A Guide To Camping With Your 4x4

The great outdoors simply cannot be beaten. Whether you’re thinking about a trip for the whole family or you’re considering going solo to get back in touch with nature, camping has so many benefits. 

4x4s continue to be a popular vehicle choice for many people throughout the UK, and due to their internal capacity and their ability to tackle tricky terrain, they’re ideal for camping.

To help you plan your perfect trip with your 4x4, this guide has been created to make things easier. It includes a whole host of things to consider, safety tips, essential items and more. Broken into three phases - the journey itself, the sleeping arrangements and the time spent at your destination - you can find great insight into how to make the most of going camping with your 4x4.

Your journey

If you’re seeking a camping experience out in the beautiful countryside, the motorways are probably a breeze. But travelling in your 4x4 further afield might mean unexpected driving conditions, so be sure to familiarise yourself with how to handle different terrain. If you have special features, such as diff lock, get comfortable with how they work and use them when required. 

Always assess any water you need to cross before doing so - never go gung-ho. This is because you could flood your engine if you haven’t properly fitted a snorkel to your off-road vehicle. If you’re sure the water is low enough to pass through safely, proceed, if it seems too deep, find another way around.

Will your trip take you on smaller, rural roads? Here are five tips to help you stay safe and respect the area you’re travelling in:

1. Lower your speed - While some roads may seem quiet, you won’t know them as well as the ones back home, so ease off the acceleration and take your time. You never know when a hidden dip, blind corner or oncoming vehicle could appear.
    
2. Respect animals - On rural roads, you’re more likely to come across horse riders, who will require you to slow down. Elsewhere you might come across sheep or cows in the road - never honk or rev your engine, you’ll simply have to wait for them to clear the road before carrying on your way.
    
3. Single-track roads - These roads can only fit one vehicle at a time, which means there are usually lay-by spots at intervals. Travel slowly on these roads, look out for oncoming traffic and be prepared to backtrack if the nearest passing spot is close behind you. This is especially relevant for 4x4s as you’ll take up more room than a regular car.
    
4. Overtaking farm vehicles - You should never feel pressured into overtaking anyone unless you feel totally comfortable. You should keep your distance from any farm vehicle, allowing you to get a clear view of any straight roads ahead so that you can sensibly decide whether you’re able to pass safely.
    
5. Driving at night - Most roads will feature cat’s eye lights to help guide you, but you should always reduce your speed at night, especially for roads with no lighting. You can use high beam lights to illuminate more of the road ahead, but always turn them off for oncoming traffic.

As well as knowing how to handle your 4x4 and the potential hazards on your journey to your camping destination, there are some essential items you should consider packing for the ride before setting off. Here are just a few things for your checklist:

• Spare tyre and a jack
• Books and magazines for the kids
• Extra blankets
• Food and water bowls if you have dogs
• Drinks and snacks
• Torch
• First aid kit
• Breakdown cover details
• Sat nav device

Your sleeping arrangements

Sleeping under the stars, or at least getting to see them before you get settled down for the night, has to be one of the purest pleasures and one of the things that makes camping so great.

You’ve got plenty of options for sleeping arrangements if you have a 4x4 these days, including:

• Ground tents - the traditional way to camp
• Roof tents - make the most of your roof space with a roof tent for your 4x4
• Caravan - with a 4x4, you can easily tow a caravan for some home comforts

Roof tents are becoming more popular with 4x4 owners, since they make use of the space on the roof of your vehicle instead of sleeping on the ground, and most come with an overhang to create sheltered space to the side or rear of the vehicle.

Thinking of wild camping to save money? Here are the key things you need to keep in mind about this increasingly trendy trip style:

• Do your research before setting out. You can’t just pitch a tent anywhere, especially in England and Wales, and some sites in Scotland require a permit. Check you’re legally allowed to camp in a spot before doing so.
• Arrive late and leave early is the motto of wild camping, ensuring you keep disruption to a minimum and putting the emphasis on any walking element of your holiday.
• Tell someone where you’re going so that, in an emergency, people know where you are. It can be vital if any rescue mission is required.
• Leave your 4x4 somewhere safe. Wild camping usually involves hiking into the wilderness, so you’re better off parking your vehicle in a public car park or at your destination hotel/camping site - just be sure to inform the owner if you are doing this.
• “Leave no trace” is another saying in wild camping. It shouldn’t really need to be said, but your stay shouldn’t impact the local area in any way. Take litter away with you, only stay a short while and don’t start any fires unless you’re absolutely certain it’s allowed. Any fires should be properly contained and then thoroughly extinguished before leaving.

​While you’re there…

A great part of any adventure is the journey, but if you’re travelling to - or through - a specific destination, be sure to enjoy yourself, while remembering to leave the area as you found it. Here are just a few ways you can make the most of your camping trips:

Planned walks 

Walking doesn’t mean you have to hike for days. There are always large routes you can follow that are described online or in guides, but if you can’t manage that or if you have little ones with you, simply find a shorter route. Country parks and open houses often make for great days out if you can’t plot a day-long walk.

Support local businesses

In a post-pandemic world, it’s important that we all help local businesses to flourish. Instead of seeking out the usual chains, go local while you’re camping. From buying your groceries at a local farm shop to dining and drinking in the local pubs and restaurants, you can get a more authentic experience while doing something positive for the local economy.

Take in the scenery

Life moves quickly, and it’s easy to miss the simple things. On your camping trip, make sure you take in the local scenery, stargaze and spot local wildlife - it makes great memories for the kids, but it can also reconnect you with nature in this ever more digital world. You should feel encouraged to take photographs or you could even stop to paint the scenery if you’ve got a creative streak.

Finally, when you’re ready to leave, if you find that the ground conditions have deteriorated to the point where your 4x4 is stuck, you should familiarise yourself with some techniques to get out of the mud. 

This guide was provided by Milner Off Road, a leading supplier of 4x4 parts and tools based in the rural countryside of Derbyshire. They have everything you need to ensure your vehicle is fully prepared for your next camping trip, including snorkels, load liners, tyres and tow bars. Buy online with Milner Off Road and get your order dispatched the same day for speedy delivery.