What's Important

Jodi, what is a 4x4 mat ?

Mad Dog I don't know the technical name for it and I suspect different brands call them different things. Essentially it's a self inflatable mat with a layer of high density foam in it. About 2 inches thick when inflated. Rolls up tight to about 30cm diameter (this is after much practice and use). Best sleep ever and worth it. No bouncing around like on an air mattress and no feeling bumps poking through thin little mats...

When we have too many guests staying over, they end up on the 4x4 mat on the lounge room floor in front of the fire. Had no complaints yet - all apparently had a great sleep. Although not sure if it was mat or consumption induced (there's a reason they're staying and not driving home).

Have to agree about the bed. We also have a QS self inflator and we call it the 8th wonder of the world. Yep it is as comfortable as our one at home. After spending 3 1/2 months camping in NW WA and NT And Qld, we always maintained that what we slept on and what we sat in were very important as well as making sure all was ok with the 4x4, spare tyres, parts, etc, etc...and the UHF radio... good for company and making friends. We have a Kia Sportage and got into everywhere we wanted to go,no probs. Highlights of that camping trip were the GRR, Mitchell Falls just spectacular and Gehrig National Park NT.

Hi Folks,

Well our kit comprises of

Camper trailer (cub-o-matic) being renovated and fitted with a queensize innerspring bed... you gotta have a good sleep, I'm having the trailer lined with canvas at the same time which should make it nice and snug inside, we also have an annex which zipps on .

Fridges.. we only have the waeco cool-boxes we have three one that holds 40 cans one that holds about 24 cans and a small tropicool classic which holds about 6 cans (we have a/c adaptors for all) I would consider a gas operated fridge in the future when funds permit

Cooking we have a single burner (areosol can style) portable gas ring, I have an old tripod style projector stand from back in the days on 8mm cine films which makes a great stable platform for the little stove and folds down to take very little space

We have an electric jug and a toaster for powered sites or if we MUST use the generator, I use all cast iron cookware its heavy but its the best.
We bought a cheap dinner service plates, bowls , cups and even wine glasses which packs away into a plastic storage box, I like a nice cup/mug to drink out off and am not keen on plastic plates, the entire dinner set for 4 people including knives and forks cost a princely $9-99 so its no drama when something gets smashed.
Talking cooking I always take a gaslighter better than matches..for lighting mozzie coils and such like.
MOzzie coils are burnt in a proper metal burner (no chance of accidental fires)

Power < I have a small 12v battery pack , will run the fridges for a couple of hours only then I have to revert to an Austech Scorpian 800w generator.

We have various 12v rechargable lantens and torches, and if staying on a powered site I use a small halogen reading lamp at night

Coffee (an important item) I take a single mug size bodum coffee plunger
just because I'm camping does not mean I have to drink "instant"

We take 2xlarge S/steel vacum flasks which we fill with boiling water and another small flask which we fill with milk (you can keep milk cold and fresh in a vacum flask for a couple of days, I'm not a fan of UHT milk)

We have a Kathmandoo (basecamp) screen dome tent , this gets used as a kitchen of for meals if the flies are a problem
and a couple of alloy tables one good one and one el-cheepo

Toilet.. well I'm not keen on holes in the ground, so a porta-pottie is part of our MUST have gear (and yes we take SOFT toilet paper with us) The age is for reading only .........

Blankets, spare tarps and power-boards and extention leads.. very can have too many (grin)

Keep in mind that 99% of our camping will be in "soft" locations normally caravan parks with power, we can manage the odd night away from "civilisation" but daily showers and so forth are important, we also like company. nothing better than sharing a drink with a new friend in the evening.

so nothing special but we like to "comfort camp" rather than just camp! (huge grin)

Oh well apart from ensuring we have a good supply of red and white I suppose thats it.. apart from not forgetting the corkscrew!

John

Hi John

>Keep in mind that 99% of our camping will be in "soft" locations
>normally caravan parks with power, we can manage the odd night
>away from "civilisation" but daily showers and so forth are important,

>so nothing special but we like to "comfort camp" rather than just
>camp!

There is no need at all to be uncomfortable in the bush no matter how remote one is. See my post above for the things I take which make camping very pleasant. I have a hot shower every evening in the bush (despite being an ex. Pom :) along with a comfortable chair etc. I eat pretty well too.

Someone on this site has an excellent sig. which reads something like "Any mug can be uncomfortable in the bush" - correct but it's really quite easy to be comfortable too.

Mike Harding

Hi Mike,

The reason that we will be in "soft" camping spots is that we dont have a FWD to allow us to leave the main roads :_) I'm not so silly as to try it in my old tarago...

What I ment was that one can "comfort camp" with a sensible range of gear regardless of location...

I know my limitations , I dont know enough to leave the main roads and dont have the car to do it in... Not saying that I could not learn, but I dont intend to make an "idot" of myself and have to rely on others to get me out of a mess...

regards
John

Hi John

Fair enough.

Although there are a lot of good places you can get to in a 2WD providing you exercise caution - underbody clearance is normally the most significant issue and may mean you have to stop and remove rocks etc rather more often than a 4WD but I think you have a wife, don't you? :)

Mike Harding

Yes I have a wife, but she is no good at breaking rocks...would be my head I think... (grin)

Yep, gotta have a girl proof gas lantern. Saves the the hot toung and cold shoulder you would get for getting back to camp late after fishing.