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Camping with a Cybertruck is the perfect blend of adventure and convenience. With its rugged build, ample storage, and unique features like Tent Mode, it’s built for off-grid exploration. Whether you’re sleeping in the truck bed or using a pop-up tent, the right gear will make all the difference. From portable power solutions to essential camping equipment and tips to make the most of your adventure, this guide covers everything you need for a smooth and enjoyable experience. Let’s dive in so you can start your adventure.
Is a Cybertruck Good for Camping?
Cybertrucks are great for camping. They’re similar to camping in a van. You can attach a pop-up tent, with some even custom-made for your truck, but you can also sleep in the truck bed. The bed makes it easy to lay out an air or foam mattress. It’s convenient and comfortable, and you benefit from being off the ground and protected from bugs. The extra Tent Mode feature Tesla offers in this truck makes it even better. If you’re camping on sloped ground, simply open the tonneau cover and pop it in Tent Mode, which will level it out. Then, you can get a good night’s sleep, just like sleeping in your own bed.
They’re also built for off-road adventures, especially if you purchase a 4WD model and some all-terrain tires. Opting for all-season floor mats to protect the interior from dirt, mud, water, snow, and spills is also a good idea.
Essential Gear for Cybertruck Camping
Every vehicle camping trip requires gear, from sleeping bags to food and chairs. Here is a run-down of the essential gear you should bring to make the most of your Cybertruck adventure.
Portable Power Station
A portable power station is essential for any camping trip to keep your devices charged without draining your EV batteries. What size you need depends on how long you plan to camp for. For instance, the EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus is compact and lightweight, which is excellent for weekend trips to keep your devices charged and run camping lights at night. For those going on extended trips or bringing larger appliances, the EcoFlow DELTA 3 packs 1024Wh of capacity but is still light and compact enough to move it in and out of the truck quickly. These also make great gifts for truck drivers.
Emergency Preparedness Kit
Always bring emergency supplies on any trip. This includes a complete first aid kit, emergency blankets, a multi-tool, rechargeable LED flashlights, physical maps and compass for backup navigation, and flares in case you get into trouble. While carrying a spare is always a good idea, you should also bring an emergency tire repair kit. Finally, if you like to drive in challenging situations and don’t have a winch, bring some tow straps and a shovel in case you get stuck.
EcoFlow Glacier Portable Refrigerator
The EcoFlow Glacier Portable Refrigerator is the perfect camping companion. It lasts up to 40 hours wirelessly on a charge, has a separate fridge and freezer compartment to keep your foods at food-safe temperatures, and even comes with a built-in icemaker for ice-cold drinks no matter where you are. For an eco-friendly option, you can recharge it with DC, AC, a mini generator, or solar panels.
Animal-Proof Hard-Sided Storage Bin
While you can keep your perishables in your EcoFlow Glacier Portable Refrigerator, you should have an additional bin for your non-perishable foods like chips, seasonings, s’mores ingredients, dried fruit, granola bars, and other snack items. If you are sleeping in your truck, you might need to keep it outdoors, so make sure it is hard-sided, rugged, and has a locking lid to keep the animals out. An additional bin or two to store your cookware and utensils in is also a wise idea.
Portable AC/Heater
Even though your truck has heat and air conditioning, the great outdoors and your tent will not. And, if it’s killer hot or super cold, you won’t want to spend your days and nights draining your EV batteries to stay comfortable. This is what makes the EcoFlow Wave 2 Portable AC perfect for camping. It’s compact, lightweight, can be used indoors or outdoors, and requires no extra components. It can wirelessly last up to 8 hours and can be recharged with DC, AC, power stations, or solar panels. Perhaps the best part is that you can use it for air conditioning in the summer, but it also doubles as a heater for those who like winter camping.
Camping Gear
Of course, you’ll need your standard camping gear. This includes items like tents (optional), sleeping bags, pillows, camping chairs, a propane grill and propane, a lighter, pots, pans, plates, silverware, cups, a dishpan, dish soap, dishcloths, and towels. In addition to your clothing and personal items, also bring some sunglasses, sunhat, sunscreen, and bug repellant.
