How to Prepare for Your 4×4 Camping Trip
Off-roading gives you some of the very best adventures to be had, and camping while on your 4×4 trip only maximises the fun factor. However, the biggest wet blanket you can encounter on your exploit is a lack of preparation.
Here are some tips to make sure you don’t have to face disappointment.
Know the trail
Research the trail you intend to take before you set out. Remember that conditions vary from season to season, which changes the trail’s character, and different trails are at varying difficulty levels. Although you possibly want to challenge yourself, don’t go on an advanced trail before you’re ready for it. Make sure that your vehicle is adequately equipped to handle the specific road ahead.
Vehicle equipment checklist
Breaking down isn’t fun. Breaking down somewhere away from civilisation without the kit you need to get up and running again – disastrous. You probably know your vehicle better than anyone else, so you know what tools and parts you will most likely need. However, no matter in how well a condition your vehicle is, unexpected mishaps can and do happen, and so there are some general things you should have with you:
- A spare tire or tire repair kit
- Spare spark plugs and fuses
- A general toolkit of wrenches, sockets, pliers, screwdrivers, a hammer, and assorted nuts and bolts
- Bungee cord (it’s amazing how useful this can be), bailing wire, zip ties and a tow strap
- Wire cutters
- Tank sealant putty
- Engine oil
- Spare wiper blades
Camping equipment
The fun doesn’t end when the 4×4 drive does. If you’re lucky enough to combine some camping time with your off-road adventure, these are some of the general things you should have a checklist for:
- License, insurance and vehicle registration
- Maps, a compass and a GPS device
- A spare key to your vehicle (which you should keep in a hidden location)
- A first aid kit
- A flashlight and extra batteries
- A pocket knife
- An emergency flare
- Spare cash and a cell phone for emergencies
Food and water
Then of course you also will be needing food and water. Pack food that’s easy to prepare, and gives you plenty of energy. Although camping just wouldn’t be camping without sitting around a crackling fire at some point, there are other food preparation options that might be easier and simpler for you to use. Check around for cooking equipment for 4×4 adventures that would suit your needs. Remember though, that whatever you bring, you will need to take back with you. Unless there’s a specially marked camping spot you’re going to, there won’t be any conveniently placed trash bins.
Make sure you pack plenty of water. You need two litres a day just for drinking water. Rather aim for three litres though, because the activity and sun would make you need to rehydrate more than usual. Don’t assume you’ll just find water at the camping site, even if there was a deliciously refreshing stream the last time you went.
Sleeping
Be sure to take note of what the weather will be like in the area at night. In many places, even though you might be able to enjoy relatively warm weather during the day, you will still have to put up with freezing temperatures at night. Make sure that your sleeping bags are equipped for it.
Decide whether you want to sleep in a tent, or under the stars. What you’re comfortable with, and what the weather will be like obviously has to be taken into account. Opting to sleep under the stars is a fantastic immersion in nature experience. Another option, for those of you who really don’t mind roughing it, bakkie canopies make for really useful sleeping spaces and are far easier to set up than tents!
With some careful preparation and forethought, you can ensure that you spend your well-deserved off-time doing nothing but exploring, fishing, hiking, and whatever else you want to be doing. Rather than messing around with technical mishaps, or begrudging the lack of something you realise you should have brought with you.
Author Bio:
Queenie Bates is an avid reader, writer and researcher who in her spare time enjoys exploring the trails near Cape Town.