TRUCK CAMPING GEAR

Having the right truck camping gear and accessories is essential for enjoying overland travel and camping in the bed of a pickup.

This comprehensive list of truck camping gear and accessories is entirely comprised of gear we actually use on our overlanding and truck camping adventures, and includes reviews and buying guides to help you make the right choice for your setup.

This is gear we selected after an exhaustive amount of research, and gear we depend on daily both on the road and at camp.

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truck camping Accessories:

This section includes all the gear and accessories used to successfully camp in the bed of a pickup truck while traveling.

Truck Camping Sleeping Gear:

The value of a comfortable and sound night’s sleep while truck camping or travelling cannot be overstated. Spend some time with these decisions and make sure you’re getting the best gear for the job.

  • Sleeping Bags - we’ve used and highly recommend:

    • Synthetic: the Big Agnes Dream Island 15* is a great 2 person sleeping bag option for truck shell camping and the synthetic fill isn’t impacted the by moisture/condensation that can occure while truck camping

    • Down: If you’re trying to maximize space, or using a wedge camper or RTT, the Thermarest Vela 20* person quilt has been amazing and the Nikwax Hydrophobic down is specially designed to be less impacted by moisture than typical down sleepingbags

    • Kids Sleeping Bag: the kids sleeping bags* by Big Agnes are excellent, our daughter uses the 15 degree Duster model, and it includes sizing snaps that allow you to adjust the bag’s length to grow with your kiddo!

  • Hammock - While more “nap” gear than sleeping gear, we’ve come to really appreciate the Eagles Nest Outfitters Double Nest* while truck camping. It has proven to be a fantastic hammock and can accommodate 2 people comfortably.

Truck Camping Kitchen Gear:

Second to the importance of sleep while truck camping, is the ability to make a healthy and delicious meal. Below is a list of all the things in our truck camping kitchen and mess kit.

  • Truck Camping Stove - we’ve used the same Cook Partner 18 stove for nearly a decade, and continue to use it in our truck camper. Partner Steel makes some of the most rock solid propane camping stoves around, and we love the simplicity and durability of these camp stoves. If you’re looking for alternatives, we have a detailed guide that covers the camping stoves.

  • Propane Tank* - this Worthington Aluminum 6lb propane tank is super lightweight and is far more portable than standard 20lb tanks. A slightly heavier, but more budget-friendly alternative is this standard 5lb tank*. Carrying a propane tank will allow you to ditch those small 1lb propane canisters, just check your camp stove’s availability for correct adapters/regulator.

  • Coffee Stuff! - We have an entire post to showing you 7 ways to make incredible camping coffee, but this is our go to kit:

    • AeroPress Kit* - super versatile and makes great coffee

    • Porlex Mini Grinder* - nests inside the Aeropress, and is great for on the trail or at home

    • MSR Titan Kettle* - boil water on the stove or over the fire, we’ve used ours for over 10 years now and still love it

  • Mugs - we’ve got a whole post dedicated to helping you find the best camping mug for your truck camping kitchen. If you drink as much coffee as we do, this is not a decision made lightly!

  • Thermos - for those days you’re driving a lot of miles. We use a Yeti 36oz. Rambler* because it works great with our Aeropress or pour over coffee makers and keeps coffee hot for a LONG time.

  • Lodge Cast Iron Set* - cast iron is so versatile for truck camping, you can fry, boil, bake, braise, saute, and on and on - all over a camping stove OR an open campfire. Plus there is no soap involved in clean-up making it a breeze to clean after meals. And this set doubles as a dutch oven! Check out our complete guide: The Best Cast Iron Set for Camping [And How to Use It Like a Pro]

  • Pots and Pans* - if cast iron cooking is not your bag, this GSI nesting set has served us well for years, is very compact, and fits inside the Lodge Cast Iron Set too!

  • Plates - you’ll need something to eat all that delicious camp food off of, we recommend stainless steel.

