Enjoy Fall in a Kodiak Tent

Hi guys, We live in the Sierra Nevada foothills, right next door to Tahoe National Forest, so we feel like we are camping all year 'round!
Except, this Fall we were expecting an unusual number of visitors and were running out of room in the house. So, we used our tent as a cool "glamping" guest-room, by attaching it to our back deck.
I slipped 3/4" galvanized pipe through the front and rear peg-loops, then secured the pipe (rather than the loops) with pipe strapping (3 per side) and 1-1/2" deck screws.
Finally, we pimped out the tent with a cot, air mattress, end table, and a surge-strip to power the lamp, space-heater, and cellphone charging station.
Even our adult kids loved falling asleep under the stars and waking up to the fall colors surrounding the property.
As long as you don't mind a few holes in your deck (easy to patch once you take down the tent, anyway) -- this is both cheaper and easier on marital harmony than a new room addition -- and much more fun for guests!!!

Jeff K

Visit www.FamilyTentCamping.com for gear,& camping resources

Fall.. A Great Time for Camping

Can you smell it? The crispness in the air, caramel apples, pumpkin pies, warm cider. Just imagine waking up in the outdoors, the smell of the campfire, bundled up snuggling close with the kiddos and your hands wrapped around a hot cup of Joe. It's that beautiful season of fall, perfect time to pitch that tent or crank out that camper for a few last runs before the winter. If you have been sad faced about being stuck indoors for the winter here are a few good reasons you can use to say out a bit longer :)

SAVING MONEY: There's a good place to start, right? Since popular camping holidays have subsided and the summer rush is over, campground rates are cheaper since they aren't in such high demand. Scoot on out and get the best spot!

FAMILY FESTIVITIES: Why not enjoy the perks of fall where it really feels like fall, outside! Buy a few pumpkins for carving or painting with the kids, apples for making homemade carmel apples, see below for a apple cider recipe you can make over the campfire!

WEATHER: Who doesn't love relaxing in a hoodie and eating s'mores next to the campfire! You can enjoy the beautiful scenery of the fall leaves changing color with the added bonus of no bugs! When I was camping as a child I remember going on hikes in the fall and trying to step on the fallen leaves because I loved the sound of them crackling under my feet.

LAST BUT NOT LEAST: There are less crowds, still great fishing, and it won't be so hot out so you can enjoy sleeping in your tent everyone cuddled up next to each other. Camping is such a great way to make memories that last, get the most out of the season!

Apple Cider Recipe:
1 gallon apple cider
2 apples
2 oranges
2 apple cinnamon tea bags
1 Campfire pot

You will need 1 gallon of apple cider (NOT apple juice), add 2 tart, firm apples, thinly sliced, 2 oranges also thinly sliced and 2 apple cinnamon tea bags. Place all in a campfire-suitable pot with a lid and allow to simmer for about an hour or so (or longer if you like a stronger flavor).

* Don't forget to apply a small amount of dish soap on the outside of pot for easy clean up.
Find Fall camping gear for the family www.FamilyTentCamping.com

OzTent Awning Tent Connector

Do you have a large family and want to keep your kids close but in a different room? The OzTent Awning Connector allows you to zip two similar OzTent's together, awning to awning. This is beneficial when camping with a family because it allows you to have two separate sleeping areas (one for the kids), and a large covered area under the connected awnings for hanging out together space. The Awning Connector also features an innovative gutter system which funnels rain water through a built in down spout, away from your tent or can be collected in a bucket for later use.

The OzTent Awning Connector is great for connecting two OzTents, but don't stop there! By simply zipping on two sets of OzTent Deluxe Peaked Side Panels you can fully enclose your awning space for privacy, create a screen room for insect protection or just use one side only to block the sun or wind, it's up to you. That's what makes the OzTent so unique & modular, it gives you options to work with, and keeps it hassle free!

To view additional OzTent products visit our website www.FamilyTentCamping.com

Stay Hassle Free when Camping, Bluescrew It!

Camping is a great time and meant to be enjoyable, until the storm hits your campsite! There's nothing more irritating than having to babysit your shelter in the middle of a storm, adjusting guy ropes, and restaking tent pegs in the rain because they are not anchoring your tent securely is not my idea of being a "happy camper". Not only is it inconvenient, but the risk of damaging or losing equipment can get expensive! I have a solution to the problem, a simple Bluescrew will do the trick! Whether your camping in a tent or enjoying the outdoors under a canopy, just Bluescrew it and enjoy the day.. You maybe asking what is a Bluescrew, how does it work and how will it benefit me?? The Bluescrew is more than just a tent peg.... This ground breaking anchor was developed in Australia, and is perfect for most everything needing to be secured to the ground such as roll out awnings on RV units, canopies,camping tents, tarps, boats & jet ski's, also makes a great way to secure your pets while on a long leash. WATCH BLUESCREW VIDEO

Bluescrew's unique twist mechanism provides incredible resistance and can easily be screwed in and out by hand. The Bluescrew, unlike other tent pegs has the ability to stake straight down to the ground instead of going out on an angle and making an obstacle course of your campsite. The large Bluescrew is excellant in sand or loose soil for anchoring watercraft, or when used for beach canopies it's like having a 400 lbs sumo wrestler holding down each of your guy ropes and the small Bluescrew is ideal for turf and rooty areas, and comparable to a 200 lbs anchor instead of a 20 lbs toddler! Made from durable, lightweight engineered plastic, effective in sand, turf, snow & underwater making the Bluescrew the perfect solution to a hassle free experience...

