Going Motorcycle Camping? This Is How You Can Pack Your Bike

Packing a bike can be pretty easy when you have large saddlebags and a top box or perhaps special motorcycle luggage. But doing it the old-fashioned way is, in my opinion, more fun.

Ready to ride

Last year I rode my Dyna to Sturgis and packed a bunch of gear, but never talked about what I brought or how I packed it. There are a bunch of stories and pictures about that trip on my website under Blog.

While figuring out where everything would go, I was reminded of how easy it was back in the 1960’s and 70’s. All we brought were cheap ‘Drug Store’ sleeping bags, calling them that because it was where we bought them. They were just cotton, not expensive down or the new synthetic Fiber Fill. No one brought a tent, although I did have an Army surplus rain poncho that could be set up as a lean-to in a pinch using bungee cords. It got used that way more than once.

Cargo nets are great. A taller sissy bar would be nice, but then I would probably bring more ‘stuff.’

I use a combination of ROC Straps and bungee cords to initially strap on the larger items, then a bungee/cargo net that really comes in handy to hold the whole load together and I can slide extra clothing under it for quick access as needed. Like years ago, having something to lean back on, even if it’s not a young lady, (young is totally relative nowadays), is always nice to have on those longer trips. With no windshield, having a backrest means you are not fighting the wind quite as much. Windshields are not allowed on choppers; you could go to biker hell for that.

The weekend of May 17-19 I was at Chop Town chopper rally in Tonto Village, Arizona.

Leaving home, the weather was perfect for a motorcycle ride. Not too hot in the lowlands of the Verde Valley and not too cold in the high country of the Mogollon Rim. I posted a couple of videos on my YouTube channel of parts of the ride.

Pulling into the campsite for the rally, I was surprised at how many people were there, hundreds to say the least. The ground was at times rough and sandy and there were tall pines, motorcycles, and tents everywhere. Also a few RV’s here and there, but they don’t count, who brings RVs to a bike rally?

Shutting off the bike and throwing out the kickstand, I walked over and chatted with a couple of guys from the Loose Cannons MC from Phoenix.

After introductions and a handshake, I asked, “Is this the main spot for the rally?”

“Yeah, this is it, pretty big this year, nice huh?”

“Yeah, so, it’s just first come first serve for the campsites?”

“Yup, pick wherever you like, it’s National Forest so it’s all free, as long as you can find a flat spot.”

“Does that food wagon serve beer?”

“No, just food, and it’s pretty good too.”

“Okay, thanks, I think I’ll head down to that bar first,

The Double D Bar and Grill was a short walk up the road, but an even shorter motorcycle ride.

Arriving at the bar I ordered a beer and a cheeseburger with fries. Also known as biker food. The burger was excellent, and the beer was cold. Seeing my Hangmen patch several guys came up to me and respectfully introduced themselves. I appreciated it.

After a few beers and while it was still light, I paid my bill and hopped back on the bike for the short ride back to the campsite to find a place to spend the night. The place where I stopped earlier had a firepit, I knew people would be congregating there till late into the night, so I pulled off further down the road and turned in among the trees where it was not so crowded.

The spot I picked was reasonably flat with pine needles everywhere. The air was fresh and clean, and it reminded me of the Hangmen’s first national runs at the Grand Canyon in 1971 and ‘72. This was primitive camping as they call it now. No running water, no picnic tables, but there were Port-a-potties.

Even though I have a bigger tent that is more involved to set up, I’d bought one of those new “2 Second” tents that they advertise on the internet. (Made in China), It looked so easy in their YouTube ads. It took me at least fifteen minutes to figure it out. Hint… Practice at home in your back yard.

It is described as a “Two-man tent,” but I think it could only be a one-man, one-woman tent. Two men would be pushing it.

While I was setting up my tent, four guys rode in and parked next to me. They’d been to town and their tents were already set up. They introduced themselves and even though they were riding baggers, admired my Ultima.

When my chores of setting up camp were done, I brought my chair over to my new friends next door and sat around their small fire. I found that one of them was a former member of a well-known 1% club from Phoenix and another had just gotten out of a long prison sentence about a year ago. The smell of freedom must have been intoxicating. They were interesting to chat with and we had a lot in common and good conversation. Down to earth people with nothing to prove. Like me, they just love to ride motorcycles.

I hate to admit that being rather old and with sore bones and joints, I cannot sleep directly on the ground anymore unless there is absolutely no other choice, and that would be torture. So, I have an air mattress. It is a double bed size and takes up literally the entire tent. You can pump it up with a built-in foot pump which would take a long time, but the fastest way is an electric pump that inflates it in about a minute.

