Introduction
From Trail to Campsite: Pulling off an overnight off-road trip is an unmatched weekend getaway. With just a few pieces of Jeep camping gear, you’ll be ready to escape with a well equipped camping vehicle.
From sporting a stock Jeep with a minimalist camp kit to hitting the road in a hand-built Jeep Cherokee Camper, I’ve tested a wide range of gear to know what works – and what doesn’t.
Save yourself the hassle and wasted money on finding gear you’ll use vs. clutter. Everything you need to go from trail to campsite in an afternoon.
Essential Jeep Camping Gear
Off-Road Tires
The core of any successful off-road trip: tread and tires. Investing in a set of quality off-road tires will breathe new life into your Jeep. Transforming it from a standard commuter into a capable 4WD vehicle.
Instead of skidding by on hopes and dreams up the campsite trail – you’ll be locked into the dirt, mud, and whatever else comes between you and that perfect camp spot.
Pro Tip: The list of tread types and brands can be overwhelming. A tire marketed as “A/T” is sufficient for everything but the deepest mud holes and steepest rock crawling. I’ve had good experience with the Toyo Open Country and Cooper Discoverer Series.
Recovery Gear
Now that traction & tires are dialed – you’ll need to prepare for the unexpected. Off-roading can throw any number of surprises your way, and that’s where recovery gear isn’t an option: It’s a need.
Why is this included as must-have Jeep camping gear? Because no one wants to end up stuck halfway down a ravine, especially one just short of that perfect campsite.
A well-built recovery strap and shackles are the bare minimum. Wandering further down the trail or camping solo? Time to add a winch to that kit.
Pro Tip #2: Start out with a group of other Jeeps/trucks. The added insurance of the group will let you push yourself to the limits and make easy work of recovery. It’s not if – but when the trail has some added surprises.
Portable Air Compressor
Maintaining the right tire pressure is crucial for a smooth off-road experience. A portable air compressor might seem trivial, but it’s a lifesaver when you need to adjust tire pressure on the go.
Airing down will allow the tire to not only grip into the dirt like a true off-road tire, but gives some much needed cushion on washboard and rutted roads. Nobody wants to arrive to camp with their brain rattled loose.
Airing back up to the Jeep’s recommended PSI before getting back on the road is even more essential to keep proper control on the highway and avoid a catastrophic blowout.
Take it from me: I put off installing an air compressor for years and grew tired of limping down the road to the nearest gas-station for an air fill-up.
Not only is this useful as a Jeep camping accessory – but makes a night-and-day difference in any off-roading scenario.
Comfortable Camping Essentials
Onto the good stuff – everything from campground comfort to cooking up a camp feast like no other. Top pieces of Jeep Camping Gear to pack:
Rooftop Tent
This is the biggest sticking point when starting into Jeep Camping. You’ll want to make sure you choose the right sleeping setup because let’s be real: blindly picking a rooftop tent can be costly, uncomfortable and more of a burden than a reward.
You’ll want to get this piece of camping gear right the first time…
Rooftop Tent Benefits
Rooftop tents can be a game-changer for camping. They’re easy to set up, provide unmatched views from atop the Jeep, and keep you up and away from critters on the ground. The right tent can turn a cramped 4×4 into a cozy mobile campsite, but there’s a few things to keep in mind:
Types of Roof Top Tents
Will you be pulling the tent off after each trip, or leaving it perched on a heavy duty roof rack? While a soft-sided rooftop tent can be an economical option – it can see quicker wear and tear from atop the Jeep and bring a hit to fuel economy/MPG while commuting.
A hard-sided roof top tent can sit lower to the vehicle, provide better aerodynamics and an overall heavier duty build, but there’s still a few last questions to know whether or not a rooftop tent is right for your Jeep:
The Problem with Rooftop Tents:
Does your camping setup need to be comfortable in the windiest and stormiest of nights? In high winds, rooftop tents can be quite the… experience. Perched atop the Jeep they do get the best views, but offer little protection against howling midnight winds that will rock that good night’s sleep away.