For more on the Bluescrew and other unique products visit our website www.FamilyTentCamping.com

OzTent..The Perfect Teardrop Trailer Accessory

Looking forward to a canoe adventure while camped beside the river, or hiking the trails, roasting hot dogs and s'mores, it has always been an affordable and fun way of making memories for the whole family. Camping vacations on the weekends or summer break is something to look forward to and gear up for. The Teardrop trailer is becoming more and more popular, you can search online and find many forms to suit what you are looking for to provide a place to sleep and cook on your camping trip. The perfect addition to these Teardrop trailers is the OzTent! It sets up in less than 30 seconds by one person and creates relaxing space, shelter, more sleeping room for the family, gear storage, eating area, a place to change your clothes….etc. It is spacious, 100% waterproof, and all sizes fit with your Teardrop trailer! You can pull the trailer underneath the OzTent awning or even beside it to create additional recreational or sleeping space, not to mention privacy and convenience with optional OzTent Accessories. Whether you are an RV or Tent camper, you can have the convenience of both! For a one stop shop visit www.FamilyTentCamping.com

New Malamoo MEGA Pop Up Tent

The Malamoo Tents by OzTent are quality self erecting tents that set up in just 3 Seconds! No more forgotten or complicated poles to assemble or forgotten guy ropes, they are fixed to the outer skin of the tent for convenience. No more hassle, just pick a spot throw the tent in the air and it sets up before hitting the ground! These tents have a dual skin, a breathable inner lining provides adequete ventilation, preventing condensation build up, and the outer polyester nylon skin has a "built in" rainfly with a 1500mm coating 100% for complete waterproof protection . Superfine mesh keeps out the smallest of insects for a hassle free experience.

The choice is yours, whether your looking for a 1 person Malamoo MOZ screen tent for the ground or strap on top of a large camping cot, a 2 person Malamoo classic, the 3 person Malamoo XTRA comes with a built in front awning & vestibule for additional shelter and gear storage, or wanting a bigger version for the family, well here it is, the newest addition to the Malamoo series is the Malamoo MEGA which has all the great features of the classic and XTRA and MORE, featuring sleeping capacity for 4-5, and dimensions of 12' from end to end, 8' wide and a 5' roof height for optimal space. To view more about the Malamoo Mega click here!

For more great products visit our website at www.FamilyTentCamping.com

OzTent USA Upcoming Events 2013

OzTent USA is traveling various events throughout the country to show and demonstrate the hassle free OzTent products, here are a few upcoming events for 2013.. If you've been wanting to see the OzTent products in action, here's your chance... If you have questions regarding shows email us sales@oztent.us

Summer 4-Wheel Jamboree Nationals
WHEN: Friday, Saturday and Sunday - July 12, 13 and 14, 2013 Friday 10AM to 6PM, Saturday 9AM to 8PM, Sunday 9AM to 3PM
WHERE:Bloomsburg Fairgrounds, 620 West Third Street, Bloomsburg PA 17815 (Columbia County Pennsylvania.) I-80 to Exit 232 (old Exit 34.)
WEBSITE: www.4WheelJamboree.com

PRVCA RV & Camping Show
WHEN: Sept 9-10 (Industry Event) Sept 11-15 (Public Event)
WHERE: Giant Center 550 West Hersheypark Drive Hershey, PA 17033
Visit WEBSITE For Event details

Vermont Overland Rally & Workshop
WHEN: Oct 10-13
WHERE: Lillie Brook Farm in Rockingham, Vermont
Visit Website for event details.

Making Homemade Ice Cream while Camping

Ziplock Bag Ice Cream

Anyone for homemade ice cream when camping? When the temps are HOT, nothing goes down better and is more satisfying! Here's a great resource to try out for yourself when camping over the summer.

How to:

You will need to put one of the small bags inside the other one and then add the sugar, milk, half and half and the vanilla extract into the inside bag then seal both bags after removing as much air as possible. Put the small bags into the large one and add the salt and the ice then seal tightly. The kids (and yourself) will have a blast shaking and tossing the bag around for 5 to 10 minutes. The ice cream will be soft and ready to serve. Makes 1 to 2 servings. ENJOY!

Ingredients:
• 1/2 Cup of milk
• 1/4 Cup of half and half
• 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 1 Tablespoon of sugar
• 1 Tablespoon of coarse salt
• 2 Cups of ice
• 2 sandwich size Ziplock bags
• 1 gallon size Ziplock bag

What is your Favorite camping dessert?
Find family camping gear & supplies www.FamilyTentCamping.com

OzTent USA Road Trip - Overland Expo 2013

On the road again, seems to be the way of life these days for OzTent USA, it's been a great time of traveling and camping in various parts of the country! Our road trip to Overland Expo 13 began on Mother's Day, we took a new route through Iowa & Kansas, then south to New Mexico. This turned out to be a lot of tumbleweeds, cow pastures and NO internet service, but we did find a great oasis for an overnight at Meade State Lake and park Campground in Meade, KS. (Be sure to fill your gas tank before heading out there). The joke throughout the trip was that if there was a capital of nowhere, this had to be it, LOL! (we will stick to the main routes from now on). We really enjoy the OVEXPO's new location in Mormon Lake, this was our 3rd year exhibiting. What a difference 295 miles north makes from our first year in Amado, no dirt devils or lack of shade in 115 degree temps. The new location has resulted in 6,000+ in attendance, with over 150 new & repeat vendors, packing out overland classes and open areas filled with campers ranging from roof top tents, Jet Tents and 30 Second OzTent's to big rig overland vehicles displayed and driven for training purposes. We also want to give a big THANK YOU to Roseanne, her team & sponsors for making this event such a huge success! We are looking forward to OVEXPO 2014, hope to see you all there!

Below are photo's of the event and travel destinations along the way, enjoy!

Find the 30 Second OzTent and more! www.FamilyTentCamping.com