Some of our favorite items for Truck Camper camping

A few weeks ago, while camping at Lake Mohave, I was looking around camp and noticed all the items we’ve thoughtfully accumulated over the last couple of years that are fun, efficient and space-saving.  All of which contribute to a great overall camping experience.  Truck camper travel teaches you just that, to be extremely thoughtful about each and every item you take along with you because space is limited.  I appreciate the thoughtfulness that the truck camper forces us to have.  When we leave on a truck camping adventure, after triple checking our checklist, we know we have exactly what we need.  Nothing more and nothing less.  This list hardly covers every item we bring with us but it’s exactly what I saw lying around camp that day to show you what we use and enjoy the most.

1. Moveable solar panel.
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There’s nothing quite like being able to generate power anywhere you go, no matter how remote, as long as the sun is shining.  Our truck camper has a solar panel mounted permanently on the roof but this panel was added recently to be able to move around and point towards the sun.  We’re never in shortage of power to charge electronics, run our furnace and power our refrigerator.

More information:
Solar Panels

2. Kelly Kettle & Stainless Steel Thermos.
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These items on their own are neat but put them together and they make a dynamite pair.  I was skeptical when Mark purchased them.  They just seemed big and cumbersome until we put them to use, now I wouldn’t want to camp without them.  The Kelly Kettle boils water fast, no propane needed.  Grab some sticks, dry leaves, whatever you can gather around camp to burn and that’s all you need.  Fill the Nissan Thermos with boiling water and you’ve got hot water for nearly 24 hours.  It blows me away how long this thermos will keep water piping hot and the number of uses we’ve found for boiling water.

More Information:
Kelly Kettle
Thermos Nissan 61 Ounce Stainless Steel Bottle

3. Gravity fed Water Filtration Kit204-122513lakemohave.jpg

This is an awesome, compact, use anywhere, anytime water filtration system.  All you have to do is fill the “Dirty” reservoir with water, hang it above the “Clean” reservoir and in minutes you’ve got clean, drinkable water.
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More information:
Platypus GravityWorks Water Filter Kit

4. Wilson Cell Phone Signal Booster.
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I thrive on being disconnected but we can only get away with disconnecting so often and still try to run our business while camping.  We tend to seek out the most remote camp sites possible where cell service is nil or non-existent.  While our cell booster can’t make something out of nothing, it can definitely boost a worthless signal in to something useable.

More information:
Wilson Electronics Cell Phone Signal Booster

5. Inflatable Stand Up Paddleboards217-122513lakemohave.jpg
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Okay, I’ll be honest, these are pretty compact for what they are but they still take up a ton of room in the back of our little camper.  Especially when you add in the pumps, paddles, dry bag and life vests.  However, it’s totally worth it.  You can only camp on the shores of beautiful lakes for so long before you have to find a way to get out on the water.  We talked about getting kayaks, a canoe, a porta-bote but after paddleboarding for the first time last year, we were sold.  At first we just bought one and after a week we had two.  They’re just that much fun.

More information:
Tower Adventure Inflatable Standup Paddleboard

6. Solar Shower.

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This little solar shower really comes in handy when you’ve been camping for days out in the middle of nowhere, you don’t want to leave but you’re really starting to stink.  We all know, the sponge bath will only get us so far.  This is just your ordinary bug/deck sprayer (available at any Home Depot or Lowe’s) replace the nozzle with a kitchen sprayer and you’ve got yourself a shower.  Fill it with water in the morning, set it in the sun and you’ll be surprised how warm that water will get sitting in that black container all day.  Bonus: Mark will add some boiling water from the Kelly Kettle and now we have a hot shower.

7. Folding Camp Table.
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This folding camp table does the job and it’s compact.

More information:
NRS Roll-A-Table

8. Two Burner Camp Stove.240-122513lakemohave.jpg

We intentionally chose a truck camper without a kitchen not only to provide more room inside our truck camper but also because we love to cook outside.  This heavy duty camp stove does the job and fits nicely under the dinette seat in our camper.

9. Collapsible Coffee Drip.
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I don’t think there is a more compact way to make coffee.  If you have to have your morning coffee but don’t want to haul your coffee maker out to camp, this is the perfect substitute.

More Information:
Collapsible Java Drip Coffee Maker

9. Axe, shovel, collapsible bucket and firewood tote.

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These are all great multi-purpose tools that we don’t go anywhere without.  They each have their own separate purpose but together are great tools for starting and putting out your campfire.

That wraps up our list for some of our favorite truck camper camping items.  What camping gear do you never leave home without?

13 Comments

Leave a Reply to GaryCancel reply

  • Just wondering about camper jacks on Four Wheel campers. On their website they list mechanical jacks. No electric jacks offered. I have friends that highly suggest getting electric jacks so as to lift all corners at the same time. Less running around. What do you use when taking your camper off your truck? Any idea why no electric jacks?

    • Unfortunately we are no help in this department. Our truck’s sole purpose is for camping and we’re fortunate to camp so much that we didn’t even purchase jacks. Didn’t want to spend the money just to store them in the garage. I’d get in touch with Chris at Rocky Mountain Four Wheel Camper in Denver he is super knowledgeable and helpful. Good luck!

  • I just picked up a used FWC and truck this week after many months of research (on top of several years of truck camping pipe dreams). Have been looking for things I should consider adding and stumbled across this post. Of course, I ended up reading everything else as well. Your blog is incredibly helpful and inspiring! Also, as a fellow creative, I very much relate to your About section, especially the part about “walking that line every day.” May even need to pin the Dalai Lama’s words above my desk at work.

    Thanks so much for the wonderful and helpful read!
    Mike

    • Congrats on your FWC purchase. For us, it’s the best money we’ve ever spent. I hope you find as much enjoyment with yours. Thanks for enjoying our website, I’ve got many more posts to come that will hopefully be just as helpful!

  • I have been thinking about buying a Wilson cell phone booster and wondering how well it works? I know it needs at least some signal but have not seen any detailed descriptions of how well it boosts the really weak signals. I also spend a lot of time boon docking. Enjoyed your article in TCM and your website, especially the gadget post. Thanks, Dave

    • We’ve been pretty impressed with our Wilson cell booster and think it was definitely a good purchase. It’s gotten us a couple of bars of service from a weak signal. Nothing you’ll be streaming videos with but you can read and send e-mail and make calls.

  • You two are spot on in being “independent”…My question is what camper are you using that did not have an interior kitchen? I am trying to make some decisions on what to buy…..and will follow some of your ideas for sure.
    Skip S3sup.com

    • We purchased the Hawk Shell model and then added a few additional options to that. You can read more details about what when in to our order here.

By michele

About

Hi!  We’re Mark & Michele, a couple of modern-day nomads perfecting the art of slow, perpetual travel.  Our tiny home on wheels and slow-paced travel style allows us maximum freedom at minimal expense.  This blog is where we share our travels as well as our insights in to this lifestyle that we absolutely love.  Thanks so much for being here.

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