3 Reasons for Camping in the Spring

As we all know the Summer is the most popular time for camping, this is when most vacations are taken, school is out, and the weather is usually nicer. However, there are some great perks for camping in the Spring time too, here are a few reasons in this article.

Lower Camping fees: Since spring camping is considered to be a low camping season, with that said some of the campgrounds will still offer lower campsite fees vs popular camping locations in the peak of summer season (June - August) the rates are typically higher. You can expect to find more crowds with limited site selection, unless you reserve a campsite site in advance through a campground or most often online through www.reserveamerica.com or by phone, it is highly recommended to contact them during non peak season Janruary-April for best results. CAMPER'S TIP Once you have camped on the site and you like it, reserve it for next time before you leave to assure availability. So instead of working harder (time & money), camp smarter and save all the way around!

Not Too Hot: Camping in the Spring offers the perfect temperature, warm & sunny during the day and night is perfect for sitting around the campfire sharing stories and eating your favorite dessert prepared over the campfire. Then when it's time for sleep simply crawl into your sleeping bag, TIP to ensure proper rating selection choose a bag 10-20 degrees lower than the forecasted overnight temps for a restful sleep. Camping over the summer can result in unpleasant feelings when having to deal with the heat overnight, and making sure your tent is well vented during the heat of the day to allow the hot air to escape and fresh air to circulate inside tent for a restful night sleep ahead. The key to a succssful camping trip is ease and comfort...

Fewer Bugs: By camping in the Spring you can iliminate close to 70% of the bug population which will arrive in the summer when temperatures rise making living conditions for bugs more ideal. I don't believe you will never completely avoid them but it will decrease the number of mosquitoes and other flying insects circling around your head. Just because your camping in the Spring doesn't mean not to take the precautions of applying bug spray, lighting citronella candles and wearing proper clothing to reduce the risk of finding an opportunity to feast on exposed skin. CAMPER'S TIP It is also a good idea not to camp near still water where many bugs including mosquitoes like to breed.

Discover Spring Scenery: There's something about getting outdoors, especially after a long, cold winter. Camping is a special time to take in the bright colors, wild life, soothing water fed creeks, the fresh auroma of flowers blooming, grass, warm sunshine and the birds singing. Take it all in, whether your at the campsite or hiking on the trails you'll find a new discovery at every turn. Spring is the perfect time for camping and enjoying the best of what nature has to offer!

Shop our selection for Spring gear www.FamilyTentCamping.com

New to Camping... A Camper's Perspective

Completely new to camping. Camping is something that I’ve wanted to learn how to do for a long time. Because I had no idea what to do, it’s something that I never ventured to. My FTC camping experience began at the North Carolina Overland Expo "East" in an Oztent RV2 Tent...
Noticed very quickly how knowledgeable Randy from Family Tent Camping is. I would recommend signing up for his camping tips on the FTC website.
Elements - One day at the Overland Expo East we had a whole lot of rain, there were 6 tents set up that are made by Oztent. No water got through any of the 6 tents. Another day was very windy and the same tents withstood the wind. Being a brand new camper, I appreciated the durability of the equipment.
Set up and take down of the tents were very simple and easy. This helped making camping a good experience. Having equipment that even a brand new camper can operate makes the experience much more enjoyable. It has been intimidating to camp in the past - not knowing how to set up a tent. Seeing how easy the Oztents are to set up took that fear away.

Jimmy

Find the right camping gear, from the beginner to the season camper, we gotcha covered! Visit www.FamilyTentCamping.com

Disabled Veteran is Happy with Oztent RV2

Kim,
Just wanted to let you know the OzTent RV-2 came this morning. FedEx knocked on my door at 1030 with two boxes.

Comments:
I'm 52 and a 100% disabled veteran. I don't have great balance or strength when trying to set up a conventional shock cord type so I thought my camping days were over - until now!

The tent went up in about 17 minutes - part of that was getting it out of the box. (It was packed very well with no obvious damage to the box upon receipt.)It took about another 5 min to tie everything down the way that seemed best.
Take down took 11 min - part of that time was sweeping, folding, and packing up the ground cloth.

The ground cloth definitely helped me to orient where the tent would be set up and assured I had a relatively debris free, level area for the tent - this is a must have to aid with a "best site" set up and to protect the bottom of the tent,the ground cloth extends under the tent & front canopy, is just one more bonus of the OzTent system.

All of the features were as described and very well thought out for efficiency and function. All of the screens, window/door panels, and zippers were obviously well constructed and operated properly.
This is a perfect tent for one or two people +/- a dog.
I can't wait to try this tent out - I'm checking out how my gear will fit and what I will need for my next trip.

