There’s nothing quite like a good bit of wild weather to ruin a trip out with your camper trailer. Whether its rain, wind, hail or any combination of these, soon enough we are all going to get caught up in the middle of something nasty.

We need to be able to cope with the weather and strengthen our campsite so that we don’t fall victim to the extreme conditions that can quickly turn a relaxing camping weekend away into the trip from hell. Simple changes in how you look at camping and what gear to carry will change you from an everyday camper to the family that tackles all types of weather conditions with ease. Making you think twice when you next go to set up thew camper trailer is what this is all about, from common sense camping techniques and tricks that have been used for decades to turn average campsites into memorable family trips.

We all know how uncomfortable it can be camping in the middle of summer, but a lot of us underestimate just how easy it is to fall victim to sun stroke, dehydration and the like, especially for children. This highlights the importance of knowing how to cope if we are ever stuck in a freak heat wave while out camping or during the long hot summer.

The key to keeping cool and not falling victim to the heat is decreasing your body’s core temperature. Being able to keep your clothing damp or having wet towels on hand will help to lower your body’s temperature, resulting in less fluid loss from sweating, the chance of heat stroke or dehydration is drastically reduced if you keep your fluids up and temperature as low as possible.

For many escaping the direct sun is the only option, making most of trees and shade around your camp is a basic choice, but fitting your 4WD or camper trailer with additional shade options like gazebos or side awnings will help you to escape the sun’s rays. When setting up your camper trailer try to keep your open living areas facing a southerly direction. More often than not if there’s an afternoon breeze it will come from the south, meaning you will be in the shade of your side awning and reaping the rewards of a well set up campsite. Keeping your camper trailer as open as possible to make the most of any breeze, even during the middle of the day will help keep temps inside your camper trailer down. The key to keeping your camper trailer cool in this case, is ventilation. The sun comes from a northerly aspect, meaning your living areas will be shaded for the majority of the day and hopefully provide a cooler living space for the family.

Think of activities that will keep the kids occupied during this time too. Obviously anything to do with water will help. Thinking outside the box if there are any caves locally that you can visit it might be an ideal time to do so. Most underground cave systems hold a constant cool temperature all year round and provide the perfect place to escape the heat.

BE WISE WITH YOUR WATER

With the high humidity that’s felt in the tropical regions of Australia it’s important to take the steps required to prevent heat exhaustion or dehydration while out camping. With the normal human body requiring two and a half litres of water per day in normal circumstances, when you plan to be camping in the tropics allow for at least five litres per person per day. The saying little lots rather than lots little can be put into play here, smaller drinks of water more often will enable your body to rehydrate quicker.

CORRECT WIND PROTECTION

There is very little we can do to escape the effects of wind while out camping, but we can set up camp in such a way that we can reduce damage. Prevention is the best cure when it comes to keeping your campsite together when a wild westerly picks up.

Guy ropes are the most valuable asset when setting up your camper trailer, making sure they are attached properly and secured well before the wind hits will prevent any extensive damage. Lowering your awning legs to make the whole set up as stream line as possible will encourage the wind to go over rather than under the roof – preventing the wind making a parachute out of your camper trailer or rooftop tent. Fitting guy ropes with a trace spring will allow for some movement when the winds are up, meaning that your canvas shouldn’t tear in extreme wind. The spring will actually extend and compress as the wind blows, taking the pressure off the canvas.

Ground Grabbas are a top idea and should be in every camper trailer owner’s tool box, they are especially useful in coastal areas where the winds are known to pick up and the ground is sandy. Using them at least in every corner of your side awning will prevent against the powerful wind pulling your awning up. Alternatively if you’re camped on that ideal beach location exposed to all the elements and the winds pick up make sure you have a few sand bags on hand to weigh everything down.

We all know the dangers of fire and strong wind, so if campfire cooking is your only option, digging a hole and sinking your fire below ground level works a treat as the wind cannot affect the coals and flames. A small fire like this will produce sufficient heat to cook on without the need for a heap of flame or coals. Holding the heat on a gas burning stove is much easier. Using either a custom made weather shield or an off the shelf wind shield purchased from a camping store, you can ensure that your stove will stay alight during the strongest winds.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of ‘Camping in Extreme Weather’!