The air pump can be charged from my solar powered battery pack that also charges my phone and GoPro camera. Sometimes you just have to embrace technology.

I was a little worried about the temperature predictions up there in the mountains, hoping I was going to be warm enough. But my modern Fiber Fill sleeping bag proved to be more than adequate. Between the bag and the air mattress and the privacy of the tent, I was very comfortable all night. But I did become convinced that both tent and sleeping bag manufacturers put extra effort into making the zippers clog with nylon, so they are impossible to work in the dark.

Home for the night

I found my phone had zero reception up there, reducing it to a camera with a flashlight. I expected that and nobody needed to hear from me anyway. Once again, I was reminded of long ago; when you had to find a pay phone if you needed to call someone… But only if you could remember their phone number…

A camping chair is important

Sitting around a campfire on the ground was okay when I was young, but not so comfortable today, so a lightweight folding chair is a handy thing to have along. It weighs very little and when packed in its carrying case, is advertised as being the size of a California Burrito.

As usual, I brought cookware, but because of the Double D right up the road, I didn’t use it. It is nice to be prepared in case you need it; you never know if you might be spending the night somewhere you had not planned. Rather than any elaborate cooking, I limit what I bring to canned goods like Dinty Moore beef stew and things that can be made by boiling water, like coffee, instant oatmeal and ramen noodles, which on a long trip can be replenished at a convenience store or truck stop.

Cookware with detachable handles and a coffee maker.

My kitchen consisted of my old Swedish Svea 123 stove and a small pot that I’d used in Alaska back in the 70’s. The new addition is a French press coffee maker made for backpackers. These give me a lot of confidence to be self-contained while on the road.

In the morning when the sun hit the tent, my eyes popped open and there was no chance of going back to sleep. I snuggled down into the warm bag on the soft air mattress, trying to think of excuses to stay there. I could hear people talking and motorcycles starting up, revving their motors and racing off down the road, topping out each gear, like it was required.

My neighbors were making coffee, as I lay in my comfort, I could hear them sharing it. That sounded good, but even though I had the ability to make some, I decided I was going back to the Double D for a real breakfast.

After the struggle of getting dressed in a four-foot-tall tent and pulling on my boots I climbed out and greeted my neighbors, they were almost ready to leave. I went around shaking hands and saying goodbye, then set to the job of taking down my home for the night.

Ready to go back on the bike. L to R, tent, camp chair, sleeping bag, mini-sea bag with miscellaneous gear, another mini-sea bag with air mattress and finally my tool bag. 

My old Vietnam era G.I. canteen was strapped onto the back of the sissy bar. It’s the same one in a picture in Hangmen in the story called ‘A Memorable Ride,’ where it was in the same location. I’d brought it in case I wanted to make coffee in the morning and I was happy I had it since when getting packed up I was thirsty and the water, after sitting on the back of the bike all night, was ice cold. By the time I was finished I’d drank half of it. 

Packed up again and ready to head home.

My new friends pulled out along with hundreds of other bikers, many on choppers, all heading south, but not all at the same time. When my packing was complete, the Ultima faithfully started up as always and after I carefully made my way to the paved road, I turned north. Thirty seconds later I was pulling into the Double D and after struggling through the deep gravel of the parking lot I shut the bike down and walked inside.

I picked a booth and sat down, there was another table with four bikers sitting at it. One of them, a tall guy with a big beard immediately got up and came over to my table and said, “Would you happen to be Dale Arenson?”

“Yes, I would.”

“I read your book, my name is Jon, I was hoping to see you here.”

“Jon Barwood?”

“Yes.”

I said, “You’re the reason I’m here, you suggested on Facebook that I come.”

He is a chopper builder and legend in his own right and a tattoo artist who is popular on social media.

Offering him a seat across from me, I enjoyed hot coffee that I didn’t have to make while we chatted about motorcycles and writing. It turned out he is a writer also, for Easyriders Magazine.

It was a nice chance meeting. He has been riding choppers all his life since he was eighteen years old and still has the same Panhead he’d built back then.

My food came so he excused himself and we promised to stay in touch. He and his friends went out and kick-started their old choppers and roared off. I regretted that I had not taken time to go check them out.

The ham and eggs were very good and sure beat my instant oatmeal and the coffee was endless. Soon I too was back on my bike, swerving through the wonderful mountain roads of northern Arizona. Once again, the weather was perfect, and the traffic was light.

It had been a great weekend, and I decided that camping out, not quite like in the old days, was not so bad after all.