Thanks so much - Kaylee and I couldn't be happier!

Regards and Blessings,
Maria and "Kaylee"

For more information on OzTent gear and other quality products visit our website www.FamilyTentCamping.com

10 Tips for Keeping Goods Cold in a Cooler

There is nothing worst (almost) than reaching for a "COLD" drink out of the ice chest on a hot sultry day or night and pulling out a borderline cool one... It's even worse when getting ready to prepare a meal over the campfire and finding out the ice in the cooler wasn't maintaining the proper temps. It's like running the air conditioner with the windows wide open and expecting the entire area to stay cool.

Engel 80 Deep Blue Cooler

1)Keep the ice chest out of the sun,you may need to move periodically to maintain ice condition

2)If possible cool down the inside of your ice chest 24 hours prior trip to avoid making the fresh ice work harder than needed by placing an ice pack inside to start the cooling process.

3)Wrap cooler with a blanket, tarp or a reflective material to deflect sun rays and provide proper insulation.

4)Freeze water in plastic 1/2 gal juice containers and add to your cooler. Since the large bottles take a couple of days to defrost, making a great source for cold drinking water..

5)Avoid using party ice purchased at convenient storesif possible,(tends to melt faster)

6)With your empty plastic bottle, add 1/4 cup of salt to it. Salt in water helps it freeze faster and makes it extra cold, make sure to label them to avoid drinking.

7)Pack your cooler with the frozen food, and raw meats at the bottom near the ice containers, then layer food such as eggs stored in a plastic egg holder to avoid breakage and keeping items needing less refrigeration such as fruit & vegetables are at the top.

8)Minimize opening of cooler hatch, if possible have a 2nd cooler for drinks and snacks to keep the campers happy and the cooler items chillin...Also, when getting inside cooler at night simply stick a cooler light on the inside of lid instead of using a flashlight to keep your hands free.

9)If you are able to find a place that carries "dry ice" it can be very effective when cooling is needed over long periods of time. Make sure to wrap the ice to avoid direct skin contact.

10)Thermal Ice Packs can be placed around food and along the inside of the cooler as well, also having on hand is great for use as a first aid treatment when needed.

What have you found to be an effective cooler tip?

Visit our website for additional gear www.FamilyTentCamping.com
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Road Trip to Overland Expo 14

What a way to spend "Mother's Day",on a road trip to the Overland Expo event at Mormon Lake campground in Flagstaff, AZ. The Ford & trailer is loaded and ready to roll...

Day 1 travel started strong with a few cool pics from a rest stop just shy of Springfield, MO.

The road trip wouldn't be the same without stopping and dodging a few rolls at Lambert's cafe

We managed to stay SW of the severe storms such as tornadoes which were heading NE, but as you can see we had our rough travel passing through Tulsa into Oklahoma city for the night..

On the road again, headed for Texas we happened to spot a shelter that not only provided storm protection but also was a well sourced center for farming history in the pan handle of TX.

New Mexico is our next stop, I'm convinced that advertising billboards and "dust devils" help to keep your attention and break the monotony of counting cactus & tumbleweeds in the middle of nowhere..

It's time for a stretch and bathroom break,while walking through the store at the road stop you can't help but check out the native artwork,jewelry,souveniers and Bears (oh my)....

Flagstaff, AZ. here we come! A restful nights sleep at the Comfort Inn before OVEXPO set up is a great idea, especially for getting things in order before arriving at Mormon Lake campground. The sights along the way were beautiful and well worth the road trip...
SET UP TIME! Finally the time has come to show off our great OzTent products!, the OzTent furniture is arranged to provide not only a place to take a break from walking the event, but also to demonstrate the adjustable lower lumbar support comfort, including the unique 1 of a kind NEW Jet Tent Pilot DX chair and OzTent Gecko chair with it's built in swivel table. The ozTent stretchers were arranged outside of the tents to display the 3 sizes to try out and test the durability & comfort with the built in padding throughout and exclusive 5 year warranty! The OzTent Small Bluescrews came in handy when the wind picked up, they were used to anchor the guy ropes for the OzTent Foxwing Awning and Malamoo 3 second tent models. After the display set up was completed and ready for customers on Friday a.m, it was nice to use the bi-fold table for meal preperation and stayed warm & cozy in our Oztent Rivergum sleeping bags with the additional fleece lining zipped in for additional warmth when the temps overnight bottomed out in the high 30's.

Let the OVEXPO begin! Here are a few shots of the vendors and Happy OzTent RV & Jet Tent owners roughing it in the camping area...

