Camp bed *argh*

[make_your_move]

I've been looking for a suitable idea for camping beds that didn't involve me taking my viking slat bed to every event when I go camping (this involves multiple pieces of wood + weight) and a futon mattress (which just doesn't fold small). I thought I found one the other day at BJ's. Queen size, collapsible aluminum frame and mattress in it's own carrying bag.

The problem - the air pump is made to be plugged in to an A/V outlet .... not a car outlet, or a battery operated one that can be charged ... a stupid @%$^#& outlet. Yes, I found this in the 'camping' section. How stupid is this?! Am I supposed to plug it into the nearest tree, ferchrissakes?! I have the receipt, I'll be returning it tomorrow.

So, for those of you who camp, do you have any recommendations? I would prefer a queen size bed on a collapsible frame that can be at the very least plugged into my car's accessories outlet for inflation. Or should I just see if I can find some kind of outlet converter that plugs into the car, and then has a plug on the other end?

*grr*

Comments

[bittibuddha.livejournal.com]

well. CRAP.

so much for that idea. grrr.

Sam's club had

[emt-hawk.livejournal.com]

a 12 volt inverter, fairly cheap. I don't have a Sam's Club card anymore, I go get a free 6-month BJ's card when I need to go shopping there, and let it expire. The nice part is that it's fairly small, and you can use it for other things, like charging your laptop. I want to buy a solar trickle charger, at some point, so I can charge my phone from my car, and not worry about the battery. Resetting the clocks, on the other hand would be a pain in the butt.

--Hawk

Re: Sam's club had

[make-your-move.livejournal.com]

Where do you go to get the inverter? A car store? A hardware store (home depot, lowes)?

Re: Sam's club had

[emt-hawk.livejournal.com]

the last place i saw one was at Sam's Club. However, I'm suspecting that you may be able to find them at a travel store, or any of the other places you listed.

--Hawk

Re: Sam's club had

[wizardglick.livejournal.com]

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4891078

http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/sr=1-1/qid=1147809333/ref=sr_1_1/602-5011486-1468669?%5Fencoding=UTF8&asin=B00004XRDM

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2123204&cp=&origkw=power+inverter&kw=power+inverter&parentPage=search

http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDUS/EN_US/diy_main/pg_diy.jsp?CNTTYPE=PROD_META&CNTKEY=misc%2fsearchResults.jsp&BV_SessionID=@@@@0891837319.1147809404@@@@&BV_EngineID=ccdkaddhkkkehjecgelceffdfgidgkj.0&MID=9876

I don't think you'll haveto much of an issue finding one.

[sweetmmeblue.livejournal.com]

Why not just get an addaptor for your car that allows you to pug htings in?
http://froogle.google.com/froogle_cluster?q=ac+to+car+converter&pid=2241729180730145268&oid=7983212305791468&btnG=Search+Froogle&scoring=mrd&hl=en

[make-your-move.livejournal.com]

Any idea where I could to pick one up today? A car store (Trak Auto), or a Home Depot?

[sweetmmeblue.livejournal.com]

no clue. I'd start with Home Despot or a big auto parts store.

[fireyirishangel.livejournal.com]

I could swear I've seen those at a lot of the big stores like Wal*Mart, Target, Best Buy. Ed got his at Radio Shack and says they should be available in most computer stores.

[fireyirishangel.livejournal.com]

And they run approximately $30, from what I've seen.

[matthew-g.livejournal.com]

The adaptors that you're talking about are the same thing as the inverters the others are talking about :)

It adapts the car battery (DC power) to a standard plug (AC power) by inverting it :)

[make-your-move.livejournal.com]

What do you guys use?

[matthew-g.livejournal.com]

A separate battery operated pump. (answer included here for completeness :D)

[kmorris1177.livejournal.com]

I know it's heavy (but it's small) but we used a car battery battery and inverter to blow up our mattess (as well as phone charger, rechargable drill & rope lights).

[make-your-move.livejournal.com]

Where did you get it?