  • Silicone measuring cup* - easy to store and doubles as an extra drinking cup

  • Adjustable Measuring spoon* - saves space compared to a full measuring spoon set

  • Serving Spoon

  • Spatula

  • Scissors

  • 3 Forks and 3 Spoons

  • Salt/pepper/sugar/creamer/muli-spice container

  • Hotpad

  • Nesting Tupperware

  • Knife (sharp and butter)

  • Knife Sharpener

  • Long Handle Lighter - good for lighting stoves and lighting fires

  • Thin Cutting Board* - we like these because they’re inexpensive and don’t take up much room

  • Can opener

  • Collapsible Skewers* - we carry two in our kit for cooking dogs or mallows over the campfire

  • Clorox Wipes - makes cleanup so much easier when you’re in a rush

  • Collapsible Dish Tub* - this tub is compact and makes cleanup a lot easier

  • Hand Towels - a couple small cotton towels for drying dishes and cleaning up messes

  • Bio-Degradable Dish Soap

  • Ziplock Bags - we keep several sandwich, quart, and gallon on hand for a variety of uses while truck camping

  • Trash Bags - we keep half a dozen white 30 gallon, and 2 large 55 gallon in our camping kit. The 55 gallon make great temporary dry-bags or rain ponchos too

  • Tin foil - heavy duty is best for cooking over a campfire


Truck Camping Toiletry, Hygiene, and Laundry Gear:

You gotta keep it clean, even out in the boonies. This is all the gear you’ll need to stay fresh truck camping in the back country.

And if you want more info and some helpful tips on how to stay clean while traveling and camping check out our detailed post on bathing while truck camping and traveling. And if you’re curious or unsure about using the bathroom in the back country, we’ve got an entire post tackling the subject of what to do with #2 while truck camping.

  • Wolfwise Shower Tent*- this provides a nice private place to bathe or change clothes

  • Scrubba Wash Bag* - a mini portable washing machine! Check out our post to see how it works!

  • Clothesline and pins - we use 550 paracord (multi-purpose) and these small metal clips.*

  • Bio-degradable Soap

  • Toiletry Bag - we use a his & hers set of the GOX toiletry bags*. They’re well organized and durable.

  • Pstyle* - when you gotta go, you gotta go. This “female urination device” makes the process easier for girls whether at camp or on the trail.

  • Wet Wipes* - sometimes squeezing in a shower is just not possible, these wet wipes will get you by.

  • Fast-Dry Towels - we’ve used Sea-to-Summit’s Pocket Towels* for years, they work great and dry out fast

  • Biodegradable Toilet Paper

  • Razor(s)

  • Car Sick Bags - handy to have if any one gets car sick, or otherwise.

  • Wag Bags* - the best way to pack-out you or your pet’s “business” when wild camping

  • A Portable Camping Toilet - this guide discusses the three main categories of camp toilets so you can pick one that’s right for you


General Truck Camping Gear:

Everything used to make camp, break camp, and survive in the back country while truck camping.

  • MSR Guardian Water Purifier* - after multiple not-so-good experiences with a variety of cheaper water filters in the past, we no longer mess around when it comes to the quality of our water. We have zero hesitation when using this military-grade device to purify our drinking water, and its quality and output rate is incredible.

  • First Aid Kit - The Adventure Medical Grizzly First Aid Kit* is a good all-around first aid kit to keep on hand

  • Shovel and Axe - We have a whole post about Off Road Overlanding Shovels with a variety of options - we currently use the Agency6 Long Shovel* and the Helko Bavarian Woodworker Axe* - both are great pieces of kit with all kinds of uses while camping and overlanding

  • Folding Bow Saw - The Agawa Canyon Boreal21 Folding Bow-Saw* is one of the best camp-specific purchases we’ve made. You can cut through a 6in diameter log in under a minute with this thing! Go here to read our detailed post all about it.

  • Camp Chairs - this is largely a personal preference, so we have a guide to help you choose the best camping chair for your needs and adventures. We currently use the Frontrunner Expander Chairs* and their a great compromise between compact design, ease-of-use, and comfort.

  • Camp Table - we’ve found the level ground is not always easy to find for a traditional folding camp table, so we recently upgraded to an aluminum Tire Table* that securely mounts to the truck’s tire so there’s no need to worry about the terrain.

