Conquering Festivals in your Camper Trailer

So, you just got back from a killer multi-day music festival and you’re officially addicted. The music, the lights, the vibes, the camping – it’s running through your veins now!

Maybe you spent the majority of the festival checking out other people’s setups. Small shantytowns made up of lean-tos and swags placed precariously next to 8-man tents and towering gazebos that stand like a proud temporary Taj Mahal.

Maybe you got caught out a few times by things you’d forgotten or wished you’d had with you. It’s likely that you had a fantastic time, but of course, there’s always room for improvement.

Like most people, your mind ticks with ideas of what to bring next time. More fairy lights. A better speaker. A spare doona – why didn’t I bring a spare doona?

There is one surefire way to establish your camp as best-on-show. The greatest camp on site. The landmark of legends. And that’s by camping with a Camper Trailer.

Remain rustic, while teetering on the verge of easy-living. Experience the same living and vibes that other festival-goers have, only better, easier and with less effort.

Camper trailers are perfect for festival camping. They’re quick to set up, comfortable to sleep in and can be the perfect hub for not only yourself but your mates too!

Camper trailers make staying clean, organised and somewhat civilised simple, so your camp doesn’t turn into lord of the flies overnight.

So, don’t just survive your next festival, thrive at it. Whether it’s an all-out techno bush doof, family-focused folk festival or a far-out hippy convergence, a camper trailer is the perfect way to camp in style.

Here are some tips and information we’ve sourced from some serious festival aficionados and rave-hags to make sure you get the most out of your festival experience.

Ok so you can’t just bring your awesome Mars Camper Trailer and call it a day, there are some things you’re going to have to bring along with you no matter what kind of festival you’re attending. Most of these things are your general camping necessities, but of course for festivals you’ll need a few extras here and there.

No matter where you’re going you know better than to drink and drive, so stay sober, stop for breaks on the way and make sure you let someone know where you’re going. Always check the festival’s website or community boards for general information, news, last minute changes and any rules and restrictions.

Keep an eye on the weather and pack accordingly. Conditions can change quickly, and often clear, hot days become cold, frosty nights, so always pack for both.

Print off a few maps and make sure you have everyone’s numbers before you set off, it’s also worth checking if the area where the festival is being held has mobile reception and for which phone companies. That way you can sort out who in the group can communicate freely and who can’t. Whether you depart together or arrange a meeting place, try to organise your group in a convoy as reserving campsites is often not allowed and the group can pitch in together for set up.

A lot of festivals promote sustainable living and encourage attendees to pack conscientiously, with particular focus on leaving the grounds as they were upon arrival. If you can bring biodegradable, environmentally friendly items and avoid packing single-use products such as baby wipes or glow sticks, you’ll be doing your part to ‘leave no trace’ and avoid waste altogether.

Of course, above all, HAVE FUN!

Of course, you need to pack your usual bedding and clothes, but to make sure you’ve got all bases covered make sure you don’t leave home without the following essentials:

• General First Aid Kit
• Medications
• Panadol
• Hydrolyte
• Savlon (for any chafing from the d-floor)
• Sunscreen
• Earplugs
• Extra blanket
• A warm jacket
• Extra socks
• Cups, plates and cutlery
• Garbage bags
• Scissors
• Dishcloth
• Tea towel
• Towels and flannel
• Body wash
• Ashtray
• Gloves
• Beanie
• Boots
• Lip balm
• Hand sanitiser
• Dustpan and broom (trust us on this one)
• Toilet paper
• Toiletries (Don’t forget your toothbrush!)
• Esky
• Water
• More Water
• Did we mention water?

Want to turn your simple set up into a camping castle? It’s too easy. Grab whichever of the following appeals most to you, throw them into a plastic tub and slap some funky stickers on it. It’s now your festival camping tub. Stuff this tub in your camper trailer along with some extra batteries and voila! You’re ready to get down and dirty on any dance floor that tickles your fancy.

You’ll likely have lights in your camper trailer already, at minimum, you’ll have your standard camp lantern and a torch. These are brilliant of course but go to any festival and you’ll notice all kinds of creative configurations when it comes to lights. Battery powered coloured LED string lights are great to hang around your tent or even as a bright addition to your costume.

A head torch is always useful for hands-free exploring and for expeditions to the toilets, while dimmer, warm string lights hung around your tent or gazebo are great for making the campsite feel more homely.

Again, make sure you pack extra batteries!

