Some Not So Basic Car Camping Tips

I love car camping. You get to bring all the luxuries and still get to enjoy the best of nature. You know what I don't love - the packing, forgetting things, FOMO. We put together this list compiled of mistakes we have made in the past so that you don't have to go through the same thing. After all, we are heading out to the wilderness for some peace, quiet and relaxation, right?

Photo by cottonbro on Pexels.com

Before you hit the road

1. Fill the tank

Don’t be that guy. There’s nothing worse than getting out on the Forest Service roads and watching the ominous gas light turn on. Start your trip off with a full tank of gas. You may also want to top it off before heading into the wilderness. Stay stress free, my friends. I carry a Rotopax 2 gallon tank that I fill with extra fuel on longer trips, but my Tacoma doesn’t get the best mpg. 

2. Bring Lots of Water

Start your weekend with as many full water bottles and bladders as possible. Weight isn’t an issue since you won’t be lugging it around on your back, and having lots of water gives you peace of mind. Use every gas station, visitor center and restroom as an opportunity to top off. Part of my road-tripping kit is a Dometic Go Hydration Water Jug paired with their Faucet. At camp, this also serves as my Hand and dishwashing station. 

3. Sleep like a king or Queen

Don’t skimp on the luxuries. You’re not backpacking here! Bring a thick air mattress, or a heated blanket, and maybe your favorite pillow. Bust out your favorite book before bedtime. Heck, hang an iPad and snooze off to an episode of Ozark. 

Photo by Xue Guangjian on Pexels.com

How to Pick Out the Perfect Campsite When Car Camping

4. Don’t Limit Yourself to Paid Campgrounds

The states are loaded with beautiful free campsites - you just need know where to look. One of the beauties of public land is that you can camp for free, right near your car. Follow these guidelines to choose a site, and be sure to check with the local land management agency for specific regulations.

5. Check if you need a Fire Permit

If you think you’ll want to make a fire, get a permit in advance from your local land management agency. Just because the campsite has a fire pit doesn’t necessarily mean fires are allowed.  Know how to properly start, maintain and make sure your campfire is dead out. 

Photo by Cliford Mervil on Pexels.com

When you get to your perfect campsite 

6. Save your car battery 

You’ll probably be opening the doors frequently, so save your battery by keeping the indoor lights in the “permanently off” position, and carry jumper cables in case of a dead battery. I always have a car jumper kit stowed away. This thing has saved my butt more times than I would like to admit. 

7. Don’t make your campsite a yard sale 

No need to unpack every last item: leave some things, like your daypack, extra food, and extra clothes, in the car. This helps you stay organized and ensures you have some reserve supplies in the rare event that critters steal your food or weather jacks up some of your gear.

Photo by Todd Trapani on Pexels.com

Car Camping Tips for Setting Up Camp

8. Pick a Safe Spot for Your Tent

Scan the site for dead or overhanging branches and trees - you don’t want to pitch your tent underneath these things. Set up your tent in a flat, well-drained area. Bonus points if you can have your opening facing some epic scenery. Even though many tents have 2 vestibules, I usually only use one side to minimize the chance of debris or rain getting inside the tent. 

9. Be The camp chef

Find a flat, sheltered spot 150 feet from your tent to pitch a tarp or canopy like the Kelly blah (if you’re expecting rain) and set up your stove. I set my kitchen under my FRO awning up against the truck. Use a proper kitchen table, chill your beer or wine in the stream (check alcohol restrictions for the land management agency), and get ready for a gourmet dinner.

Photo by Vlad Bagacian on Pexels.com

Some Bomb Car Camping Tips

10. Don’t be a Litterbug 

It’s important to practice Leave No Trace (LNT) by packing out all of your garbage. we started using the Litter Gitter by Kelty which helps to stay clean and organized as well as cutting down on tic garbage bags. If you’re in a place with access to waste bins, like trailheads or visitor centers, take the opportunity to chuck some in here. This will keep your car from getting stanky.

