Flutterby™! : Anyone got suggestions for camping in 2012-08-20 04:31:09.222983+00

Anyone got suggestions for camping in

2012-08-20 04:31:09.222983+00 by Dan Lyke 5 comments

Anyone got suggestions for camping in Mendocino National Forest over Labor Day weekend? 2WD high clearance truck.

I gotta plug what "Spanky" fired up his coffee with at TAG (A caver camping event): "Spanky" pops out of his truck trailer one morning with a small handheld MAPP torch, and a large stainless steel mug full of water. I swear he had hot (albeit instant) coffee in less than 1 minute.

I have a lightweight camp stove, but the one I use a lot truck/trailer/camping is a Coleman "dual fuel" (camping white gas and/or high test unleaded) that my friends call "the rocket" because the first minute as it warms up it makes some awesome pulsing and roaring noises until the fuel feeder tube warms up.

In Mendocino National Forest they're required for any open flame, including camp stoves. That 1,000 acres of Mendocino County is on fire right now, with only 5% containment, kinda tells you about why they want to be able to ticket people who haven't signed a piece of paper after the rules and regulations have been explained to them by a friendly ranger.

I built a setup in a sleeping platform for the back of the truck that slides out and turns into two tables, one of which is a counter-top (with drawers) that has a 2 burner propane stove in it. So we're kinda set there without hackery.

(The other table folds to hold the legs of the tables, camping mats and that sort of thing, for easier stowage.)

I used to carry a Whisperlite Internationale, but nowadays I'm more a car camping kind of person, so a propane canister and two instant-light burners seems worthwhile.

Re: fire permits: Usually not required if small and inside of a stove. at least, not in places where the whole world does not catch fire at the smallest spark.

I need to post pics, but I have one made from a 1lb propane can, and one from a 5lb propane canister that are awesome. The 5lb one got so hot it warped a heavy stainless steel cook pot with gallons of chili in it.

Yeah, I'm trying to not get that far off-road, I just want to find a place where we can camp in relative seclusion. And details about things like fire permits (necessary even for camp stoves) and such.

With good tires, and some weight in the back, 2wd high clearance trucks do awesome things. 4wd just gets you stuck deeper in the forest.

My off-road essentials: A tow strap and/or real rope (11mm PMI pit rope for example), 2 working small jacks, or a Hi Lift (awesome and worth every penny), a "come-along" cable winch... and a foot operated tire pump and tire repair kits. In by Bronco I carried a inner tube and tire tools, but that was for hard core stuff.

And just in case you are really really stuck: camping essentials and food, which you should already have if you are going camping.