As well as lighting, decorations help your camp stand out from the crowd and make it easier to find your way back from the stages. Make your site a visible landmark and no member of your crew should get lost trying to find their way back. You can go for a certain theme or set of colours or just splash out on brights and neons of every kind. Either way, you want to make sure it’s fun, bright and represents the good vibes your camp is bringing!

Although having a camper trailer will generally have you covered in terms of shade, if you’ve got the room to pack a gazebo, extra coverage, tarps or shade cloths then bring it, especially if there’s a chance of rain. No one wants to be stuck inside their tent the whole time (even if you are rocking a Mars Camper!), so a communal space is integral to keeping the whole crew happy and sheltered.

Some useful items for decorating:

• Drapes
• Shower curtains
• Tapestry
• Cloths
• Fake plants
• Beads
• Banners
• A rug, carpet or picnic blanket
• Zip Ties

It’s easy to feel intimidated by these big events, particularly if you’ve never been before or have only gone as a tag-along guest with friends. The entire experience can be enhanced with some simple tricks that will not only ensure you have a great time, but you’ll also be known amongst your crew and even your camp neighbours as the go-to guy for festival fun and frivolity. You don’t make friends with salad, but you will make friends with the following items:

• Snacks – Bring more than you expect and then some. Not just for yourself and the kids, but also for any new friends you meet or even just the car ride there and back. Nothing brings people together like sharing food.
• Outfits– Bring an array of comfortable and crazy costumes for you and your friends to get weird and wacky in. Dress up and hit the dance floor together, you can never be over-dressed at a festival.
• Bumbag/utility belt – Wallet, keys, phone, smokes, lighter, vape, water bottle, sunnies, mints, chewy, whatever. Don’t risk losing your shit or messing up your costume, invest in a funky fanny pack and bask in the sweet glow of functional fashion.
• Booze– duh!
• Portable charger for electronics.
• Handheld fan – so fancy!
• Boardgames – These festivals go for days, you’ll likely be around new people or get rained in, bring some board games or a deck of cards just in case you need some entertainment. A book and a pen and paper can be pretty handy too.
• Bluetooth speaker – The majority of these festivals allow attendees to bring speakers to play music at their own camps. Why should the party stop just because the stages have?
• Plenty of them. Download your music if you can. Don’t just choose the artists that are playing at the festival. Think about pre-drinking music, music for setting up and packing up your camp and tunes to have in the background to drown out the vomiting sounds from the camp three rows across.

So it’s likely you’re running out of room for all this stuff. That’s okay, cos now we’re going to talk about what you shouldn’t bring.

Unless you’re part of the lineup or going to certain festivals that call for it: do not bring drums. Not many people know how to actually play them and even fewer people actually want to hear them.  This goes for super noisy, annoying or intrusive items like air horns, megaphones and laser pointers. You might be responsible with these items, but if they fall into the wrong hands it can be annoying for everyone. Just leave them at home.

Gas bottles are generally a no-no at most festivals, there is usually a drop-off point where you can keep your gas bottle safe until you leave but it’s best to check on the festival website or with organisers.

Glass is also frowned upon at most festivals, so transfer all your liquids into plastic containers and leave your mirror at home – don’t worry you look great!

Make sure to double check if the event caters for camper trailers and similar vehicles. There’s often length restrictions or specific parking areas for campers and RVs so again, make sure you do your research. Most festivals allow camper trailers and the like but sites are generally unpowered, so prepare ahead. It’s also very rare that you’ll be able to use a generator, so keep this in mind.

Don’t bring a bad attitude. You’re going to have to have to be flexible and open to new experiences, as festivals can be as challenging as they are exciting, so try to keep an open and positive mindset to ensure you and your crew remain happy-campers. You’re going to meet weird and wonderful people, there will be queues for things and the toilets will likely smell like the bowels of hell. It’s all part of the experience and you’ll need to be patient and take things in your stride if you’re going to have a good time.

Festivals are a great space to relax, have fun and experience freedom. You’re going to meet heaps of people who share your interests and create memories you won’t soon forget. Remember, multiple-day festivals need to be treated as a marathon, not a sprint, so take it easy, get some rest and drink plenty of water. If you’ve got your camper trailer and at least a few of the things above, you’re bound to have an amazing time and conquer any festival you choose to attend.

Kick back, relax and enjoy your favourite music festival in a Mars Campers trailer. We offer on and off road camper trails that’ll be the life of the party. Everyone will want to stay in your tent with a Mars Camper trailer. Contact the Mars team for information about our trailers.