Integrating my wife.....

[korisu56]

You have all provided extremely valuable insight. I will definitely get a toilet setup. We took a long trip last April and ever 2nd or 3rd night was at a facility or hotel for showers. The first one was scheduled, the second was not. She wasn't feeling well and I didn't want to force the camping.

No kids, so we're trying to get a lot out now.

We also bought her a north face 0 degree bag for the last trip. The only sleeping improvement we're going to make is to get a tent cot. It'll be way more comfortable and we can throw an extra pad on it. I'll save the ground tent for me when i'm with my friends.

I'm planning a 14-18 day trip to go from Delaware to Washington State by way of Canada. I want her to enjoy it as it'll be the longest trek yet

 

[korisu56]

single most important recommendation. Do it before you have kids. She needs to "like" camping by then. the complications and demands from the mother of camping with infants/toddlers can not be overstated.

two deployments to Iraq sucked up all my pre-kid time for setting these conditions, and now I'm digging in sand trying to get the family energized with two toddlers.

my first few years were busy with the army too and before i go back i'm trying to set a precedence. i graduate in june and it'll be back on the ground running.

 

[barlowrs]

We also bought her a north face 0 degree bag for the last trip. The only sleeping improvement we're going to make is to get a tent cot. It'll be way more comfortable and we can throw an extra pad on it. I'll save the ground tent for me when i'm with my friends.

Seriously, check out the REI comfort Cots, my girl found these things and they are probably the single best thing EVER. I am used to using small thermorest from my hiking days, and originally made fun of her for these, but they are amazing, I have never slept so well camping (honestly I think they are more comfortable than my bed at home)

http://www.rei.com/product/765277

 

[rusty_tlc]

....The only sleeping improvement we're going to make is to get a tent cot. It'll be way more comfortable and we can throw an extra pad on it. I'll save the ground tent for me when i'm with my friends.
...

Girls like to be able to stand up when they get dressed. The tent cot may not be your best option in that respect. Also you might read a few reviews here and elsewhere on the double Tent cot, they have a few issues.

In addition to providing a place to change cloths and take a sponge bath a ground tent also gives you the option of having the "facilities" inside for nocturnal use. Going out of the tent, alone, in the dark isn't usually on most wimmens preferred activity list. :elkgrin:

My wife and I are shopping tents right now. For two adults and a dog you need at least a 9'X10' with a 5'6" internal height. Right now the Flex Bar and Spring bow tents are at the top of our list because of the nearly vertical walls which give you much more usable floor space, and the ease of set-up.

 

[java]

Girls like to be able to stand up when they get dressed. The tent cot may not be your best option in that respect. Also you might read a few reviews here and elsewhere on the double Tent cot, they have a few issues.

In addition to providing a place to change cloths and take a sponge bath a ground tent also gives you the option of having the "facilities" inside for nocturnal use. Going out of the tent, alone, in the dark isn't usually on most wimmens preferred activity list. :elkgrin:

My wife and I are shopping tents right now. For two adults and a dog you need at least a 9'X10' with a 5'6" internal height. Right now the Flex Bar and Spring bow tents are at the top of our list because of the nearly vertical walls which give you much more usable floor space, and the ease of set-up.

i have an alps mountaineering tent, its huge but awesome. 16x10 and 6' in the middle, and has a wall that i put up so the kids crib is separated from us.

 

[barlowrs]

Yeah, I agree on the space thing, make sure you have lots of space and standing room for the lady. Me and my girl (just the two of us) use a 6 person (REI Base Campo 6) tent. It works great, even with the 2 seperate cots, there is still plenty of room for a BIG bag of clothes (you know how city girls pack) and plenty of standing room to change in.

 

[Uncle Roger]

Y'all are making me feel pretty darn lucky. My wife was helping me lead backpacking trips for the Sierra Club not long after we started going out. And I'm not sure she had ever really camped before. We traveled all over the western US and Canada in my '59 Land Rover back then too -- no air conditioning, no heat, no nothing.

