By Katherine For Aussies, there’s nothing quite like the appeal of 4WD camping, letting them explore the most remotely rugged places in the country. In fact, it’s a favourite getaway and off-grid adventure for enthusiasts, and for obvious reasons. However, for the best 4WD camping experience, you need a packing list, depending on where and how you’re camping. Because when heading to inaccessible locations, you can’t risk your safety (and the fun).
Before you pack, it’s critical to know what type of 4WD camper you are in the first place. Then, accordingly, you can pack a rooftop tent, solar generator, and other essentials. Remember: lightweight≠shabby, luxurious≠safe, the key is “precise match.”Read on to find out!
Basic Camping Essentials for a Novice Starter
According to Statista, Australia is projected to see major growth in the camping market, with the revenue set to hit US$860.10m by 2025[1]. Whether you’re an avid camper or new to the industry, the key to making the most out of your experience lies in packing the right essentials. To make things simpler, here’s a basic checklist to get you started:
- Vehicle-related
As the name implies, 4WD camping depends entirely on your four-wheel drive, which allows you to access areas you couldn’t reach otherwise. So, you’ve got to ensure you have everything in your kit to keep your vehicle driving you optimally.
- Spare tyre & tyre repair kit: Fixes all the punctures so your camping trip doesn’t suffer.
- Recovery Tracks: These tracks help your vehicle get through tricky landscapes without help.
- Tyre Deflators: Help adjust your vehicle’s tyre pressure so it can easily drive through different terrains.
- GPS and Offline Maps: Since mobile signals usually drop in remote areas, your maps or GPS devices ensure you remain on track!
- Shovel: When on boggy tracks, a shovel with a long handle might be the perfect accessory to fend off the dirt.
- Basic Camping Gear
Apart from the 4×4 vehicle, you need basic camping gear, too, no matter where you plan to head in Australia. For instance, it’s worth adding the following equipment to your camping toolkit:
- Rooftop Tent: Whether you’re travelling solo or with family, a rooftop tent is a must-add to your camping gear for shelter and safety all along.
- Foldable Chairs and Tables: For meals and relaxation, make sure to carry lightweight chairs and tables.
- Awning and Shade: This serves as the ultimate cover from elements like scorching sunlight and rain so that your camping experience is as smooth as it gets.
- Camping Mattress: Needless to say, you’ll need a camping mattress to keep you comfortable through the chilly nights.
- Mobile Power (e.g., Solar Generator)
When camping in the remote areas of Australia, you’ll often head miles off the grid, with no power to charge your devices around. This calls for reliable power solutions on the go.
One of the best things to add to your camping gear includes a reliable solar generator by brands like Jackery. This keeps your devices powered up all along, ensuring you’re never left in the middle of nowhere. It easily handles charging for devices like phones, tablets, camping lights, and mini-fridges. Its durable design and stable performance make it an ideal outdoor adventure companion.
- Cooking and Dining
As you set out on your 4WD camping adventure, a major part of your excitement includes the food and dining experience along the way. To ensure it’s fantastic, here’s some cooking gear to add to your list:
- Portable stove: If you don’t want to rely on a campfire alone, invest in a portable stove for easy meals while you’re out camping in Australia.
- Cooking utensils: Whether you plan to rely on snacks or full-fledged meals, don’t forget to add utensils and containers to eat properly.
- Glass Bottles or Containers: This helps store your food for future use while camping, since cooking twice a day isn’t always feasible.
- Coolers: Help keep your food fresh throughout your camping journey.
- Firepits and Matches: They’re a must-have for lighting up the fire for cooking.
- Lighting and Heating
Lighting and heating are non-negotiable parts of Aussie camping, so it’s essential to add the following to your checklist:
- LED Headlamps: These lights brighten up your camp as soon as the sun sets, ensuring you’re safe and things are visible during dark camping nights.
- Solar-powered lights: For eco-conscious campers, solar-powered lights are ideal, letting you light up the space without adding to the carbon footprint.
