Photo by Wirestock via iStock
I love a good camping trip. Who doesn’t?! The fresh air, the beautiful scenery, and enjoying good times with friends and family make all the hard work and effort to go on a camping trip well worth it.
That said, there’s camping, and then there’s camping…
What’s the difference? Well, plain old camping is roughing it – just the basics you need to survive in the wilderness. But camping is when you are out in the wilderness but enjoy creature comforts that make your trip the ultimate experience.
In today’s post, I’ll introduce you to some of my all-time favorite gear that allows me to camp in style – and will allow you to do the same!
Table of Contents
- Camping Trip Cooking: Tembo Tusk Adjustable Let Skottle Grill Kit
- Camping Trip Tool: Forrest Tool Company MAX Toolkit
- Camping Trip Heater: Planar Heaters 4kw Portable Diesel Heater
- Camping Trip Table: Tailgater Tire Table
- Camping Trip Power: Ultimatron 100Ah Lithium Batteries
Camping Trip Cooking: Tembo Tusk Adjustable Let Skottle Grill Kit
I love to cook while I’m camping. A good dinner on a camping trip is the ultimate experience!
Well, if you want to equip yourself with the tools needed to whip up incredible meals, the Tembo Tusk Adjustable Leg Skottle Grill Kit from BTR Outfitters should be part of your camping kit.
Powering the Skottle is a 10,000 BTU burner that offers all the heat you need to cook whatever food whets your appetite. Sitting on top of the burner is a big, pre-seasoned cooking disk that adds an incredible flavor to the food you’re cooking.
As shown in the image above, the Skottle’s cooking surface is 18 inches wide – plenty big for cooking multiple components of the meal at the same time. I’m a big breakfast guy, so the Skottle is my go-to cooking machine for bacon, eggs, potatoes, and other breakfast staples.
But don’t think that because the Skottle’s cooking surface is big that the unit itself is big or bulky. On the contrary, the Skottle is compact, easy to set up, and easy to transport, so you truly can cook awesome meals no matter where you’re camping.
Something else I really appreciate about the Skottle are the adjustable legs. I’m well over six feet tall, so stooping and bending down to cook kills my lower back. But with the Skottle, I just raise the legs to the full 36-inch height and cook away in comfort!
The Skottle comes in a nice carry bag from BlueRidge Overland to make transporting it a breeze. There’s even straps on the bag for carrying shorter grill legs. In other words, the folks at Tembo Tusk have thought of everything!
Visit BTR Outfitters to learn more about the Tembo Tusk Adjustable Leg Skottle Grill Kit
Camping Trip Tool: Forrest Tool Company MAX Toolkit
Having the proper tools for your camping trip is essential for your success, and for my money, there is no better camping tool to have than the multi-functional MAX Toolkit from Forrest Tool Company.
I’ve had this tool for quite a while now, and I’m continually impressed with its durability, functionality, and versatility. I mean, this thing comes with a bevy of attachments that allow me to do everything from clearing timber on the trail to building a fire pit to chopping wood.
Here’s what I mean when I say this tool has just about everything you need…
You get a shovel, a pick, a broad pick, and a Mattock blade in one kit. The MAX Toolkit also comes with a combination McLeod, a rake and hoe fastener, and a 3.5-pound Hudson Bay ax head with a striking surface.
As I point out in my detailed Forrest Tool Company MAX Toolkit Review, all of these tools attach quickly and easily to the 34-inch handle, which, by the way, is the ideal length and size for chopping, cutting, digging, and so forth. The handle is incredibly durable, too, as it’s made of polyglass (which also makes it lightweight).
The kit has six lock pins to securely attach the tools to the handle. You also get an embossed leather ax sheath to protect the ax head. A Cordura carrying case is included as well.
As if all that isn’t enough, the MAX Toolkit is made in the USA. That means this toolkit is made of high-quality materials by skilled American craftspeople. What’s not to like about that?!
The MAX Toolkit is easy to use, easy to carry, and easy to store. When camping, space is at a premium in your vehicle, so having something compact yet multi-functional is a Godsend.
The U.S. military uses this tool, so if it’s good enough for them, it’s certainly good enough for you and me!
Learn more about the Forrest Tool Company MAX Toolkit
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Camping Trip Heater: Planar Heaters 4kw Portable Diesel Heater
Those of you that follow my adventures know that I have two diesel heaters. I have an Auoterm 2D Diesel Air Heater installed in the nose of my Turtleback Expedition Trailer. The other is a portable 4kw unit from Planar Heaters that I bring with me when I’m using one of my ground tents, like the Overland-ish Base Camp V2.
