Are you looking for a unique outdoor experience? Discover new territories as you venture between sea and mountains. Have you considered the option of camping on an ATV? This mode of mobility quickly takes you away from your daily routine. What’s more, it lets you enjoy the bewitching scents of buds, wildflowers and conifers releasing their sap in the heat of the sun.
When night falls, sitting around a fire, mesmerized by its warmth and crackling, is simply gratifying. So when the day comes to an end, it would be a shame to put an abrupt end to this contact with nature. Why not consider ATV camping?
The first thing to remember is this quote: “It’s never too cold, just too crowded and poorly dressed.” The same applies to camping. With the right gear and equipment, everything will go smoothly. It’s also important to limit the total volume of your equipment. Otherwise, the idea of attaching the load to the ATV could turn into a veritable “12 labors of Asterix” and annihilate the fun before the day has even begun. Let’s take a look at how a great ATV camping trip can unfold.
The equipment I bring
The tent
The choice of tent is very important. Forget the condo tent, which takes up too much space. Opt for a two-person tent if you’re alone, or a three-person tent if there are two. The extra space will be used for your personal gear.
Avoid tents with too many mosquito nets, as they can get cold at night. Ideally, a three-season tent will offer good performance. Choose a tent with a double roof that covers the entire tent down to the ground. It’s this last element that will guarantee rainproofing, even in windy conditions.
Bear in mind that a poor-quality tent may disappoint you when you least expect it.
Sleeping bag
A sleeping bag should be both efficient and compact. Preferably, opt for a sleeping bag designed for temperatures between 0 and -7°C, which will keep you warm even on chilly nights. You should also consider buying a compression bag to store your sleeping bag. This reduces its volume by around 30%, which is very practical.
Mattresses
A mattress is essential to protect you from ground humidity. A two-inch self-inflating mattress is an excellent option. Rolled up, it doesn’t take up any more space than an inflatable mattress, but there’s no need to bring a pump.
Pillow
Many people find it hard to get to sleep without a pillow, but one can take up a lot of space in your luggage. Simply bring a pillowcase that you can fill with a spare clothes. Another solution is to use a small inflatable pillow.
The heater
I like to take a small propane heater with me. It allows me to provide a little warmth and remove humidity from the tent before going to bed. Afterwards, bedtime is much more comfortable. The heater also has a second use for breakfast: I use it to toast my bread. To save space, I disassemble the heater and bury the components in my luggage.
Clothes
Clothes can quickly become a headache. Be strategic. Why not wear the same clothes you use for quad riding for two days in a row? After a few hours on the trail, the dust will already have washed away your efforts at a clean start.
Make sure you have underwear for each day, a dressier outfit for the evenings, and a second set for ATV riding every other day. A single set of warm clothes will suffice. Don’t forget your raincoat. Pack your clothes compactly; they’ll stay intact and take up less space in your luggage.
If you’re going away for several days, it’s less cumbersome to bring a washing machine tablet and do a load of laundry at the campground laundry than to pack a multitude of spare clothes.
Food
Are you really going to cook? Your vehicle will regularly require refuelling. Take the opportunity to buy ready-to-eat meals. Alternatively, every village has its own little restaurant, so you can sample the local flavours while socializing. You don’t have to bring your bush cooking with you. On the other hand, I like to have breakfast before I leave. So I bring a loaf of bread and a jar of peanut butter or jam. It’s my whim!
Personal products
Your products must be limited. Opt for travel sizes. Choose microfiber shower or beach towels. They are highly absorbent, dry quickly and take up little space.
Other
It’s a good idea to bring firelighters, a lighter, a flashlight and a small axe for splitting firewood in the evening.
How about organizing a quad camping trip with friends?
If there’s more than one of you, don’t pack duplicate equipment. Plan your needs together.
Storage bag
There’s nothing worse than arriving at your destination with dirty, soggy luggage. Waterproof bags are ideal. Whether it’s rain, snow or mud, nothing gets inside. Personally, I use one bag for my clothes and another for my gear. Alternatively, two layers of plastic bag are ideal for protecting your luggage.
Securing your equipment
When loading everything onto your vehicle, don’t forget that everything will move around on the trails, and will become compacted along the way. In this case, securing with elastic rubber straps is ideal. They will continually adjust to the play of luggage as it compresses during the journey.
| Équipment | Price |
|---|---|
| Tent | 314,96$ |
| Sleeping bag -5°C | 115,00$ |
| Compression bag for sleeping bag | 12,00$ |
| Inflatable pillow | 9,97$ |
| Microfiber shower towel | 24,95$ |
| 30-liter waterproof travel bag | 92,99$ |
| Propane heater | 68,39$ |
| 2-inch self-inflating mattress | 79,95$ |
| Total | 718,21$ |
Enjoy your experience to the full
I invite you to experience ATV camping. Of course, the length of your stay will partly determine the amount of gear you need to take with you. Depending on the type of vehicle, some allow more cargo than others. Make a simulation and adjust accordingly. I suggest you start with a one- or two-night outing, so as not to put too much pressure on the activity.
In short, you don’t have to travel 300 km to experience ATV camping. With the right equipment and a minimum of planning, you’re guaranteed a great adventure. Who knows, maybe your next destination will be a wilderness camping experience in survival mode.
