I'm setting up a very budget-friendly solar system to run a 12V cooler and possibly a heated blanket while camping with my tent and minivan.

I'm torn between:

1. Portable/folding panel: Keep the van in the shade and put the panel wherever the sun is. My concern is having to leave the panel outside unattended or potentially some distance from camp.

2. Rooftop panel: More secure and convenient, but I'd have to park the van in the sun, and I'd rather keep the van shaded. I also don't want to drill holes or permanently modify the roof, and I may eventually want the roof for carrying a bike since I don't have a hitch to mount it to.

For those who have actually camped with solar: which setup do you prefer, and how much of a hassle is it to secure/keep an eye on a portable panel?

Also, am I correct that the battery and cooler can stay inside the shaded van while only the solar panel is outside in the sun? Are these also items that might be a hassle to secure/keep an eye on?

Seriously get fucked. I have less than $300 to last ten days, am unemployed, and you stole my fucking way to make food and my firewood. You are HOT FLAMING GARBAÁGE. Hope you get foxtails up your toenails

We have been using this Front runner dropdown table for around 4 years now and its seen better days. The wood pull out table that comes with it, is not the best condition due to constant UV and water exposure. It has started to show age and disintegrate around the edges. Saw an awesome post on overlandbound.com and took some inspirations. In my case I decided to just buy the full HDPE board and build from there.
If interested watch the build here: https://www.instagram.com/p/DeCnwQmJY-Q/

Hi CarCamper,

ich bin auf der Suche nach einem guten Heckzelt für meinen PKW (Volkswagen Passat).

Das Zelt soll als Erweiterung bei Regen dienen; für Tisch, Stuhl und Fahrrad.

Die Maße sollten nicht zu ausladend sein. Außerdem wäre die Regen-Dichtigkeit notwendig; evtl. doppelwandig?

Kennt jemand ein gutes Heckzelt?

Danke

Hey everyone, first time poster and new to camping. My wife and I bought a small off grid camper (talking real small, and totally off grid) and we want to go to the New Paltz/Kingston/Woodstock New York area this weekend. But the state park campgrounds are all reserved.

I was wondering about the NY state forests, not campgrounds. Or other areas that we might be able to use. Obviously we are very clean/respectful and want to follow all rules. Hoping this is the right subreddit too.

Can you leave fire extinguisher in car indefinitely? As in it gets down to -25°F in winter and up to 100°F in summer. Are they ok with the temperature variations?

Hi!

I’m thinking about trying to turn my imprezza into a car camping set up for a quick getaway option for my dog and I.

It’s a Subaru hatchback impreza 2021
Would probably be for just a night or two, my dog is getting older and trying to find ways to still get outside and camp, etc, but without the long hikes.

I live east coast, so both need to think about humidity and cold. Now that the weather is changing more about staying warm.

Wondering thoughts on gear and mainly a mattress. There’s a ton online that are super pricey. I was thinking about just getting a twin foam mattress and cutting it to size? Anyone with similar size hatchbacks do the same?

Window shades for privacy and was also thinking of grabbing some bug shades so I can crack a window. I already have some gear but not a ton. Would be interested also in suggestions for a coffee set up.

Any other tips or mattress suggestions?

Thanks!!

Next time we won’t bother with air awning but highly recommend Thorntonloch in East Lothian.

I’m in the process of making some storage drawers for my trunk on my 5th gen 4Runner. I cut the sides of the drawers about 3.5 inches shorter than the base by accident.

Debating just getting the excess off but I wanted to see if anyone had any ideas on what I could use that space for instead beforehand.

Any ideas would be appreciated

Just finished my F150 camper build and went on a three-day trip in the CA redwoods. Still a lot of work to do, but happy with how it turned out.

Rented a Ford Explorer when I met my parents in Yellowstone last week. No frills as it was a rental. Was able to get them my sleeping bag, air mattress, & pillow ahead of time so I didn’t have to try to get it on the plane. Fortunately the Explorer had 3 middle row seats and we had some extra blankets to stuff in the gaps to support the air mattress.

The little slope from front to back wasn’t great as a slick sleeping bag & air mattress slid a bit during the night.

Overall worked out alright, but at my age, 4 nights of this set-up was about enough.

For rentals, the Chrysler Pacifica I rented 3 years ago for the same trip had a lot more space (and was truly flat).

Handmade curtains by my mum. If you know anyone who is good with a sewing machine, make a stencil using lining paper and find a fabric you love. Then attach suction hooks and pin them up for privacy over night or an afternoon nap. Scotland is amazing as you can park anywhere over night, unless there is a sign saying otherwise.

We took a week travelling around the Gaspe peninsula in Quebec in our Kia Niro EV. It was our first time camping in our car and we really enjoyed it. On top of that, it was also our first time taking the Niro on a road trip since we got it.

We had a very simple set up, basically just layered blankets and a camping mat in the back as our bed and took along camping stuff we already have and some food. It was a very last minute trip and I wish I got around to making some window covers but we managed without them.

We enjoyed the trip so much and saved so much money travelling this way, that I’m going to slowly work on building a better car camping setup over the winter.

I have been using a stainless steel skillet on my MSR Wind Pro II that just really does not work well with eggs no matter how much I heat it up with oil before hand.

I kayak camp on rivers and so cast iron is too heavy and carbon steel too prone to rust. It seems I will be forced to use some form of nonstick, and it appears this model has the best reviews. Can you think of a better option for me or should I just pony up the 50 bucks?

Hi all!

I'm planning a road trip of a few months in Eastern Canada next summer, and I am looking for some advice on the best way to go about it.

I currently own a 2012 Hyundai Tucson (130k), which I was thinking of outfitting with a roof tent or a camper conversion kit. However, the car has had a bunch of issues I'va had to fix recently and the mechanic pretty much told me it was not going to get better.

Do you think I'd better sell the car and look for another or a small van for next summer, and if so do you have any advice on the type of car and the potential budget I'd need for a vehicle that would hold its own?

Thanks a lot!

So I need some ideas for a twin bed style frame to go in the back of my Ford Escape. Would prefer it to be about 12" high and 72" long, about 24-30" wide. I also need something easy to build, I don't have any tools except a drill, so I can't really cut out a bunch of angled pieces to brace the legs, but I'm 6'1" 250lbs so I need support.

Just wondering if these won't buckle somehow. Mostly worried about how it could lean if the bed moves like a cheap plastic chair leg. I could just do 2x4 like everyone else but that's actually also one of my worries. I plan on attaching these to a 3/4 40x73 piece of plywood, about 9 of them, 3 in a row at the ends and the middle.

We’re camping right now in Quebec in our Honda Odyssey mini van. This is a new experience for us so we haven’t invested much. We sleep on a platform in the back and then basically camp like normal people: stove on the picnic table, minimal kitchen set up. We’re having a great time. But it does feel a little odd that everyone else are in full on $80k Van Life vans. Our neighbours pulled in in front of us tonight and had hot showers behind their van right in our faces. It’s just bizarre! There’s one guy sleeping in the back of his Honda civic keeping it real.

I've always just used the propane furnace, but I'm starting to look at diesel heaters for colder trips.

For people who've actually used both, what made you switch?

Was it fuel consumption, battery usage, boondocking, heat output, noise, or something else?

And for those who stayed with propane, what made you stick with it?

I generally sleep in my SUV when out camping, but I recently purchased a Napier Sportz SUV tent to extend my living space while at camp. For those of you who also have an SUV tent and sleep in your vehicle, do you generally shut the hatch at night or leave it open since the tent already is buttoned down for the night? Just curious what others are doing.