  • Small Handheld Dust Broom - handy for sweeping out the truck, tailgate, and sleeping platform

  • Tarp - tarps can have a multitude of uses while truck camping. We keep a Sea-to-Summit backpacking sil-nylon tarp/poncho* on hand because it’s compact and dual purpose, but any tarp will do.

  • Dry Bag - great for impromptu rafting or float trips, as well as tossing on the roof-top cargo carrier for storage

  • Binoculars/Spotting Scope - just a useful and fun piece of gear to keep on hand

  • Auto-Retracting Ratchet Straps* - these are very handy for securing cargo, and are much easier to use that traditional ratchet straps

  • 360 Degree Level* - these are handy for determining if the truck is leveled out properly for sleeping and cooking

  • Leveling blocks* - we generally stack rocks for leveling, but we carry a few of these for leveling the truck out in tight camp spots where we can’t find rocks or level ground to park on for the night.

  • Black Diamond Spot Headlamps* - affordable, good light output, and waterproof

  • Black Diamond ReMoji Lanterns* - these little rechargeable lanterns are great for lighting up camp. They’re rechargeable, and include both a collapsible hook for hanging as well as strong magnets for mounting to metal surfaces that make them super versatile for truck camping

  • Velcro Bundling Straps* - these things are awesome, super handy to have a few on hand, we’re constantly finding new uses for them

  • Wool Blanket - great for picnics or bundling up by the fire

  • Picaridin Insect Repellent* - this insect repellent is safe for kids, effective for 12hrs, doesn’t stink like Deet based repellents, and won’t harm your gear or clothing

  • Bear Mace* - bear mace is great for bears and self-defense

  • Bear Bell - picked one up last time we were in Glacier NP, seemed like a good idea at the time and we carry it on hikes just in case.

Truck Camping Tools, Safety, and Recovery Equipment:

It’s always a good idea to be prepared for the unexpected by carrying some basic tools, safety equipment, and vehicle recovery gear while truck camping. We dive into the specific equipment we use for this in greater detail in our Overland Gear Page, but here are the basics to help get you started:

Traveling Tool Bag

As a general rule, the tools you carry should be based on your mechanical ability. We have a detailed guide on How to Pack a Traveling Tool Kit that can help get you setup with a DIY tool kit for your truck camping adventures.

Safety Equipment

In addition the tips we recommend in our Wild Camping Safety and Security Guide it’s a good idea to have:

  • An Emergency Communication Device - like the Garmin In-Reach Mini*, for reaching out for help when needed if there’s no cell service in the area you’re camped in

  • First Aid Kit* & Tourniquet*

  • Fire Extinguisher* - these light-weight compact ELEMENT fire extinguishers are easy to store in your truck and with 50 seconds of discharge they offer 4x the firefighting potential of a traditional 5lb fire extinguisher

  • A Roadside Assistance Plan - major mechanical breakdowns happen, and for those instances where you’re not capable of making a repair, having a good roadside assistance plan is excellent piece-of-mind. We’ve used Good Sam Roadside Assistance for years, and feel it offers a great value as it covers both autos and towable campers.

Vehicle Recovery Equipment

While you may not need a full set of Overlanding Recovery Equipment for truck camping, it’s a good idea to carry the basics:

  • A portable air compressor - for airing down your tires for off road driving or fixing flat tires

  • A Tire Repair Kit*

  • A Basic Recovery Kit* - includes a snatch/tow strap, two bow shackles, and a pair of gloves so someone can help pull you out if you get stuck

  • A Shovel

  • Traction Boards* (optional) - while you can improvise ways to improve traction in soft terrain using natural materials like rocks, limbs, tree branches, etc. a set of traction boards are a very easy-to-use means of getting unstuck if you don’t have a dedicated off road winch on your truck.

Clothing for Truck Camping & Overland Travel:

Having a wardrobe of high-quality, fast-drying, well-insulating wool and synthetic clothing will make a HUGE improvement to your truck camping and overland travel experience. It makes doing doing laundry while camping easier, helps with hygiene while camping, and you’ll get more mileage out of each wash - which can drastically decrease the amount of clothing you have to carry on your truck camping adventure. You can check out our Super Simple Guide for What to Wear When Camping for more in-depth tips, but the key is to layer your clothing to adjust your comfort level while truck camping:

  • Shirts - a wool shirt is an excellent base-layer. It dries faster and insulates better than cotton, and it doesn’t retain body odor like cotton so you get more mileage out of each wash. Shirts made with synthetic materials are a good option too as they dry very quickly and can also be made with anti-microbial materials to reduce odor.

