10 Car Camping Tips

 

Car camping might be a pursuit of leisure, but in order to relax in the backcountry, you should first plan meticulously. Adequate camping preparation doesn’t just make for a more organized trip—it can be the difference between being safe or in danger, comfortable or not. Here are 10 car camping tips to keep in mind before you hit the road:

Amp Up Your Water Supply

Many car camping destinations—particularly in the mountains or in the arid Southwest—don’t have reliable water sources, which forces campers to supply whatever liquids they’ll be using. Problem is, people often plan their water supply on how much they expect to drink, and overlook that water will also be required for cooking, cleaning and possibly bathing or first-aid.

My personal rule is to take twice as much water as I think I’ll need. Since a water shortage can have dire consequences, this is an area where I don’t skimp. You’ll have the luxury of not having to haul it in by foot, so there’s no reason to hold back on the amount of water you pack.

Check Your First-Aid Kit

Packing a first-aid kit should be second nature to every camper, whether it’s in the trunk of a car or a backpack. However, what might be less intuitive is checking the kit’s contents prior to lighting out for the woods. Bandages, salves and painkillers used on a previous outing might not have been replaced upon returning to civilization.

Also, depending on where you’ll be camping, you might want to pack extra sunscreen, lip balm and bug repellent to accommodate a region’s specific conditions.

Keep Away From the Fuel

Outdoorsmen have been known to make some reckless decisions when agitated by the elements or general wilderness frustrations. But, you should never use your gasoline or any other fuel intended for your vehicle to help start a campfire. The risk is not worth the reward and if your car camping trip has come to the point where starting the fire with gasoline is being considered, it’s probably best to just pack up and drive home.

Pack Tons of Food

As a rule, campers of all ages are happier if they’re well fed, and in some cases, good cooking can actually be the highlight of a trip. Camping food staples like pasta, rice and cereal are cheap and can be bought in bulk, and you should plan for strong appetites.

Also, pack plenty of “dry” snacks and a few dinners that don’t need to be cooked (peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, for example), in case you find yourself having to feed hungry mouths during a downpour. Candy bars or trail mix are great for energy replenishment between meals, but store them in a cool, shaded spot so they don’t melt and ruin other food.

Kill the Music

It’s tempting to turn any car camping into a tailgating event—grilling food over a flame with your buddies and blaring The Grateful Dead’s Europe ’72. There’s nothing wrong with that, but keep in mind your original plans—if you were hoping to find some solace and escape in the woods, the luxury of having your vehicle might distance you from your rugged intentions.

And there’s another consideration—sound travels incredibly well through patches of open space like campsites and lakes. While you might be enjoying the slow jams, you could be infringing on someone else’s peace and quiet and ruining the chance of seeing any wildlife.

Bring Multiple Fire Starters

I once read that when traveling abroad, it’s wise to keep some cash in at least three separate spots. The same could be said for fire starters when car camping. Separate your fire starters to ensure that you’ll always have another spare, dry option if one set gets lost or soaked.

I like to bring a few different types—matches in a Ziploc bag in my backpack, a butane or weatherproof lighter with the pots and pans, and more matches in my car's glove compartment. If you’re camping during the rainy season, it’s sensible to bring a little dry kindling in your trunk in case you’re stuck with damp wood.

Plan Wisely for the Rainy Days

If you’re going out for more than a few days, particularly in the spring or summer, the chances are good that you’ll encounter inclement weather at some point. For many people, that means hunkering down in the tent or car and waiting out the storm. If you’re camping with adults, it’s easy to just doze off as a group.

However, if you’re camping with children, they’ll want to be entertained during the bad weather, so you should be prepared. A deck of cards can do wonders for your group’s boredom, as can a book or a small musical instrument like a harmonica.

Set Up Your Tent Before Leaving

I set up my tent periodically throughout the year to air it out and make sure there’s no mildew. At the least, you should set it up prior to your trip to check for holes (especially in the screens), check the seams and make sure all the zippers work. Suffice to say, you should check that all parts, poles and cords are present and accounted for. Tent stakes, in particular, have a way of getting lost, and it’s not a bad idea to pack an extra one or two.

A little duct tape in the woods will go a long way to patch holes or tears until more professional repair can take place. I don’t recommend sleeping in the car at night, as many people have found out the hard way that vehicles aren’t nearly as bug-proof as a tent.

Four-Wheel Drive Can’t Hurt

The funny thing about four-wheel drive is, just when you think you won’t need it, you’ll find yourself sinking in sludge after a rainstorm or sliding from side to side on a wet road. If you’re camping in the winter, there’s always a risk of frozen rain or snow; if you’re camping in the summer, mud and flash floods are possibilities. Like many aspects of camping, it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Hang Your Food At Night

Bears roam a large chunk of the United States, and when you include foxes, raccoons and other critters, there’s a hefty population of animals waiting to raid your food pack. Many people think storing food in your vehicle is a safe solution—it’s not. Bears have been known to swat at cars and break windows, not to mention the risk of your car’s interior permanently smelling like red beans and rice or dehydrated beef stroganoff.

At some parks and campsites, there are “bear boxes” for securely storing your food. For everywhere else, either use a bear-proof, durable plastic container, or hang the food pack from a tree.

There are multiple methods for hanging—the important points are to get the food at least 10 feet off of the ground and 10 feet out from the trunk of the tree. If you can help it, don’t ever bring snacks into your tent. And read up on bear safety prior to your adventure.

Source: Active