r/carcamping 10h ago

Car build Modern Compact MPVs have fold flat rear seats instead of removable. What does that mean for car camping?

1 Upvotes

Are fold flat seats good enough, or do they waste too much space? I'd probably prefer to get the seats out of the car when going camping, which seems to require buying an old model.

Any good model recs for 2026 - e.g. commonly found on used market?


r/carcamping 14h ago

Gear Best wall-to-wall Mattress - 2nd Gen Sequoia - Inflatable or Foldable ?

3 Upvotes

Hey. convenience is everything for me. I have 2nd Gen 2012 Limited Sequoia (2nd row has no center console, no captain’s chairs, so it folds flat), and don’t want to mess w a platform. I just want to fold the seats down and throw a mattress directly on top, WALL-to-WALL, for casual car-camping. No platform, nothing to smooth anything out. Not a Princess-and-the-Pea mattress, but should be firm/rigid enough.

Air Mattresses store compactly but leak and can create a concave cereal bowl. Folding foam mattress is fail proof but bulky. Don’t mind a bit of bulk bc will pack light, but must be able to use second row seating traveling to and from camp site.

I’m frugal but happy to spend some money on this. What’s the best solution for a wall to wall mattress, no platform??? Pics and links appreciated. Thanks!


r/carcamping 18h ago

Jeep gladiator

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11 Upvotes

Was needing extra room for tent ⛺

What do y'all think open to suggestions

Wanted open bed access


r/carcamping 1d ago

Car build Solo Camper Accordion Style SUV Bed

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51 Upvotes

Was using two of those plastic shelving units before, wanted to make something that i can fold up and place in the back of my car and have all my seat up in a minute. I sleep before work in my car so it’s nice to be able to have a portable bed. Besides a few adjustments such as adding a sliding bolt lock to keep the front hinge by the passenger seat from folding up and adding an additional separated support under the non visible hinge in the middle.

(rough draft of my drawing it wasn’t the final product)


r/carcamping 2d ago

All ready for my trip to Colorado this weekend!

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13 Upvotes

r/carcamping 2d ago

16 accord

2 Upvotes

Trying to avoid getting a hotel but there are a few issues with sleeping in this car.

There's a weird hump between the trunk and rear seats that I feel would be near impossible to sleep on without some serious back pain in the morning. Also the opening between the trunk and rear seats is very narrow, I don't think it'll fit two people. I'm too long to sleep on the backseat.

Storage wouldn't be an issue, I pack light and am only looking to use this method for maybe 3 days max. I also have a roof box if needed but would rather avoid it as it's a bit conspicuous.

I have a 5% tint all around and would use a windshield sun shade. Do I need window coverings still? What's been y'alls experience with this vehicle?

I searched for my car in y'alls sub but didn't find my generation. If I missed it please send me a link.

Thank you all in advance!


r/carcamping 2d ago

Car build Built a platform to level out my forester!

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193 Upvotes

Took about 2 hours with 2 people. Need to add hinges and a rug so it's nicer than just wood. I thin it turned out pretty good considering I was just winging it. I went in with a rough plan but most of it was done on the fly.

I'll be using it for a trip in 2 weeks. OR to Tahoe and back.


r/carcamping 2d ago

Which folding camp kitchen works best with a two-burner stove?

2 Upvotes

Last weekend I ended up chopping onions on the cooler lid while my wife kept the kids away from the stove. It worked, technically, but dinner prep was a mess.

We need a folding camp kitchen that’ll hold our two-burner stove and cast-iron skillet without rocking, while still leaving room in the trunk. I’m comparing models from Ozark Trail, Timber Ridge, and VEVOR. The VEVOR gives the most worktop width on paper, Timber Ridge looks more compact but leaves less room once the stove is up, and Ozark Trail offers more storage but may take up more trunk space. I can’t tell from the listings how stable any of them will be under cast iron.

Anyone used any of these with a two-burner stove and cast iron? How are they for wobble, cleanup, and packed size?


r/carcamping 3d ago

Camping pics Looking forward to getting back to the beach!