Water Jug and Filtration
Always pack enough water for drinking and cooking to last your trip. Include a large jug and refillable water bottles for day hikes or outdoor adventures in or outside the truck. If you’re on an extended journey in the backcountry, bring a water filtration system and a way to boil water.
Setting Up for Cybertruck Camping
Camping in your truck is about embracing the adventure, being self-sufficient, and exploring wherever the roads, or lack thereof, take you. However, camping in a truck does require a little extra planning. One essential thing is storage and organization. You don’t want to just toss all your gear in the back of the truck, especially if you plan to sleep in the truck bed. Plus, loose items rattling around can become a hazard if you are doing any 4WD adventures. Storage bins, cargo nets, and roof racks are all great ideas to maximize storage space and keep all your gear safe and secure.
Choosing the Right Solar Setup
A reliable solar system is another essential item when setting up your truck. Yes, you have power from your EV batteries, and Tesla even includes a 120V AC plug for easy recharging of laptops and other devices that use wall plugs. However, there may not be a Tesla charging station at your campsite or even one nearby. So, you don’t want to drain your batteries to run appliances and charge devices.
Whether you’re out for a weekend or on an extended trip in the backcountry, this is why bringing a portable solar generator is essential. Not only can you run devices without draining your truck batteries, but you can even use them to top up your truck batteries on extended off-grid stays, so you don’t have to worry about running out of power.
What kind of setup is best? Portability is key. Fortunately, EcoFlow Solar Panels make it easy with many great options, including portable solar panels in a range of sizes that are easy to set up and fold for convenient storage.
However, you also need a solar battery in addition to your panels. The EcoFlow DELTA 3 is ideal since it offers 1024Wh of capacity but is still compact and lightweight enough to easily move in and out of your truck.
How many solar panels and what size battery do you need? That depends on how long you plan to go off-grid and what you want to run with it. Look at all your appliances and write down the rated watts they need to run. Then, think about how many times you need to run them and how long you’ll be off-grid. Multiply each appliance’s watts by an estimate of how long they need to run. That will give you watt-hours, which is your capacity.
One thing to consider is expandable capacity and systems that allow for expandable solar charging. Then, if your needs increase, you can expand your energy supply. Still, for now, buy a large enough solar battery to meet your needs for at least one whole night without using your truck battery. Then, buy enough solar panels to easily refill that battery in a few hours of peak sunlight, and you will have enough power to last off-grid indefinitely.
Tips for Making the Most of Cybertruck Camping
- Cybertruck-specific storage solutions like “Cyber boxes” are already custom-designed to fit in the truck bed and can make organizing all your gear a breeze.
- Cargo nets are another great storage option for organizing smaller, lighter items. They’re also available in multiple options customized for your truck.
- For those carrying bikes, kayaks, and other outdoor adventure gear, you can maximize your storage space with a roof-mounted cargo carrier to pack the extra gear.
- Bring a portable power station and solar panels to charge your devices without draining your batteries and to top up your EV batteries on extended trips.
- Install durable, waterproof floor mats to protect the interior from mud, dirt, water, and spills.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can sleep in your Cybertrick. The truck bed makes a great place to put a mattress, and if you use Tent Mode with the tonneau cover open, it will even level the truck for you so that you can get a good sleep even if your campsite is on a slope.
The Cybertruck’s driving range depends on the model, but it’s usually rated for 325 miles on a single charge in ideal conditions. However, real-world situations are seldom, if ever, ideal. You can expect to get between 250 and 300 miles in real-world situations, but that will decline if you’re towing.
Final Thoughts
Camping with a Cybertruck offers the freedom to explore while staying comfortable and prepared. You can make the most of your outdoor adventures with the right gear—like a reliable portable power station, an efficient solar setup, and essential camping supplies. Whether you’re heading out for a weekend getaway or an extended off-grid trip, proper planning ensures a stress-free experience. When you equip yourself with top-tier gear like the EcoFlow DELTA 3 for reliable power, you can confidently hit the road. Now, get packing and start your camping journey today.