9 Truck Camping Accessories You Shouldn't Bring In A Seaside Retreat

What truck camping accessories are on your seaside retreat packing list? Perhaps an awning for shade and a fridge, full of refreshments.

But have you ever thought about what you shouldn’t bring? What if we told you some typical camping gear needs to stay at home? What if you arrived at your resort to find out your cooking gear was banned?

Read on, be prepared and save valuable storage space! 

Truck Camping Accessories You Should Leave at Home 

1. Gas Stoves

Some beach camping resorts don’t allow gas stoves. This can be for health and safety reasons (like concerns about overheating) or environmental reasons. In other cases, resorts allow them but have restrictions about the stove size or how high off ground it must be.

• Alternatives for your truck camping gear list include:
• A campfire (if the resort allows it).
• Wood stoves (if allowed).
• Electric camping stoves
• Camping ovens
• Backpacking ovens – a small, lightweight type of camping oven.
• Esbit stoves – they use hexamine tablets for fuel. Make sure you use a windshield with these stoves.

2. Portable Fire Pits

Like gas stoves, some resorts don’t allow portable fire pits. If you need fire for cooking, bring one of the stoves or ovens above.

3. Portable Showers

It’s not that you shouldn’t bring a portable shower but in many cases, you won’t need one. Seaside resorts usually have shower facilities. This means saving storage space for other beach accessories. Of course, you can bathe in the sea as well – on one condition. Keep reading to find out what it is. 

4. Non-Waterproof Storage Bags

Waterproof storage bags reduce the risk of transferring moisture into your tent. This risk is higher by the sea. Sand can transfer moisture as well. 

Despite the sea breeze, condensation can still form inside your tent. Condensation isn’t the only issue though. Keeping your belongings dry – and therefore your tent dry – means less risk of mold or mildew developing.

If you’re an experienced camper, you know just how irritating mildew is to remove. It could spread through your whole tent and ruin it.

Use a Dry Sack

If you’re camping on or near the beach, use a dry sack or another waterproof bag to store clothes and equipment. Plus, they keep water and sand away from electronics. Dry sacks are also useful for winter camping - a solid investment.   

5. Normal Towels

Why bring normal towels when quick drying towels exist? You need a towel often at the seaside, after swimming, kayaking or other water sports. Your towel might stay damp all the time because of these activities.

You’ll also want to keep a bucket of water by your tent entrance so you can rinse the sand off your feet each time you go in.

Get more use from a towel with one that dries fast – instead of bringing lots of extra towels. Quick-drying towels are smaller than your average towel, saving even more space – a must for your list of truck camping accessories. 

6. Standard Tent Stakes

Most rooftop tents are stable in winds as strong as 50 mph. Especially hard shells. If your resort is on the beach and you want to stake your softshell tent to be extra careful, you need something more sturdy.

Standard stakes are streamlined for penetrating hard ground. Sand stakes need a larger surface area that can grip the soft material better.

Sand stakes are similar to snow stakes, with a larger surface area and holes along their lengths. Sand fills the holes, anchoring the stake into place.  Some sand stakes have ten times as much holding strength as those for hard ground.

These are weighted anchors. You attach guy lines and bury them below ground.

Find heavy rocks on the beach and use them as anchors, tied with a guy line or rope. 

7. Soap – even if it’s “biodegradable.”

Shampoo, soap, and other cosmetics contain chemicals that can break down in soil but not in water. These products upset the chemical balance of the ocean and are harmful in many other ways.

For example, marine creatures can swallow microplastics found in exfoliation products. This damages their digestive systems. 

If the sea is going to be your bath (or you’ll use a portable shower on the beach), avoid using toiletries. (If your resort has showers, this may not apply).

You might see recommendations for biodegradable soaps but they don’t break down in water either. Besides, they’re not natural products - they contain chemicals.

To keep clean:

• Use waterless hand sanitizer.
• Use a washcloth to make up for the lack of soap. 
• If you want to use soap or other toiletries, do so at least 200 feet from the sea or any other water source. (Make it 200 feet from where the beach begins due to the tides).   

Soap is not essential for hygiene, especially for a short trip. You can get by without it. If you feel unclean, think of the winter campers in temperatures too extreme for washing. They have to rely on wet wipes. 

8. Unsuitable Furniture

Not all outdoor furniture is suitable for the seaside. For example, you don’t want to bring any chairs with legs that will sink into the sand. That’s why outdoor chairs have a bar across the base.   

You might not be concerned about furniture material for a short camping trip. If you’re going to camp by sea for longer periods, it’s a good idea to use materials built to withstand the sun, rain, wind, and sand. It’s better to have something that lasts than keep buying cheap replacements, right?

Coast-friendly materials include:

• Resin wicker – artificial wicker, usually made with polyethylene.
• Teak wood – durable against sun damage, moisture, and sand. It’s treated with natural oils and rubbery substances. This means it repels water, preventing rot.
• Water-repellent canvas – ideal for chair cushions. If you spend a lot of time in humid climates, this is especially important. In such climates, it’s hard to dry soft furnishings. This material also resists sun damage.
• Powder-coated aluminum – aluminum furniture frames with this coating are extra-durable and weather-resistant. (Hardshell tent shells often have this coating).

9. Tents

You read that correctly! Some seaside resorts don’t allow tents of any kind -  only RVs. Check if your resort allows them. 

Conclusion

Summer is round the corner. Get ready for sun, sea and sand - overland style!

You know the dos and don’ts of seaside truck camping accessories. You know to be ready for gas stove rules. Instead of facing disappointment and hunger, enjoy a succulent, hearty meal while basking in the sunset. Enjoy the satisfaction, the peace, the views, the waves.   

Eezi-Awn has created an affordable, lightweight rooftop tent with four large windows – perfect for panoramic horizon views. Check it out here.