11. Store Food in the Car

Storing food and cooking equipment in the car prevents hungry critters from setting up shop on your site. Bring a cooler and sealed containers for opened foods: this keeps them fresh and lowers the stink factor. We have started using reusable storage bags and food storage containers by hydra flask. They help keep the food fresh, are super durable and come in some pimp colors for photos. If you really want to go all in, check out a portable camp freezer like the Dometic CFX45. We are big fans of outdoor cooking and having one of these is a game changer over using a traditional cooler. It is way cleaner, and cheaper in the long run - plus you never have to worry about water getting into any of your foods.

12. Tetris TF out of your car

Develop a mental map of where everything is in your car. You don’t need to be overly meticulous and annoying, but using proper bins or bags goes a long way. for soft items, I use Gregory Duffel Bags like the Supply Duffel 60 or Alpaca 60. For other items, I use the Rubbermaid Action Packer bins. A lot of people swear by this REI packing cube system but I personally haven't used them yet. Because I have a pickup truck, it’s rad that these can be locked with a quick combo master lock. Starting and staying organized as you go allows you to spend more time enjoying the outdoors and less time rummaging around for that spork that you swear is under the driver’s seat, but come to think of it, it might be in the glove compartment…

Photo by Nathan Moore on Pexels.com

Car Camping Tips for packing up your site 

13. Leave it as Clean or cleaner than you found it

Pick up all trash left behind by previous hooligans (especially in the fire pit). I agree, it’s no fun, but people will sometimes just be people. if you love the outdoors, be the better person and pick up what can. I thank you on behalf of all of the a-holes. 

14. Spread some love

On your way out, stop by the visitor center or ranger station to tell the staff how much you enjoyed your visit and to thank them for all the work they do to keep these areas open and accessible. To do their jobs they sacrifice a lot. a small gesture of appreciation can go a long way!

Top 10 Must-Know Tips for Campfire Safety

One of the most enjoyable parts of camping is enjoying a glowing campfire-not to mention the light and warmth it provides. Building a campfire, however, comes with a lot of responsibility. A campfire can quickly become dangerous for the people, animals, and land around it if it is not built correctly, maintained, and extinguished. Nearly 9 out of 10 wildfires in the United States are started by people. Campfires can be enjoyed safely and responsibly if you know how.

These are the Top 10 Must-Know Tips for Campfire Safety.

Photo by Berend de Kort on Pexels.com

1. Know the Rules

Check the fire regulations of the campground or wilderness area where you are planning to build a fire before striking a match. Campgrounds may temporarily ban campfires if there is a high risk of wildfires, even if they have previously allowed them. Check the ranger's station for current campfire regulations and pay attention to posted signs.

2. Use the Campfire Pit

In most campgrounds, there is a fire pit or fire ring where campfires can be built. A campfire should only be built in the provided pit if one is provided. In a remote area where campfires are permitted but fire pits are not provided, dig a fire pit in an open area away from power lines, overhanging branches, and other hazards that could catch fire. After the pit has been dug, surround it with rocks, clearing a ten-foot radius of anything that could catch fire around the pit.

3. Building a Safe Campfire

Once your fire pit is built, build a safe campfire. Start the campfire with grass or dried leaves that will catch fire quickly. Then, add kindling, small branches and sticks smaller than an inch in diameter. Keep adding larger pieces of wood to the fire as it builds. In addition to providing heat, they will keep the fire burning for a longer period of time. Remember, you do not have to have a raging fire. In a small fire surrounded by rocks, you'll have plenty of heat for cooking and warmth.

4. Mind the Match

Light your campfire with a match, and make sure it is completely extinguished before disposing of it. Wet the match or throw it directly into the fire to burn it. Never start a fire with lighter fluid, gas, kerosene, or any other flammable liquid.