Will you be Jeep Camping with kids or pets? Anyone nearing retirement age? Climbing up and down a ladder to that cozy nest is nice the first time or two, but every time you or your family needs to use the restroom – it can become an exercise in trapeze acrobatics.
A roof top tent can be a great solution from Jeeps to every other overland build imaginable – but sleep on the idea before jumping all in. There’s lots of hype around on these setups – but if you want real talk this video gives an unbiased breakdown:
Pro Tip: Roof Top Tents may sound like the holy grail of Jeep Camping Gear – but there’s some real tried & true alternatives that can be just as comfy.
Sleeping Bag and Pad
Story Time: On a weekend camping trip perched 5000’ above San Diego, a camping couple we regularly hit the trails with managed to forget their sleeping bag. Rather than turn back to town they resorted to sharing a lone fleece blanket in their rooftop tent. Let’s just say they were in for a long, cold night of shivery cuddles.
Choose a sleeping bag that suits the weather conditions – and always plan for the wind to pick up or temperatures to drop below the forecast. I’ve always found that a medium-weight sleeping bag that can fully unzip offers the best of both: Bundling up on the coldest nights and stretching out on warm summer nights.
Camping as a couple? A queen-size doubles sleeping bag is the way to go.
Pair it with a comfortable sleeping pad, and you’re in for camping luxury. Packable and inflatable camping pads will do the trick, but for the seasoned Jeep camper an all-weather foam mattress brings the full comforts of home.
Portable Camping Stove
Eating canned beans over a campfire is a classic. Sounds nice in the old-western movie sense but spend more than a night in the outdoors and you’ll be running for the bushes scrambling for that toilet paper you remembered to pack – or did you?
Maybe some real food is in order. Packing a portable propane camp stove make a good “anywhere meal” effortless.
Raining? No Problem. Windy? Don’t Sweat it.
A simple two burner camp stove does the trick every time. Electric ignition and a collapsible wind-shield make the Coleman grill of my childhood still relevant today.
Pro Tip: Yes, there are high end camp stoves. Yes, you can cook the tastiest fresh cinnamon rolls on the trail – but is this really necessary? Maybe not, but I’ll be enjoying them anyway. One thing to not skimp on is a few quality camp cooking recipes.
Compact Folding Chairs
Already winded just from preparing for the trip? After a day of off-roading, you’ll want a comfy spot to relax and take in the views as the sun dwindles and the stars come out. Whether taking in the view or caught up in admiring the rig that got you there – we’ve all been there.
A quality set of lightweight and packable camp chairs will make you feel right at home from the latest night campfires to that early morning cup of coffee.
You can’t go wrong with a simple tried & true camp chair for the budget-minded, but there are some heavier duty options around. Most chairs will set you up about the same, although a typical camp chair will raise you up above the fire, while a beach chair will give a lowrider comfort of its own.
I say keep it simple – go with a classic camp chair and check this off the list.
Safety and Navigation
Jeep Camping Gear You Won’t Survive Without
Voted the #1 outdoor must have.
You wont survive a day without it:
Water
Even so, it’s the most common rookie mistake out there. We get caught up in all the must-have camping gear that we’ll take water for granted until we’re cutting our trip short and headed back to town to quench our thirst.
Do like me: pick up a stout 5-gallon container, top it off before your trip and enjoy the time outdoors without having to rush back to civilization.
How much water should you pack for Jeep Camping? 1 gallon of drinking water a day, per person, is a good rule of thumb – more if planning for cooking, rinsing hands or even showering.
There’s gizmos out there for filtering stream and river water – but I’d save those for the emergency kit outlined below.
