We’ve asked around and amassed a bang-on list of things to stuff onto your roof racks the next time you head out on a trip. A camper trailer may have many of the creature comforts of home, including a kitchen and stainless steel bench, flick-mixer tap, fridge, fully kitted-out entertainment system, queen-sized bed, hard-floor saloon area — maybe even a shower. But does it have the requisite add-ons to really add the cherry on top of a top-notch adventure trip?
The choice of best suited camper toys really depends on what you’re into and where you’re going. Going to the coast near a river mouth? bring your rod and tackle. If there’s swell, maybe bring a board or two, perhaps also a mask, flippers, snorkel and a speargun. Will there be awesome downhill tracks or trails and terrain suitable for rubberised transport? Throw some bikes into the mix. The possibilities are endless.
We decided to list the top options you may like to consider for your next trip, and what type of equipment is most suited to your particular need.
As the song goes: A couple of sweet MTBs makes the medicine go down. Well maybe I’ve got my lyrics confused, but it’s certainly welcome to have a couple of soft tail beauties when out on the range.
MTBs are basically lumped into two main subsets: soft tail and a hardtail. Soft tail is as it says, a back wheel with suspension arms same as the front forks. A hard tail is just shock-absorbing forks at the front and a standard rigid back wheel set-up. Obviously, a soft tail makes bumpy terrain more forgiving for the rider.
But, as with all things: the more moving parts, the greater the need for engineering maintenance. A hard tail will hack more abuse and extremes of wet, salty weather merely because they’re less complex, mechanically.
The elephant in the room with bikes is their likelihood-for-thievery factor. It doesn’t take much searching to start seeing bikes in the five-figure region. Obviously, unless you’re super, super keen, go easy on the bikes you strap onto the roof. Maybe consider a second-hand or just a half-decent cheapie.
What better way to see the coast or explore an inland water-course than by boat? As any kayak or canoe aficionado will tell you, there’s a completely different perspective to be discovered seeing the country from sea.
Choosing the right vessel for your purpose makes selecting the right MTB seem like tinker-toys.
With a kayak, you’ve got models suitable for sea or freshwater, differing bottom shapes for flat water, surf or whitewater and different lengths and construction materials.
Obviously, as is the case for MTBs, you don’t want to push the boat (sorry!) out too much when it comes to outlaying your hard-earned dosh. If you’re heading to some rapids, perhaps a couple of 4 to 10 feet long, rounded bottom whitewater kayaks would fit the bill, but certain inflatable kayaks can be used for this purpose as well.
On the other hand, touring kayaks are best for travelling long distances in open water, as well as performing in rough sea or whitewater conditions.
Touring kayaks are better-performing and more versatile than recreational kayaks, though they’re typically more expensive. Touring or
They have more storage space (especially multiday boats) and bulkheads with sealed hatches enhance safety. These compartments trap air, which gives the kayak flotation even if the cockpit fills with water.
Touring kayaks are usually 12 to 17 feet long, and their hulls are shaped to increase lift in waves and rough water. Most have a tracking system such as a skeg or rudder, or a combination of the two.
For loading into limited space on a camper trailer expedition, perhaps the best all-rounder is a folding kayak.
Disassembled, most folding kayaks fit into a backpack-sized carry bag.
Once you’re experienced assembling your kayak, it takes only 15–20 minutes to go from car to water.
A schmick pair of walking boots or, if it’s your game, trail running shoes, will help propel you further out onto the tracks around your chosen camp site. It seems like a no-brainer, but without appropriate footwear, complicated trekking or trail-running is a blistering, sodden-footed nightmare.
If it’s photography, drones or even an easel for sketching or painting, make sure you properly check out the range of cool items that best suit your particular interest.
Handy, powerful but much more portable than SLR, mirrorless cameras are now a lot more affordable than the eye-watering days of a Leica price tag. A camera a couple of lenses, tripod, memory card and flash takes up less than half the room of a SLR equivalent. Again, the price you’ll pay for a kit varies from a thousand to tens of thousands.
There’s few things more exhilarating than launching a drone early in the morning from the middle of your campsite to capture an aerial perspective. Make sure you let your camp buddies know, though. They make a loud buzzing sound.
Enjoy!
At Mars Campers we work hard to develop the best value for money camper trailers with a view of helping you create memorable experiences with your loved ones.
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