When getting your 4WD and Camping setup sorted, you can easily drop anywhere from a couple of hundred to a couple of thousand of dollars on your dream setup. Whilst the gear may be tough and built to last, by taking care of it your gear will last you so much longer and get you even better value for money!

These rules apply for just about any gear whether its your 4WD gear, camping gear, and even in some situations, your actual 4WD, so listen closely and take some notes, for not just longer lasting gear but also to be ready to go the next time you hit the tracks!

If you make these processes into a bit of a ritual, you will find that you will naturally set aside a good amount of time when you return home to make sure your camping and 4WD gear lasts as long as is possible!

Pack your gear away dry!

This is probably rule number one, with any gear, being stored in damp environments is often the kiss of death for most materials. Moisture leads to corrosion, mould, mildew, and any number of issues with moving parts, lack of lubrication and deterioration of fabrics.

However with all campsite shelters and setups like your Adventure Kings Awnings, Gazebo’s and even your Adventure Kings Swag, it is critically important to dry before storing it away for extended periods of time. This means when you are finished and unpacking the car, you unfold everything and let it all fully dry before packing it up and storing it in the shed or the garage.

We like to wait for the nearest sunny day and set everything up in the yard or on the balcony to let it get a good dose of sunshine and prevent any mildew mould or rotting stitching, as for your tent poles and awning uprights,  you can simply give them a quick wipe down with a dry towel, then spray the pivot points with your favorite water dispersal spray!

Clean your mess!            

When you are packing your gear away, it’s a good idea to get everything nice and clean before you roll everything up, whilst dirt on its own isn’t necessarily going to destroy your gear, dirt and dust particles are generally quite abrasive, and when things are rolled tight and vibration is introduced, your gear will gradually wear through itself.

The other thing that can happen is the dirt particles can scratch and gall any metal components on your camping setup, resulting in prematurely worn out locking mechanisms as well as sloppy hinge points.

We love to set most of our campsite back up in the driveway and give everything a quick once over with a bucket and sponge, cleaning off any built up dirt, the more thorough you are with this process, the more likely you are to notice bits and pieces that are wearing out, and get on top of repairing, and even sourcing replacement parts if possible.

If you stay on top of your camping gear, by cleaning, drying and maintaining you will get so much more life out of your setup, securing even more durability and excellent value from your Adventure Kings setup.