Thread: Pack and Go Camping

Originally Posted by trout1105

I bought a couple of these;
https://www.4wdsupacentre.com.au/products/camping-gear/adventure-kings-stretcher.html
They are a big bed with plenty of room and they go up and pack away easily.
I have slept on this without a mattress and it is comfy enough, Much better with a mattress or a swag though.

I agree with Mick that a Camp bed makes a Massive difference to your comfort and it also keeps you off the ground away from the creepy crawlies and the heat/cold, Much better than crawling out of your swag in the morning
I have tried a few different camp beds But they are all either too big and bulky or are an absolute PITA to put up/pack away, These ones from 4WD Supercheap are robust, comfy and easy to put up/pack away.

Yes, stretchers are great, aren't they? Mine came from Anaconda and is longer than standard. It was a similar price to the supercentre ones, but I think the quality may be better.

Incidentally, I recently borrowed a Supercentre single dome to try it out. It was OK, but could have been better. One issue was the outer canvas above the sleeper's head only velcroed in place, over the mesh which had a zip. I found in a wind the velcro could lift off and then water dripped in through the mesh.
I went to Anaconda and compared their swags, and also looked at some Darche ones, which are very good quality, and I noticed all the ones I saw had zips, not velcro, for the outer canvas above the head. I think that is a much better system.
Another issue was the mattress in the supercentre one was thinner than others I have seen at Anaconda. The Dune and Spinifex swags at Anaconda are actually competitively priced too.
I'm tall so I need a longer swag - 210cm - with a thicker mattress. I also like thicker canvas. And I would rather buy two singles than one really bulky double.
So I think the extra expense of a better quality swag is worth it.

Once you do stretcher with auto inflator it would be tough to go back on the ground. I camped every night for 3 weeks last year and a lot of miles covered often on badly corrugated roads during the day and a good night's sleep was essential.

Cheers

Every stretcher I’ve ever tried has sagged in the middle. Have you guys found a stretcher that is firm and flat? ....I prefer the flat firm ground under my high density swag mattress. Never had a creepy crawly join me either. To me a stretcher is just another superfluous pice if equipment to set up, pack up, take up space, add weight. Sleeping on the ground is as natural as breathing. 👍

We have two Darche stretchers (the 1 metre wide model) and two of their tented swags, which fit perfectly on the stretchers. A bit bulky, but the comfort is worth it! Like most things, there's a knack to putting the stretchers up. Even SWMBO can do it herself, with only a minimum amount of swearing!

I've spent many years camping on the ground, but getting up off it nowadays can be not only uncomfortable, but damned undignified if others are watching!

Between them and the awning (Supacentre) with walls, we're set for overnight camps. One gets the camp setup, whilst the other gets the billy on. Within 15 minutes of pulling up, we're relaxing.

For longer stays/worse weather we have a Coleman easy-up tent, or, worst case, a camper trailer!

I noticed that people always boast how quickly they can set up. Rarely do they tell us how long it takes them to break camp. Just an observation.
.W.

Originally Posted by B.S.F.

I noticed that people always boast how quickly they can set up. Rarely do they tell us how long it takes them to break camp. Just an observation.
.W.

I have found that it is usually faster to break camp than to set up in most instances.

All my bush camping is car based and done in the Victorian Alps in late autumn then through out winter. Bed is a sleeping bag on a stretcher in a dome tent. The stretcher is quite firm and dismantles easily to a very small bundle. Cooking etc is done under a freestanding tarp which only takes minutes to string.

I have never liked swags solo camping principally because if trouble arises during the night with yobos lobbing in to my camp site I reckon I'd be just like a trussed up chicken - totally helpless.

Originally Posted by B.S.F.

I noticed that people always boast how quickly they can set up. Rarely do they tell us how long it takes them to break camp. Just an observation.
.W.

Probably 20 minutes actual packing time, without rushing things. Again, we usually share the tasks, so by the time breakfast is ready, the swags and stretchers are rolled and packed. Depending on the weather the awning may be left up for breakfast, then rolled up whilst the dishes are being done. (SWMBO's a bit vertically challenged, so I generally get out of doing the breakfast dishes!)

If time to pack up is critical, get out of bed earlier!