Camping is fun and great activity with friends and family. To take the right thing to your camp is very important too. Especially when travelling to remote areas, you will need to pack a few things that we will be talking about. Packing the car efficiently for camping is very different as compared to throwing things in the back seat for a short trip. You need a fridge or an icebox for long journeys along with beddings and clothes for your stay. Other camping tools, water, and such heavy items need to be secured in your car properly.
Essential Tips on Packing for the Car Camping:
1. Chose the right car to travel: If you do not understand which car to take for your camping, try to see learn about the camp route first. The sedan or hatchbacks are not the best ones for camping trips. Wagons and SUVs have proper ground clearance in order to survive the rough roads or terrains. The trunk needs to be spacious so that you can accommodate all your things conveniently. Also, make a point to check up your car thoroughly for all parts and running conditions before the trip to be sure you are not stuck in a no man’s land without any assistance.
2. Prioritize: Firstly try to comprehend what are the essential things you would want for packing for camping. There will be mandatory things that you need to carry and the others would be something you can put/ add to your luggage at the end. For example, you will need water, rope, hammock or sleeping bags to carry importantly. However, you might just skip the not so important things like a foldable chair to sit or any other extra items. Another very sensible point to note while packing your luggage in the car would be to know when you will arrive at the place and what would you need first or while on the trip. Keep such things handy or on the top/ accessible.
3. Assign spaces and places: You cannot afford to randomly put your things in the back of your car. They move around while you are driving especially in the event of sudden breaks. Carefully assign the right place to each of your items such that you start from placing the large heavy items at the bottom of the trunk to the lighter ones on the top. This will create space for other things. Do not put in loose items on the top as they might fall in the front during jerks and sudden break during the drive. For example- you might not want to put the banana at the bottom; else you might end up having banana smoothies instead. Pack the trunk such that the items/ luggage do not move and make rattling noise throughout the journey.
4. Roof Top: Buy some roof racks specifically for your car model and fix it for extra space. All your weird shaped things can go to the top. For example the fishing rods or spare tire, shovel etc. won’t necessarily fit in the trunk but can go up on the roof conveniently and add space in your trunk. Try to fix/ tie the items secure on the top to be assured they do not fall off in case of any jerk. Use weather-resistant cargo bags so that they can be kept on the roof of the car and you can forget about it while in rain or snow. Or a very good option is to buy a weather-resistant sheet to cover all your items on the roof to protect it. Bear in mind, there is a weight limit to what you can throw up on the top of the car. Based on the car’s handling characteristics, your car’s manual must have a certain roof load limit. Make sure you carry the equivalent load only.
5. Camping Gear: A lot of camping gear is usually unnecessary. While camping in your car, you do not need all equipment and hence sensibly pack so that you do not overload your car. Carry all the gears safely and secure to make sure they do not break anything else in the trunk. Heavy items need to be secured properly away from vehicle occupant so that they won’t affect other road users in case of emergency.
6. Water and Fuel: The essential thing for survival in the camp would be water for you and fuel for the car. There might not be a lot of fuel stops on your way to the camp and hence it is important to keep a repository of your own safety. Water cans would take up large cargo space, therefore, it is good to have a underbody water tank made of stainless steel. The best fuel storage solution is to fit a long-range fuel tank or an auxiliary tank to complement your vehicle’s standard fuel tank.
7. Food storage: An essential packing tips for camping includes about food that you must carry. Storing the food in the right way is the key to take in more. While taking meat or chicken with you, store them in vacuum packets for their longer freshness and lesser storage area. Use airtight containers for liquid so that they do not spill. Keep milk cartons which will not require being refrigerated unless opened. Take the essentials like oil, spread, coffee/ tea, sauce, spice as needed in a small quantity.
8. First aid: Having a first aid kit is mandatory and handy. In case of an emergency, always let everyone traveling in the vehicle know where the kit has been placed and what all it has. Good to let everyone know some basic first aid care that one might need in such situations. Having a satellite phone always helps too in case of crisis.
9. Leave nature where it is meant to be: When returning home if your gear is bound to be dirty. A camping whisk broom can help brush off the excess dirt away and help you to put them back into your trunk. If it is excessively dirty, simply bring it home and clean later.
10. When you are done, click a picture and it helps you to recreate what you’ve done for the trip while on your way back home.
Also, read about the delicious easy desserts you can prepare while in the camp here and take a look at some very essential unique camping gadgets you must know.