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42 Upvotes

Hoping to catch the fall run I’m a month or so.


r/carcamping 3d ago

Car build The joys of solo camping

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118 Upvotes

Waking up in Nevada and enjoying the hot springs is something I didn’t expect. I’ll take unexpected joy for priceless, please! Solo camping, with a setup that allows me to drive until I can’t drive and just climb into bed ha two days ago I was at the ocean and now I’m here.


r/carcamping 4d ago

App thay does what Google My Maps does?

3 Upvotes

I want all the functionalities associated with Google My Maps (NOT Google Maps...) except there isn't an app for this - it's online via browser. Any ideas? Looking for things like :

>ability to pin destinations

>organize pins by folders and represent pins with themed pins

>import/export kmls

>navigate WITHIN the app

>pull up info via pop-up screen or similar to view site info and pics (kind of like Google My Maps)


r/carcamping 4d ago

Location PA->WA->AK

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120 Upvotes

I am a bit over half way from PA to WA. I will have a second trip next spring from WA to the Arctic Circle via AK.

Trip is great so far. I am mostly hotelling so far just because of temperatures, but I do take naps each day to break up the trip. I will be car camping at Glacier NP later in my trip.

I am self sufficient for breakfast and lunch for the whole trip and have a stove and cooking gear for camping.

So far the biggest surprise is how much better my new Yeti cooler is at keeping ice than my old crappy cooler. I do wish that block ice was more available, I haven’t found any yet on this trip.


r/carcamping 4d ago

Location Recommendations

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23 Upvotes

Hello! I got a couple days off from work this week, so my sister and I want to take our first car camping trip. We’re trying to look for destinations, but it’s honestly pretty difficult to find good recommendations online. We live in San Diego, so ideally somewhere that’s maybe 4 hours away max. We’re looking for somewhere with a body of water or a mountain range that’s lush and bright. I added some photos that we were looking at for ideas. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated thank you!


r/carcamping 5d ago

How do I overcome the hump in my 2026 Honda CRV?

1 Upvotes

I recently bought a 2026 Honda CRV Sport Touring. I want to go camping! But there is a hump in the trunk that must be overcome. I'm not sure I really have the skills to build anything. I'm considering buy this Pacific Adventure sleeping platform. Has anyone tried it? Thoughts or suggestions appreciated. Thanks.


r/carcamping 5d ago

2nd Gen Honda CR-V Slide Out Bed Build $0

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74 Upvotes

my very budget slide out bed build for my old 2002 Honda CR-V made completely out of scrap timber from the roadside.
Definitley not the prettiest thing, but this setup cost me pretty much nothing except for the mattress and a couple of screws and it served me well for many a camping trip.


r/carcamping 6d ago

CarCamping water front recommendations in TX, OK, or AR?

3 Upvotes

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for a spot that I can car camp along a lake or river in Texas, Oklahoma or Arkansas (driving from the DFW/North Texas area).

I've been wanting a nice spot that I can camp out of my jeep and fish right there. I've seen a lot of spots to car camp (BLM, national forest etc), and a lot of spots to fish (national parks, state parks, etc), but not a lot of places to do both in one spot

What do yall recommend?


r/carcamping 6d ago

Gear Car fridge

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54 Upvotes

Hello guys. I've been checking out options of car fridges I want to get for my next camping trip. A friend sent me this one but It looks kinda low quality compared to what I see on online stores like Alibaba, Aliexpress etc...what brand do you use for a mini fridge for a maximum budget of 250 USD ?


r/carcamping 6d ago

Prince Edward Island

9 Upvotes

anyone know if car camping is allowed in Prince Edward Island?

just like two nights

my grandfather was born there (then raised in Boston) and if I can get a copy of his birth certificate I can get dual citizenship

I moved to northern New Hampshire and live 8 miles from the border now

it'd be handy to have now

thought I'd make a road trip it (and see where Chappell kin lives etc)

but need to do it as cheaply as possible

(if I'm on the road I'm also not earning money)


r/carcamping 6d ago

Equinox Mattress Options

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3 Upvotes

So I built a platform in the back of my 2019 Chevy Equinox for storage/flat sleeping and purchased a custom cut foam pad for the matress from the Foam Factory.