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Tips for Camping in Spring

Spring is a great time to get out and enjoy the camping experience! Even though the spring weather & cooler temps can be unpredictable, making Spring camping a bit more challenging. Spring camping requires more planning to "be prepared" by choosing the right gear, date and location with the best weather possibilities. Despite the excess preparation, spring camping still has some great benefits! It is always best to plan for the best weather and be prepared for the worst.

It's been a long winter for most of us, many are feeling "cabin fever" set in and are ready to get out of the house and spend more time enjoying the great outdoors. Spring camping not only provides an escape for hanging out outdoors but to take notice the plants and flowers just starting to come out, trees starting to sprout there leafs, and the wildlife are showing signs of the end of winter.

Spring camping preperations may make some fair weather campers reconsider the idea of camping in the spring, but for those willing to step out, the benefits are fantastic. First, and foremost everyone on your camping trip needs to bring items for staying warm, here are a few key items to keep in mind, clothing is not to be taken likely, layering is a key component to keeping dry and maintaining body temperature.

A good quality, properly rated & fitted sleeping bag is key to a restful sleep. Choose a proper size sleeping bag that fits you and has a temperature rating of a few degrees below the lowest temperature you expect to encounter. It is better to have a sleeping bag that will keep you too warm rather than having one that is not warm enough. Tip#1, when choosing a temperature rating you may also consider purchasing a sleeping bag with a warmer temp rating and installing a sleeping bag liner or an OzTent Rivergum sleeping bag with a removable super soft fleece lining that can be either zipped in or out for easy washing & optimal temperature performance.


With your sleeping bag, you will want some sort of barrier to put between your sleeping bag and the bottom of the tent. An air mattress or a self inflating air mattress is recommended or a camping cot if space allows, this extra layer of insulation will keep the cold ground from seeping into your sleeping bag. You may also want to bring a camp heater that has a switch that will turn it off if it falls over.


Be sure to also bring along plenty of warm, lightweight, waterproof clothing. Layering is the best way to stay warm and dry during a Spring camping trip. Long underwear is also a great way to stay warm Tip#2, keep a few pieces of clothing inside your sleeping bag with you to avoid having to put them on cold to maintain your body temp... Also bring along waterproof footwear and a waterproof jacket to wear while hiking or participating in other outdoor related activities, another item to keep in mind is a dry bag for storing clothing when dealing with wet conditions. The most important single piece of clothing is a hat or head protection. An exposed head loses body heat rapidly,therefore wearing a stocking while in your sleeping bag is another way to keep warm while maintaining body temperature.

As for shelter, make sure you have seam sealed all tent joints and placing a floor saver underneath will not only protect your tent floor but is also a good way to keep dry.

On a closing note Spring weather can be unpredictable and being prepared is the key to spring camping,don't forget the small things, "big doors swing on little hinges", there's nothing worst than showing up on your campsite and forgetting... Download a FREE Gear Checklist to keep with your gear.

Visit our website for all your Spring camping needs www.FamilyTentCamping.com

OzTent RV Set Up & Frame Maintenance Tips

Keeping your OzTent Hassle Free is outlined in this 2 part series, Tips on Setting Up & Maintaining your OzTent RV Tent frame.

When setting up your OzTent make sure to support "top" portion of frame above the doorway at all times to avoid frame twisting, which could cause possible damage. With larger models the frame will be wider, so we suggest moving across top frame with both hands and using one hand to pull up & secure the side slide arm mechanism, then with both hands move across top frame to the other side securing the other slide arm.
Once your OzTent RV has been set up, make sure to strap the velcro tabs provided on the sides of the tent just above & below the slide arm to keep them from releasing in the event of windy conditions. Note: All other velcro fasteners should remain attached to the frame at various points of your OzTent RV to provide quick set up and pack away.
Folding up for pack away, when folding up your OzTent make sure to fold in the "A" side leg first followed by the "B" side leg, when unfolding do the opposite "B" first then "A".
To maintain your OzTent frame, periodically wipe down the entire frame, inside walls & floor with a damp cloth to remove debris and dust.
To maintain smooth operation spray a small amount of "dry" silicone based lubricant to the "inside" slide track mechanism. Avoid using an oil based solution on the slide track, this could cause dust build up, oil residue & possible staining of the inside walls. Note:On occasion the slide arm screws (top & bottom) on each side should be loosened up slightly (not removed) and the screw threads lubricated to prevent squeaking and stiffness.

For a complete frame parts list visit our website
Also visit our website to check out the OzTent accessories