First Aid Kit
Nobody wants to turn a mild campsite mishap into a hospital visit. A well-stocked first aid kit should be the first thing you add to cart when putting together a camping kit. Minor cuts and scrapes are the usual culprit, but in preparing for the worst, a comprehensive vehicle-focused kit is a game changer.
I’ve toted one around for years and it fits out of sight under my Jeep’s passenger seat 99% of the time, but those few times it’s been of service made it worth every penny. I’ll also sleep well knowing I have a trauma kit whether for myself or as a good samaritan to anyone else on the trails.
Pro Tip: Customize your first aid kit beyond the essentials to transform it into a Jeep Camping survival kit. Emergency food, water, flashlights and matches are a smart addition. Bear Grylls would be proud.
GPS Navigation System
Getting lost can be part of the adventure, but finding your way back better be a part of it too. Although many off-roaders will say to invest in a reliable GPS navigation system designed for off-highway terrain, I’ve never done so myself. Rather, I’ll map out the route ahead of time on google maps, check the weather conditions, and screenshot significant routes/maps in preparation to wander outside the reach of cell service.
It also helps to start on more developed or maintained trails – such as Bureau of Land Management trails (many of which also provide free dispersed camping – a jackpot for Jeep Camping).
A last safety tip is to always tell someone you’re close with where you’ll be headed, for how long, and any stops that may be made outside of the route. I’ll always share a find my iphone pin just before dropping out of service.
Trail prep isn’t just a piece of Jeep camping gear – it’s knowledge.
Fire Extinguisher
Didn’t Smokey the Bear teach you anything? Don’t burn down our forests – buy a fire extinguisher and pack it. Although I’ve never used mine and hope to never have to – I sleep well at night knowing it’s ready and waiting.
Call me paranoid – but I have a smoke and CO2 alarm set up in my jeep at all times as well. I wouldn’t live at home without one – so why would I take the same risk while camping.
Own The Outdoors: Odds & Ends For Every Jeep Camper
Camping Apparel
It’s an absolute must to wear distinguished outdoor brands while hitting the trails. Sometimes it comes off that way… but don’t buy into it.
Focus on packing a few versatile outfits rather than dressing around trends. For myself a well-seasoned hoody, heavier coat and pair of camp sweats are on the top of that list. Beyond that, I’ll always keep a pair of boardshorts ready for that unexpected swimming hole and a change or two of clothes otherwise.
One big plus of Jeep Camping vs. hiking or backpacking is the added room to pack a little something extra.
Bluetooth Speaker
Whether some mellow music to set up camp, or that campfire-ready acoustic mix – packing a speaker can step up the campsite mood.
Pro Tip: You’ll undoubtedly forget to charge the speaker – so do what I do. Grab one of these power tool job-site radios and all you need is a battery pack from your tool brand of choice. I’ll always have a few of these charged in the garage – no sweat for that last minute camping trip.
Plus: most have bluetooth & a USB charging plug. If they’re built for the job-site they’ll certainly stand up to bouncing around the back of a Jeep. This piece of camping gear keeps the tunes going and phones charged.
Everything But The Kitchen Sink
If I had to pick other top Jeep Camping Gear essentials off the top of my head they would follow: A Quality Hammock to string between trees or even bumper-to-bumper. A few quality flashlights and packable headlamp. A camp hatchet and sizable pocket knife. A cooler stocked with ice and your preferred cookware. And Smores. Definitely Smores.
Conclusion: Must-Have Jeep Camping Gear
I could go on and write an entire novel on the experiences of gear that made the trip, and gear that didn’t quite – but I’ll keep it short and sweet.
Don’t overcomplicate it – get your vehicle reliable and ready, pack a few core essentials – and you’ll be enjoying all that Jeep Camping has to offer.
I’ve given truck bed living a try, spent plenty of nights in ground tents, hammocks, and vans – but Jeep camping has always been the perfect mix of off-road exploration and campsite comfort. Enjoy!
Did I Miss Anything? Questions? Comment Below!
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