Here is a rewind of 2022. All the adventures and travels, campouts, and jeep adventures from the past year. Can’t wait to see what 2023 has to offer. Have a Happy New Year.
Category: Travel
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?
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.
Over-landing on a Budget
By Patrick Kingcaid w/Mid Tn Outdoors
Let’s start with the word Budget first. Budget the amount of money needed or available for a purpose. So yes you can overland on a budget. The question is what is the budget that you can spend on your over-landing gear and rig? In a past post, I said overland what you have rather than a four-wheel drive beast or sub-compact car. Just know you’re limitations with your rig. We also talked about shelters in past posts.
So now letโs talk about the rest of the gear you are going to need. Sleeping gear, food prep, camp furniture, and lighting are the basics needed for car camping or Over-landing. So before you blow your wad on this and please donโt load up your credit card trying to do this. Letโs lay out what I think is important.
ย Your first concern is sleeping gear. Letโs start with the area you will be camping in. Spend your money wisely here and get a good sleeping bag, pad, or cot. Let’s face it, if we donโt get a good night’s sleep or stay warm enough at night, the trip will suck.ย
Your next concern should be food prep. In another area, you’re going to spend your money wisely and just get what you need. Come up with one pot or pan meals so you are not packing the kitchen. I had a video out over on YouTube about my what I call chuck box. It has changed dramatically since that video.ย
So let’s set our budget and letโs donโt break the bank and get out there. As far as the rest of the gear I talked about above camp furniture, get a chair at Walmart or even Big Lots to get you started. Lighting well I used an Everyready handheld for years and an Energizer headlamp for years. So that is all that is really needed to get out there. Once you have a few nights under your belt you will see what you really need and what you prefer out there. So set your budget and get started and most of all have fun.
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.
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 donโt 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 donโt 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 canโt 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 donโt 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 someoneโs problems. Now that I have laid out all the Pros and Cons get out there the best way you can.
Fall Camping Season is Coming
Written by Patrick K of Mid Tn Outdoors
In the south for some of us, July and August are well dead months for us because the temp is in the 90s with humidity running near 70% which makes the temp feel into the 100’s and no one wants to sleep in that unless you have snake blood.
So we take this time to make repairs or even change up gear parts here and there (because we are never happy with what we have. So far I have replaced weather stripping on the bed cover, and kicked out the firewood for a propane fire pit.) To make things better, faster set up or easier set up at camp so we can be on the trail longer or cover more miles.
With that all said have I ever camped in the middle of summer, and the answer to that is YES. As a scout, we slept in canvas tents that hold in the heat as much as your kitchen oven. So I have done it for many years and as time went on I introduced a battery-operated fan. So now as an adult, I just choose to bypass these two months. Now you know why I choose not to camp in the dead of summer.
But don’t worry won’t be long before we are camping and Overlanding in new places like LBL, DBNF, and some of our great Tennessee State Park and just maybe some other state’s state parks. So stay tuned and well hope to see you out there.
Very Sad
My heart goes out to this family this afternoon, very tragic.
5 Tips for Business-Oriented Retirees Looking for a Vacation Home
Written By: Kathleen Cheng
5 Tips for Business-Oriented Retirees Looking for a Vacation Home
Many retirees want to invest in a vacation home. In fact, the business is booming and expected to grow over the next decade, especially since vacation homes aren’t just places where families can congregate. They can be used as a source of income. Mid Tn Outdoors shares some tips for the business-savvy retiree looking to invest.
1. Start a Rental Business
Converting your vacation home into a rental property could supply you with passive income. You could rent it out during your off-season months or make it function similarly to an Airbnb. Run your operations as a legitimate business to establish credibility and consider starting your business as an LLC to protect your personal assets, such as your first home. If you want to start an LLC, you can hire a lawyer or a formation service to form your business for you, but formation services are less expensive.
2. Choose the Right Location
The property should have appeal no matter what season it is. For you, your vacation home should have all the amenities you need when you want a vacation. However, if you want to also use it as a rental property, you need to know what renters look for. For example, in the summer months, many people want easy access to the beach, lake, or a pool, and in the winter months, they may want to ski. Additionally, make sure you live close enough to the property if you want to manage it yourself. This would include handling maintenance requests on top of all the other landlord responsibilities.
3. Budget Ahead of Time
The first major expense is the mortgage itself. Check local listings for average market values in the area of your choice. However, when budgeting, you canโt just consider the cost of the mortgage. There are plenty of business expenses to look out for, like management, maintenance, marketing, business permits, and landlord insurance. Some of those expenses may even be deductible, so factor those into your calculations so that you really know what you can afford. Vacation rental agencies might be a good resource for estimating how often youโd be able to rent out your property, giving you an idea of how much you could expect to make.
4. Watch Out for Properties Sold โAs Isโ
โAs isโ is a real estate term used to indicate that a seller will not be making repairs on a property prior to selling it. This could mean that the home has major issues, so before you buy the house, conduct a thorough inspection, paying close attention to common problem areas such as the foundation, the plumbing, and pest infestations. You should also take a look at the land records for anything suspicious. If in doubt, consult a lawyer or set up a contingency to protect yourself.
5. Know the Tax Laws
The property taxes for your vacation home are likely going to be different than where you currently live. Plus, If you end up using your vacation home as a rental property, youโll have to pay income taxes on any rent you collect. How you manage your rental will determine your vacation homeโs tax basis for depreciation, and staying on top of the law will ensure you don’t get into legal trouble down the road.
To make the most of your vacation home, turn it into a business endeavor when youโre not using it. This way, youโre making the most of passive income. Choosing the right location, forming an LLC, budgeting accordingly, and keeping abreast of the laws and regulations will set you up for success.
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