[kmorris1177.livejournal.com]

We got the car battery at Sears or Costco (I believe both have them) and the inverter I can't remember but Sears has it too. We have two and if you email Greg he can tell you exactly where he got them.

inverter

[silverfeet97.livejournal.com]

You can get an inverter, that plugs into your car socket and then accepts 1-2 normal houshold plugs. You can find such a thing quickly for about $70. Or slowly...it can be ordered for about $45. It's a good tool to have for emergency. Or if you wanted some extra luxury at a campsight that isn't too far. The car battery is then carried with you. You get your styling tunes or cooler plugged in...then take it back and recharge it in vehicle or plug in recharger at home.

[alricthemad.livejournal.com]

I actually have an inverter in my truck.
I expect any inflator that works half way decent needs to run off 120V.

I'm goign to be trying out a memory foam matress (actually a topper) 2.5In thick. May need to put an air matress under it.

[make-your-move.livejournal.com]

Where can I pick up an inverter before AWP? Failing that I find one, can I use yours?

[alricthemad.livejournal.com]

You certainly can use mine.
I got mine at micro center.
You can check:
Walmart
Pepboys
Sears

I don't think my memory foam will be in before this weekend, I may be using my fouton.

Three Venues nearby

[elkor.livejournal.com]

Target

Best Buy

Walmart

Just be sure to note what wattaged the pump will draw and get an adapter that will convert that much wattage.

Otherwise, if the pump draws 200 Watts and the converter only provides 100 Watts, it won't work so well.

[ebullientjenn.livejournal.com]

I think I have the same one. Ours works unplugged too though. The pump seems to hold a charge fairly well. I think it's a Coleman.

[blushing-grace.livejournal.com]

I have a car outlet adapter if you'd like to borrow it. It appeared one day and I *think* it works.

[make-your-move.livejournal.com]

Thanks, but I'm gonna need it now and in the future.

Of course, any excuse to see you :P

[matthew-g.livejournal.com]

We have a battery operated pump you can use. :)

And we use the same kind of bed, though ours had no pump included.

[make-your-move.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately that won't work ... the mechanism is actually imbedded into the mattress. So, I think I'll have to find an inverter. Any idea where to acquire this mythical object?

[matthew-g.livejournal.com]

Lowes, Target, Radio Shack, Canadian Tire (whups, sorry!). :)

Even Zellers or K-Mart might well have them in their camping sections.

You can best find it by reciting to the sales drone "I want to run my normal TV on a car battery" same product, same purpose. :)

[russell-moore.livejournal.com]

"Am I supposed to plug it into the nearest tree, ferchrissakes?!"

ah ... I see you neglected to purchase the baseball cap/solar panel attachment ... charges best if the cap is all you're wearing (that's in the fine print of the instructions) ...

sheesh ... gotta teach ya everything woman ...

[make-your-move.livejournal.com]

I'll remember that - solar powered cap and no clothes -- what would I ever do without you ... you big, strong man, you? ::bats eyelashes::

*goof*

[lace67.livejournal.com]

check into an inverter if you really like that particular bed

[serista.livejournal.com]

Go the car adapter route. Radio shack has them and they aren't super costly. You can use it to charge anything you need too.

[majorchaos.livejournal.com]

depending on the power requirements for you bed, this power adapter from BestBuy might work. I run my laptop off one.

CyberPower AC MobilePower with Built-In Surge Protector (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=6321713&type=product&id=1075583463235)

Why, hello there!

[make-your-move.livejournal.com]

Have we met somewhere?

Re: Why, hello there!

[majorchaos.livejournal.com]

Maybe if you hang out at renn faires?
Sorry, I was reading a friends friends list and saw your post and thought you might like to see that link.

IYes, I do

[make-your-move.livejournal.com]

occasionally hang out at the MDRF - although less in the last couple years because of childcare issues *sigh*

I'm sorry if I sounded abrupt or ungrateful, I did look at the link and I did actually go out and get an inverter :)

Please feel free to peruse my journal - some of my more personal posts are behind filters (poly, kinky, etc). So if you decide you'd like to stick around drop me a line and let me know. I saw we have some mutual friends.

Thanks for the reply.

Re: IYes, I do

[camperamy.livejournal.com]

heh, Major Chaos is an ok dude in my book.
He shared his tent and put up with my snoring on a very very cold weekend of camping in March.

[liatha.livejournal.com]

you should be able to get a converter.

[ladyprivy.livejournal.com]

If you haven't already returned this, Target has two air pumps (car & battery) that have multiple adapters to fit most air mattresses. I'm looking into this as well. I hope this helps!