How to Choose the Best Defender Camping Gear

Your long-awaited camping trip is finally days away. Like any novice traveler, you think the journey will be as simple as hopping into your Land Rover Defender and hitting the highways.

But as D-Day draws near, you realize there are more items to bring on the trip than you initially planned. Every gear seems essential. So, you’re unable to determine what you must carry and what you can sacrifice.

Fortunately, that’s where a seasoned traveler’s insights would kick in and save the day. Here’s a beginner’s guide to picking the perfect Defender camping gear.

1. Extend Your Defender’s Storage With a Roof Rack

A roof rack is a critical Land Rover Defender camping essential, especially if you’re planning a week-long campout.

Roof racks are designed primarily to enhance your vehicle’s storage space. They let you clear items from your Defender’s cabin and trunk, creating extra legroom for comfortable travel.

A roof rack is particularly ideal for transporting bulky or awkwardly shaped items. Whether you’re bringing an oversized tent for an all-family outing or fishing rods to hone your angling skills, you can rely on the platform for safe carriage.

Other roof rack benefits include enhancing vehicular stability through uniform load distribution, providing a safe observatory point, and enhancing your Defender’s athletic appearance.

2. Switch to Off-road Tires

Camping is synonymous with off-roading. Unless your destination camping ground is located right off the freeways, you’ll do well to switch to off-road tires.

Choose tires with aggressive tread patterns. These help maintain ground traction while cruising through muddy, rocky, or sandy terrains. Besides, the tires should feature robust sidewall construction.

Don’t forget to pick the right tire size for your Defender. After getting proper tires, inflate them based on the anticipated driving conditions.

15 – 25 pounds per square inch (PSI) is the default tire pressure range for many off-roaders. Experiment with the lower side if you anticipate driving along muddy or sandy terrains. 

3. Raise Ground Clearance With a Bull Bar

Higher ground clearance is critical while off-roading. It lets you navigate pathway obstacles, such as massive boulders and tree stumps, en route to your campsite.

Installing a bull bar is a sustainable way to elevate your Defender’s ground clearance. The frame replaces the vehicle’s lower bumper section, raising its chassis for seamless navigation.

A bull bar also enables you to fit larger tires, further improving your off-road experience.

4. Escape Ground-Level Critters With a Rooftop Tent

Rooftop tents are a lifesaver for campers who dread ground animals.

And frankly speaking, who doesn’t?

The sight of a spider crawling around, or a rattlesnake slithering majestically into your camp, is enough to ruin what could have been a scintillating campout.

But rooftop tents don’t just keep ground critters at bay. They also offer panoramic views of the rolling landscapes.

5. Create Dedicated Sections With Awning

Awnings should feature prominently on your Defender camping checklist, especially if you’re planning a group trip. These roof-like coverings are incredibly practical.

You can use them to create dedicated areas for cooking, bathing, dining, lounging, and storage. Most awnings are constructed from weather-proof canvas for extra protection from the elements.

Moreover, their ability to block off external distractions makes them a must-have when staying in rather crowded campsites.

6. Stock Up On Gas With Fuel Jerry Cans

The only experience worse than running out of gas when on a road trip is having this happen when you’re in the middle of nowhere.

Now, the 2023 Land Rover Defender has a fuel tank capacity of 23.8 gallons. While that’s enough to cover approximately 470 miles, it can barely last two days of continuous driving.

A fuel jerry can lets you stock up on fuel, keeping your road trip going.

7. Illuminate Your Paths With Floodlights

Floodlights are your ally when navigating the dark. They illuminate the paths ahead, helping you steer clear of dangerous obstacles.

Floodlights may also deter human and animal intruders. Moreover, you could use them to light up your space for fun nighttime activities like barbecuing and group dinners.

When choosing a Defender camping floodlight, insist on those with a higher lumen rating (2,000+ lumens). The product should also have at least a 120-degree flood beam for peripheral illumination.

8. Light Up Your Campsite With A Fire Starter

A fire starter may not seem like an essential Defender camping item until the temperatures dip below subzero degrees and you’re almost succumbing to hypothermia.

Sure, you can always start a fire using certain primitive methods. But why endure the trouble when you could simply buy a high-end fire starter?

Choose a fire starter that’s easy to use. More importantly, the product should be able to deliver in all conditions. That includes wet, snowy, and windy weather.

Elevate Your Camping Trip With Carefully Curated Gear

We cannot overemphasize the significance of early preparations when planning a camping trip in your Land Rover Defender.

One proactive approach to having a fun-filled campout is purchasing a camping subscription box. Subscription boxes offer periodic supplies of handpicked camping gear, eliminating last-ditch preparations.

Better yet, you can rely on this post as your definitive handbook for planning a thrilling Defender camping trip.

Note that the success of any campout requires bringing all travel essentials. So, if you must skimp on everything else, don’t overlook a roof rack.

And needless to mention, prepare your Defender adequately for the long trip ahead by conducting sweeping mechanical maintenance. That entails checking the tires, suspension system, battery, lighting system, brakes, and fluids.