By Madeline Klein on July 3, 2018 in Life Hacks
It’s that time of year. The time to hit the road and head to your favorite camping spot. Once you get there you can unplug, relax, and enjoy the great outdoors.
Some avid campers wouldn’t think of anything besides hiking to the perfect spot with just a backpack and a sleeping bag. More power to them! However, we know some of you would rather have some more modern conveniences for your camping trips. For those loading a car to go camping (and maybe even sleeping in the car), we have some tips and tricks you may not have thought of trying out on your next trip!
1. Get a cross breeze
If you’re sleeping in your car, try opening the windows. If you open two across from each other, you can get a nice cross breeze to keep you cool all night long. This is a simple thing to make your night in the car much more enjoyable. No more waking up to the windows covered in moisture. And if you’re in a heavy bug area, try putting some mosquito nets over the windows to keep the pesky bugs out.
2. Clear storage drawers
If you aren’t sleeping in your car, you can pack the trunk with clear storage drawers. This makes it easy to get to anything you may need and eliminates the guesswork of checking bags or boxes. Keeping your car organized is key to avoid frustrations during your trip and make the most of your time outside. You don’t want to waste a second of it searching for a tiny box of matches or the flashlight you know you packed somewhere.
3. Bring an air mattress
If you’re a truck person, bump up your comfort level by bringing an air mattress to sleep on in your truck bed. The air mattress will make all the difference! Not only will it be more comfortable, but it will also keep you warmer during the night because of the extra layer between you and the truck bed. Better sleep = happy campers.
4. Make some living space
Cars are great, but they don’t provide much covered space to hang out in while you’re soaking in the great outdoors. Whatever type of car you might be in, you can secure a tarp to the top of the car or the top of the open trunk. Then, put some tall stakes (or even PVC pipes) in the ground to secure the other end of the tarp, and you’ve got yourself an awning. This makes a decent spot for you and your friends to hang out under. Raining? No problem! You’ve got a dry spot.
5. Use a clear shoe organizer
Have everything you need at your fingertips by hanging a clear shoe organizer in your car. These hang from a seat or from the hanger hooks that most cars have in the backseat. The clear organizer will make it easy to have all the essentials within reach during your whole camping trip. Fill it with flashlights, walkie-talkies, phones, matches, or anything else you may need to have handy.
If you’re going on your first camping trip, or are an old pro looking for some new tips, these camping hacks can help you have your best camping trip yet.