If you’re a reader here, you’re probably into spending your weekends camping and hitting the dirt, but if your wife/girlfriend/significant other/girl you’re trying to impress doesn’t share the same level of enthusiasm, what do you do? So here’s DirtRoadTrip’s 5 tips for camping with your wife (we’re both married now so obviously were experts).
1. Be reasonable in your expectations
So you’ve managed to get your wife to agree to come with you on a camping trip; now is not the time to make your epic 5 day Vermont Overland Trophy run, nor is it a good idea to think she’ll enjoy pulling cable for 20 miles. So don’t be an idiot, make your first trip an easy one with lots of awesome scenery and cool stops along the way (breakfast, wineries, etc.). Yeah, we know your truck can drive over Mt. Everest in 2WD during a blizzard, but if you ever want her to come back for more, prove it another time. Although if she’s willing to climb a frozen fire tower with you, she’s probably a keeper.
2. Plan ahead
Repeat this tip five times, and if you only decide to take one tip away from this, it should be PLAN AHEAD. You don’t have to treat it like a military battle plan, but having a reasonable timeline of events will make things substantially easier for you (she’ll also appreciate the fact that you at least appear to know what you’re doing). Also, make sure you have a backup plan, so that way when your favorite campsite is taken or a trail is getting too rough for your co-pilot you’re not sitting there with your junk in your hands.
Stops at local festivals are good, especially when you get an epic dog picture.
3. Work as a team
Trips are easier when you have an extra person along with you, and I’ve found traveling with Maria makes things substantially less complicated than traveling without her. When she’s riding shotgun I can have her navigate, look up local points of interest, and we can setup/take down camp twice as fast. Be prepared for some awkward moments though when she asks why there’s a nicer cutting board in the back of your jeep than in the house.
4. Let her drive
Okay, so there are probably some of you out there that are probably saying “this is where I cross the line, I wouldn’t even let my own mother drive my rig.” For the rest of you that are not mouth breathers more reasonable, you should really give your wife the opportunity to drive. Don’t get me wrong, they’re going to be a little uncomfortable and out of their element, but as long as you followed tip number 1 (i.e. not putting them behind the wheel for the first time on Fins & Things) they will appreciate the opportunity. Plus if you somehow become incapacitated or get so drunk the night before and can’t drive it’s great to have someone who can get you home.
5. Don’t be an idiot/moron/jerk/Kanye West
This one should really speak for itself. If you have to ask yourself “do I look like an idiot”, or “would Kanye West think this is a good idea”, you should really take a moment to pause and reassess the situation. Making a boneheaded move is a quick way to ruin a good trip, or make a bad one even worse. So do yourself a favor and leave your Rex Kwon Do moves at home.
Are these tips a sure fire way to make your wife love camping and driving off road with you? Absolutely not, at the end of the day it’s going to come down to the individual person and to be honest I’m pretty lucky. Maria is always up for hitting the trails and doesn’t mind camping out in the woods for a few days at a time. Actually all of the guys from the DRT crew are in the same boat so we should probably go buy some lottery ticket . These tips should only serve as a starting point and hopefully if you’re successful, you’ll get to spend more time in the woods.
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