The 5 Best Car Mods for Camping Adventures
Roughing it doesn’t have to be so rough. With some planning—and minimal carpentry skills—your car can be as comfy as home. We’ve got five of the best affordable modifications that can help you turn just about any vehicle into a camper.
1. Sleep
Yes, you CAN get a good night’s rest. Today’s air and memory foam mattresses are super comfortable, and you can adjust an air mattress to the firmness you desire.
Sleeping bags are still your best option on cold nights, but a few quality blankets are nice to have when you want to sit outside and gaze at the stars. And, of course, you want a good compressible pillow that cradles your head in comfort without taking up too much space.
2. Organization
If you spend a lot of time camping—or you need to live in your vehicle for a while—constructing a platform effectively doubles your usable space. Measure out the back of your car, and you can build a platform that holds your sleeping gear on top and organizes your clothing, toiletries, and all of your other gear underneath. With some creativity and a few 2×4’s, you can turn your Toyota 4-Runner, or even a Prius, into a comfortable, well-organized living space.
3. Food and Drink Storage
As we see at least once a week on social media, it’s not just Yogi Bear you need to worry about when it comes to keeping you and your food safe. Invest in bear-proof coolers that keep your beverages and perishables cold while keeping the bears’ paws off your food.
If you’re going to spend a lot of time camping in your vehicle, consider investing in a chest-style refrigerator. You can store a week’s worth of fresh veggies and eggs, so you won’t be breaking into your snack stash or hitting the drive-thru as often.
4. Power
Whether you opt for the chest fridge or not, you’ll need a battery pack that can power your lighting and air mattress pump and keeps your devices charged. Plug your battery pack into your vehicle’s outlet and charge it while you drive; then, when you get to your campsite, it will be ready to go. You might also consider a set of solar panels for longer stops (and emergency backup power at home).
5. Roof Racks
The roof: your car’s final frontier. Make the most of this space by having roof racks installed. Racks give you so many options, including a cargo box and outdoor gear storage. It’s also handy for hanging an awning. You can also use a rooftop tent to maximize your sleeping area without having to reorganize cargo.
Ready to Get Away?
Car camping doesn’t have to mean playing 3-D Tetris or dropping a bundle of cash on a conversion van. With some ingenuity and a few clicks on your favorite online shopping site, you can transform any vehicle into functional living quarters.