What You need to Know to Start Car Camping or Overlanding

Ready to dive into overlanding or car camping but not sure what gear you need or how to stay organized on the trail? In this video, we break it all down into the three core essentials of any successful camping trip: Food, Water, and Shelter. We start by covering camp cooking options, from traditional fire setups to burn ban-friendly alternatives like the Coleman 2-burner stove and the larger Camp Chef oven/stove combo. We explore when and why to use each, and their pros and cons. Next, we show you how we keep our camp kitchen clean, dry, and organized using totes, ammo cans, and a Milwaukee Packout system for cooking utensils, spices, and food essentials. We also talk about how to find cooking gear on a budget without sacrificing quality. For water storage, we highlight practical methods for carrying clean water on your trips and how we’ve adapted based on past experiences. When it comes to keeping food safe, we compare traditional coolers, dry ice, and 12V fridges vs 12V coolers, and share why we now rely on a portable fridge for all our off-road adventures. To wrap it up, we break down tent and shelter options—from rooftop tents to ground shelters—and help you think through your needs whether you're heading out for a single night or a multi-day trip. Perfect for beginners to overlanding, this video is your step-by-step guide to building a reliable camping setup that keeps you safe, comfortable, and ready for the road ahead. 🔑 Timestamps: 0:00 – Intro: Car Camping & Overlanding Essentials 0:43 – Cooking Options (Fire, Stoves, Burn Bans) 12:33 – Cooking Utinsils, Organization Systems (Totes, Packout, Ammo Cans) Water Carrying Tips 29:10 – Keeping Food Cold (Coolers, Dry Ice, 12V Fridges) 34:17 Plan ahead and discuss the 3 Basics of survival. 34:57 – Tent & Shelter Options 35:55 – Final Thoughts on Food, Water & Shelter 39:53 The End Links for equipment used in this video. https://amzn.to/4kdenNt (Amazon) Camp Lantern https://amzn.to/3I79ng3 (Amazon) Ammo Can Crate Organizer https://amzn.to/446Tejk (Amazon) Cofiyard 2 Burner Stove https://amzn.to/45Jnx0L (Amazon) 12V Fridge https://amzn.to/4exBgdo (Amozon) Fridge Insulated Cover https://amzn.to/3TjAwif (Amazon) Propane Gas Hose for Grill https://amzn.to/4l7JL1m (Amazon) Water Jug https://amzn.to/4nxM1ka (Amazon) USB Chargeable Water Pump for Water Jug. https://amzn.to/3ZVkgro (Amazon) Collapsible Wash Tub/ Cutting Board https://amzn.to/4esLEms (Amazon) Coleman 2 Burner Camp Stove https://amzn.to/3GpQqVn (Amazon) Camp Chef Oven https://amzn.to/3GpQqVn (Amazon) Coleman Insta Cabin Tent EZ UP https://amzn.to/4evdfn9 (Amazon) Hammok Tent https://amzn.to/4ew37L9 (Amazon) Gerber Cook Set for Camping https://amzn.to/4lvDcW3 (Amazon) Starter Cooking Utensil set https://amzn.to/3TD14vb (Amazon) Camp Table with Lantern Holder and Wash Station. https://amzn.to/447Ghpt (Amazon) Milwaukee Packout 4 Drawer Toolbox https://amzn.to/4krpvqo (Amazon) Milwaukee Packout Deep Organizer https://amzn.to/4l7LNi3 (Amazon) Milwaukee Packout Wall Mount/ Base to bolt to vehicle. https://amzn.to/3GkpE0K (Amazon) Ignik Propane Tank, Hose, and Cover https://amzn.to/4lboNOZ(Amazon) Gas Fire Pit Bag https://amzn.to/4eyaEc1 (Amazon) Fire Pit with Grate https://amzn.to/4luvVpi (Amazon) Ignik Compact Fire Pit. ✅ Gear up for your adventure—don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more real-world overlanding tips, product reviews, and trail-tested experiences from the Empty Nesters Overlanding team.