Expert tips to make sure your camping gear can outlive your 4WD!

A life in the outdoors tends to accrue a healthy stockpile of camping gear, and next to the 4WD itself, your camping gear is probably the biggest investment you’re going to make in your off-road career. Over a lifetime of 4WDing, you spend thousands of dollars maintaining your 4WD, so it makes sense to spend a few extra minutes each camping trip to maintain and bush-proof your camping gear.

Now, the two most commonly used items for most of us, are the humble canvas tent or Adenture Kings Big Daddy Swag and the cast iron cooking gear. As hardy as these two bits of kit are, there are some tricks and tips you can follow to make sure that they not only last, but they outlast your 4WD itself. What we’re setting out to do, is give you all the advice and tips you need to make sure that your gear is always ready to go, in top condition every time you head off on a trip. We’ve enlisted the advice of some of the camping industry’s experts and put pen to paper on their words. Read on, and make your camping gear last a lifetime!

CARING FOR YOUR CANVAS

Canvas is one of the most hardwearing materials used in the camping world but it can also be affected by the elements over time. Whether it’s a tent pole rubbing in the corner every time you setup wearing the canvas thin, or the infestation of mould from not setting your tent or Big Daddy Swag back up after a wet trip – if you’re using your tent or swag regularly, it’s going to wear.

The good news is that you don’t need to throw out your canvas products when they suffer issues like these. There are a few really simple fixes that will see your gear back to top notch condition for many more camping adventures. Here are a few tips to not only help you get your canvas products back to 100% – we’ll show you how to keep them forever ready for adventure.

HOW TO SEASON YOUR CANVAS

1. Keep an eye on the weather forecast and choose a sunny weekend to set up your Adventure Kings Big Daddy Swag in the backyard.
2. Make sure all the doors and windows are properly closed so you don’t end up with a pool of water inside your Adventure Kings Big Daddy Swag.
3. Grab the hose and wet down the entire swag. It’s a good idea to try and replicate a heavy rain shower, so set the spray pattern on your hose nozzle to low-pressure high-volume, rain-like spray. Hose for at least half an hour.
4. During the seasoning process, pay special attention to the seams.
5. Leave your swag to dry for around four hours, or until it’s obviously dry.
6. Repeat this process another three times. If water is still creeping through the stitched areas, rub some wax (a candle will do the trick) over the seams.
7. Once you’re satisfied that the swag is keeping out all water, apply a coat of water-proofing spray over the entire surface of the canvas, paying special attention to the seams.
8. Hose down thoroughly once more. If the water is beading off the canvas, then you’ve succeeded in seasoning and water-proofing. If not, allow it to completely dry once more, and apply another coat of water-proofing spray.

WHAT NOT TO DO

While canvas is one of the toughest materials around, it’s also very sensitive to chemicals and heat. First and foremost, it’s vital that during the seasoning process you allow the canvas to dry naturally rather than applying heat to speed up the process. Heating the canvas not only renders the seasoning process irrelevant, it also makes the fibres of the canvas brittle and weak meaning that the process you’ve just undertaken to extend the life of your tent has had basically the opposite effect.

Keep detergents, cleaning fluids, solvents, and even other simpler, everyday products like hairspray, deodorant and insect repellent well away from your canvas. These items can all be harmful to your canvas, and severely reduce the lifespan of your investment.

RIPS AND TEARS

Canvas like many other materials can fall victim to wear and tear, and over time you may see your canvas getting thin or even tearing, especially in high wear areas such as entrance ways or the ends of your swag (the bits exposed even when rolled up). If you do find a tear in your canvas, the best solution is to use a canvas repair kit to fix it. Most canvas repair kits will come with a pair of canvas patches, a tube of canvas cement and a needle and thread. Some even come with flyscreen repair parts also.

The first step is to use the needle and thread to mend the tear as best as possible. Stitch the canvas at close intervals remembering to start and finish the repair with either a knot in the thread or by stitching back and forth in the same place a few times so the thread cannot be pulled through. Then cut your canvas patch so it covers the tear, overlapping by at least 3-4cm on each side, this is important so as to create a good waterproofing seal.

Next, cover the patch in canvas cement, edge to edge, corner to corner and press down firmly. Allow at least two hours to dry. For an even better finish patch both the inside and outside of the tear. For repairs larger than 10cm its best to take the tent to a canvas repairer to be machine stitched.

CAST IRON CARE

Taking care of your cast iron cooking gear, whether it’s your camp oven, skillet or jaffle iron is much the same as looking after your 4WD – keep fresh oil up to it and it will last forever. The oil that you apply to the surface of your cast iron forms a barrier between the metal and moisture in the air, keeping this barrier in tip top condition inhibits rust. Stopping it from penetrating the surface of your oven will prolong its life and your investment.

Some new cast iron cookware comes pre-seasoned and ready to go whereas some often come with a protective coating aimed at protecting and preserving the oven. If your oven has come with a protective coating, and you don’t want your first camp feed to taste like used motor oil, it’s best to completely remove this. A bit of elbow grease and some hot soapy water will soon get this coating off and give you a fresh layer of metal for you to season. Remember that once your cast iron is seasoned, don’t use detergents, use warm water only. Using soaps or detergents will wear away at your protective layer and will mean you’ll have to season it again.

SEASONING CAST IRON

The key to seasoning your camp oven is heat and oil, so by following a few simple steps your cast iron cooking gear will stay in tip top condition for years to come. In the kitchen preheat your oven to 230°C, stick your camp oven in there with the lid ajar for around 20 minutes or until the camp oven is warm to touch but not too hot. This allows the pores of the metal to open up and dry right out before we start to apply our own protective layers. Remove the camp oven, grab some paper towel and a bottle of good quality vegetable oil, wiping the oven inside and out with oil making sure not to miss any spots and don’t have any oil pooled in the bottom of your oven. Pooled oil if left over time can go rancid and destroy the new seasoned coating that you’re applying to your camp oven.

Placing the oiled up camp oven back into the oven and letting it cook for an hour will enable the oil to soak into the layer of metal and form the new layer inside of your camp oven. Repeating this process twice more will ensure that your oven now has a new stick resistant coating on the inside and looks a million bucks on the outside. Your oven is now seasoned and ready to go on your next camping trip.

CAMP OVEN STORAGE

This is simple and will become second nature in no time, when packing your camp oven away don’t place the lid on tight! Keep an old tea towel or even some paper towel on standby, roll it up and stick it in between the lid and the oven. Air needs to be able to flow in the oven to prevent moisture build up, which will lead to rust.

TYPES OF BUSH COOKWARE

The most popular types of bush cooking gear on the market are cast iron and spun steel. Cast iron is known to be easier for a novice bush cooker as its solid construction distributes heat evenly meaning no hot spots and less chance of burning food. Spun steel Large Aussie Camp Ovens are much lighter and stronger due to the thinner steel construction. For a camper looking to decrease their weight this is ideal but they do react quickly to temperature changes and cooking in them can be challenging for a beginner.