10 Of The Best Vehicles For A Great Camping Experience

April 19, 2022

Camping season is one of the best times of the year - it means warmer weather, late nights spent drinking around the bonfire, and sleeping underneath the stars with friends or family. The perfect camping trip can be enhanced by an excellent, multifunctional vehicle, or a poor car choice can ruin it. Since no one gets excited to load up their Ford Focus with camping gear and head out to the wilderness, consider getting one of these ten vehicles instead.

10. Mini Cooper Camper Concept

The Mini Cooper Camper Concept is a great vehicle to have for outdoorsy trips, as it comes with many key features that make camping feel more like "glamping" - including a kitchenette and a bed for added comfort. While the experienced camper may turn their nose up at the looks of a Mini, at least it is better than sleeping on the ground next to a cooler! A bonus about the Camper Concept - it will not take up an ungodly amount of room in the driveway or backyard, meaning the neighbors can't complain for once!

9. Chevrolet Suburban

Priced around forty-five thousand dollars, a Chevrolet Suburban is an essential camping vehicle. Its large cabin is perfect for loading up just about anything needed for the great outdoors; from sleeping bags and hiking sticks to fishing poles and a grille. It has available seating for nine adults and pushes a powerful V8 engine with 320 horsepower for pulling capabilities. It is also the type of vehicle that can be driven to work during the week, albeit it is a bit of a gas-guzzler.

8. Subaru Outback

The Subaru Outback is on the cheaper end of the spectrum, making it a great option for budget-conscious camping lovers who want to get away for less. For around twenty-three thousand dollars, it comes equipped with an all-wheel-drive system that's ready to go deep into the woods without worrying about it getting stuck. It is also long enough to comfortably sleep one person and maybe a dog or another animal companion.

7. Toyota FJ Cruiser

Toyota likes to brag about the FJ Cruiser, saying that it has "...Street cred. Minus the street.” Although this is not the most creative slogan ever invented, it does get the message across. If there were still any doubters about its off-road capability, taking one look at the body of the FJ would make anyone a believer. It is powerful enough to go through rocks and dirt, as well as up to twenty-eight inches of water.

6. Toyota Tundra

The Toyota Tundra might not be the most obvious choice to a seasoned camper, but its sheer size makes it powerful enough to muscle through just about any terrain. Newer models start around thirty thousand dollars and come with a standard 4.6-liter V8 engine with 310 horsepower or an optional 5.7 liter V8 with 381 horsepower. Both engines have a six-speed automatic transmission with a maximum towing rate of over ten thousand pounds.

5. Range Rover

The Range Rover is the perfect car to turn heads in the parking lot through the week and get dirty off-roading on the weekend. Although it is on the more expensive side - at around eighty-three thousand dollars - the Range Rover is versatile and therefore, worth the price. It comes with a 3.0 LR-V6 supercharged engine with enough power to tow over seventy-five thousand pounds, meaning it is perfect for hauling a few dirt bikes or even sleeping in.

4. Nissan Xterra

The Nissan Xterra was designed to get dirty. It is also the cheapest car on this list, making it a perfect second addition to the family if a fuel-efficient sedan is what gets driven to work daily. It comes with a twenty-four valve, 4.0-liter V6 engine, off-road shock absorbers, and off-road lights on the roof to make it through any terrain comfortably. Plus there is sufficient room inside for all necessary camping gear!

3. Toyota 4Runner

True to its name, the Toyota 4Runner is a four-wheel drive vehicle that was made for accompanying seasoned adventurers through rugged terrain. Starting around thirty-four thousand dollars, the 4Runner has five-ton towing capabilities and a 4.0-liter V6 engine with 270 horsepower. It also has a five-speed automatic transmission and 278 pounds per foot of torque power, which does not make it top of the class but it will get the job done without breaking the bank.

2. Jeep ActionCamper

For just under thirty thousand dollars the Jeep ActionCamper is designed to do what is needed for any camping adventure, it even says so in the name. Although it is not the most spacious camper, it is just enough to fit a table with two seats, a bench, a sink, stove, bed and toilet, which is a step up from sleeping on the ground. Plus, it can cover just about any terrain like a Jeep should be able to.

1. Sportsmobile 4WD

Anyone with the extra cash to play with should consider investing in a Sportsmobile 4WD. They range from sixty to ninety thousand dollars depending on how many extra bells and whistles are added. The four-wheel-drive conversion includes a 6.8-liter V10 engine with a partial military wrap leaf shackle suspension, performance shock series, an extra duty steering arm, front sway bar with quick disconnect, and the buyer’s choice of limited slip, open or locking differentials.

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