THE COMMON COURTESIES OF CAMPING

Nothing puts a damper on a camping trip faster than misbehaving neighbors. You've planned for months and just as you sit down to enjoy your dinner, campfire, or sleepy time... someone (or something) decides to tempt fate and aggravate your very last nerve! Your own flesh and blood should get the message with a cold stare and a flash of a parental hand gesture.  However, a complete stranger who may/may not have overindulged in adult beverages or believes they hold rights over the entire campground, is an entirely different story. There is nothing worse than paying good money only to endure bad manners by fellow campers. Well, maybe getting attacked and eaten by a bear...but there's a fine line there! A reminder to all camping on those holiday weekends.... YOU put yourself the war zone. Sending prayers.... and tolerance.

So, let's take a refresher course on how to act when camping at your chosen campground:

• Minimize generator noise.  First of all, there is no such thing as a super quiet generator when the next campsite is 10ft. away... even if you paid $3,000 for it.  We do want to say thank you for actually obeying the official quiet time rule. Unfortunately, I'm aggravated by my neighbor on the other side who runs their generator from 7am until 10pm every day. Certainly they don't hear it because they are inside the RV with the stereo/tv on. Meanwhile, I'm contemplating forcibly planting a tent stake in their behind. Maybe I'll heat it in the campfire first too. So, if you have to ask yourself "I wonder if I should shut off my generator for a while?" Yes... and thank you. FYI- If you are a newbie RVer, "primitive" campgrounds will be 90% tenters who frown upon generators. Research campsite locations and distancing so everyone enjoys their stay. 

• Set up camp quietly.  Many people work Monday through Friday nine to five. Add an hour or two drive time and there's a pretty good chance that it may be dark when you arrive at camp. Have a plan in place on everyone's responsibilities. No one should be relaxing and watching while others work.  Small jobs like collecting twigs to start the fire keep youngsters engaged and out from under foot. Insults and name calling seem to escalate pretty quickly during campsite setups, and trust me...your voice is traveling far and wide. Thus leading to the next suggestion. (And maybe you should apologize to the neighbors in the morning.)

• Watch the language. Just when I think I've heard everything, people manage to create a new slang, swear, or suggestive term that baffles my mind. If you spew garbage, keep your tone down, especially in front of children. Or visit adult only establishments. You are going to rub someone the wrong way with your graphic language. Be warned... if you get knocked upside the head with a bar of soap flying through your campsite, chances are someone is on their way over to cram it down your throat and wash your mouth out. And by the way, soap is a laxative. Shines new light on the term "shitty neighbor", doesn't it?

• Respect space. Campsites come in all shapes/sizes, but maybe you made a wrong choice in picking your site. This doesn't mean you can infringe on another camper's paid space. Know the boundaries between campsites and stick to yours.  Do not allow campers or pets from your site to play, walk through...or relieve themselves on neighboring sites. Also, I know its a public bathroom, but if you can help it, please don't stand directly outside the bathroom stall door when I'm trying to go #2.  Come back in five minutes please. Don't you think I'm stressed out enough in there having to poop in a public place? 

• Turn down the speakers. Not everyone enjoys the same music genre as you. Especially if the lyrics are 75% profanity. Just because you and I are both wearing flannel, doesn't mean I'm into country music. Your disco tunes are giving me a Saturday night fever.  That feverish pitch resonating from your favorite operatic performer is attracting every coyote and bigfoot within a 25 mile radius. So, I'll tell you what I want...what I really really want... and that is for you to invest in some ear buds.  Campgrounds are not concert venues and very very few campers are impressed with the size of your woofers and tweeters.

