So who wants to go camping? One of America’s favorite pastime is camping and it’s no wonder why. Spending a weekend away in the woods with the wife and kids, away from all the hassles of normal life is something that every person can enjoy. There are many things you need to know first before you head off into the wilderness especially if you aren’t a seasoned camper.

Getting the right equipment

One of the biggest mistakes that people make when it comes to camping equipment is that they buy everything and more. There are only two things that are necessary when it comes to camping: the tent, and the sleeping bag. Everything else is just for extra comfort but you need to remember to focus on purchasing the best possible and most suitable tent and sleeping bag before your first trip.

Which equipment is best for you?

When buying a tent you have to take several things into consideration. Firstly how many people are you expecting to be taking on your camping adventures? There’s no point in buying a mammoth 7 person tent if you’re only going to take 2 or 3 other people with you. Basically there are 3 main sized tents, the 3 man, the 5 man and the 7 man.

3 Man Tents

3 man tents are great for small families and for everyone in general. It’s always good to have a 3 man tent spare, just in case on your next camping expedition you find out that a few more people are coming than what you were expecting.

5 Man Tents

5 man tents are perfect for medium sized families or for those who like a little extra room. Most people go for the 5 man tent as they are easy to manage and allow for more room to store equipment and luggage than a 3 man would.

7 Man Tents

7 man tents are usually unnecessary for most families, however they can really make a camping experience seem much more luxurious for those people who hate all the bothersome ‘dirtyness’ associated with outdoor camping.

Sleeping Bags
Sleeping bags are a necessity for any camping trip. Think about it for a minute, if you’re out in the wilderness at the end of the fall, how cold do you think it will get at night? The answer is very! Therefore you need to make sure you have a sleeping bag that will keep you warm enough even in the coldest conditions.

There are many types of sleeping bags available, but certainly the best are the goosedown varieties. They are specially designed to warm up your body fast and keep the warmth inside. As the name states, they’re filled with 100% goose feathers which makes them a little more expensive then most other sleeping bags on the market, but in the end it’s a small price to pay for keeping warm and comfortable on your next camping trip.

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a target=”_blank” href=”http://campingcrossing.com/campgrounds/camping-in-pa-or-nj”>Camping in Pennsylvania and New Jersey will afford you the opportunity to create the wilderness experience that you want to have. People have different ideas of what a fun camping trip is.

Some people want to find the most remote spot in the woods pitch a tent and live off the resources of the land for several days. Other people like to find a campground that has all the amenities of a working bathroom and running water. Regardless of which group you belong to, you will find something for either group of campers and for those that fall in between.

Camping in New Jersey and Pennsylvania will also offer you two totally different environments. You can find lush and dense forests in Pennsylvania for you and your family to explore. In New Jersey, you can camp near the ocean and pitch your tent right on a beach.

In Pennsylvania, you will find the more rugged and wooded areas with beautiful foliage. The Appalachian Trail runs right through this state and many have trekked this trail into New York or West Virginia, camping along the way. During the fall, the backdrop of Pennsylvania’s beauty can be seen throughout the state. Hiking trails and the hunting is plentiful throughout the state.

In New Jersey, you can choose from camping in the woods or camping on the beach. Unfortunately, there are not any remote areas of beachfront that are not overseen by the state government. This makes finding designated camping grounds easier but if you are looking to for total solitude, you might only find that on off seasons.

New Jersey can offer both a wooded camping experience and a camping experience that can be had on the beach. Camping is a lot cheaper than staying in a hotel, so by choosing to camp with your family you can free up some vacation money to do other things. There are campgrounds that are located close to amusement parks, so that you can have both the enjoyment of camping and have a place to take the kiddies during the day.

Whether you are camping in Pennsylvania or New Jersey, you will be creating memories that  your children will want to recreate with their children. Whether you are looking for a cheap getaway for you and the kids or you want to totally escape the technologically advanced world of today, know that there is a spot for you to plunk down a tent and just be for a while.

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You buy your first travel trailer and now you cannot wait to head to the great outdoors on your first camping trip. The excitement builds as they make campground reservations and plan to spend time enjoying nature or relaxing in a hammock by the fire. Problems however will come up, as they always do, and a good RVer is one who is prepared. This article will share 3 simple things that if not taken into consideration will totally ruin any trip you take.
When planning a trip in your camper trailer the obvious things are easy to prepare for. What you are going to eat and where you are going to camp and so on. 3 items however, are often overlooked when planning a trip because of the anticipation of the trip.
#1: Check The Wheels and Tires
The wheels and tires are the biggest item forgotten about until one goes flat. If you are stuck on the side of the road with a flat tire and without the proper tools or with a flat spare, it will ruin your day. Check your tires before your trip. An indication of dry rot in your tires are hairline cracks in the sidewalls. All tires are affected by this eventually. Replace worn tires and make sure the tire pressure is up to manufacturer’s specs. This is so simple yet it is the biggest issue faced on the road because it is overlooked by so many people.
#2 Check Your Axels
Then make sure your axels are lubricated. This is easy to do especially since so many newer models have easy lube axels that don’t even require loosening of a lug nut. Just use a grease gun to lubricate your axels before each trip. If you don’t know how, find a mechanic or and RV tech and have them do it for you. It is so much cheaper to have that done before your trip than to try to replace burned bearings by the side of the road.
#3: Test The Batteries and Charging System
This is another area so often overlooked until there is a problem. It is easily avoided by a simple battery check before you leave your house.  Your travel trailer comes with deep cycle marine batteries. That means that the battery can be totally drained of power and when recharged will come back to full strength. Automotive batteries when drained will never return to full strength. Check your batteries before you leave to make sure they will take the proper charge. To ensure your power converter is working properly in your travel trailer, get it checked as well. Travel Trailers are wired for direct current (DC). They are designed to be operated by battery power. Your power converter will convert the direct current to alternating current (AC), or regular household electricity, that campgrounds are wired with. They also recharge your batteries when plugged into shore power at the campground. If your power converter isn’t working properly, you batteries will be drained quickly, the air conditioner will not work and you are in for a bad experience.
Everyone should know and do these simple things on a regular basis. The fact is that the overwhelming majority of mechanical issues people have on the road are the result of one of these three things. These are so simple to check and fix before you leave. Do not let simple issues like these ruin a great time with your family.

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