5. Use Local Firewood

Even if they are not visible to the naked eye, tree-killing insects and diseases can live on firewood. You can inadvertently introduce insects and diseases into forests where they wouldn't otherwise be found by bringing firewood from home. That's why it's important to use local firewood. Local means the closest convenient source of firewood available. Pick up firewood from the campground camp store or a nearby location, if possible.

6. Keep Water Handy

You should always have water and a shovel nearby when you start a campfire. Use the water to douse any runaway flames and the shovel to throw dirt or sand on any flames that jump the perimeter of your fire ring. It's also smart to keep a few feet of ground outside your fire ring watered down, so if an ember or flame flies outside, it won't gain any traction.

7. Pay Attention to the Wind

Your fire can spread in seconds if the wind is strong. Any flammable materials, such as unused firewood, should be kept upwind and at least 15 feet away from a campfire in case of a sudden gust of wind. 

8. Be Careful with Kids and Pets

Campers need to be aware of more than just the risk of forest fires. The most common cause of camping injuries for children in the United States is fire. Keep your children and pets away from campfires unless they're on an adult's lap and teach them about fire safety. In the event that their clothes catch on fire, teach them how to stop, drop, and roll.  

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

9. Never Leave a Campfire Unattended

Even for a minute, a campfire should not be left unattended. There should be at least one person watching the fire at all times because even a small breeze can quickly spread the fire. Even if you're leaving the fire for a short period of time, like to take a quick hike, you should extinguish it completely. It can be restarted when you return.

10. Put the Fire Out Completely—Every Time

When you're finished with your campfire, make sure you extinguish it properly. Dump water on the fire, stir the ashes with a shovel, then dump more water on it. The fire should be completely cold before you leave it unattended. If it's too hot to touch, then it's too hot to leave.

If you have large logs, make sure you soak them in water before attempting to put them out. Move the stones around the campfire to look for hidden embers. Never bury coals from the fire - they can smolder and start to burn again.

Jackery Explorer 1000 Portable Power Station Complete Review

Jackery 1000W Portable Generator is a beast. I wouldn't consider any camping, overlanding, or van-lifing setup complete without a source of power - especially if you're like me and you have to keep all of your gidgets and gadgets and tools of the trade juiced up. I have tried out a few different brands, but this thing takes the cake for a few reasons. Is it perfect? Nah. Is it damn close? You betcha!

How does the Jackery Explorer 1000 perform in real-world situations? Is it capable of powering the essentials of life on the road, or is it more suited to weekend camping? How does it compare in terms of cost and capacity to DIY electrical systems?

I put the Jackery Explorer 1000 and SolarSaga 100W foldable solar panels through a battery of tests that were meant to simulate a range of conditions you could face on the road. Continue reading for an in-depth look at the Jackery 1000W Portable Generator, as well as my honest thoughts on it.

What tf is a Portable Solar Generator?

A battery, charging system, inverter, and AC/DC outputs are all included in a portable "solar generator." These power stations do not generate energy on their own; however, they may be charged using solar panels (or by connecting into an AC wall socket or DC power source), and they can be used to power both AC and DC equipment while traveling.

They allow you to rapidly and easily have a mobile off-grid power supply — simply buy one, toss it in your vehicle, and go.

Portable power stations are available in a variety of sizes and outputs, ranging from little battery packs that can only charge your phone and maybe operate some lights to much bigger ones that will meet all of your power demands.

The Jackery 1000W Portable Generator is aimed towards this market.

About the Jackery 1000W Portable Generator

The Explorer 1000 is the most powerful and biggest model in Jackery's portable power station portfolio.

It's advertised as an all-in-one power solution that can keep you off the grid indefinitely to the vanlife, camping, and overlanding groups. But is it possible?

Let's jump into the nitty gritty deets.

