Camping’s getting way too complicated for our likings. Here’s our 3 part series of the very best tricks to make your camping experience better and simpler, from those who’ve spent years in the bush

• How to cut the camping gear you need to carry in half
• Ways to win back space inside your 4WD
• Simple tricks for making camping hassle-free
• The best multi-use items to keep in your 4WD
• How to save time, effort and money, and get out in the bush more!

Let’s face it – the lead up to, and getting home from camping trips can at times be a bit of a pain, even if you’re one of the lucky few who have those absolute dream rigs that are setup with every camping need already in place. As good as getting away for a night, a couple of days or even longer is, there’s always that that thought in the back of your mind that it’s gonna take hours to get everything unpacked at the end. Forgive us if we sound lazy, but camping’s supposed to be about relaxing, right?

And don’t even get us started on quick overnight trips. Why is it that the overnighters need just as much effort as the big trips? Why can’t it all just be simple – you know, like we used to camp when we were just starting out?

Nostalgia’s all well and good, but once you’ve discovered that there’s more to camping than burnt snags and a +15°C sleeping bag in the passenger seat, it’s hard to go back. There’s definitely a middle-ground, though, and it’s all about camping smart – learning those beaut little tricks of the trade that the pros use. The logic is sound. The simpler you make your camping experience, the more you’ll go camping. And the more you go camping, the more you’ll refine your camping experience, doing away with the things you never use. Then, all of a sudden, you’ve got your campsite setup down to five minutes, packing away takes not much longer, and you’re taking a single box of gear away each time. You’re now camping like the pros, and it starts with this article!

PACK SMARTER, NOT HARDER!

PRACTICE

To pack more efficiently, lay everything out to determine how it will get packed and unpacked before your trip. More importantly, practice your packing technique to ensure it’s right and always pack the 4WD during daylight hours.

KEEP YOUR PANTRY STOCKED

By keeping your pantry permanently stocked with all the basic cooking ingredients and utensils, you’ll really only need to stop for meat and beers when heading off on your trip. This one tip will save you a stack of time and money each time you head away and by having an organised pantry box you’ll set up for meals much faster.

PACK SMARTER

When packing the 4WD, make sure you’ve packed in such a way that you’ve got access to the things you’ll require first when you hit camp. For example, if you’re expecting to arrive late at camp and setup for dinner in the dark, then make sure all your pantry and cooking gear is at the back of the 4WD. Not only does this let you get to it all faster at night, but it’s also packed away, ready for quick access for breakfast the next day.

4WD TETRIS

Have a system to how you pack your 4WD. Not all of us are lucky enough to have a full-blown storage system in the back of our wagon or ute, so, the good old plastic tubs with the clip on lids are a perfect way to store the gear you will need for your adventure.

INVEST IN A WATER BLADDER.

If space is at a premium inside your 4WD then a 100L poly water tank in the rear cargo area is going to be a no-go. Instead, look into a water bladder. There are tough ‘bags’ that hold large amounts of water and can be stored anywhere from nooks and crannies in the rear drawers, to under seats – basically anywhere you want.

BE SPACE CONSCIOUS

“A fair few people ask me how I get away with a short wheel-base vehicle when out on the long distance trips. It’s simple. I make the most of the space I have and buy my gear accordingly. I don’t carry enormous tents, fridges larger than I need and spares that I’ll never be able to use anyway. I also make use of ‘dead’ areas in the 4WD. Dash storage, under the seats, above my head – it’s amazing how much wasted storage space there is inside your 4WD.” – Graham

SHARE THE LOAD

Whenever you’re travelling with mates, sit down over a beer and plan your packing so that there’s no doubling up on gear. You don’t need two chainsaws, 4 eskys, 14 camp chairs for 8 people or a half a dozen bottles of coolant for a weekend away. By sharing the load between everyone, you’ll all come away with a heap more space and less weight over the axles.

SMARTER PACKING

The items you need to get to on a daily basis should be easily accessible, so put them in drawers and side pockets. Use soft sided bags for packing clothing which can act as fillers when squashed to help minimise any movement of your gear. Aim to have a couple of days’ meals in a small tub easily accessible, and use square containers, avoiding round or tapered shapes to minimise wasted space.

CULL YOUR LOAD

Every third-or-so camping trip, take note of the gear you haven’t touched. If it’s not emergency related then ditch it. You’ll free up space, save weight and make the packing process a whole lot easier.