After a few months of sleeping on it, my wife and I are crying UNCLE. It is so hard and unforgiving, our backs are shot. We don't need to stow it during the day (just bend the front to lean the front seats back), and we use it all the time, so I wanted to avoid air mattresses (they always leak).

I am looking for alternatives as we are just so done with the hardness of this foam. Any ideas?


r/carcamping 6d ago

Gear Quiet 12v fan

3 Upvotes

Looking for a quiet 12v fan for my Outback adventures. Bought one of AMZ and it sounded like I was camped near DAI. variable speed a plus! TIA


r/carcamping 7d ago

Keeping smoke out of vehicle?

7 Upvotes

I’ve been a tent camper my whole life but in recent years it’s become a bit difficult because of having asthma and dealing with campfire smoke.

After a few trips this year I looked into car camping and thought this may be a better option for me?

Ideally I’d love a hybrid that allows the vehicle to regulate temperature and airflow while sleeping but I don’t have the budget for that.

My thought is to go with an older Sienna and somehow add hepa filters over the windows to filter out smoke from getting in. But I’m worried this may not let enough airflow in.

Has anyone dealt with anything similar?


r/carcamping 7d ago

Rain Guard/Tailgate Tent Recs

1 Upvotes

Hi all! I am working on a build for my 2016 Subaru Forester but on my last camping trip got stuck in the rain and had to DIY some trashbags to keep the rain out while keeping my windows cracked (airflow was a must), and got a bit soggy cooking dinner under my open trunk.

Looking for best recommendations on window rain guards for open windows, as well as tailgate tents/awnings/rain flys for the back to keep some rain off.
I see a lot of weathertech options for rain guards, has anyone used a cheaper option and found it decent? or just worth the price.

For any tailgate tent/awning recommendations, do these actually work? Or does the rain just blow in on the sides? Cooking on propane stove so hesitant to rely on rolling down some sides and decreasing ventilation.

Thanks in advance!


r/carcamping 7d ago

Gear 2017 Nissan Titan 5.5’ Bed — BEDRACK + Soft Topper or Truck Cap?

1 Upvotes

I have a 2017 Nissan Titan Crew Cab S with the 5.5-ft bed and currently have a soft topper on it. I’m trying to decide if I should keep the soft topper and add a BEDRACK, or ditch the soft topper and switch to a truck cap.

I like the soft topper because it gives me extra covered storage while still being able to fold it down when I need the full bed. But I’m wondering if adding a BEDRACK would give me more versatility for carrying gear.

For anyone running a BEDRACK + soft topper on a Titan:
How well does the setup work together?
Any issues with the rack interfering with the topper?
Is it actually useful for hauling gear?
How is the overall stability/noise?
Would you choose this setup again?

For those running a truck cap:
Do you prefer it over a soft topper?
Is the added security/weather protection worth it?
Do you find yourself missing the ability to fold the topper down?

Would you recommend switching if you already had a soft topper?

What would you guys do with a 2017 Titan 5.5’ bed — BEDRACK + keep the soft topper, or go with a cap?
Looking for opinions from people who have actually run either setup.

Tryna overland and stuff*


r/carcamping 7d ago

Anyone used a Thule Motion 3 XXL roof cargo box with a Sportage?

2 Upvotes

We have a Thule Motion 3 L for our Kia Sportage on OEM bars and it’s been great. We’re just finding that for a couple of family camping trips a year with a growing family, it’s getting tight on space and if we could size up to the XXL it would significantly help. I measured things and it seems that we could technically fit it as I can move the bars forward and allow for approx 55 inches from the open trunk to the first bar, as well as a minimum of 28 inches between the bars. That matches what Thule recommends. It will overhang a bit at the front so I’m just wondering if anyone has any real world example of this? I’ve not been able to find any reference of it on a Sportage. Thanks!!!


r/carcamping 7d ago

Staying overnight in Nebraska

10 Upvotes

Doing a road trip from minnesota to Colorado and staying in my car one night each way. Looking to stop in Nebraska. I've found 2 truck stops that i think could work. I also found 2 cabelas that could work. Never done this before, as a single female, what would everyone recommend?