All You Need to Know About Wild Camping with a Motorhome (Part 2)

10-01-2015

Author: Blog Editor in Outdoor Adventures 101

By Brighman Madden-Cox

If you’re an avid reader of MobileRVing then you probably saw one of my recent posts on Outdoor Adventures 101, “All You Need to Know About Wild Camping with a Motorhome (Part I)”. If you’re looking for some ideas for parks to visit or for campfire grub, then definitely take a gander. This post is dedicated first to avoiding wild animals, and secondly to being well prepared for any and all camping needs.

Avoiding Wild Animals

My first tip is somewhat of a shameless plug: check out my posts on “Surviving Encounters with Dangerous Wild Animals” (Part I)(Part II). Now that you’re a little more educated as to what should be keeping you up at night while camping (What’s that?! Yeah, it’s definitely a bear) you know that the best way to survive an encounter with animals A-Z is to not have one. Duh.

Let me elaborate. In rattlesnake country? Make sure you have a stick to check bushes in your path. Bear country? Bring bear pepper spray. It is over 20% more effective than firearms are in staving off bears. Animals also apparently hate soft fabrics--the smell of fabric softener sheets will repel a wide variety of beasts and critters.

If you’re planning on bringing food you should invest in a locking cooler (or lock the door to your motorhome), never leave food in your tent, and, if the cooler or motorhome isn’t an option, you should hang your food from trees ten feet above the ground in trash bags or some other kind of receptacle.

What to Bring While Wild Camping with a Motorhome

If you’re anything like me you probably write ‘Phone,’ ‘Wallet,’ ‘Keys,’ and ‘Belt’ on your packing list before a vacation.

‘Scatterbrained’ doesn’t quite do it justice.

Well, for your (and my) sake, I’ve decided to make a list of camping essentials:

Fire implements - Sure, bring lighter fluid, if you want. Real (wo)men start fires with matches, leaves, and kindling. If you use flint, then you’re realer than me. Kudos.
Tinfoil - Goes ridiculously well with the whole “fire” thing. Tinfoil is excellent for cooking a variety of foods, and also for storage in a pinch.
Layers - The best way to stave off the cold (besides keeping well fed and hydrated) is making sure you have a variety of layers. Remember to strip off a few if you start heavily perspiring: sweat makes you wet → wet makes you cold!
Flashlight - Should be self explanatory. Bonus points for rechargeable batteries and/or shake-on lights.
Fun stuff - “The-Ground-Is-Lava” stops being fun after a few hours, so make sure you bring things like frisbees, journals, fishing poles, scrapbooks (great activity if you have a motorhome!), and binoculars for the kids (and for yourself).
Bug repellent - HuffPost says DEET is the best. I trust ‘em!
Insulated sleeping bag - There is nothing like conquering the cold; it’s just such a satisfying feeling to be warm beneath the stars on a frigid night. Waking up frozen? Try doing some light exercises before hopping in your bag at night! You’ll radiate more heat which will get trapped inside the bag!
Basic First Aid Kit - You don’t necessarily need to go too far overboard, especially with the easy mobility of a motorhome. Shoot for somewhere between Spiderman Band-Aids and a surgical kit.

Obviously you want to customize the list and add or subtract some things, but this list should get you in the mindset of the campsite. No matter which of the locations for wild camping you choose, you want to make sure that you are prepared.