Now that the official start of spring is here, some of you may be thinking of going camping. Being a gearhead, you might go car camping, which means you sleep in your vehicle. If you’ve never gone car camping before and you’re thinking of doing it, I hope you learn from the mistakes I made during my first excursion.
I’ve learned that if you have an idea for something, don’t overthink it—just go for it. But my first car camping experience made it clear that you should think after you commit to that idea. Here’s what happenedL: back in 2016, I drove the Cummins turbodiesel V8-powered Nissan Titan XD during the Texas Auto Writers Association’s Texas Truck Rodeo. One day the following year, I was thinking about which vehicles I was going to request to review, and my mind wandered to the Titan XD. Then, for some reason, I started thinking about what kind of accessories Nissan offered for it. After a few minutes of searching through Nissan’s various options, I found one that stopped me in my tracks: a $260 Napier tent that strapped into the Titan XD’s 6.6-foot bed. I emailed the media fleet manager in my area and pitched (no pun intended) the idea. A few weeks later, a $63,905 2017 Nissan Titan XD Platinum Reserve 4X4 was in my driveway with a bagged-up tent in the back of its cab. Somehow, I convinced Eli (my then-girlfriend, now my wife) to go with me to Emma Long Park in Austin for a night of car camping. What followed was an oddly enjoyable cautionary tale. These are the things I learned from it.
Arrive Early
If you’re trying something new for the first time, it helps to have as much visibility as possible. Eli and I left my apartment way too late in the day. By the time we picked up dinner, arrived at our designated spot, and unpacked, the sun had already gone down—right along with the temperature. There we were, two indoorsy types trying to strap the sides of the tent to the rear wheel arches and erect the tent and its entrance with a series of poles and couplings in the rapidly deepening darkness.
Examine Your Gear First
I was so excited to go on this trip and make my idea a reality that I didn’t even open the bag for the tent until we were already at the camp site. Part of me had assumed that since I was testing out a new truck that the tent would also be new. That was only half true! The tent was new in terms of age, not condition. Shortly before I received it for my review, it had been displayed as part of some outdoor lifestyle event. At one point during the activities there, one of the fiberglass poles used for creating the tent’s entryway arch got splintered at one end. That made it incapable of bending as one piece and forming the opening to the tent along with the other poles and connectors. Eli and I still managed to get into the tent, but it was through a droopy, irregularly shaped silver portal.
Clear the Air
Perhaps my head would’ve been clearer if I hadn’t kept the truck running while Eli and I were trying to build our lodging for the night. Even out in the open, the 5.0-liter Cummins V8’s fumes were potent.
Be Aware of Your Surroundings
A few days before the trip, I went to a sporting goods store to get a lantern, sleeping bag (Eli brought hers, and an air mattress for both of us), bug spray, and camping pillows. Those were great basics to have, but they weren’t enough. Even though it was spring in Texas, the temperature plunged down overnight. Eli and I were warm in our sleeping bags, but the air around our faces was nearly freezing, which made my frequent drifting in and out of sleep even more unpleasant. In hindsight, a tent-safe portable heater should’ve also been on my shopping list.
Expect Accordingly
Eli and I chose the Emma Long Park for a few reasons. It wasn’t far from our respective apartments, which also meant it wasn’t far from civilization in general. Yes, a more exotic locale would’ve made for a better view, but our car camping spot allowed me to do what I needed to get done for my review. A nice bonus was we didn’t need to worry about wild animals. Luckily, we didn’t have to be concerned about strangers, either. Our neighborly car campers were peaceful, but we did hear their music and loud conversations late into the night—not exactly the most serene environment.
Have Fun—Even When You’re Miserable
There were many times that night when I was either frustrated or furious. It was no walk in the park for Eli, but she still managed to laugh, whether it was at the ridiculousness of our situation or my ill-fated attempts to make a pile of fabric and a bunch of tubes into something resembling a tent. Her lighthearted attitude calmed me down and enabled to see the humor in what was happening, too.
Go for It Again
My first car camping trip didn’t go all that well, but I’m glad I went. At the very least, it was educational. And I didn’t let the mistakes I made stop me from car camping again. The second time around, I went wheeling with a buddy of mine in a 2019 Ford Ranger Lariat FX4 equipped with a rooftop tent. We made the trek during a comfortably warm part of the year and had a much easier, quicker setup process out in nature but high off the ground. The campfire, hot dogs, s’mores, and Counting Crows playlist were good ideas, too.
