Your custom truck or SUV is a gateway to an exciting overland camping getaway. Truck camping is increasingly popular, with specialized gear like rooftop tents and mobile kitchens, allowing you create a comfortable home-away-from-home. Customizing your vehicle gets you ready to go, whether you’re after a weekend of relaxation or want to get off the grid for an extended period of time. Let’s take a look at what goes into preparing and planning for your next big trip.

Take Your Campsite With You

Overland camping means you’ll always have a dry space to lay your head at the end of a long day behind the wheel. Your campsite travels with you, carrying everything you need to set up, stay for a while, and tear down when you’re ready to move to the next stop. Your vehicle has the cargo space and power to carry more, and the top brands in truck camping are continuously innovating to produce gear that helps you take your camping lifestyle to the next level.

Must-Have Overland Camping Equipment

While every overland camping build is unique, there are some common pieces of equipment that almost every camper can enjoy, as well as useful gear that just adds to the fun, comfort, or capabilities of your mobile camp.

• Rooftop Tent - A good rooftop tent keeps you warm, offers a killer view, has plenty of space, and sets up in minutes so you can get some rest. The James Baroud Frontier Odyssey has you covered on all counts. This expansive hard shell sets up quickly and easily but offers a full panoramic view of your surroundings. With a built-in vent fan, detachable LED light, and small gear internal storage, you’ll have everything you need to enjoy the great outdoors with enough space for two adults and a child.
• Camp Kitchen - The iKamper Disco Modular Kitchen System is the versatile cooker you’ve been looking for. With a nonstick cast iron skillet that works as well on a propane stove as it does the Disco’s tripod or suspended over an open fire, you’re ready for hot, nutritious meals whenever you need them. The dual-fuel camp stove gives you fuel options for your cooktop, and the adjustable tripod doubles as campfire irons to maximize your flexibility.
• Refrigeration - The ARB 63-Quart Classic Series II gives you a freezer and fridge that’s ready to hit the road, trail, or campsite. 63 quarts gives you plenty of storage space for provisions or to bring back meat for the freezer at home. Settings can be changed directly in the app to keep your zones right where you need them.
• Awning - There are plenty of rooftop awnings on the market, but there’s only one Roofnest Lightwing. Awnings give you quick cover before your camp is even set up, making them perfect for lunch breaks or afternoon naps. They also extend your cover from wind and rain under your tent, and the Lightwing adds powerful LEDs so you can stay up late and party.
• Power - Pair the Goal Zero Boulder 100 Briefcase with the Yeti 100X portable power generator to make sure you can keep your gear running and your batteries charged. With two powerful solar panels filling up the lithium-ion battery of your power station, you’ll be ready, rain or shine.

Planning Your Trip

• Pick Your Campsite(s) - Where you plan on setting up camp is important, but when your campsite is mobile, it opens up a whole new world of possibilities. Select your dream destination and look for camping areas along the trail, and rather than a single location, you can enjoy a long trek with your overland camping build. Make sure you know who owns the land, any camping rules for the area, and what you’re likely to encounter both camped there and on the way.

When planning your route, make a note of major trails and landmarks and when you expect to be in their area. Look for “extraction points” where you can pull out more easily in the case of an emergency or need more supplies. A little forethought will go a long way toward setting the foundation for a successful truck camping adventure.

• Get Your Provisions -Once you have your route, you know how long the trip will take and whether or not you’ll be able to make provisioning runs easily. Ensure you have enough food and potable water to cover you until you can restock, then add a safety margin to it just in case you have a vehicle breakdown, bad weather, or just aren’t ready to make the run yet. Look for plenty of shelf-stable foods to conserve your fridge and freezer space for true essentials.
• Communicate with Other Campers and Your Safety Contact - The other campers in your party will need to know the itinerary, of course, but don’t forget to choose a safety contact to leave your route information and itinerary with. That way, if you run into problems or an emergency arises on the home front, someone knows when and where you were planning on being at any given part of your journey.
• Enjoy Some Overland Camping Fun - You have the gear, you made your plan, it’s time to get out in the wild, set up your rooftop tent, and have some truck camping fun.

Build Your Camping Beast 

When you’re ready to take your camping game up a notch, we have the gear you need in stock and ready to ship. For more product information or help finding the parts and accessories you need, call and talk to one of our specialists for old-school service days, nights, or weekends. Order your overland camping gear from Offroad Alliance today.