8 best accessories for car camping in Marion this winter

The end of summer doesn’t have to be the end of the camping season, and car camping is a great way to camp without having to set up a tent in the cold. There are many ways to car camp, including camper vans, truck campers, or the folded-down seats in the back of your SUV. When you go winter camping, it’s important to plan ahead, check the weather, and make sure you have everything you need to stay warm and comfortable. Here are some items that are handy to have if you go car camping around Marion this winter.

Air Mattress

“Winter Camping.” licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Flickr by MIKI Yoshihito

Car camping doesn’t have to be uncomfortable. Gone are the days of lying on a thin camping pad on the hard bed of your vehicle, feeling every lump and fixture as you toss at night. An inflatable air mattress will be easy to transport as it can be compacted and stored until you need to use it, then inflate when you’re ready for a great night’s sleep. You can get ones specifically designed to fit in a car’s seat spaces or get one that fits in the cargo bed area or camper van bed.

Warm Sleeping Bag

If you are camping in the winter, it’s important to have a sleeping bag that’s designed for the coldest nights in your area. In the winter in Marion, temperatures can often get into the low 20s, so make sure you have a sleeping bag that will keep you warm as the nights grow cold. Bringing some extra blankets is also a good idea because you never know exactly what the weather will do and how things like wind chill and humidity will affect how warm you feel. Plus, they can keep you cozy around a campfire on a winter night.

Window Insulation

Your car or vehicle can lose a lot of heat through the glass of the windows. To prevent this, you can use insulation to cover the windows. This will also help keep your windows from fogging up and frosting on the inside. You can get pre-made car window insulation covers, or make your own out of insulating materials. A car can get humid from your breath overnight, which can lead to it feeling cooler and uncomfortable, so even though it’s important to insulate the windows, you might want to crack one or two of them to let the condensation out.

Portable Stove

A portable stove is a great addition to winter camping as it allows you to heat water to rehydrate dried foods for a warm meal and also lets you make a hot cup of coffee in the morning, which is a vital start to many people’s day. There are a few different types of stoves to choose from depending on what best fits your needs. Canister stoves are popular for camping as they are small and easy to use, consisting of a small stove that screws onto a fuel canister. Other types include liquid fuel stoves and alternative fuel stoves.

Hand Warmers

If you go out in the winter often, then you know how easy it is to get cold fingers, and if you’re camping in the winter, it can be harder to warm your hands back up. Hand warmers are a great option to keep you comfortable while you’re out enjoying nature. These helpful little guys generally last for hours and produce a comforting heat. Disposable types are popular, affordable, and easy to find in many stores, but if you go camping in the winter often, you might want to upgrade to reusable options from your local camp store.

Extra Power

It’s important to have an extra power source for all your electronic gear. Even if you’re going camping to get away from technology for a while, you’ll still want to be able to contact someone in case of emergency or to check in to let a family member know where you’re at and that you’re okay. You can bring a charged-up external battery to keep your phone running, but if you’re camping for a longer time, you might want to look into a larger power station with multiple ports or even invest in a portable solar charging station.

Light Source

You’ll want a light source so you can see your way around in the dark winter evenings, and light is invaluable for setting up camp in the evening, reading in your cozy sleeping bag, and doing any nighttime chores around your campsite after the campfire has gone out. An LED headlamp is great for illuminating many camping activities and is more useful than a flashlight since you can have both your hands free. A camp lantern is also useful since it can be either hung or used standing, and it creates a nice ambiance.

Emergency and First Aid Kits

Winter camping can be more challenging than summer camping, and you’ll definitely want to be prepared. An emergency kit could include a utility shovel, a tool kit in case anything needs repairs, a sturdy tow strap, extra dry bags, jumper cables, and road flares. An emergency thermal blanket should also be in your kit. You can buy a car first aid kit or make your own. You’ll want to include several sizes of bandages along with gauze and sterile dressing, pain relievers like Tylenol or ibuprofen, antiseptic wipes to clean wounds, and antacids and antihistamines.

Car camping is a convenient way to get out and explore nature in the winter. You won’t have to assemble tent poles with cold fingers or worry about your tent holding up in inclement weather. With a little planning, there’s no reason why you have to relegate camping exclusively to the summer months. At VW of Marion, we hope you’ve found some useful ideas for winter car camping on this. Contact our parts department to order any car accessories for camping you’ll need this winter. If you are an experienced car camper and have some tips to share, we’d love to hear your best suggestions, so feel free to drop us a line.