Riding and Tents?

[Bumblebee]

For those that have to sleep with their "baby".

I have yet to set a tent up anywhere that had a totally reliable hard or level surface underneath. IOW, a good rain, or just the surface itself, has the potential to let the stand sink in and have the whole thing topple over on me in the middle of the night. If the motorcycle is so insecure that it can't sleep by itself, it's not my motorcycle.

[bajakirch]

Tons of great information here. As a Boy Scout leader, I camp approximately 20-30 nights out of each year. But I have yet to try MC camping, so I've been interested to read this thread.

I only have 1 thing to add -- look for quality zippers. I've owned nearly a dozen tents over the years, of various, sizes, brands, styles and price-points. The one thing that seems to fail before anything else is the zipper on the tent door. Once that's shot, the tent is pretty much useless to me in our 6-month-long mosquito season.

[surrey_boy]

I just sold my kayak and bought a Nighthawk 650.  When I was kayaking I found my http://hennessyhammock.com/ was really useful. 

It's very small and easily set up.

All you need is two things to attach the ends to and you're dry, comfortable, off the ground and no worries about flies (integrated bug-netting).

[LOKi]

I just sold my kayak and bought a Nighthawk 650.  When I was kayaking I found my http://hennessyhammock.com/ was really useful. 

It's very small and easily set up.

All you need is two things to attach the ends to and you're dry, comfortable, off the ground and no worries about flies (integrated bug-netting).

I have the same hammock. Very well made and it does keep the bugs off you. Just remember to spray the underside of the hammock if you not using a sleeping bag. Bugs can bite through the hammock material. Also in cold weather you will want a thermarest or something to insulate you from the cold. Very comfortable. BUT....it is a hammock. Not for everyone. At first it feels like a gymnastics act to get in and set up. Once settled down its great. I even found a fan that hooks onto the wire that runs over the hammock (keeps the netting off you). We went camping on the Black Creek in MS on the hottest weekends of the summer. At night I had to turn off my fan because I was getting a chill. Didn't cover up or anything just turned off the fan. In hot camping weather nothing beats the cool hammock.

Finding a camping spot is easy. While everyone else is trying to find a flat plot of land to pitch a tent your looking for any two trees that are 12' or more from each other. If your stuck with no tries you can use it as a bivi.

[Option13]

I'm in the process of fixing up one up from pieces my troop was going to throw away. Needs some sewing, patches, and miscellaneous parts, but it was free!

Get one with good zippers. As a quartermaster for the troop, the most common (and expensive) failure we have, beyond the effects of sheer stupidity and knives in the hands of the incompetent, is zippers. Take care of them, and do whatever you can to make them last. Some people say bar soap is a good way to lubricate the zipper, and spray silicone might work too! Be gentle - Don't grab the corner of the door and rip it open, actually use the zippers to open it. Sealing the door with duct tape during a rainstorm is no fun at all.

Set it up tight - Most Scouts are lazy and don't pull the tent corners tight. It really makes the tent feel more open and roomy, and that's how it was intended to be set up.

Some people put the ground tarp under the tent to protect the body from abrasion, others put it inside for rain protection. I put it on the outside and make sure to tuck any exposed ground tarp under the tent so it doesn't act as a funnel for rain.

A good mattress is key! Get a thermarest and learn to pack it TIGHT. Or just sleep in a hammock. FWIW, I haven't slept in a tent in the past 3 years of monthly camp outs and summer camps. It's nice and cool in summer, but if the temperature drops down, even 60 degrees can feel cold, since the air can always move around you.

Another pet peeve of mine is the synthetic liners on lightweight sleeping bags. That just never feels warm or like what I'm used to. I try to use a fleece liner whenever possible. One last thing, compression stuff sacks are always a good investment. If you really cinch it down it can take up less than half the space of the uncompressed stuff.

[gammer]

Loki, why is it I could see you with a tent like this:



BTW, I don't camp much anymore. But if I was going to do it on a bike, this would be the way to do it.

[Soupskin]

Loki, why is it I could see you with a tent like this:

BTW, I don't camp much anymore. But if I was going to do it on a bike, this would be the way to do it.

