a great quick shower alternative. The clean feeling you get will probably last longer than from the shower especially in the humid Oshkosh summers. Use them when you wake up and right before bed and you will fell and smell much better. I recomend unscented, but that is a personnel choice. A battery powerd fan to use in your tent also is helpful on those calm humid nights. Readily available at quality outdoor stores, and if you must, also at WallyWorld.

Jughead

[blueldr]

Every year that I went to OSH we had a thunder storm or two with winds that raised hell with tents. They also produced copious amounts of rain.
I strongly recommend a tarp from Haror Freight that will "tent" over your airplane wing so that your sleeping tent will be under cover and somewhat sheltered from the wind. Get tent stakes to fasten it securely to the ground on both sides of the wing.

[Curtis Brown]

Steve's list is very well thought out. I have been able to find a lot of my camping gear at Sam's and Wal-Mart. I have a small, lightweight table that is made of wooden slats and it rolls up and is stored in a bag. I have used the horizontal stabilizer as a table before but not since I've painted the plane. I use a double size air mattress that has a battery power inflation fan. Two man tent that is lightweight. I also like to cook in camp and use a Coleman two burner and sometimes the very small one burner that backpackers use. Use an insulated soft collapsible cooler, it will fit nicely between the front and backseats and you can reach it while in flight. I like the battery power Coleman lantern when hanging it under the wing. Take a full roll of paper towels, some foil and lots of gallon size ziploc bags. Nothing nastier than wet cheese and nothing better than wine and cheese at sunset under your wing. Take a collapsible gallon water bottle; you can usually find a water source near by. Get one of those plastic storage boxes and put all the cooking and eating gear into that and it will easily go behind the back seat.
I can get all of Steve's list plus the few things I have added to it behind the backseat. I also take food and sometimes use a plastic storage box for that. If I plan on three nights of camping I will take frozen chicken breast, frozen hamburger sometimes frozen steaks. Rice, season rices, pasta, oatmeal and other dry foods. Peanut butter, cold cut meats and bread for sandwiches. Crackers, cheese and snacks like trail mix. Large bottle of vodka and half case of wine. Just kidding, for 3 days the regular size vodka and 3 bottles of wine will do.
I have this flat rectangle pan that fits over the two burner Coleman camp stove and it cooks great. Once I get my wife and all the stuff she takes in the plane the backseat is full up to the baggage sleeve and we are close to gross weight.
Man all this is making me want to go now.

[Jr.CubBuilder]

I've taken my wife plane camping a couple times now, and this last time we took a big tent we got at CostCo. Previously we had a small two man tent, and I will say if you can afford the weight and space take a nice big tent you can stand up in

[jrenwick]

My Oshkosh camping equipment list has been under construction since the '70s, but I can only add a few things to what's already been mentioned here:

-- a patch kit for your air mattress
-- a whisk broom for the tent
-- paper towel roll
-- binoculars
-- bucket and sponge for washing the airplane, or just a good chamois

The best way I've found to keep the airplane clean for show is to wipe the morning dew off with a chamois. Takes up a lot less space than a bucket and sponge. If you have an extended baggage compartment, you can even bring a stepladder! Your 170 Association neighbors will love you for that.

I buy my tents at REI Co-op, because they have a big store near me. I've always been partial to Sierra Designs as a brand, and this was really confirmed for me about ten years ago when Oshkosh had 24 hours of steady rain -- real rain, not just drizzle. My clothes were soaked. I got into my little one-man tent (http://www.amazon.com/Sierra-Designs-Fl ... B001LNNIOK), laid my wet clothes and wet towel out on top of my sleeping bag, and went to sleep. It rained all night, but in the morning, my clothes and towel were dry! That's a magic tent. REI has its own brand as well, which I've always found reliable and inexpensive. My brother took their tiniest tent on his motorcycle to Alaska two years ago, and liked it.