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Get Outside—and Stay There—with These Car Camping Gear Essentials
Camping may not be for everyone, but with a few extra gadgets to keep you comfortable and safe, you may yet find yourself in the great outdoors.
Lying on the bare earth beneath the open sky may sound idyllic, but for most of us (and our backs), it does not feel idyllic.
I, like most, crave outdoor adventure while also enjoying modern amenities, which makes car camping a more palatable option. For several years, I have spent my summers camping out of my 2001 Ford Econoline, affectionately known as Rhonda. While Rhonda may not be the pique #vanlife aesthetic, she is a testament to the accessibility of car camping.
Blending the excitement of outdoor adventuring with the familiarity of your own vehicle, car camping can be fun for everyone regardless of their age or background. So grab your keys and search for your intrepid spirit while we unlock a world of possibility with these car camping gear essentials.
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Things To Consider When Car Camping
Power: Will there be access to electricity where your travels take you? This is possibly one of your biggest considerations in this modern age, but it also takes into account your safety while camping. Always make sure to have some type of power source that will keep your phone charged in case you need to make an emergency call.
Vehicle Make and Product Compatibility: If you're buying something that installs onto your car, like a rooftop tent, make sure you take the correct measurements to ensure it will actually fit your vehicle. Do the research!
Road Conditions: What will the roads be like on the way to your campsite? If you plan to do a bit of overlanding to your site, consider having some emergency equipment that can help you in a pinch should you drive through a puddle that you swear didn't look that deep.
Price: If it's an item that you'll use regularly or will determine your comfort, it's not so bad to consider a splurge purchase. For standard items such as camping stoves or headlamps, however, you can probably stick with the average price points. Just remember: When it comes to gear and gadgets, you usually get what you pay for.
Storage Space: If your car is both sleeping and storage quarters, you'll have to plan storage ahead of time. Because while having a cooler pressed against your face while you sleep won't kill you, it's certainly not ideal.
Ready to hit the road and stay there? Here are our favorite car camping gear essentials.
Katherine Keeler is an Assistant Testing Editor at Hearst Autos. By day she evaluates tools for your enjoyment; by night, she Frankenstein’s her ever changing fleet of rust-bucket-oddities back to repair. Her dream is to open a roadside attraction where the public can view, drive, and learn repairs at her emporium of curious cars.
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