The ONLY use for that tent is if you had to wrench in the rain.

[LOKi]

Loki, why is it I could see you with a tent like this:

I don't park my bike under cover in my driveway. I'm sure as hell not going to pack a portable cover for it when I'm traveling. Next you'll want me to bring a bucket, soap, and sponge to wash it. 

[gammer]

Next you'll want me to bring a bucket, soap, and sponge to wash it. 

You'd better
 

[Bumblebee]

The ONLY use for that tent is if you had to wrench in the rain.

How ya gonna wrench in the rain if you have a cover over you keeping the rain off? 

The absolute best adventures ever are the ones that aren't a lot of fun while they're happening.

[Soupskin]

The ONLY use for that tent is if you had to wrench in the rain.

How ya gonna wrench in the rain if you have a cover over you keeping the rain off? 

The absolute best adventures ever are the ones that aren't a lot of fun while they're happening.

Amen

[bajakirch]

The absolute best adventures ever are the ones that aren't a lot of fun while they're happening.

+2 on that, Mr. Bee.

#1 Son had to prepare a speech when he received his Eagle Scout Award. Other than giving him a few tips on length, I had no idea what he would say. He got up and talked about all the miserable experiences he had on campouts over the years...then went on to say those became his fondest memories.

[surrey_boy]

Some points on the Hennessey hammock.  If it's cooler than 45 or 50 F you'll want a thermal pad under your sleeping bag - getting into the hammock in a sleeping bag and staying on top of the thermal pad is a contortionist act.  Take a pee-bottle with you so you don't have to repeat the process.  You also need two attachment points, not a problem in tree-infested rain forest but could be a problem in the desert.  They are very small and easy to set up with the snake-skin accessory - might as well take one for short rest stops to grab an hours comfortable sleep in - quicker and easier than setting up a tent for sure. 
If you have back problems like I do, you'll find the Hennessey much more comfortable than a tent because it keeps some compression on your spine.
A tent is better for waiting out rainstorms though because you can move around and in and out.  In a Hennessey, when you're in, you stay in - at least with a sleeping bag and thermal pad.  If it's really warm outside and you're just laying in it without a bag or pad, it'd be much simpler.

[84TAVeRT]

i have a cool tent that sleeps 3 and folds down into the bottom a backpack :)

i used it when i went to the motogp races back in 2005

later,
Chris

[2muchfun]

The only thing I can add is get a stuff sack large enough to put your tent, sleeping bag and pad. It's a lot easier to secure one big bag instead of fumbling with several small ones. I used to do motorcycle camping but now I just stay in motels.

[BabyHawk250]

A potential candidate...

I looked at getting one of these a few years ago because I'm lazy and it was expensive, but mainly because i'm lazy...   

Check out the demo vids, too:

http://tente.quechua.com/en/tent/r-8,a-26,tente-2-seconds-i.html

[LOKi]

A potential candidate...

I looked at getting one of these a few years ago because I'm lazy and it was expensive, but mainly because i'm lazy...   

Check out the demo vids, too:

http://tente.quechua.com/en/tent/r-8,a-26,tente-2-seconds-i.html

Doesn't pack up very well does it? Not like your stuffing that in the bottom of your backpack or in a top box.

[BabyHawk250]

A potential candidate...

I looked at getting one of these a few years ago because I'm lazy and it was expensive, but mainly because i'm lazy...   

Check out the demo vids, too:

http://tente.quechua.com/en/tent/r-8,a-26,tente-2-seconds-i.html

Doesn't pack up very well does it? Not like your stuffing that in the bottom of your backpack or in a top box.

A few years ago when this first came out, it included a sheath that was wearable with straps like a backpack, not so sure about now. 

Still, it would be pretty funny to see the look on people's faces when you just park and toss this in the air and presto - instant tent... no assembly required!

[LOKi]

A few years ago when this first came out, it included a sheath that was wearable with straps like a backpack, not so sure about now.

Yea who needs silly things like food, water, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, clothes and the other things you would normally pack in a back pack when you have a tent that sets itself up.    

This thing is only good for car camping where you don't need anything to be compact. Bring the queen size blow 5" blow up mattress and live it up.