• Clean up after yourself (and your kids/pets). Don't leave trash in campfire pits or scattered on campsite.  Don't leave your toilet paper and poo piles (human or pet) where others will be camping. Soap wrappers, shampoo containers and even "un"sanitary products get left behind in campground showers. Sinks/showers often look like someone lost an entire head of hair in them.  It takes minimal effort to clean up after yourself and take trash to the dumpster. Please check bathroom stalls your child has used.  If they have unrolled the toilet paper and scattered it, pick it up! Flush the toilet if they forgot! Smokers, dispose of your butts somewhere else besides all over the ground. Pet owners should pick up and discard their pet's waste properly.  Yes, the elements and insects will eventually break it down, but not overnight....and probably not in a week since you brought your two Saint Bernard dogs. Now I gotta move my tent :-(

• Follow the basic rules. Campgrounds put rules in place to protect themselves, and to safeguard the campground visitors. Washing dishes at public spigots leave behind food remnants which attract wildlife. Wildlife may carry rabies. Capeesh?  Common sense would tell you not to drain black water tanks on a campsite, but it happens...a lot. Invasive insects can be carried from state to state on firewood, so buy local. Register all campers/visitors. In an emergency situation, management needs to have everyone accounted for. Respect the property you are on.  Speak up to management if something alarms you. Most campers are seeking relaxation, so abide the quiet times rule. Know where your kids are. Don't allow dogs to bark excessively. Leashes are a must. 

• Porta-jons/spring loaded bathroom doors.  And for god's sake people...STOP allowing the door to slam shut behind you in the wee hours of the morning when you do a bathroom trip! I personally thank you for this courtesy!

The price of campsites is out of control, even at state campgrounds that used to make for an affordable vacation. In state cost for residents are still manageable, but nonresident rates are double/triple than those of residents.  When you are paying good money for relaxation, your expectations also run high. Don't be part of the problem.  Set a good example for the future generation of campers who learn by listening, watching and replicating.  Oh no, wait!.... are we raising a bunch of pyromaniacs? Nah, campfires don't count! 

Just a reminder, please consider supporting B4B by following/liking our accounts across social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Pinterest, Reddit, Amazon Storefront and YouTube. All links are on the bound4burlingame.com website or my using our safe link page. Always look for our red tent logo to ensure you are on a B4B page. Thank you! #happycamping

CAMPER INGENUITY

I admit, I have a few faults... probably more than a few... but who's counting!? Some of them (not in any particular order):

1.) I get bored easily
2.) I think I can make things better, faster, stronger (or just more functional)
3.) I frequent the $1.04 clearance wood at HD. 

Known affectionately by my friends as "Ms. MacGyver", I've pretty much perfected the whole "making something outta nothing" thing. Challenge accepted! Some ideas work out better than others, and I've headed back to the drawing board more times than people have questioned Mona Lisa's smile. But when the creative juices get to workin' and the end result is pure genius (even if just to me), it's just so freaking satisfying!

I've always said that campers, as a whole, are the most ingenious, creative, resourceful and clever group of people on the planet. Adapting to changing surroundings whilst subjecting yourself to the wrath of mother nature (and other campers) is a challenge onto itself. Before long, the words "what if we try this?", "do you think this would work?", "I wish there was a solution to that.", "ya know what would work?", "when we get home..." cross every camper's lips. Of course, doing a web search on a product that might aid in the problem at hand would work, if you could come up with the correct keys words to punch in. Unfortunately, its already too late, the monster has been poked.


Problem:
I want to be able to go camping by myself, without a lot of effort, in a moments notice. I want to feel safe, be portable, be comfortable, and be functional (even better, multi-functional). I want to utilize things I already have, and oh yeah, I don't want to spend any money creating it. TA-DA!


Up for MacGyvering is my PT Cruiser. Standard 4-Door hatchback with folding/removable seats. I bought it used and never noticed those molded plastic things sticking out in the hatch. Seats fold down and also flip forward for cargo space. 

Turns out when purchasing new, there was an option for a plastic hatch cover that fit there. I cut a pieces of 3/4" plywood for shelves. I notched the bottom layer and followed the curve of the hatch when its closed. The bottom layer sits about 7" off the cargo bottom and is the perfect spot for air mattresses, lawn chairs, small tent bags, jumper cables, camp stoves etc. 

By notching the plywood, it also allows the larger shelf to be moved to top and offset to extend outside the hatch to be used for prepping area or daily activity use. Large shelf in lower position is same level height as seats folded down.

Positioning seats forward and using the top shelf across headrest and center console, provides a level space to fit my air mattress. Inflator plugs into my cigarette lighter, so mattress can be blown up while in place. Cooler & backpack fit into front seats for easy access. Battery operated lights can be hung from clothes carrier hooks/handles. Back up to the campfire.