Battery Capacity

When compared to other portable power stations at this price point, the Jackery 1000 has a very big battery:

• 1002Wh Lithium-ion NMC battery (21.6V, 46.4ah capacity. Rough equivalent of an 83ah 12V Lithium battery, or a 165ah 12V lead acid or AGM battery)
• Rated for 500 cycles to 80% capacity

But, in order to compare 1002 Watt-hours to your other battery alternatives, how much is 1002 Watt-hours in amp-hours (ah)?

The Jackery's battery, for example, is 21.6V, rather than the typical 12V found in most deep cycle batteries. The Jackery battery is officially 46.4 ah (ah = watts / voltage), however it functions similarly to an 83ah 12V lithium battery or a 165ah 12V lead-acid or AGM battery (since you can only discharge these down to 50%).

Because you can't daisy-chain the Explorer 1000 with another Jackery or an external battery, you get what you get with the Explorer 1000's built-in capacity.

The Jackery 1000's battery is rated for 500 discharge cycles at 80% capacity. That means the battery will have 80 percent of its original capacity after 500 cycles of draining from 100% to 0%. The Jackery will continue to work after 500 cycles, although batteries are typically decommissioned after 80% capacity.

Charging and Charge Times

You can charge up the Jackery via solar, or with the included AC and DC adapters.

Here are the specs:

• MPPT solar charge controller with Anderson Powerpole inputs (solar panels not included)
  • 30V / 163W maximum input
  • 8 hours charge time
• AC adapter (through an 8mm input)
  • 24V maximum input
  • 7 hours charge time
• DC adapter (through an 8mm input)
  • 12V maximum input
  • 14 hours charge time

The Jackery 1000W Portable Generator has an MPPT solar charge controller for solar charging. You'll need to buy Jackery's SolarSaga foldable solar panels separately, but you can plug them into the Anderson Powerpole connectors on the front of the device and you'll be ready to go (or just get an adapter and use whatever panels you want).

How long does it take for the Jackery to charge up using solar power? With two 100W panels, the Explorer 1000 takes around 8 hours to fully charge from the sun (from 0%).

The Jackery can only receive solar power of up to 30 volts or 163 watts. Solar panels produce around 18V each, therefore you can't connect them in sequence to the Jackery since it would produce 36V. You can't operate more than two 100W panels in tandem since the total output would be over 163W during peak daylight hours.

The supplied AC adapter takes around 7 hours to charge from a wall outlet.

It takes around 14 hours to charge using your vehicle's 12V cigarette lighter socket.

Output Ports (What can You Plug into the Jackery 1000W Portable Generator?)

The Jackery Explorer 1000 includes a nice variety of AC/DC output ports:

• 3 x AC outlets tied to a 1000W pure sine inverter (2000W surge)
• 2 x USB-C (up to 3A output)
• 2 x USB-A (one 5V/2.4A, one Quickcharge 3.0)
• 1 x 12V cigarette lighter plug (up to 10A; 13.2V regulated output)

The Jackery's inverter is a pure sine wave inverter with a constant output of 1000W and a surge output of 2000W. This is more than adequate to power most AC appliances in a camper.

The 12V DC cigarette lighter plug has a controlled 13.2V output and can supply up to 10A. This means it maintains a constant voltage, which is crucial for powering equipment with a low voltage cutoff, such as 12V refrigerators. For contemporary gadgets, the USB ports are enough.

Display

The input wattage, output watts, and charge percentage are all displayed on the Explorer 1000's informative LED display. This allows you to quickly and easily obtain all of the information you need at a quick glance.

Shape & Form

For what it is, the Jackery 1000W Portable Generator has an appealing form aspect and is tiny and lightweight.

• LED flashlight on the side of a rugged molded ABS structure
• Handle for convenient transport
• At barely 22 pounds, it's extremely light.

The Explorer 1000 has a beautiful appearance and a robust, high-quality feel about it. It also features a handy carrying handle and weighs only 22 pounds, which is many pounds less than competitors, making it extremely portable. With one hand, you can simply transport this to and from campgrounds.