Now, I love the heater I have installed in my trailer. It works perfectly for keeping my son and me toasty warm in my rooftop tent. But, since it’s installed in the trailer, I obviously don’t have the same portability as I do with the 4kw portable unit.
The portable unit is also more powerful – double the output, in fact. I can split the duct and heat my ground tent and a buddy’s tent at the same time. And since I enjoy a good late fall camping trip when the temperatures take a nosedive, having a reliable heating source is a must.
Aside from being ultra-powerful and easily portable, this 4kw portable diesel heater is much safer to use than other tent-heating options. As I outline in my Planar Heaters Portable Diesel Heater Review, the unit sits outside the tent and several feet away, so there’s a much smaller chance of carbon monoxide poisoning. Talk about peace of mind!
Furthermore, this heater outputs instant dry heat, so when it’s cold in the tent, I don’t have to wait around to warm up, nor do I have to deal with condensation issues. And since the heater runs for about eight hours on a gallon or so of fuel (diesel or kerosene), I get heat all night long without going outside to fuel the heater up.
Add in a wired remote for easy operation, a silencer to keep things quiet, and the ability to operate at high altitudes, and you have a recipe for the ultimate camping trip heater!
Learn more about the Planar Heaters 4kw Portable Diesel Heater
Camping Trip Table: Tailgater Tire Table
One thing that is always in short supply on camping trips is table space. Having a solid table is a must whether you need a spot to prepare a meal, eat a meal, get some work done, or play games.
The problem with typical camping tables is that they’re virtually impossible to get level unless you’re at an established campground, which likely has a picnic table anyway. If you’re like me and prefer to camp off-grid, the Tailgater Tire Table is ideal because it attaches to your tire rather than standing on the ground.
There’s a lot to love about this table – it’s compact, so it doesn’t take up a lot of space in the truck – which, as I mentioned earlier, is an important feature for camping.
Secondly, the table is made of steel, so it can stand up to use and abuse, including hot pans, cold temperatures, and rain. The durability factor is enough on its own to snag one of these bad boys!
A third benefit that makes the Tire Table a great investment is it’s easy to use. Simply hook the table onto one of your vehicle’s tires (or your trailer tire, as I do), deploy the stabilization leg, and you’re ready to rumble. It takes mere seconds to have a sturdy, functional table for camping.
Of course, the versatility of the tire table is yet another advantage. As I discuss in my Tire Table Review, I use the table for meal prep, eating meals with my kid, and getting work done while I’m in the wilderness. It’s simply one of the most-used items in my camping kit!
Learn more about the Tailgater Tire Table
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Camping Trip Power: Utlimatron 100Ah Lithium Batteries
If you camp with a trailer like I do, lithium batteries are certainly an upgrade needed for the ultimate camping trip.
My trailer started with AGMs, and while they’re perfectly fine batteries, lithium batteries simply offer far more advantages. Not only do I have a greater depth of discharge with my Ultimatron 100Ah lithium batteries, but I also get a longer lifespan than what the old AGMs offered. It’s a win-win! You can read about all the other reasons why lithium batteries are better in my Ultimatron battery review.
These particular batteries are smaller and lighter than AGMs, so I have more room in my trailer, and I could get more creative about where and how I mounted the batteries.
What’s more, as I just noted, the lifespan with these batteries is incredible – if I run them to 80 percent every time I take a camping trip, I’ll get about 3,000 cycles. If I keep the discharge to 50 percent, the lifespan goes to more than 5,000 cycles. Not bad!
Ultimatron also offers some interesting features that really sold me on these batteries…
There’s a built-in heater to help the batteries operate in cold temperatures – which is a must for me. Likewise, there’s a built-in battery management system that allows me to keep tabs on the performance of the batteries from my cell phone. This helps me ensure the batteries don’t overcharge or overheat.
The five-year warranty that comes with these batteries is also worth mentioning. Having the peace of mind that Ultimatron will take care of any issues is definitely nice!
I’ve had these batteries for around six months now, and they’ve proven to be ultra-reliable, highly functional, and easy to use. As I discuss in the video above, these batteries also use the newest technology to ensure safety and eliminate the risk of fire and explosion.
In other words, Ultimatron batteries are purpose-built for your camping adventures, whether you’re camping in winter, spring, summer, or fall!
Learn more about Ultimatron 100Ah Lithium Batteries
Final Thoughts
As I said in the introduction, an awesome camping trip is about a lot more than your gear. It’s about good times with good people in a beautiful place.
However, having solid, reliable, and durable gear certainly doesn’t hurt!
The items I’ve outlined above are things I rely on when I head out to go camping. I’ve used this gear in all sorts of locations and weather conditions and found each item to be well worth the price of admission.
If you want to step up your camping trip game, try investing in quality products like these!