Picture this… you are sitting on a comfortable light-weight camp chair underneath the shade of a big beautiful tree looking over a small mountain lake you have all to yourself. Your kids are gathering some wood while some water boils on the stove. You tackled a 50 plus mile dirt road to get here and that might have been the best part of the week-long camping trip. How do you get to this ideal dream adventure? Proper preparation. We have been camping out of our Jeep for years and have put together a list of must have gear for camping out of your Jeep. It’s important to note that this is not mean’t to be an exhaustive camping checklist. Our goal is to share some of our favorite gear that is either specific to Jeep Wranglers or just well suited for them.
1. Light-weight Compact Camp Chair:
Jeeps Wranglers are super tight on space and traditional camp chairs are bulky, heavy and cumbersome. Having a compact camp chair is an absolute must for camping. While we traditionally like to pick a favorite piece of kit for lists like this, the reality is there are dozens of great chairs out there. Every reputable backpacking company has one. Additionally several companies that make chairs for Overlanding have some great chairs. Here are a few of our favorites.
A: The Tusk Compact Camping Chair:
Designed for adventure motorcycling this chair is super compact and light-weight. The large comes in at just under 3 pounds and has a capacity of 340lbs. Best of all it will fit between your roll bar and the rear window which is a perfect place to stack these chairs for adventures. Best of all you can pick one up for $40.
B: Expander Camping Chair – By Front Runner:
Front Runner Outfitters is a leading outfitter for Overland travel. Their Expander chair folds up very compact and can be deployed quickly. The downside is it comes in at 9lbs which is the heaviest chair on the list. But it is the most comfortable on the list. Check current Amazon pricing.
C: Helinox Chair 2 Rocker:
If you are looking for the most comfortable lightweight chair on the market look no further. The Chair 2 Rocker from Helinox is like sitting on a cloud as far as compact chairs go. Easy to setup and comes in at just over 4 pounds. Setup in camp and spend the evening rocking back and forth while you roast marshmallows and enjoy a night around the campfire.
Pickup a Rocker here.
2. Roll Top Table:
Tables are one of the bulkiest pieces of camp kit you will deal with. That’s why we love a nice roll top table. They fold up into a nice manageable kit that saves tons of space and is easy to setup. Perfect for food preparation and eating while at camp. No doubt you have tried a camping trip without a proper table and to say the least it is a pain in the butt. Grab one of these Roll Top Tables and you will have an easy to use table that fits nicely in your Jeep.
3. Drop Down Tailgate Table:
Despite having picked up a nice table above counter space while camping is still super scarce. Which is why you need to get a tailgate table. These smart little accessories mount onto the inside of your rear swingout. Designed to fit most campstoves they make the perfect platform to prepare and cook food from. Depending on the model you go with picking up one that has a slide out cutting board is also an option. We have been using our table from Front Runner for over a year and absolutely love it. Easy to install and fits our Campchef Everest stove perfectly. We promise this is an accessory the chef in your camp will love.
4. Spare Tire Carrier Trash Bag:
Cooking and keeping camp clean can lead to some pretty stinky messes. We are huge fans of spare tire carrier trash bags. Most popular on the market is the Trasharoo. It easily straps to the spare tire of your Jeep giving you a great place to put trash from camping. It keeps the smell outside and if you put a trash liner in it all you have to do is pull that out when you get home and drop it in a can. They also often come with a few pouches so you can carry gear on the outside of your rig. We love to put our wet gear in the top pouch so we do not have to keep it inside. There are several brands out there on the market but we think the Trasharoo is the best bang for your buck.
5. Deep Sleep 4 Jeeps:
No doubt you can use just about any sleeping pad inside your Jeep. But what we love about the Jeep Sleep is that it is designed to fit perfectly inside the JKU. With cutouts and contours of the Jeep interior. They are extremely comfortable and having the ability to sleep inside your Jeep while camping has a lot of benefits. Not only are you better protected from the wind but you have the ability to keep bugs and pests outside.
6. Helio Camp Shower:
Who needs a shower when camping? Everyone not to mention this compact shower system is great for cleaning dishes and cleaning up around camp. Simply fill it with water and use the pump to add pressure to the system. This gives you enough pressure for a quality shower as well as cleaning around camp. It will be the cleanest $100 you ever spend.
7. Wolfpack Storage Box:
Keeping your gear organized and well packed is crucial. We love the Wolfpack system from Front Runner. They stack nicely on top of each other, are water resistant and are sturdy enough to handle camp well. While their are other storage boxes out there this one is designed for camping and overlanding. We recommend keeping the gear you take on each trip inside so you can quickly load up and hit the trail.
8. Oz Tent:
There are a lot of really cool tents out there. But the Oz tent is pretty unique, built by camping enthusiasts from Australia these rugged tents are extremely durable and best of all they setup in just a minute or two. Unlike traditional tents that at times make you feel like you need an engineering degree to construct these go up and down quickly and provide excellent protection from the elements. The only downside is they are not compact, so you will need to put them on a roof rack. Check current pricing on Amazon.
9. Roof Rack:
The rear cargo area of a Jeep Wrangler JLU is only 31 cubic feet. Which means keeping a weeks worth of camping gear back there is not easy. Depending on how compact your gear is it may not be possible. However adding a roof-rack to your Jeep is an excellent way to carry a lot more gear. Pair your rack with some nice storage boxes and you are able to take just about everything out on the trail with you, including a collapsible kitchen sink. Another key benefit of a roof-rack is it gives you the option of adding a roof-top tent which can add a lot of convenience to your camping.
10. Portable Fridge:
Keeping your food cold while camping can take some work. If you plan to spend a few days out on the trail you will have to stop to get ice. Drain the melted ice and refill, or you could pick up a portable fridge. They not only keep your food cold, but they save space by not needing a large bulky ice box. These units connect to the Jeeps power and run off your battery. If you are concerned about your battery life, you can add an second battery setup to run all of your aftermarket accessories. ARB has been making fridges for a very long time we highly recommend theirs.
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