- Portable Heaters: For cosy camping, don’t leave behind portable heaters, especially during harsh winters.
- Personal Items
While personal items could mean different things for different campers, it’s important to add your essentials to your camping gear timely. Here’s a list of the basic personal items you might want to add to your checklist:
- Sunscreen
- Insect repellants
- First-aid kit and medications
- Basic toiletries
- Rain gear
- Extra layers of clothes
- Tradesman tool boxes
What Type of 4WD Camper Are You?
Essentially, your camping gear checklist depends on the type of 4WD camper you are. You could be a thrill seeker or a family-oriented traveller, but your gear should be top-notch for a great experience. Let’s analyze the typical 4WD camping style to determine which one best suits you.
(1) Family Tourist Type
Core Needs: Safety and comfort for all age groups.
Typical Scenario: Family holiday and endless exploration of scenic places.
For family tourists, it’s essential to pack family-driven camping gear, including large-sized tents, plenty of food and water supply, and personal items for different age groups. However, don’t forget to pick family-friendly locations and carry first-aid kits to cater to medical emergencies instantly.
(2) Minimalist Lightweight Type
Core Needs: Simplicity and easy-to-carry equipment.
Typical Scenario: Solo trips and quick adventures.
Solo travellers usually prefer lightweight 4WD camping, so the golden rule of thumb for such individuals is to pack multi-purpose tools. Minimal tents, cooking setups, and portable solar generators also add great value without contributing to the bulk!
(3) Luxury Comfort Type
Core Needs: 100% convenience and a home-like feel everywhere.
Typical Scenario: Longer stays and glamping for ultimate experience.
If you’re a luxury comfort type camper, you must invest in high-quality camping essentials, such as spacious tents, luxury recliners, or chairs, and even carry a full-fledged cooking setup. Portable lights and generators also align with your convenience goals, keeping your gear powered up all along. However, since not all remote locations are accessible, don’t forget to plan your route accordingly.
(4) Hardcore Adventure Type
Core Needs: Survival kit and vehicle recovery gear.
Typical Scenario: Off-road trips and extended trips to extremely rough terrains.
Such adventurers should keep GPS locators along and have extra fuel arrangements so nothing disturbs their adventures on the road. Yet, they should stay ready for frequent vehicle repairs, especially when heading to extremely tough terrain.
(5) Outdoor Sports Type
Core Needs: Stable camping solutions and vehicle recovery gear.
Typical Scenario: Engagement in outdoor activities like hiking and biking.
Outdoor sports type 4WD camping usually requires high-protein snacks, quick-dry clothes, and GPS devices to stay on track. However, it’s essential to keep a constant track of Australian weather conditions before heading out on longer outdoor adventures.
(6) Photography Enthusiast Type
Core Needs: Power all along and gear protection.
Typical Scenario: More wildlife and scenic photography.
For most campers, their 4WD and camping show isn’t complete without their lens capturing every moment spent. Such campers need high-capacity camping power stations to keep their photography gear charged for those perfect shots. Ideally, they should look up the best shooting locations beforehand and steer away from dangerous weather that might hamper their photography.
Scenario-based Gear Upgrade Suggestions
Australia’s temperature can be pretty unpredictable, particularly for 4WD campers. Whether you’re heading for 4WD beach camping NSW or anywhere else, it’s essential to stay prepared to face multiple scenarios. Here are some gear upgrade suggestions you could use to save yourself from the hassle of unforeseen circumstances:
- Desert High Temperature
Recommendations:
- Keep extra water cans to stay hydrated enough to beat the heat.
- Invest in high-quality shades to fend off the scorching sun.
- Sunglasses, hats, and sunscreens are must-haves.
- Take along a high-power solar generator to keep your cooling equipment running.
- Tropical Rainforest
Recommendations:
- Pack quick-dry clothing to avoid getting soaked during adventures.
- Carry umbrellas, water-proof electronics, and water-proof equipment.
- Invest in mud terrain tyres to get you through slippery terrain.