  • Wool Socks - same goes for socks, we’ll routinely get 2-3 days out of each pair

    • These* are a great buy for hiking boots and cold weather, and have been very durable and comfortable.

    • And these* have been great for trail shoes and warm weather, while also being durable and comfortable.

  • Synthetic Fast-dry Pants & Shorts

  • Fleece Jacket - a quality fleece jacket is an excellent mid-layer to help you stay comfortable on a brisk morning

  • Down Coat - a down coat is a great top-layer and when combined with a fleece mid-layer and wool base-layer it’ll will keep you toasty warm on those frigid nights

  • Travel Underwear - these are designed to be easy to wash/dry and made with anti-microbial material to also minimize body odor.

    • Our ExOficcio Men’s* and Women’s* travel underwear have been incredibly comfortable, durable, and very easy to wash and dry on-the-go.

  • Shoes - Although footwear is hugely subjective based on personal needs/preferences, you must make sure you have a quality pair of shoes if you intend to hike with any frequency while you travel. These are brands/models we’ve used extensively over the years with very good experiences in both comfort and durability

    • General:

      • Soloman Speedcross 4 - these Men’s* or Women’s* trailer running shoes are like 4wd for your feet. Light, durable, and just an all-around great trail shoe - especially if you aren’t going to be lugging a ton of weight or backpacking

    • Hiking:

      • Soloman Quest 4d 3 GTX - these are super supportive, high-quality Men’s* or Women’s* hiking boots. If you’ll be carrying weight in your pack (or a toddler/child on your back), you’ll want something with the support to handle it. These deliver.

    • Water:

      • Chacco Z1 Classic or Zcloud - These Men’s or Women’s sandals are supportive, durable, and super comfortable. So much so that Patrick actually wore them as water shoes during our 2012 & 2013 Western US trips, and almost exclusively on our 6 week Eastern US trip in 2014 while logging just under a hundred miles of trail hiking in them, as well as countless miles exploring the metropolitan areas of DC, New York, Baltimore, and Philadelphia.

TRUCK Camping BUILD Gear:

This is all the gear that went into our truck camper build for truck camping and overland travel as a family.

Camper Shell or Truck Canopy For Truck Camping:

Gear For Off-Grid Power While Truck Camping:

  • Dual Battery Setup: for a detailed guide to dual battery setups, start with our dual battery setup guide!

    • Solar Generator - We’ve used several solar generator models from Inergy and Goal Zero over the years, until we found our current Overland Battery Solution. Solar Generators can be an excellent power source while truck camping because they are far less complex than traditional dual battery setups. We have a post covering Everything You Need to Know About Solar Generators for Camping, to help you select one that’s right for you.

    • Solar Panel(s) - the RENOGY 100w Eclipse Monocrystalline Solar Panel* includes a charge controller that is not needed with most Solar Generators, but can be used to recharge vehicle starting batteries or to charge a traditional dual battery setup. We used this panel in our previous truck camping setup and it was great!

    • ARB Wiring Kit* - this is great 2/10 gauge wire, double sleeved and durable, and includes an in-line fuse holder - we’ve used it for multiple truck camper wiring projects.

    • Watt Meter* - great for determining power consumption and monitoring power input from both vehicle and solar

  • Misc Power Accessories to make the most of a Dual Battery Setup:

    • 12v Outlets* - for charging cell phones installed in our sleeping platform

    • 12v Marine Fuse Block* - for distributing power to 12v outlets and Vent Fan

    • Waterproof Cable Glands* - for running wiring through the camper shell to our roof-top Renogy solar panel

    • 25ft GFCI Extension Cord* - handy for a variety of things like running power tools, or plugging into shore-power when not off-grid. And the built in GFCI protection offers a little more peace of mind in rainy conditions.

Sleeping Platform for Truck Camping:

Mounted Truck Camping Gear & Accessories:

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