What to Take Overlanding and Camping

It’s spring and you’re probably getting ready for a camping trip or two. In case you’re wondering what to bring, I’ll share our camp list, our checklist for everything we bring.

First though a word on how we pack. I have a drawer system in the truck and a lot of the tools and recovery gear live in there. In the flat area above the drawers we have room for three plastic bins (like the ones in the photo above) and one cooler. That makes four solid items that can easily be strapped down. Always secure your load inside the vehicle. You don’t want that stuff shifting on the trail, or worse, flying around in an accident. All of the soft stuff (blankets, sleeping bags and the like) go between the space left over along side the bins. Usually I can get us packed and still see out of the rear window.

For longer trips, I take out the back seat of the truck and bolt a couple of D-rings to the floor of the truck where the seat bolts go. In that space, low and central, I’ll strap down 21 gallons of water in 3 plastic jugs. That’s enough for a maximum of 10 days for my wife and I at a rate of 1 gallon per person per day for drinking, cooking, and dishes.

You can see one of the water containers in the picture below.

I’ve rigged it up as a solar shower. Just so you know, showering is not calculated in the 1 gal. / person / day formula. You’ll need extra water for that.

It’s nice to travel comfortably. My wife, Natalie, always has amazing snacks at the ready.

Don’t forget the entertainment! Our friend Greg likes to take a rubber rattlesnake camping and hide it in our stuff. I always forget and end up startled 2 or 3 times per trip.

Our tent is pretty plush. Natalie wasn’t into the 2-1/2 man tent from my bachelor days.

Here’s the tent from the outside. It’s an REI Base Camp 4. We like it a lot. Plenty of room for the two of us plus our gear. Then there’s even more room for stuff in the vestibules.

Greg prefers more spartan accommodations. Those Italian, wool army blankets are great. We both have them.

This is how I set up the roof rack: spare gas, foam bed roll, and a 2nd spare tire.

Here’s a shot of the drawer system I built (there’s a latch missing in this photo). The white, top of the drawers is actually a removable camp table.

OK—here’s our camp list!

Camping List

Kitchen 
Cooler, medium size
Coleman 2-burner stove
grill grates (2)
cutting board
chef’s knife
nested sauce pans (2)
tin foil
ziploc bags, quart and gallon size
tongs
paper plates
compostable cutlery
plastic wash tubs (2, one for wash, one for rinse)
sponge / dish brush
dish soap
dish cloth (2)
sponge
Grapefruit Seed Extract
Grill Spray (high heat)
Dehydrated Food
top ramen
plates + bowls
utensils
cups
big percolator
Water (1 gal. per person, per day, minimum)
Water purifier (for emergencies)
citronella candle
binder clips (for sealing chip bags and the like)

Fire 
firewood
Camp axe
news paper / paper bags
matches

Sleeping
Tent
camp pads
egg crate
sheets
pillows
sleeping bag / blankets

Camp
chairs (2)
Coleman gas lantern or 60-day battery lantern
Firewood (depending on availability)
Camp table (I built mine into my drawer system)

Clothing
Travel pants (2)
sweater
jacket
hiking boots
crocs
sun hat
knit hat
synth. undershirts (3)
rain boots

Toiletry
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
deodorant
razor
towel
bug spray
sun screen
lip balm
lotion
hand soap
solar shower
quick-dry towel
Nivea / hand lotion

Navigation
USGS maps (30 min., 7.5 min.)
Benchmark Atlases
GPS
Off-road guidebooks
Binder with trip notes, radio manuals, weather reports, helpful how-tos, and this camp list (if consumables run out, or you think of something else you need, write it on the list).

Utility
flashlight
headlamps
clamp light
lantern
trash bags
rope
heaving line
leatherman
zip ties
Suunto Core watch (altimeter, barometer, compass equipped)
spare batteries (AA, AAA)
knife
GMRS radio
tarp, 10’ x 20’ (great improvised shelter / rain fly)
4 2’ rebar stakes (for anchoring tarp)
fishing poles
fishing net
tackle box
fishing licenses
fire tongs
hot water bottle
axe
tie-down straps
leather gloves
binoculars
folding camp shovel (Great for trenching, if rain is forecast. Great for clearing ground around a fire. Works for handling burning logs too.)

Recording
camera
video camera
video camera kit (housing, lens, tapes, charger)

Truck Supplies
motor oil (4 qts)
extra gasoline, 10 gallons (optional)
Onboard CO2 tank (Power Tank)
tire gauge
Spare fuses
tube of grease
WD40
flat repair kit
spare parts kit for your truck (upper and lower radiator hoses, fuel filter, oil filter, spare fuel line, all belts)

Emergency Kit
Flares
Jumper cables
Neosporin
sterile pads
advil
water purification tablets
medical tape

Recovery
Hi-lift jack
Hi-lift base
Hi-lift off-road kit
Hi-lift wheel hooks
Chain, (8ft., 25 ft.)
Starter fluid
Tire chains (4)
Pull-pall
Hydraulic jack
Shovels (2)
Hand saw
PowerTank
Air hose

Tools
Duct tape
Crescent wrench
Vice grips
Socket set
pliers
screwdrivers
adjustable wrench
multimeter