At the risk of offending hardcore tent campers, there is more than one way to go camping. Some people love their tents and backpacks. Others prefer to camp with trailers or motor homes. And don’t forget the car campers. I have often thought of car camping as a nice transition from RVing to overlanding.
Car camping is exactly what its name implies. Rather than hauling a trailer or carrying a tent with you, your car serves as your sleeping accommodation. Car camping is a unique way to enjoy the great outdoors without having to settle for a public campground experience.
Other Places to Camp
For the record, there is nothing wrong with the public campground strategy. I know a lot of people who absolutely love campgrounds filled with amenities and tons of fellow campers ready to socialize. But there are other places to camp, places that are quiet and isolated. They are places that offer spectacular views, incredible sunsets, and more peace and quiet than you know what to do with.
The nice thing is that many of these locations are accessible by car. Not all of them are though, thus my feeling that car camping is a nice transition if you are leaving behind your RV in hopes of eventually overlanding.
Overlanding is Completely Different
At this point, I should probably explain that overlanding is completely different. It is not the RV experience. It’s also a lot more hardcore than car camping. Overlanders take great pride in the fact that their journeys take them to places stock cars, trucks, and RVs cannot handle.
The overlander takes a tough and rugged vehicle into the wilderness for a self-sufficient experience. Experienced overlanders can be out in the wilderness for weeks at a time. Everything they need is carried on their vehicles.
For car campers, weekend trips are pretty common. Spending a week camping in your car is about the limit. But if you are leaving behind the RV in hopes of eventually becoming an overlander, car camping can help you get used to living without public campgrounds and the convenience of camping while remaining fairly close to civilized society.
What You’ll Need to Car Camp
If you are intrigued enough to give car camping a try, make sure you have the right equipment before you get started. First up is a car suitable for sleeping in. A minivan, SUV, or pickup truck should do the trick. Note that you can buy specialized tents that can be installed over the back hatch of your car. They give you a bit more sleeping room.
You will also need a good selection of tie downs to manage your gear. I recommend the tie downs you can find on Rollercam. You’ll also need some electric lamps, at least one cooler, sleeping bags and pillows, a camping stove, and a solar charger – if you hope to use your phone on your trips.
Last but not least, don’t forget the first aid kit. It is never a good idea to go camping without a basic supply of bandages, antiseptic, pain reliever, etc.
Start Close to Home
I also recommend starting your car camping adventures close to home. If you live anywhere near the coast, there are plenty of state parks that allow camping right on the beach. And quite frankly, any state park would make a great choice for car camping.
Once you get used to how it all works, you can start looking for more remote locations further away. The more you learn about car camping, the more ready you will be to try overlanding when the time comes.