On the side of the Jackery is an LED flashlight which comes in handy in a pinch, but it doesn't put off too much light.

Warranty

All Jackery power stations come with a 2-year limited warranty.

In The Box

The Jackery comes with everything you need for on-the-go power (except for solar panels):

• Jackery Explorer 1000
• AC adapter
• DC adapter
• Parallel adapter cable for SolarSaga panels (panels not included)
• Carrying pouch for all the cables

About the SolarSaga 100W Foldable Solar Panels

The monocrystalline SolarSaga panels are made of sturdy nylon and plastic/rubber. For mobility, they fold in half and include molded carrying handles. The cord is contained in a zipped pouch on the rear, which is a great touch and contributes to the simplicity of carrying these panels around. They also have USB-A and USB-C connections integrated right into the back of the panel for extra device charging options.

Each panel has two kickstands attached to the rear (and held in place with velcro). Simply unfold the panels and flip out the kickstands to put them up. Furthermore, each panel weighs just 9.1 lbs, making them easy to transport to anywhere you need them.

These are hard to beat when it comes to portable solar panels. However, they are costly, as are all portable panels, at approximately $300 apiece — much more than purchasing a solid aluminum solar panel and constructing your own folding mount. The SolarSaga panels, on the other hand, are handy, lightweight, and well-designed, so the extra cost may be worth it to you.

Another difficulty is the issue of lifespan (and this goes for portable panels in general). We don't know how long the SolarSaga panels will survive, but they won't live as long as solid aluminum panels, which may last up to 20 years (flexible solar panels generally last about 5 years, for example). If you're the sort that changes all of your gadgets every few years, this may not be an issue for you, but it's something to consider.

The cost and durability of the SolarSaga panels are comparable to those of other portable panels. They work great and are among the most effective folding panels available.

The Pros and Cons of the Jackery 1000W Portable Generator

The Jackery Explorer 1000 is a well-made and handy portable power station that comes with a number of advantages as well as some drawbacks. These restrictions may be insignificant to you, or they may be a deal breaker. It all relies on your circumstances and requirements.

Pros

• Build quality is excellent. The Jackery (as well as the SolarSaga panels) appear to be well-made.
• It is quite transportable. The Jackery 1000 is compact and easy to transport. This also means that you may park your van in the shade and leave the portable solar panels in the sun on hot days. It also has a built-in LED illumination that makes moving it in the dark much easier.
• It's simple to use. Everything about it is simple to use, it has all of the necessary ports, and it just works. Simply connect it to some solar panels or the supplied AC/DC adapters to charge it.
• Versatile. This little device can supply your van's basic electrical demands and can also be utilized for things outside of your van.

Cons

• There is a limit of 200W of solar power that may be plugged in. The Jackery can only receive 30V or 163W of solar power, which is a significant restriction. Adding extra panels is the simplest method to improve bad solar conditions, but this is not possible with the Jackery.
• It is not possible to charge from both AC/DC and solar at the same time. When you're running short on power, being able to charge the device from the AC/DC port while driving and simultaneously charge from roof-mounted solar panels hooked into the Anderson port would be quite helpful
• It is not possible to daisy-chain another Jackery or an external battery. This is a feature that several rival power stations offer, and it would greatly assist the Jackery in making sense in a larger range of scenarios. You may never require more than the Jackery's 1002Wh battery capacity, but if you do, you're out of luck. This restricts the Jackery's potential as a real full-time vanlife option.
• A Jackery or an external battery cannot be daisy-chained. This is a feature that several rival power stations offer, and it would really help the Jackery make sense in more scenarios. You may never require more than the Jackery's 1002Wh battery capacity, but if you do, you're out of luck. The Jackery's potential as a full-time vanlife option is hampered as a result of this.

---

SHARE ON YOUR FAVORITE PINTEREST BOARD!