Camp in Your Car? Here's How!

Sam Richards
Authored by Sam Richards
Posted Monday, October 26, 2020 - 10:42am

Do you love to travel and explore new places, but want a more affordable way of doing the same? Wondering how? Camp in your car. Car camping is one of the cheapest modes of travel. You can build your own mini caravan and wake up to new sights every day!

You can camp at random scenic spots or a remote area in the wild by following a few simple steps. We have shared our two cents on the whats and the hows of car camping to help all you avid travelers. Read on to know more!

Sleeping arrangements

In comparison to sleeping under a tent, sleeping in your car or van is much more comfortable. Alongside the obvious advantage of protection from wind and rain, your vehicle is more soundproof. 

Those cars which can have their seats folded flat provide multiple options for sleeping, from the storage box method to simply using a standard sleeping mattress on the empty floor.

Storage boxes and bed base

In case you own a car with more or less flat space at the back, using storage boxes would be a fantastic idea. The boxes provide space for keeping all the essentials and forming a sturdy base for your mattress to lie on. When you buy boxes, test their sturdiness, and purchase volumes greater than 64 liters for ultimate support. 

Standard beds

If you don’t own a sleeping bed, that’s not a problem. You can instead choose a duvet that will keep you warm and also let you move around. You can also consider a sleeping pod, as it could be a lovely addition to your mini campervan. 

Since the floor will undoubtedly house some bumps and lumps, you can opt for a decent mattress to even things out. You can also fold it into a chair during the day by letting some air out. You can purchase a super cool & multipurpose self-inflating mat from Planet Camping, as well. Lastly, do not forget to pack a few pillows to enjoy a cozy experience!

Heating

Remember that if you completely seal the van and snuggle up inside it, you will find plenty of condensation in the morning. If you have a sunroof, open it up a little and add a fly screen if you are worried about mosquitoes or other insects. 

Insect-proofing

Don’t have a sunroof? You can leave your window open a little. If you’re worried about insects, you can keep them away by creating a pillowslip of netting with a slit on the long side. Move the pillowslip over the open door of your car so that it covers the window. It will still be possible to shut the door, and the window can be opened for air, as well.  

Power supply

There is a plethora of gadgets available in the market that serve dual purposes when camping. They can be used for both- as a source of illumination and to charge your phone. Fortunately, they come in lightweight builds that are easy to carry and occupy less space. If you like to roll up in your blanket and read a book, you can go for portable, foldable lanterns that come with brightness settings and are convenient to use.

Water Supplies 

You can use a portable water carrier or a huge carrier in sizes equal to above 10 liters. If you are out on a longer trip or at a campsite stay, you can use the drinking water facilities in pubs, leisure centers, and the like. 

Privacy and Darkness

You can buy affordable, foldable, silver sunshades that work very well on the back and front windscreens. Most sunshades are available in combination with the side blinds, which are apt for the doors. 

If you are looking for a DIY solution, you can use dark fabric and suction pads to make some blackout blinds or curtains for the side windows. Nowadays, a type of suction cup held curtains is also available that can simply be placed against your car door. 

Toilet

If you are camping on a pre-arranged campsite, all facilities, including showers and changing rooms, will be provided by the organizers. In case you are stealth camping, you need to prepare, and we’ll tell you how. You can dig a hole that is about 15-20 centimeters deep with a trowel. The used wipes or toilet paper should go into your rubbish bag. After you are done, cover up the hole completely. 

In case you are looking for a more civilized option, you can buy a camping toilet stool from the market. It contains a hole at the center, and can act like your own loo!

Summing up...

Travelling, checking out new sights, and camping in your car can be a great deal of fun. It only takes a little planning. Now that you have the list of items ready, what are you waiting for? Get packing now! 

 


 

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