Colorado Adventure Vans: 25 Camp Essentials
With nearly a decade of experience providing a custom camp experience, we’ve assembled a list of some of the top items that we wouldn’t recommend hitting the road without.
Bobby / APRIL 3, 2025
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The Road as Home: Finding Comfort, Safety, and Confidence in Car Camping
The fire crackles as the night settles in. Above, the stars stretch wide, untouched by city lights. You’re here, fully present, feeling the vastness of the road and the intimacy of your small, rolling home. This is camping at its best.
But between these moments of wild freedom and solitude, reality checks hit hard. A cold morning reminds you that insulation matters. A remote trailhead makes you rethink your emergency kit. The right gear doesn’t just make life on the road easier—it keeps you safe, comfortable, and confident in your ability to handle the unexpected.
Here’s what you’ll wish you had sooner once you’re deep into car camping—whether you’re rolling out a blanket in an old Volvo or setting up a world-class camper van.
CAV Dad Hat
Rep your favorite team on the trail, at the ski lot, through the grocery store, your kid’s ball game, wherever you need head coverage.
This hat is made of distressed canvas, with a sewn patch on the front. Find color and logo options to suit your personal taste at the button below.
Comfort: The Little Things That Make a Big Difference
At first, car camping feels like an adventure—minimalism, simplicity, freedom. But after a few nights, comfort becomes everything.
A Bed That Feels Like Home —Sleeping in a car isn’t just about having a space to lay down—it’s about waking up rested and ready for the day ahead.
1. Self-Inflating Sleeping Pad ➜ Ideal for minimalists and those setting up in the backseat.
2. Memory Foam Pillow ➜ For SUVs, wagons, and trucks, this turns your car into a real bed.
3. Down Blanket ➜ Because warmth is non-negotiable in cold climates.
4. 12V Heated Blanket ➜ A low-power way to add an extra layer of cozy without running the engine all night.
*Disclaimer: An electric blanket will not heat your whole camp space, but it will take the edge off an unexpectedly cold night under your blanket or in your sleeping bag.
Cooking Without the Hassle — Car camping kitchens need to be compact, reliable, and easy to store. You won’t always have time—or the patience—for complicated setups.
5. Compact Propane Stove ➜ Fast, reliable, & easy to store.
6. Sink & Water System ➜ Because washing dishes in a gas station bathroom isn’t the move.
7. Portable Water Filter System ➜ Clean drinking water anywhere—pull from rivers, spigots, or backcountry streams with peace of mind.
Water & Food Storage: The Basics for Going Off-Grid Staying stocked up means more freedom to roam without constant resupply stops.
8. 7-Gallon Water Jugs ➜ Running out of water is way worse than running out of food. Always carry extra.
9. Portable Fridge/Freezer ➜ Keeps perishable food fresh without constantly buying ice.
Pro Tip: A 10. Jetboil ➜ and 11. AeroPress ➜ makes no-electricity coffee easy and mess-free.
Safety: The Gear That Keeps You Ready for Anything.
The first time your car won’t start in the middle of nowhere, or you hear an animal (or stranger) sniffing around camp, you’ll understand why safety isn’t optional.
Backup Power: When Your Car Battery Fails You — A dead battery can leave you stranded unless you have a way to restart your vehicle.
12. Portable Jump Starter ➜ Saves you from relying on a stranger for help.
13. Solar Generator ➜ Powers essential devices like lights, a fridge, and a heater off-grid.
14. Cupholder Power Station ➜ Turns your vehicle’s 12V output into a multi-port charging hub—stay powered up without clutter.
Security for Peace of Mind — You don’t need to be paranoid, but you do need to be prepared.
15. First-Aid Kit ➜ Ensures a small mishap doesn’t turn into a trip-ending emergency.
16. Steering Wheel Lock ➜ Extra security when leaving your vehicle unattended.
17. Bear Spray ➜ Effective against both wildlife and aggressive strangers.
Navigation and Emergency Communication — Out here, cell service isn’t guaranteed. The last thing you want is to be lost without a backup plan.
18. Garmin InReach ➜ Sends SOS messages even in areas with no cell reception.
19. Paper Maps ➜ Because sometimes old-school works best.
Reality Check: You will get lost at some point. It’s part of the journey. Having backup navigation and emergency communication means you won’t be stranded without options.
Confidence: The Tools That Make You Self-Reliant.
Confidence in car camping doesn’t come from having everything—it comes from knowing that what you do have is enough. The right tools turn fear into readiness and hesitation into self-reliance.
You don’t need to be a mechanic, but you do need to handle basic issues.
20. Tire Repair Kit ➜ A must for unexpected flats on backroads.
21. Basic Tool Set ➜ For quick fixes that keep you moving.
22. OBD2 Scanner ➜ Tells you what’s wrong when your check engine light comes on.
Pro Tip: Pick up a few emergency gallon jugs of water when you stop to get gas.
External Hardware: Gear That Expands Your Capabilities.
Take the pressure off with smart add-ons that carry more, do more, and keep your setup adventure-ready.
23. Rooftop Cargo Box ➜ Extra storage for kitchen gear without crowding your sleeping space.
24. Dometic Camp Table ➜ Lightweight, collapsible, and stable enough for coffee, cook gear, or a laptop in the field.
25. Recovery Boards ➜ Essential for sand, snow, or mud; easy to mount on your roof rack or rear door.
Final Thoughts: Car Camping Isn’t About Roughing It—It’s About Being Ready
There’s a romance to life on the road, but the difference between thriving and struggling is preparation.
The best moments — sunrise from a remote ridgeline, coffee beside a still lake, sleeping soundly in the middle of nowhere—happen when you have the right gear to keep you safe, warm, and comfortable.
You don’t need everything, but you will need the right things.
Your car is your home on the road, and your setup should be a place of confidence—not stress. Start with what you need, build as you go, and enjoy the freedom of the road.
Colorado Adventure Vans is an Upfitter based in Golden, Colorado.
Building out vans since 2017, we take great care with every build in our shop.
Our focus is quality, not volume, aiming our attention to every detail to ensure your adventure rig is ready for anything the road throws at you.