- Don’t forget mosquito and bug repellants in tropical conditions.
- Coast Camping
Recommendations:
- It’s best to keep a portable fridge or freezer to keep food fresh in coastal conditions.
- Keep water-proof electronics to ensure your devices remain safe.
- Carry a portable solar generator to power your electronics without excessively relying on your vehicle.
- Pack beach-friendly chairs and mats to enjoy your time to the fullest.
- Winter Plateau
Recommendations:
- Invest in portable heaters when heading out to camp in extreme cold.
- Since cold temperature drains batteries faster, a solar generator might be worth it.
- Pack layers of clothes in case the weather gets rougher than expected.
- Bring dried fruits to keep your energy levels up in icy weather.
Jackery Camping Power Supply Solution
One of the most important 4×4 camping accessories includes reliable power solutions. Fortunately, Jackery steps in with reliable solar generators to meet the needs of all types of 4WD campers. Their top models include the following:
- High-capacity and Expandable: Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus
Designed to be your ultimate 4WD camping companion, the Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus has a capacity of up to 12kWh, supporting weeks outside the home. Its expandable design lets you add up to five battery packs, so you never run out of power, no matter how far off the grid you head.
It features fast solar charging with IBC panels, which means you can charge it during the day and use all the power at night. Plus, this model comes with a durable LiFePO4 battery, making it a pretty solid investment for your camping adventures all across Australia.
- More Portable Needs: Jackery Solar Generator 1000 v2
Similarly, the Jackery Solar Generator 1000 v2 packs quite a lot of power into a small power station, making it the top choice for lightweight campers. With a 1070Wh capacity and 1500W output, it powers all your essentials effortlessly. Since conditions might get tough during camping, it’s built with global-top-level LiFePO4 battery cells, ChargeShield technology, and 62 protective layers to keep your power backup as safe as possible.
Better yet, it supports simultaneous charging and discharging, offers up to 100W USB fast charging, and has a noise level below 22 decibels when charging. This means that no matter where you camp in Australia, the Jackery Solar Generator 1000 v2 is the perfectly portable way to keep you all powered up!
The new Jackery Solar Generator 1000 v2 is now on promotion! From 4/10 00:00 to 4/30 23:59 AEST, enjoy the biggest early bird deal with $300 off, free gifts, and more. This product is lighter, faster, yet more powerful. Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to enhance your outdoor adventures.
6 Things Not to Bring for 4WD Camping
If it’s your first time heading for a 4WD camping experience, here’s a list of things not to bring to your adventure:
- Heavy Furniture
Unarguably, bulky furniture will take up too much space and add quite a lot of weight to your 4×4 vehicle. So, it’s best to stick to light (preferably foldable) chairs and tables for your short 4WD camp.
- Fragile Items
It’s essential to note that fragile items like glassware and delicate crockery won’t survive the bumps of rough terrains. Always stick to sturdy alternatives that won’t break instantly.
- Large Amounts of Cash
There’s little reason to carry loads of cash along with you during a 4WD camping adventure. Instead of keeping cash, invest in all the essentials beforehand to avoid issues down the line.
- Unnecessary Cosmetics and Skincare Products
Once again, unnecessary stuff only adds to the bulk. In fact, too many products might even overwhelm you at one point or the other.
- Excessive Fuel and Open Flame Equipment
Don’t carry extra fuel, especially during hot conditions. Plus, open flame equipment can be especially hazardous during 4WD camping.
- Items that Attract Wildlife
While you camp, you don’t want unwanted animal visitors spoiling your adventure, especially in the rainforest. So, steer away from items like strong-smelling foods or meat that might draw predators.
Conclusion
All things said, there’s no “one-size-fits-all” list for 4WD camping, only “the one that suits you best.” Whether you’re heading out to camp with your family or alone to feed your adventurous soul, your camping gear plays a major role in how things turn out.
Consider investing in Jackery’s power solutions regardless of your camping style, and you’re ready to face all the challenges with charged devices all along!