When the fire dies down and its time for bed, I simply pull the hatch down and lock myself in. I bought these neat screens for my windows so I can leave them partially open for air circulation. The shelves are purr-fect when organizing camping supplies when its more than just me who wants to go on an adventure!

I've also done some modifications on our small cargo work trailer. Hotel bills add up when traveling/staying at distant job sites for extended periods. By adding a platform bed area, and removable back flap, we are able to utilize area campgrounds while still using underneath space for storage and tools. Adding a table onto the front hitch frame makes for the perfect cooking/eating/card playing area. A canopy/screen room easily fits around this area too doubling your camping space. It also can be setup on job sites to use as tool/work space. Breaks down and sets up in under a minute, and is plenty sturdy.  

I've done plenty of other modifications to the cargo trailer, but never think to photograph the progress or the before/after. Another nice add was a laptop shelf/tray attached to a swivel and extendable TV wall mount arm. Attached to the right hand wall, it allows using/watching from both outside and inside locations.  Its great for movie watching while in bed. If you have an idea for a modification or a creation, I might suggest to other campers to photograph the steps as they move along.  Post your projects on social media and help out your fellow campers. 

Lots of great creative ideas can be found on our Pinterest Boards.  Follow one or all!

            

I'M NOT CHEAP, I'M THRIFTY.

This post...some might call it a rant, is focused on the high prices most RV stores charge on their inventory. C’mon people (that means store/dealership owners), haven’t you heard that campers are a damn savvy group of people, with many of us borderline obsessed with frugal living (both on and off their campsite).  So, I hate to be the one to break it to you, but gone are the days that we are willing to pay the high prices listed on the inventory on your shelves, within your showrooms, and in your catalogs. Most campers and full time RVers have heard of, and are now utilizing something called the "internet". SSSHHH....not too loud, it might catch on! With free shipping and competitive pricing, it's doubtful I will be stopping in for a $50 camp chair any time soon.  And, kudos to Walmart, for stepping up to the plate and filling a local void by stocking reasonably priced camping/RV supplies.

We now have greater options on more than just parts and supplies too. Facebook Marketplace, and outlets such as Craigslist have become a haven for seasoned hobbyist to find terrific deals. Additionally, social media outlets like YouTube has made it easy to view a potential purchase without leaving your house. Watching thousands of actual camper's review videos and how-to maintenance videos are just a click away.

I’m not discounting that  RV dealerships have trained sales staff on their showroom floors or at local shows. It seems their job is to perform a robotic walk thru, convince you they can secure financing, and then provide you with all the shiny documentation you can haul home.... but when it comes to buying a gently used (or new) RV, I gotta doubt that any salesperson you deal with, has spent no more than 1/2 hour total (and no actual camp time) in the vehicle they are trying to sell you on. Honestly, if part of my money is going towards paying for anyone's knowledge of the vehicle, I’d rather deal directly with the previous owner who's been there, done that ( and is willing to tell you all about it).

I am also not saying that any dealership's mechanics don’t know how to do their job. I suspect 90+ percent of them do. However, for the price you get charged, it’s probably cheaper to pay the tuition to send yourself (or an offspring) to a two-year tech school and learn how to do it.  It seemed that the time frame for my rig to be ready (and fixed correctly) was about the same.


RVers, and campers in general, are crafty folk. Whether miles from nowhere, or just too stubborn (and thrifty) to pay RV superstore prices, we are the kings and queens of DIYs. Spend five minutes browsing camping boards on Pinterest (hint, hint : Bound4Burlingame's boards can be found here) and your eyes will be opened to a whole new world of tips and ideas on frugal camping.


Of course, these are just my views, and it is your choice to agree or disagree with some, or all of it.  Due to your own experiences, chances are you see enough truth in the words to nod your head once or twice. I’m all about campers helping campers....and I’m happy to save a dime, whether it be yours or mine. Sharing knowledge is just as important as sharing in the adventure.



At Bound4Burlingame, we are always looking for quality content to share on our social media pages and website. If you have created something, or know of a product that is worth it’s weight in gold, feel free to reach out.  Save the stamp money, and just email us at bound4burlingame@gmail.com.