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR ESKY

If you don’t happen to have a 12V fridge then you can actually make a bit more sense of your cooling setup. Instead of having an esky packed with party ice, freeze a dozen or so water bottles and pack them around the food and drinks in the esky. Not only does that keep everything cool for longer, but it also means you’ve got ice cold water for drinking once the bottles start to melt.

ORGANISERS

Use an Adventure Kings Car Seat Organiser, map pockets and dash storage helps to make the most of otherwise useless space. You’ll find it’s usually the smaller items that tend to end up causing most of the mess inside the 4WD. If you’ve got a place to keep all these bits and pieces then you’ll end up with a tidier, more efficient setup.

BONUS TIP

WATER STORAGE

We all know the importance of drinking water on a trip away. A tip here is to stuff a whole bunch of smaller water bottles in to all the gaps, nooks and crannies around your 4WD. They’ll only take up otherwise useless space and you’ll always have a backup of water bottles stashed around the 4WD.

QUICKER CAMP SETUPS!

Everyone’s got that one mate who’s still there at 9pm trying to setup camp. Avoid being that camper, with our expert tips!

FAST FOOD

A guaranteed time saver is to precook your meals a few days earlier, then use your Adventure Kings Vacuum sealer and freeze them. Then it’s as simple as popping the vacuum sealed bags in some hot water and you’re ready to go – how’s that for a quick campsite dinner!

QUICK TENT

If you’re the kind of family that regularly does quick overnighters or couple weekends then it might be worth investing in a rapid setup tent. They do cost a few quid to buy, but save you a heap of time in the long run and ultimately make each getaway quicker, easier and more pleasurable for all.

“YOU’LL BE AMAZED HOW MUCH TIME YOU SAVE”

PEGS AND ROPES

Keep three or four extra guy ropes and a bag of pegs somewhere easily accessible for your Adventure Kings Awning, like under the driver’s seat. When the weather turns bad, you don’t want to be pulling your vehicle apart searching for extra ropes or pegs.

GET IT DOWN TO AN ART

If you’ve been driving all day and hanging for a coldie, you’ll want to get set up in no time. Speed up the process by taking a stepped approach and before you know it, it’s routine. Get yourself some velcro and strategically place it on poles, tent walls, and parts of the car that allow for things to be attached. Use a permanent pen to mark poles so you know exactly what height they need to be the next time you set up, and leave guy ropes at the correct length when packing away. You’ll be amazed how much time you save.

QUALITY LIGHTING

Now this one might seem obvious, but the amount of campers out there trying to set up camp with little more than a head torch in the dark is astounding. Get yourself some Illuminator LED Strip Lighting next time you’re able and fit out your 4WD with some quality LED camp lights. It’ll make setting up at night an absolute breeze and save a stack of time.

A SOLAR SHOWER

“If funds, space or setup times don’t allow you to have a fully plumbed camp shower, then fear not; there’s no need to suffer the effects of the ‘five-days-in-the-bush cologne’. Add an Adventure Kings Portable Shower Kit to your setup as it takes up bugger all space and can be stored almost anywhere.”

KEEP SOME GEAR HANDY

Have your insect repellent or wet weather gear in easy reach so that you can use either if required, meaning you can get on with the setup if you are getting eaten alive or a downpour is in progress. There’s nothing worse than pulling up at camp in the rain and having to pull half the 4WD apart to get to your wet weather clothing – keep it accessible.

ROOF TOP TENT TIP

There’s a surprising amount of space in your Adventure Kings Rooftop Tent that people rarely take advantage of, and why wouldn’t you? It’s waterproof, padded and can store all your bedding in the tent itself. Depending on their size, you can even squeeze a few camp chairs under the PVC cover too.

“THIS ONE TIP WILL SAVE YOU STACK OF TIME AND MONEY!”

BE FLEXIBLE

Sometimes having a little extra gear at home is what you need to be able to adapt to different camping situations. If you’re heading off with a mate for a really quick overnighter, then ditch the rooftop tent in favour of a Big Daddy Deluxe Swag. Likewise if you’re off for a long weekend with the better half, then the Adventure Kings ‘Weekender’ Roof Top Tent is the way to go. Having the right gear for the right occasion inevitably makes setting up much quicker. Don’t pack a tent that requires an engineering degree to assemble if you’re on your own.

QUICK CAMP TABLE

Add an Adventure Kings Aluminium Roll-Up Camping Table to the back of your 4WD somewhere that’s accessible. They pack up small and should be one of the first things you grab when you’re prepping to cook dinner.