The summer season is officially upon us! As we all get ready to spend the longer days enjoying the great outdoors and going on grand camping adventures with our Roofnest roof top tents, we wanted to give everyone a few tips to make sure you have the most enjoyable and safest summer season possible.
Mind Burn Bans
One of the most important tips we can give you for your summer camping adventures is to research and adhere to local burn bans. In the heat of the summer, lots of areas experience droughts, and that means high risk for wildfires. If there is a burn ban of some sort in effect at your local campsite, please follow the rules. A campfire can turn into a raging wildfire in a matter of minutes if the conditions are right. So, keep yourself and the wilderness surrounding you safe. Follow all local regulations on burn restrictions.
Bring Extra Water, Especially For Your Pets
This one may seem like an obvious one, but hydration is key. Don’t forget to pack extra water. This goes extra for all of you pet parents out there. Dogs don’t speak English, so they can have a really hard time telling us that they are thirsty. Make sure you keep extra water ready and available for your canine friends. If you notice your pups aren’t interested in water even though they are panting a lot, make sure to check that the water is not too hot. Water sitting in a shallow bowl in the sun, especially a metal one, can be well over 100 degrees. Because of this, you may find yourself needing to dump and refill your pet water a lot more often. So just be safe and make sure you keep extra H2O on hand.
Consider Portable Batteries and Fans
If you are going somewhere where it can get really hot, another option to consider is a portable power station and a fan. Companies like Jackery and Goal Zero offer large battery banks that can be used to power a small campsite for several days. Grab a low-powered fan to plug into one of these portable power banks and you can easily stay cool. If you just need the fan, but don’t need the power bank, there are also several models of battery powered fans on the market, and even a few that charge via included solar panels.
Beware of Your Elevation and Temperatures
If you are out exploring and camping in the areas near the mountains, make sure you are paying attention to temperatures and packing accordingly. A hot summer day at the base of a mountain can quickly become a very cool and breezy afternoon if you are hiking up in elevation. For example, the temperature difference between Colorado Springs and the top of Pikes Peak can be as much as 30 degrees in the summer. Being temperature aware is also important if you plan on going camping in the deserts out west. The wide open expanses provide no natural insulation to keep in the heat from the daytime sunlight. This means that the temperatures can drop dramatically overnight. During the month of June, high temperatures in Joshua Tree National Park can reach the upper 80s, but the low temperatures at night can fall into the 40s.
Consider an Awning
Sun burns are no fun, and skin cancer is no joke. While you should be wearing sunscreen and keeping yourself protected, a great addition to your camping arsenal to protect you from the sun is an awning. You can mount a fold out awning to your roof rack, right next to your Roofnest rooftop tent. These instant shelters are great at keeping the sun off you and your campsite. They are also great for those days where mother nature feels like providing us with some rain. While your Roofnest tent is more than comfortable enough to sit in and ride out a storm, sometimes it’s just nice to sit out in your campsite and watch the rain roll through. That big awning will help keep you dry the whole time.
Utilize Your Roofnest’s HVAC Ports
If you want to maximize your comfort in the summer, regardless of what the temperature is, consider a tent with an HVAC port. These are tents designed with special openings so you can use a portable air conditioner to cool off the tent. This is really only available to those camping at campgrounds with dedicated power outlets, but it is a great option for keeping comfortable in hot and muggy climates like Florida.
Have Your Car’s A/C Serviced
Depending on where you are camping, and who you are camping with, having a car without a working air conditioner can be downright dangerous. To prevent any serious issues, and maybe even save you on more repair costs later, we always recommend getting the A/C system on your car serviced before going on any summer adventures. Most local car dealers and mechanic shops can give your car a quick look over to find any small issues before they become major problems, potentially ruining your summer vacation. At a minimum we recommend having a pressure test done to look for leaks in your system, and then have the cabin air filter inspected and cleaned or changed if necessary.
Don't Drain Water Out of Your Cooler
This one is going to be contentious with a lot of you, but please stop draining the water out of your coolers. The laws of physics and thermodynamics say that keeping water in your cooler will keep it colder for longer. Yes, it can seem like the ice melts faster, but we promise you the temperature is staying more stable over a greater period of time. Plus, as a bonus, you have extra water on hand if there is some sort of issue. If you are worried about drinking the cooler water, it can still be good water to give to pets, or it can be used to rinse hands and gear. This saves your good drinking water for, you know, drinking.
Freeze Your Cocktails
Another tip to help you maximize the effectiveness of your cooler and help reduce the amount of ice you need to buy is to pre-freeze your cocktails. If you plan on enjoying an adult beverage or two, don’t bother putting ice in a glass, just turn the drink to ice before you leave the house. These frozen drinks will provide temperature control for the cooler, and then as they thaw you have deliciously cold beverages to enjoy. For those of you camping with kids, this can also be very effective with bottles of water. Freeze lots of water bottles to act as ice packs for the cooler, and then as they thaw you have clean, cold water to drink.
Picking Camping Spots With Shade and Water
This is another one that seems like common sense, but it is worth mentioning. When looking for a campsite, try to find one with plenty of access to shade and water. If you know your way around a compass, pick a site that is sunny in the morning and shady in the afternoon. This way you are getting the most benefit during the warmest part of the day. If you have access to clean water, make sure to periodically refill your water containers so you always have extra if there is ever an issue. If you can’t find a campsite with drinkable water, at least try to get a spot near a body of water like a lake. A quick swim will do wonders to control your body temperature, plus playing in a lake is just a great way to spend the day.
