Alright, so I decided to give this whole SUV camping thing a shot. I’ve always loved road trips, and the idea of just parking somewhere nice and sleeping in my car sounded pretty cool. Plus, it seemed like a cheaper way to travel, you know? So, I started looking into what I needed to make this happen.
First off, I had to figure out how I was going to sleep comfortably. I mean, I’m not getting any younger, and sleeping on a lumpy car seat wasn’t going to cut it. I found out that the best way was to fold down the back seats and kind of stretch out from the back seat into the trunk. My SUV is roomy enough, so this seemed like the way to go.
Getting the Gear
Next up was the gear. I didn’t want to spend a fortune, so I was all about finding good deals. I started checking out online stores for discounted outdoor stuff. There are a bunch of places that sell decent gear without those crazy high prices.
- Tent: I looked into SUV tents, and man, there are some neat options out there. They attach to the back of your car, giving you extra space. I found a budget-friendly one that seemed pretty solid. It’s not the fanciest thing, but it gets the job done, and that’s what matters.
- Sleeping Pad: I knew I needed something to sleep on. I found a self-inflating sleeping pad that was on sale. It’s not as comfy as my bed at home, but it’s a heck of a lot better than the car floor, I can tell you that much.
- Other Stuff: I also grabbed a cheap cooler, a portable stove, and some basic cooking utensils. Nothing fancy, just the essentials to make some simple meals. Oh, and a good lantern and some headlamps are a must-have, I don’t even need to tell you why.
Finding Places to Camp
Now, the whole point of this was to save money, so I wasn’t about to pay for expensive campsites all the time. I did some digging and found out about free campsites, or “dispersed camping” as some folks call it. Basically, you can camp on public lands for free in certain areas. It’s a bit more rugged, but hey, it’s free!
First Trip Out
I decided to try this out on a weekend trip to a national forest nearby. Packed up my SUV with all my new gear, made sure the back seats were folded down, and hit the road. Finding a spot was a little tricky, but I managed to find a nice clearing by a river.
Setting up the tent was a bit of a learning curve. It took me longer than I expected, but I got it up eventually. It felt pretty awesome to have my little base camp set up right next to my car. Slept surprisingly well, too. The sound of the river was super relaxing.
Cooked some simple meals, went for a few hikes, and just enjoyed being out in nature. It wasn’t perfect, there were definitely some hiccups along the way. But overall, it was a great experience. And it didn’t break the bank, which was the whole point.
I’m still learning the ropes, but I’m already planning my next trip. This SUV camping thing might just become my new favorite way to travel. It’s affordable, it’s adventurous, and it’s a great way to see some beautiful places without spending a ton of money. If you’re thinking about trying it, I say go for it! Just be prepared for a few bumps along the road, literally and figuratively. It’s all part of the adventure, right?
