How to pack your car for camping

Sorry to take so long between posts. I've been busy and the son keeps hogging the computer. He is backpack camping with his Boy Scout troop this weekend, so the only person I have to fight over the computer with is my husband! LOL!

In my last post, I said I was going to discuss how to pack your car with all your camping gear. First, get all of the stuff together. The night before we go camping, the couch by the front door has all of our camping stuff on it (except for the tent, the screenhouse & the totes - they are out in the shed). Having everything in one place is important. That way, you don't forget anything. (That sounds like a Yogi Berra quip, doesn't it?)

I drive a Jeep Liberty and the back seat folds down, a 60/40 split. We fold the 60 side down. My husband drives a S10 truck, so the majority of the stuff (tent, screenhouse, totes, grill, coolers) goes with him. We could probably put everything in the Jeep (and on top of the Jeep) if we had to though.

So here's how I'd pack if we only had one vehicle. I would pack the coolers and the totes first. (Take a soda out first if you need one.) This will also give you a level surface to put everything else on. Then, I would put the duffel bags, the cooking gear, and any dry food (in grocery bags, of course) on top of the first layer. On top of all of this, I would then put the tent, the air mattresses (deflated), the screenhouse, the bag with your health and beauty items, the first aid box, and the grill (if you're bringing one). You want to make sure you pack last the stuff you'll need first. Make sure you have enough seats for everyone!

If you don't have a SUV or you have a smaller car, you can put stuff on the roof. If you need to put stuff on the roof, I suggest stuff that won't slide around on the roof. The totes and/or the grill would be best for tying on the roof. Be sure to put fold a tarp and put it on the roof before you add the items so that the roof of the car doesn't get scratched up. Secure the items tightly with bungee cords so they don't slide around.

You could also have your passengers hold on to their duffle bags and the groceries can ride along with the passengers, as well as the dry food, the health and beauty bag and the first aid box. If all else fails, use two vehicles. It will make for a more comfortable ride for all parties.

On a side note, I have added two new links in the links section. The Woodall's link is for a campground directory. You can do a search for campgrounds here. This will be handy if you want to go camping in other states or in Canada. I have also added a link for Reserve America, where you can make reservations for various campsites across America. The Army Corps of Engineer campgrounds are also listed on this site.

Well, that's all for today. Until next time -

Happy camping!

Diane