We asked you to post your camping setups on the Facebook page, hopefully this generates some ideas on how to set up your 4WD for trips and camping. This also covers the typical setups that our members tend to use for moving camp and base camping trips.
Thanks to those of you who posted in the Facebook post, click here to see everyone’s camping set-up’s or read below for some suggestions on common setups we see in the club.
Moving camp
Most members chuck out a side awning, and put a swag under the awning. A stretcher to get the swag off the ground and an awning wall to provide extra shelter is also common.
This works quite well, your bedding can be rolled up with the swag, and you get good protection from rain, dew and wind
Small tents and rooftop tents are also common. It’s also important to not under-estimate how cold it can be overnight in the high country, even in summer (pack for all seasons and take plenty of spare clothes).
Trailers, campers and caravans are usually unsuitable for moving camp trips, because of the difficulty of driving them on the tracks.
Simple set-ups are favoured because it’s important to minimise set-up and pack-down time when you’re moving every day.
Base Camping
The base camping trips are often caravan / camper / trailer friendly so we see a variety of setups. It’s important to check the trip plan, and ask the trip leader if you’re going to bring a trailer in case the campsite isn’t suitable.
More often than not, we see members bringing caravans and camper trailers, soft and hard floor campers, as well as slightly bigger tents on some of these trips for greater comfort.
You can be more relaxed about set-up and pack-down time, since you’ll only have to set up once and use it for several nights.
Back of the 4WD
The most common things that most of us have are:
- Draw systems or plastic tubs, for storing food, cooking utensils, tools and equipment.
- Car fridge or esky (for the 2-3 night trips, an Esky with ice is more than sufficient, no need to go out and buy a car fridge)
- Some sort of surface to prepare food on (e.g. fold down bench on rear barn-door or a small table)
- Water (jerry cans, or tank + pump’s are common, don’t put all of your water in a single container)
- LED Lighting
- Gas stove or something to cook on (don’t rely on having a fire)
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- Gas camping stove with propane bottle
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- Andrew eating dinner Granny Flat Jamieson
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- Cooking bacon for brekkie on the camp fire
Other
For must-have gear, check out the gear section of the webpage
For tips on a gas camping stove, check out andrew’s article
