Take Your 4×4 Off-Road Adventure to the Next Level
Camping comes in many different forms, and with technological advancements, new ways of camping are invented all the time. Camping with a 4WD offers you some great opportunities to take advantage of some of the newest camping accessories out there. You can get a lot of great things for your camping trip with a 4WD, from the bare essentials and must-haves, such as sleeping bags, survival gear, first aid kit, water filtration solutions, nutrition solutions, to finding things that will take your 4WD camping experience up a notch, such as 4WD roof awnings, solar panels, etc.
4WD Roof Awning
If you are traveling with a 4WD and you don’t have an awning installed on the roof, you are missing a great opportunity. This invention is designed to provide you with permanent shade and shelter, offering you protection from the elements anywhere you go. One of the best things about this camping accessory is that it won’t take up any of your storage space.
A roof awning for 4WD basically offers you a permanent solution for many different situations for any of your trips. Regardless of whether you’re camping, spending a day at the beach, watching a sports game, taking a break from a long road trip, if you have to stop unexpectedly etc., it will always provide you with protection from the sun or the rain.
Furthermore, an awning 4WD shelter permanently installed on your roof will save you a lot of space, not only because its conveniently placed on the roof, but also because it means that you won’t need to pack another shelter.
There are different types of 4WD awnings from which you can choose, and they come in different sizes. Size is probably the first thing you want to consider when you are choosing your 4WD awning. To determine the size you need, simply think about what you’ll want to put under it. This may also depend on what you want to use it for.
For instance, if you are going on a camping trip, you might want to set up a tent under it, but if you use it when you go to the beach, you’ll only need a couple of chairs under it. Furthermore, consider the size of your vehicle as well, so that you get the right fit, and to ensure it’s safe to drive with.
After you’ve chosen the size of the awning 4WD, where you want to mount it on your car etc., you need to think about the most important aspect – quality. How safe the shelter provided by your awning is will depend on the quality of the materials. Look for awnings that are UV resistant, waterproof, and mould resistant, and make sure that the fittings are also made from quality materials such as stainless steel and lightweight aluminium. Avoid awnings with plastic parts, as they’re prone to warping from the sun’s rays and won’t stand up to high winds.
Portable Solar Panel
Sunlight is the best power source for many reasons. Not only is it an affordable, long-term solution for campers, but it’s also completely renewable, and environmentally friendly. Electricity is probably the biggest challenge when you are going off-grid for a while, especially if you want to camp and not spend the road-trip breaks in motel rooms.
While using the sun as a power source isn’t a new concept, it has just recently in the last decades become a real option for everyday people and campers. And nowadays, there are even ways to use it when you are off-grid and on a trip. If you need more reasons to invest in portable solar panels for camping, think about how convenient it is to solely depend on our sun as a power source, independent of the main grid.
Initially, this investment may be a little high, but it doesn’t require any extra costs like other types of energy sources for camping, making it a cost-effective solution. Portable solar panels for camping are designed to be durable and reliable, meaning you can be sure you will have the electricity to power all of your appliances.
There are different types of 4WD solar panels, and each of them have their own advantages. Generally, all off-grid solar panels work in a similar way, to provide you with electricity independently of the main grid.
First, they convert the solar energy into direct current (DC), and then they convert the DC to alternating current (AC) with the help of an AC-DC solar inverter. 4WD solar systems also come with a battery bank which stores the excess energy generated during the sunny period which you can then use when there isn’t any sunlight. The only downside is that if you are traveling during colder months there may not be enough sun to produce enough electricity to power everything you need. So, in that case, you should also invest in a backup generator and a transfer switch which will help you alternate between the two energy sources.
Other Amazing 4×4 Camping Accessories
Camping has inspired manufacturers to produce some very innovative accessories. They vary from simple, like a rope or a pair of hiking shoes to some extremely complex ones, like accurate handheld GPS systems or off-grid portable solar panels. But regardless of the size or the simplicity of the camping gear, the goals are always the same: it has to be easy to use, compact, as useful as possible, and serve as many purposes as possible.
Aside from the essential camping accessories and these next-level options for shelter and electricity, there are a lot of other incredible 4WD accessories you can invest in for next-level camping trips. When you have a limited storage space, like when camping with a 4WD, always try finding multipurpose accessories, compact options, foldable options, etc.
Some other next-level 4×4 accessories you can get are:
- 4WD drawers
- Portable fridge
- Portable gas burner
- Foldable chairs and tables
- Motion sensor lights
- Inclinometer