tent camping weekend to 1 week camping suggestions and ideas affordable please

[WOLFMANmike73]

Hey guys so me and the wife want to do some camping to get out and away this past year of Covid lockdown has been a mental hell on US so im starting to slowly very slow as we are NOT made of money!! i am slowly starting to put together equipment and make it happen now me and my wife are on Disability she has a spinal cord brake making her a incomplete Para. Anyway that and my reason which for now i will keep to my self are the reason we are on disability.

Now here is what im needing help with a buddy of mine who is on here he said he was worried about weather the tent i picked out for us would stand up to her four arm crutches she would use to walk around in the tent she wheel chair will be parked inside with us but she wont roll around in it inside the tent so he said he thinks her crutches are going to rip a hole in the floor of our tent i want to buy because of pressure points? so the tent we can afford and roomy is the now my thoughts on this was that it would still be ok because i hear of people using like the nice Teton folding Cots inside tents which is also another thing we were going to be doing as well. So what do you guys think? do you have any ideas for us if it is going to be a problem? i will also say i am going to be laying down a heavy duty tarp first as a foot print for the tent as well TIA guys !! Happy Camping

 

[calicamper]

So in theory big tents seem cool. In practice especially in my region you need to bring a skidsteer to scrape off a big enough tent spot to pitch it. #1 reason my big tent has only been used like 4 times in 16yrs. So consider your regions of interest and weigh the foot print size as a possible frustration?

 

[Superduty]

lay a tarp down inside and I think that will be able to hold up to the crutches. Maybe even double the tarp for some extra protection. Kudos to you guys for not letting the crutches and other disabilities stop you.

I am not sure how it would work, but could you put tennis balls on the end of the crutches when in the tent? That would likely solve any issues? Or maybe a racquetball - that would give good grip.

 

[NatersXJ6]

I haven’t been personally in your situation, but I would be concerned about a few things:

Most tents have a “threshold” of sorts where the floor rolls up at the bottom of the door, it might be difficult to step in without tripping? You might consider buying at a big store like REI or Bass Pro where you can set the tent up in store to see if it is right for you versus ordering online.

As far as floor durability: maybe just not worry about it and consider the floor a sacrifice? Or get a bunch of commercial carpet style doormats, they could fit easily in the back of a pickup and layer onto the floor. Bonus is floor insulation.

 

[1000arms]

... am going to be laying down a heavy duty tarp first as a foot print for the tent ...

lay a tarp down inside and I think that will be able to hold up to the crutches. Maybe even double the tarp for some extra protection. ...

I am not sure how it would work, but could you put tennis balls on the end of the crutches when in the tent? ... Or maybe a racquetball - that would give good grip.

... Most tents have a “threshold” of sorts where the floor rolls up at the bottom of the door, it might be difficult to step in without tripping? ...

... consider your regions of interest and weigh the foot print size as a possible frustration?

A tarp below the tent floor to protect the bottom of the tent floor. (Make sure the tarp doesn't funnel/direct water under or in to the tent.)

A tarp above the tent floor to protect the top of the tent floor. (Make sure the tarp doesn't slip/slide or create a tripping hazard.)

Weight-distributing crutch-feet to protect the tent floor. (As long as good traction is maintained.)

A tent with a threshold that can be stepped over and wheeled over. (While keeping water out of the tent.)

A tent footprint small enough to be placed where you want it. (While keeping the tent tall enough to for the two of you to maneuver.)

...................................

It is likely that a combination of the above will be your best solution. Enjoy camping!

 

[1000arms]

Are you aware of the US Federal Lands Access Pass?

Access Pass | USGS Store

store.usgs.gov

"What is the Access Pass?
A free, lifetime pass - available to U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States that have been medically determined to have a permanent disability (does not have to be a 100% disability) - that provides admittance to more than 2,000 recreation sites managed by five Federal agencies.
At many sites the Access Pass provides the pass owner a discount on Expanded Amenity Fees (such as camping, swimming, boat launching, and guided tours)."

