Here is Part 2 of the Bandy Creek Campground camping trip. This day started slow and ramped up quick. Come check it out.
Category: Overlanding
Fickle Weather
Tennessee Weather No One Knows!!
I have lived in Tennessee all of my life and one thing you can count on is the weather is never going to be the same from one weekend to another. Just two weeks ago I went camping and the temps got down into the low thirties that night and dropped down to 31 degrees at daybreak.
Fast forward two weeks and headed out again and check the forecast as you should before you head out yet going to be another beautiful weekend with one exception lows in the 50s, so once again adjust gear for the temps and be ready for much warmer weather.
The most important thing is to have the gear for the weather, a warmer sleeping bag for cold weather, and a cooler sleeping bag for warm weather. Also, go from layers of clothing to a lot fewer layers of clothing. You even can change your food between the two campouts. When it is cold you want foods that will warm the body like chili or a stew. In warm weather, I am more likely to fix a burger or something liter like fajitas. So always planing my sleeping bag, clothes, and food too the weather. Bring it on Tennessee, I got you either way.
Camping in Bear Country
Camping in Bear Country
I head up to Big South Fork for this Tuesday’s video for what turned out to be a very fantastic Overlanding/camping trip. Would I see a bear camping in bear country? Come along and find out in part one of a two-part video. Testing more new equipment and not going the way I hoped.
Tuesday’s Video is UP
Come check out Tuesday’s Video on a 2007 Lincon Mark LT. Would this make a good camp truck?
Camp Furniture
By Patrick K w/Mid Tn Outdoors
Ok so I have been camping since I was 13 so back then we sat on the ground or a log if one was around. When it was time for bed we had a foam pad on the ground if we were lucky back then, I am talking absolute caveman-type crap. Now that I have gotten older and wiser, well it hurts to do that crap today. I have elevated to the king of the woods and camping with chairs, cots, and even tables.
So now let’s talk about getting off that log and let’s get us a chair. There are many types of comfy butt holders out there. You can get bear bones three-legged stool or spend a little coin and get yourself one of those more comfortable chairs that rock and have fancy shocks in the back like an off-road monster. Let’s look at the room you have for storing such in your off-road rig, these chairs can eat up important real-estate quick. But get what you’re comfortable in.Â
Lite Weight Small Package
Next, we are going to talk about your sleeping arrangements, if you’re a ground dweller like me and using a tent then you may want something like an air mattress or a cot. Now I have used both. From the loss of my youth to time, I am more attracted to a cot. The one I am using now is the Teton Outfitter XXL Camping Cot. Now the thing doesn’t fold down very small but boy am I comfy. With that said I sleep many years on an old army surplus cot and still have it. You, youngsters, can probably get away with an air mattress and I say go for it.
So the last thing I will talk about is tables and lord knows I have run the field with these things. The one I rock in the tent now is a table from the big blue store. Now as far as cooking or food prep table I was using a plastic half table for a while till baking cookies at camp and it started smoking. Now I have moved to a roll-top type table that is metal and hopefully won’t start smoking.Â
To end this out I will recommend furniture that folds down flat as possible or even roll up to put away without taking up to much space. I will do a video soon on all of this so I can give a more visual look at what and why I use what I use camping. Stay tuned and well get out there and get your camp on. Be Prepared…
Gear I use
I am going to drop some links to Amazon for gear I use for camping and filming my trips. If you buy anything off these lists I will get a small bonus from the sale and it will not cost you any extra.
The first list link is for camping gear I use and have reviewed on my YouTube Channel. http://a.co/dejW6IM
The second link is to camera gear I use to film my trips and adventures. https://a.co/5jUq0yG
Big South Fork Trek
Wanted to share my Big South Fork Trek with everyone. If you want to see the sites I found and check them out here you go. All of this trek can be done with a two-wheel drive vehicle without any trouble. I will note I was driving my two-wheel drive Nissan Titan.
Scouting Big South Fork NF
So I decided it was time to take a trip up and explore Big South Fork NF. Left home and headed northeast not knowing what I would find. Also knowing I was going to be dodging thunderstorms all day.
As always with Gaia by my side and no real game plan, I took off looking for an adventure and I found one. Found some really cool old farmstead and some rock formations. Even found some more roads to venture down the next time I go back.
I know have an idea for an overland adventure that will encompass Big South Fork and Daniel Boone NF in one big trip. Stay tuned for more details to come.
Tuesday’s Video is Up
So in this video, we took a day trip to Big South Fork National Forest and scouted for more camping opportunities for this fall. Now storms tried their best to run me off but I weathered through them.
Overlanding Shelters
Written By: Patrick Kingcaid w/Mid Tn Outdoors
So we are going to dive into a deep rabbit hole so get ready as I break this down. Which overloading shelter is right for you. I have to ask how much dang money do you have? Really and truly that is what it comes down to. Now we are going to look at each one and see where you may fit and I will tell you where I fit and my pros and cons of each.
The first choice and cheapest by far is a ground tent. Yes, you can pick up a decent ground tent for around 100 bucks, and don’t get me wrong you can also spend a stupid amount of money for a tent, but you can stay on a budget for sure. The pros of the ground tent are probably the cost. Cons are set up time. Mine is an instant tent and by the time I guide it out right will have 20-30 minutes putting it up by myself. I will say if you are just staying one night and the weather is right some tents you don’t have to guide it out all the way, I have done it that way many times.
Second choice and here is where the money starts flowing like a flooded creek. RTT (roof top tent) RTTs can start well over 1500 bucks and go way up from there. Pros to an RTT is set up very quickly and the mattress stays in it and for the most part, you can leave all of your blankets inside also which means the bed is ready. Cons well cost duh!!! Also, you have to have something sturdy to mount to like some kind of rack system or a trailer for it to mount to. Did you hear the cash register going off just then!! So no you can’t just toss the dang thing on the roof of your Civic!!!
The third choice and the one that will probably make your wallet fill like it has been on a drunken night in Vegas is Tear Drop Trailer. (I want one of these so bad) So here is where the rabbit hole hits rock bottom. Ok, you can build one of these yourself for about the price of an RTT but if you don’t have the time or skill to do so here is where it gets pricy. In my research starting price is a basic Camper is about 8 grand!! I have seen these things get into the 20k range with all the bells and whistles. Pros to Trailer pretty much pull up level it and you’re camping. So the speed of set up is the fastest of all of the ones I listed. Cons well once again cost cost cost. If you’re on a budget one of these is out of the question hands down. You will also have to have something to pull it with and no your Civic will not last long pulling this thing all over the country. Another problem is where are you going, will the trailer survive the trail and will there be room at camp for it.
So we went down that rabbit hole and we got some dirt on us. Let me add another option you might think of could be a hammock and while this is a fast option may not be for everyone. You can also save some coins by looking on the used market for an RTT or Tear Drop, but buyer beware you could be buying someone’s problems. Now that I have laid out all the Pros and Cons get out there the best way you can.
Mid Tn Outdoors 