Most people who stop camping in a tent don’t do it because they’re too physically soft for a little discomfort here and there. They do it because not sleeping for three nights in a row is a bad time, the problem that started on the first night eventually soured the whole experience, and the drive to the trailhead in a leaking-bucket squelch of cold water is even worse than the drive home.
The point was never to suffer. The point was the evening around a fire in the middle of nowhere with your friends. The point was to escape your life for a little while and see a different country one step at a time.
Know your vehicle before you buy anything
The first surprise people face when they start looking at gear upgrades is that it’s not the budget that limits you – it’s your tow vehicle. Every vehicle has a braked towing capacity number in the owner’s manual, and that number governs exactly what you can and can not tow.
It’s more important than you think. Not only is it a figure that indicates whether your car can get something rolling on a flat highway or not. Tow ball weight, payload capacity, and the distribution of weight over the trailer when loaded are all included. A trailer that is technically below your towing limit can still drive you crazy if the weight isn’t properly distributed or if the suspension isn’t suited to the terrain you are driving.
So, check your braked towing capacity first. Then start shopping for the gear.
The hardware upgrade that changes everything
Knowing what your vehicle is capable of, your choice then is based on what you can realistically set up and whether it will actually fix the issue you’re trying to address. Roof-top tents are one solution to your camping spot problem, getting you off the ground and set up in minutes, however, they don’t really offer more room and they still suffer from all the issues a canvas tent does. A box trailer is usually the other easy bridge to cross, but without the right suspension and clearance, you’re still stuck with your conventional camping destinations.
A camper trailer sits in another category all together. A well-designed one is fitted with independent suspension, an articulated hitch, and enough clearance to get you to the campsite you’re actually seeking out. The latter is more important than what most will give credit for – chassis and suspension design is precisely what sets apart a trailer you can take over a remote creek crossing from one that binds up as soon as the dirt gets rough.
Canvas GSM rating is something to take note of here. Heavier GSM canvas can handle long periods of rain and UV exposure much better than the lighter stuff, and solid weatherproofing is one of the differences between a terrible weekend and a great one.
The systems that extend your trip
An improvement in sleeping is one of those upgrades. An improvement to your systems is the other. And two specifically change how long you can actually stay out. The first is going from an icebox to an integrated 12V fridge-freezer. An icebox has you limited to about four days before food safety is a real concern and you’re paying for ice every resupply. A 12V fridge, coupled with a battery management system and solar input, removes that cap. You can stay out for two weeks without having to resupply perishables. The second is a slide-out kitchen galley with a sink and a grey water tank. It sounds like a comfort upgrade because it is, but the grey water component is an environmental upgrade. Dispersing dish water on the ground isn’t great, especially in high-use areas. When many people are going out camping in order to connect with nature and heal themselves, it’s not a surprise that they want to do this in comfort, rather than in compromise. A more functional setup usually means more time actually outside, meaning they’re able to fully reap the benefits of camping year round.
The setup time question
One of the most cogent objections to any towing camping setup (or camping at all) is setup time. We all get used to tents that make us ‘camp-ready’ in twenty minutes. The idea of an hour’s hard graft after a long day’s drive isn’t appealing. It shouldn’t be like that.
The distinction between hybrid and fold-out designs actually matters here. Fold-out trailers can be ‘camp ready’ in under ten minutes if the design is good. Hard-floor platforms that easily unfold and ‘click’ into position are far faster than any soft-floor setup. Plus, you’re not sleeping a few inches above a potentially wet or uneven underfloor.Internal drawers are pre-packed and ready for camping. You don’t ‘re-pack your camp kit’ each trip. You just leave and go. Notice how often you use it then.
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