How do you pack for camping?

[BC_FJC]

I've been out camping once or twice a month since I picked up my FJ Cruiser and still have not figured out how to get everything packed and still access it without unpacking half of it. has anyone come up with some good packing tricks? I keep a Gas can behind the driver’s seat, a tool kit behind the passenger seat and 20L water container on the back seat behind the passenger and the Dog gets the rest of the backseat...

HELP

 

[Dusty 66]

I was in the same boat with my FJ80, I started to down size take only what I needed but I always have repair kit extra water, gas I carry on top on the roof rack

I was in my take everything mode this picture I have my 16 ' Tipi and wood stove, two tents four sleeping bags a sun shelter, a large table,two lanterns two gas stoves, stove stand two coolers four chairs my wife's pillows and that was for the two of us now in my FJC I am re thinking my equipment needs going back to the backer packer mentality with out sacrificing comfort weekends are EZ try a week in the desert and taking two coolers one for food and one for the adult beverages.
our last two camping trips in our FJC we took a lot less stuff too pack and did not miss any thing really...Dusty

 

[CandyPants]

I have the same problem, but I don't think I pack that much stuff. What are you a girl?

But really, I bought a Thule soft cargo carrier.

So far I like it, but it's not very waterproof. I put everything in a plastic bag so it doesn't get wet if it rains. It works pretty well to carry stuff you only need to unpack when you setup camp.

This might be a better pic. The stuff in the back of the FJC only is about window high with everything else on top.

 

[monniepoo]

kids and the bikes and away we go!

 

[rfjtoy]

I too have the thule soft cargo bag and it fits and the sleeping bags, tent stoves, and two gear boxes. the rest goes inside, no problem. I plan on adding the ARB roof rack and putting it all on top, next year.

 

[BC_FJC]

I can’t go any higher as the terrain around here has too many low branches overhanging the trails. My HiLift and Axe and shovel and anything else on the roof already take a beating.
As far as stuff that I take I have cut down a lot… I used to have a full size P/U with an 8 foot box that I would almost always have full. I now only take 1 cooler, 1 container with food, 1 container with kitchen items, 1 container with Camp supplies(lantern, saw, hatchet, spare batteries….), 1 container with dog food and toys… a duffle bag with my cloths and other gear another small duffle bag with recovery gear… a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, tarp, camp stove, 2 small propane tanks, video camera, SLR camera, tripod, and a first aid kit. Camp chairs and table on the roof…
Add a passenger… another duffle bag of cloths and other gear, sleeping bag, and another tent and you have one full truck…

 

[1911]

... I don't think I pack that much stuff. What are you a girl?

LOL, was thinking the same thing. I guess as a holdover from my backpacking days, I travel real light. All my camping stuff fits in the very back with room to spare.

 

[Runner Ryan]

I just try to make sure the stuff I don't need until camp is buried, and stuff I might need on the way is more accesable. Otherwise, my truck looks just the same as yours. You may have seen the rack that I built. I had it on the Whipsaw. It fits in the receiver hitch, and holds the cooler, gas can, and water jug. That way it's not on the roof to take a beating. I also have a small offroad trailer that I take on some trips. Has 32" tires, and is very manouverable. It is trailworthy. With a pintle hitch, it would do the Whipsaw.

 

[Brazenhead]

I thought this was the only way to pack for camping.

 

[Dusty 66]

I like to use the rack and keep the back seat clear

Dusty​

 

[cruiser88]

the rear hitch mount platform,you usually see hunters carrying deer is a good way to go

 

[Runner Ryan]

I have 2 racks. They are really handy. The lower one is for my little motorbike, but can be used for a lot of things. The higher one obviously has more clearance. Oh, and I made them myself.

 

[alaskacruiser]

Dusty 66- great pic! Where was that taken?

 

[BMThiker]

Wow! That's a lot of stuff! How long were you planning on staying? How many people are you packing for? You may need a trailer. One of those military surplus jobs because they have higher ground clearance than a standard trailer. I think the US version is the M416 and the Canadian is the M101. Just do a search and I think you can pick one up for under $1K. Features:watertight tub, heavy vinyl impregnated tonneau cover, parking brake, and they are really badazz looking.

This is a Canadian one, belongs to Ga Cruisers Chapter Prez.

 

[BC_FJC]

I have been looking into the trailer solution... But thought I would try working with what I have first... If I'm traviling alone I can get everything in ok. I still need to find a way to stop equipment from falling into the backseat when on the trail. Once I take a passenger the backseat is required for storage.

As for the rack idea I have a bike rack that I use for my bike and on longer trips where storage will be a bigger problem I would most likly have my bike in tow.

Thanks for your input

 

[Dusty 66]

Dusty 66- great pic! Where was that taken?

Depends

Ambush Canyon Lone Pine Ca this is where a lot of the old western movies were filmed

Death Valley Ca

Dusty​

 

[lovetoski]

Biggest improvement will be to build a shelf or a set of drawers behind the rear seat. This will enable you to creat two zones (upper and lower) each of which can be accessed separatly. Best solution I think is a shelf with two drawers under it.

Lots of posts in the 80 forum and the outfitting forum on making these if you're a DIY guy.

Also, with just a dog in the back seat, you can use the footwell for water, food, coolers, etc.

 

[spressomon]

Drawer/s and a trailer. Been around this block too...love our Adventure Trailers trailer...it stays all packed and all we do is fill the water tank up, hitch it to the LC and go...go...go. Get to where you want to camp and you can crawl in the tent top within 10-minutes if you have/want to. Also great for setting base-camp and then being able to explore from base camp with an unloaded LC...perfect!

 

[RiverWalker]

This is what my FJC looks like when we are travelling light and what we look like when we are going away for awhile. We always carry a light mountain tent and stoves along with sleeping bags and a few clothes etc. in the cruiser. In the trailer are all the luxuries we need, including a 10 X10 X7' tent. One of our float tubes can go on the roof rack of the cruiser and another one on the trailer. There is lots of room for all of our fishing gear and our rifles etc when we go north to hunt. We recently can back with a buffalo and a wild boar in the trailer and still had a lot of room for coolers and tent.
The Cruiser does not slow down much pulling the trailer. I don't get in to 6th gear as much but my fuel economy does not go down much. The only time I use premium fuel is when I am pulling the trailer.

My 2 cents worth

 

[Noisycow]

I don't get it. I've gone camping off a motorcycle before. How much stuff do you need? Well, I did actually live in a car for a year and for a couple of years I slept in a chair lol.