Nowadays, the only problem she has is going to the bathroom at night -- she's pretty much completely blind in the dark. So a portable toilet and one of those pop-up shelters is very much on the list. If there's reluctance, find out what the issue is (might not be what you think it is) and address that. Repeat as necessary.

Also, take note of the section titled "Let Her Drive" on the right side of the Howard family's website here: http://dormobile.blogspot.com/2010/04/overland-expo-2010-april-16-18-2010.html Not a bad idea; I think I need to take heed of that.

 

[goldenbeagle]

Married a girl 11 years ago who had been camping maybe a hand full of times in her life. I guess I should mention the fact she grew up in a very wealthy family....so camping to them was lavish RV parked in a KOA.

Our first camping trip was a bust...I screwed up and she was miserable...I screwed up again when we had our first kid and went camping. But then I got smart.

I started off by buying my wife a hiking pack, head lamp, expensive sleeping bag, etc. I did the same for all 3 of my kids. Each time we went camping I made note of what she complained about. I would return home from the trip and buy whatever was on my last of things she talked about (of course with the constant thought of if the item would fit in my rig).

Once we had all the items and she was getting comfortable I stepped things up. I went as detailed as labeling flashlights with what size batteries they took. I made everything easy.

When we go camping I double check her pack, the kids pack, etc. Now, this part is going to sound weird but whatever....I always pack a poetry book, candles, and a bottle of wine. I make every night as romantic as possible.

Happy Wife = Happy Life (especially when your life is all about being outdoors)

(Key items - Shower, warm sleeping, good food, bottle of wine, and without a doubt most import "A SMILE" no matter how angry or pissy she gets. :smiley_drive:

 

[rusty_tlc]

Before she met me my wife's idea of roughing it was bad room service at the Holiday inn. :sombrero:

I think she truly enjoys camping now, well not so much the actual camping part. But she loves getting out in isolated areas.

 

[nwoods]

I think she truly enjoys camping now, well not so much the actual camping part. But she loves getting out in isolated areas.

This REALLY resonates with me.

 

[korisu56]

When we go camping I double check her pack, the kids pack, etc. Now, this part is going to sound weird but whatever....I always pack a poetry book, candles, and a bottle of wine. I make every night as romantic as possible.

This x1000000. I'm gonna do that. I need to make sure that I focus our little trips on that.

The only draw back I see is that if she gets the idea that every little night is about her, how do I integrate into a larger group on long trips? For example, I'm planning a 3500 mile trip from Delaware to Washington through Canada and I have other people that want to go along.

 

[korisu56]

My problem with huge tents are that they're huge. Haha. I dont' like having a house in the sticks. It's my personal feeling that it detracts from the point of being out there. Maybe I should just get over it and do it for her. Sigh.

 

[korisu56]

Seriously, check out the REI comfort Cots, my girl found these things and they are probably the single best thing EVER. I am used to using small thermorest from my hiking days, and originally made fun of her for these, but they are amazing, I have never slept so well camping (honestly I think they are more comfortable than my bed at home)

http://www.rei.com/product/765277

Holy Jeebus!!! That think looks sweet. How small does it stow down too?

 

[korisu56]

Also, take note of the section titled "Let Her Drive" on the right side of the Howard family's website here: http://dormobile.blogspot.com/2010/04/overland-expo-2010-april-16-18-2010.html Not a bad idea; I think I need to take heed of that.

My next jeep is a four door JK. I am usually a stickler about having a manual, but I'm buying an automatic solely for her to be able to drive. I want her to have as much fun as me, so she's going to drive it. I'll keep my '84 CJ for my solo trips and my wheeling trips.

 

[97tjguzzy]

while we are talking about integrating the wife, i really like the idea of the PETT toilet, which shelter do yall use for it and do you use it for your shower as well? I have seen a few threads about the shower inclosures, just wondering what you put your PETT in.