{"id":2455792,"date":"2014-06-20T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2014-06-20T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.outsideonline.com\/uncategorized\/what-belongs-my-first-car-camping-kit\/"},"modified":"2022-05-12T08:38:39","modified_gmt":"2022-05-12T14:38:39","slug":"what-belongs-my-first-car-camping-kit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.outsideonline.com\/outdoor-gear\/camping\/what-belongs-my-first-car-camping-kit\/","title":{"rendered":"What Belongs in My First Car Camping Kit?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Here at ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø<\/em>, we often write about the newest\u2014and priciest\u2014outdoor gear. But when it comes to car camping, you don\u2019t have to shell out the big bucks to build a solid kit. After all, there\u2019s no need to buy the lightest, fastest, expedition-ready products if you have a multi-ton vehicle at your disposal.<\/p>\n

Here are 10 tips, gleaned from my personal low-tech car camping setup, that will help you pitch a deluxe base camp on a shoestring budget.<\/p>\n

The Bin<\/span><\/p>\n

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(Courtesy of Joe Jackson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

No, it won't cook food, chill beer, or keep rain off your head. But a well-organized camp box will make car camping a bit easier and a bit less stressful. Any bin will do, just make sure it\u2019s large enough to fit all the gear you need for your camp kitchen.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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The Camp Chairs<\/span><\/p>\n

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(Courtesy of Joe Jackson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

While a stump, rock, or the ground all make fine seats in a pinch, the $20 investment for a pair of decent camp chairs will make you much more comfortable at base camp. I borrowed these chairs from a raft company I worked for years ago (I have yet to return them), and they\u2019ve proven surprisingly durable over the course of countless car camping trips and whitewater festivals. Check out REI for camp chairs<\/a> ranging from $20 to $200.<\/p>\n

\n

The Cooler<\/span><\/p>\n

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(Courtesy of Joe Jackson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Yeti coolers<\/a> are unbeatable when it comes to long rafting trips and expeditions, but they also cost upwards of $400. You don\u2019t need such heavy-duty insulation if you\u2019re only going to be out for the weekend\u2014and if you\u2019re just a short drive away from a gas station and an ice refill. Check out Walmart for some affordable options<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n

The Utensils<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
(Courtesy of Joe Jackson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Stainless steel, ultra-light camping utensils are awesome when you\u2019re backpacking, but overkill for car camping. Select the silverware you hate the most from your kitchen (think the yellow-handled knives your aunt left behind last Thanksgiving), and throw it in your bin. Note: while you don't have to worry about aesthetics or weight, be diligent about cleanliness. Always clean utensils before returning them to your camp bin, as it\u2019s easy to close the lid and forget about that festering guacamole spoon.<\/p>\n

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The Stove<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
(Courtesy of Joe Jackson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I suggest buying an inexpensive two-burner stove for your first car camping setup. Having two burners opens up a world of food options for you, and if you\u2019re handy, old Coleman stoves<\/a> are easy to fix and can even be found in thrift stores.<\/p>\n

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The Grill<\/span><\/p>\n

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(Courtesy of Joe Jackson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you don\u2019t want to buy a gas stove, look for a barbeque grate. (You can buy one for less than $10 at Home Depot.<\/a>) Then build a fire pit and grill away.<\/p>\n

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The Tarp<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
(Courtesy of Joe Jackson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A nice tent is often worth the investment, but for your first car camping setup, you can get away with an inexpensive one if<\/em> you invest $15 in a nice tarp. Drape it over the tent, secure it with twine, and you have a makeshift waterproof shelter.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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The Camp Box<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
(Courtesy of Joe Jackson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Store essentials such as a lighter, toilet paper, and Purell in a small box to stow inside the larger bin. You don't want to be rummaging around the trunk looking for these items when you need them.<\/p>\n

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The Cookware<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"
(Courtesy of Joe Jackson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Dig up some pots and pans from the back of your closet or even the thrift store. You\u2019ll want at least one pot and one pan while cooking at base camp.<\/p>\n

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The Water Bottles<\/span><\/p>\n

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(Courtesy of Joe Jackson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Guess what? You don\u2019t want to run out of water while car camping. Stash some two-liter bottles in your trunk and fill them up before heading out for the weekend. If your cooler is large enough, freeze a couple bottles filled with water. They\u2019ll keep your food cold and when the ice melts, you\u2019ll have something to drink.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Here at ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø, we often write about the newest\u2014and priciest\u2014outdoor gear. But when it comes to car camping, you don\u2019t have to shell out the big bucks to build a solid kit. After all, there\u2019s no need to buy the lightest, fastest, expedition-ready products if you have a multi-ton vehicle at your disposal. Here are … Continued<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1668176,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"uuid":"db8fa7e9f67f3439891f044dfcbf5822","footnotes":""},"categories":[2561],"tags":[3121],"byline":[1147],"ad_cat":[],"legacy-category":[],"class_list":["post-2455792","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-camping","tag-car-camping","cluster-gear-guy","byline-joe-jackson"],"acf":[],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","headline":"What Belongs in My First Car Camping Kit?","url":"https:\/\/www.outsideonline.com\/outdoor-gear\/camping\/what-belongs-my-first-car-camping-kit\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.outsideonline.com\/outdoor-gear\/camping\/what-belongs-my-first-car-camping-kit\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated-images_parent\/migrated-images_78\/volkswagen-camper-van-beach_h.jpg","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/cdn.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/migrated-images_parent\/migrated-images_78\/volkswagen-camper-van-beach_h.jpg"},"articleSection":"Camping","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"sperkins-pom"}],"creator":["sperkins-pom"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Online","logo":"https:\/\/www.outsideonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/favicon-194x194-1.png"},"keywords":["car camping"],"dateCreated":"2014-06-20T00:00:00Z","datePublished":"2014-06-20T00:00:00Z","dateModified":"2022-05-12T14:38:39Z"},"rendered":"