 

[JackW]

Get a camping rug from an RV store or Walmart, they are thick enough to protect a tent floor and feel.good under your feet. They come in a variety of sizes and are fairly inexpensive.

 

[WOLFMANmike73]

Are you aware of the US Federal Lands Access Pass?

Access Pass | USGS Store

store.usgs.gov

"What is the Access Pass?
A free, lifetime pass - available to U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States that have been medically determined to have a permanent disability (does not have to be a 100% disability) - that provides admittance to more than 2,000 recreation sites managed by five Federal agencies.
At many sites the Access Pass provides the pass owner a discount on Expanded Amenity Fees (such as camping, swimming, boat launching, and guided tours)."

OMG!!! WHAT no i dont know about this this sounds great!!! where do we sign up for it at?

 

[WOLFMANmike73]

Get a camping rug from an RV store or Walmart, they are thick enough to protect a tent floor and feel.good under your feet. They come in a variety of sizes and are fairly inexpensive.

ok thank you would you happen to have a link to what you are talking about?

 

[WOLFMANmike73]

So in theory big tents seem cool. In practice especially in my region you need to bring a skidsteer to scrape off a big enough tent spot to pitch it. #1 reason my big tent has only been used like 4 times in 16yrs. So consider your regions of interest and weigh the foot print size as a possible frustration?

so my reason to go with a big one is the room for the 2 cots and to be able to bring in her wheelchair out of the elements and also be able to have enough room for my wife to use a portipotty in private LOL its a woman thing but i can see what you are talking about too so would you have a link to a better idea for us in about the same price range? and smaller yet enough room? TIA

 

[1000arms]

Are you aware of the US Federal Lands Access Pass?

Access Pass | USGS Store

store.usgs.gov

"What is the Access Pass?
A free, lifetime pass - available to U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States that have been medically determined to have a permanent disability (does not have to be a 100% disability) - that provides admittance to more than 2,000 recreation sites managed by five Federal agencies.
At many sites the Access Pass provides the pass owner a discount on Expanded Amenity Fees (such as camping, swimming, boat launching, and guided tours)."

OMG!!! WHAT no i don't know about this this sounds great!!! where do we sign up for it at?

The link in my post, which I quoted in this post, has an "add product to cart" button. There is a $10 "Handling fee" if you do it that way, but, it is free if you do it in person. For places that it can be done in person, see:

https://store.usgs.gov/s3fs-public/PassIssuanceList.pdf

 

[1000arms]

Please be aware that the US "Access Pass" will often get you 50% off campground fees for campgrounds run by a US federal agency. The campgrounds run by concessionaires, on US federal lands, (usually) don't have that discount.

 

[1000arms]

You might want to be aware of:

Bureau of Land Management La Posa Long Term Visitor Area:

La Posa Long Term Visitor Area | Bureau of Land Management

www.blm.gov

"The LTVA long term permit ($180) allows use of Bureau of Land Management designated LTVAs continuously from September 15th to April 15th (a total of 7 months), or for any length of time between those two dates."

That is $180 (total) for all 7 months of camping. Yes, less than $26 per month, but, one does need to be self contained.

 

[WOLFMANmike73]

The link in my post, which I quoted in this post, has an "add product to cart" button. There is a $10 "Handling fee" if you do it that way, but, it is free if you do it in person. For places that it can be done in person, see:

https://store.usgs.gov/s3fs-public/PassIssuanceList.pdf

got it im so sorry i just realalized that was a clickable link thank you so much

 

[WOLFMANmike73]

You might want to be aware of:

Bureau of Land Management La Posa Long Term Visitor Area:

La Posa Long Term Visitor Area | Bureau of Land Management

www.blm.gov

"The LTVA long term permit ($180) allows use of Bureau of Land Management designated LTVAs continuously from September 15th to April 15th (a total of 7 months), or for any length of time between those two dates."

That is $180 (total) for all 7 months of camping. Yes, less than $26 per month, but, one does need to be self contained.

yeah im working on getting a 500 watt solar power station and solar panels and a Iceco fridge but its all gonna take many months of saving to get each thing but im hoping we should be well self contained this is good info too thank you very much