My tents . . .

[Bigdog57]

I currently have two tents I'm using, depending on the situation.
Since I do some multi-state motorcycle roadtrips, I find I like my five-year old camo dome tent, a '3-man' model that Sportsman's Guide sold.  Being 'larger than the average bear', I find it suits me nicely - plenty of room and I can store all my gear in it. 

For local runs into the woods, I have a smaller and lighter bivytent - easily carried on the bike and on hikes.  The forest is five minutes down the road, so I can camp pretty much on short notice.

I like to 'blend' into the flora, so I tend to favor greens and earth tones.  Can't bring myself to go for bright blues and yellows . . . 

A recent jaunt into the local woods . . .





On a motorcycle roadtrip last year . . .

[Dave]

How much gear and food do/can you bring along on your bike?

[Bigdog57]

Hello Dave,
On that roadtrip, I rode 660 miles one way up (stopped overnight on the way), and carried about 60 pounds of gear in a single big ATV bag strapped onto the rack.  It was really too much weight up high, so now I spread the load into soft side bags and a couple bolt-on plastic hard-boxes.  The tent and folding chair go on the rack with sleeing bag above (makes a good backrest), clothes in the soft bags, and stove, fuel and other camp gear in the boxes.  The balance is far better now.  I can carry several days worth of food, and with four one-quart canteens ( two are in the tankbags)  and a 2-liter hydration pack, I can carry a day or two of water.  I like to camp next to creeks in the wild so I can use my filter for more water.
I have two small pouches mounted on the lower fairing, one is a personal survival kit and the other is a first aid kit - these stay on the bike.
Since the KLR650 has a six gallon gas tank giving me a 230 mile unrefueled range, I can well into the boonies and back.  This same bike is used by the military for long-range scouts.

[Dave]

Wow!

I had no idea you could get that much gear onto a MC.

You should see us when we head out for a trip, looks like we are moving.  We use a pop-up camper and it is loaded with camping gear along with the bed of the pickup.  Of course we have 2 small children so this adds to what we have to bring.

Dave

[2arrows]

LOL.. I have the same type of bivy tent ..makes you feel like your in a coffin That why I went to a bivy shelter

Looks like a nice place!

[Bigdog57]

I just did a 600+ mile jaunt up to north Alabama and back with a friend, and gave the bivy tent a multiday camping test.  I did find some weaknesses, but over all I am pleased with it.
I use plastic stakes here in sandy Florida, as the original wire pegs don't hold in the sand.  BUT . . . I broke two of the six in the rocky soil of 'Bama!  Luckily, the prior occupant of my spot at the first campground left eight wire stakes!  They saved my keister.   
Second problem was that I broke a section of the foot pole - bent it too far and it split on the first night.  Some wire and my multitool, and I soon had it McGuyvered - enough to work okay the rest of the trip!   
It rained the last night, and the rainfly kept me comfy and dry.    I used a piece of plastic sheet as a groundsheet under it, with a section extending out the front side.  It helps keep the dirt and leaves out of the tent.
The fixes are easy - I have plenty of spare rod sections I got from Wally's, and I'll carry the wire stakes next time up north.
So, the bivytent is well worth the $25 I paid for it!

[Wise.Woman.of.the.Forest]

Wow! Looking at those pictures is so weird! It looks like when I went camping in Britain. No trees!

Is the southern US all that treeless, or is it just your prefered camping setting?

[Bigdog57]

We have lots of trees!  The major campgrounds just have large clearings for the tents.  The pic with my dome tent is in North Carolina, and behind me as I took the pic is the Pisgah National Forest.

I often camp in the Apalachicola National Forest here in northern Florida - mostly pine forest, without the dense underbrush found further north.

[dietcola]

nice GS have u i take it youve seen the tourertek stuff avail... what ideas have u got for comfortable mattresses? i always struggle n after a hard ride on the bike im sure u can appriciate the value of a decent one!

[Bigdog57]

I have been using a simple "Lung-inflated" air matress, but finally broke down and bought a self-inflating pad.  It's bulkier to carry on the bike, but less chance of blow-out.