The first time we took the camper out, we learned something important:
Tree sap does not care that you’re trying to have a peaceful evening.
Jingle found it.
Rolled in it.
And somehow managed to coat himself in it.
To make things better, Chris had forgotten to fill up the water heater. So instead of a warm rinse and a quick fix, we were outside in the middle of the night using the outdoor shower on our Travel Lite 800X, giving our very long haired miniature dachshund a cold dish soap bath under a headlamp.
It was not magical.
It was sticky.
And cold.
And very humbling.
That was the night we added cleansing wipes and shampoo to the permanent dog checklist.
And learned that camping with dogs is not for the faint of heart.
If you want a peek at what a real trip looks like with our two camping dogs, I shared a full recap in A Real Weekend in Our Truck Camper (Dogs, Ticks & Tree Sap).
A Little About Us
We’re Chris and Taylor, and this little corner of the internet — Dirt Road Camper — is where we document our life taking the backroads whenever we can. We travel in a truck camper, chase mountain views, and bring our dogs along for every mile.
Camping with our dogs is one of our favorite parts of this lifestyle. It’s also the part that requires the most preparation — especially in a small truck camper where space is limited.
After a few trips (and a few lessons learned the hard way), we’ve narrowed down exactly what we pack for our dogs when camping off-grid or at campgrounds.
Here’s what makes the cut every time.
Dog Camping Essentials We Always Pack
When you’re camping with dogs in a truck camper, everything has to earn its place. This is our real-life dog camping checklist.
Here’s what we actually use and why.
Harnesses, Backpacks & Our Road Trip Setup (Our Exact Picks)
Lulu’s Harness: Ruffwear Front Range
Lulu wears the Ruffwear Front Range dog harness, and I love it because it gives us options.
It has:
- A back clip for relaxed walks.
- A front clip for better control in busier areas or on hikes where I need a little more steering power.
When you’re boondocking or navigating trailheads, that versatility matters. Some days are calm, some days are squirrel-heavy.
The fit is secure without restricting movement, which is especially important when dogs are climbing over rocks, logs, and occasionally our dinette cushions.
Jingle’s Harness: Kurgo Journey Air
Jingle wears the Kurgo Journey Air harness, and if you have a long-backed dog, listen closely.
This harness is long enough that it doesn’t rub in the armpits — which is a big deal for dachshunds and other long-bodied breeds.
It also has a horizontal handle across the back.
That handle?
Invaluable.
When he’s riding down forest roads with his head out the window (his absolute favorite activity in life), I can keep a secure grip on him without tugging awkwardly at a leash.
It’s breathable, lightweight, and doesn’t shift around — even when he’s being… enthusiastic.
We learned pretty quickly that camping with dogs in a truck camper requires a little bit of a system. I wrote more about how we actually manage truck camping with dogs in this post.
Jingle’s Backpack (The MVP of Long Hikes)
We have tried an embarrassing number of dog carrier backpacks.
Most of them force small dogs to sit upright with their head sticking out of a top opening. That never felt natural to me.
The Django dog carrier backpack we use now is different:
- The mesh window panel is on the side and sits lower.
- Jingle can sit or lay down in a natural position (super important for Dachshund’s and long back dogs!)
- He doesn’t have to sit upright the entire time.
- It’s genuinely comfortable enough for a 5-mile hike (Chris and I both agree on this, which says something).
And when we’re done?
It folds flat.
In a truck camper, that matters. If it can’t collapse down and tuck away easily, it doesn’t earn a permanent spot, though, we have made a few simple truck camper upgrades that made small space living with dogs easier.
I could honestly write a full comparison post on dog hiking backpacks alone. Let me know if that’s something you’d like to see
Our Road Trip Setup: Seat Cover
We also travel with a seat cover in the truck.
We can’t find the exact one we bought years ago, but the Femuar Dog Seat Cover on Amazon is very similar to ours.
Here’s why I love this style:
- It creates more surface area for the dogs to lay down comfortably on long drives.
- It has a mesh panel behind the center console so we can see them at all times.
- It includes pockets for storing leashes and small gear.
- It protects the seats from dirt, fur, and mystery substances.
When you’re bouncing down dirt roads on the way to camp, having them secure and comfortable makes the whole drive feel calmer.
Collar Lights for Night Visibility
If you’ve never camped away from city lights, it gets dark-dark. Our dogs wear collar lights at night so we can see exactly where they are around camp. It helps tremendously if you have a black Lab who stays cooped up under your feet. Ask me how many times I have tripped over Lulu.
Little glowing orbs moving through the trees? Instant reassurance.
I ordered this pack off of Amazon and they work great and have lasted us a few years!
Dog Camping Essentials: The Practical Stuff
Food, Water & Bowls
We pack:
- One big stainless steel bowl for water (Lulu requires at least 48 gallons of water a day. Not really, but it feels that way)
- One smaller food bowl for each dog.
- Pre-measured dog food in a sealed container. We use Vault containers, but any container will do.
Water matters more than you think when camping with dogs. Between drinking, rinsing paws, and the occasional emergency sap bath, we always bring more than we expect to use.
Vaccine Records
We keep copies of their vaccine records tucked in our camper. Hopefully we never need them, but if something unexpected comes up, we’re prepared.
Comfort Items
A Benebone keeps them busy while we’re cooking or settling in for the night.
And we always pack a designated dog towel. Not one of ours. A sacrificial, mud and river approved dog towel.
And for Lulu — our old girl — we bring a folding elevated dog bed. It gives her a soft, supported place to rest off the ground after a long day outside.
She usually chooses the dirt anyway.
But we bring it because we want her to have options.
Cleaning Supplies (Learned the Hard Way)
Cleansing wipes now live in the camper permanently.
Because tree sap happens.
Mud happens.
And sometimes you don’t have hot water.
I also keep a bottle of skin friendly, eco friendly dish soap in the camper for emergency baths.
The Wilderdog Waterproof Blanket
One comfort item that always comes with us on camping trips is our Wilderdog blanket.
If you camp with dogs, you know that they have an incredible ability to bring the entire outdoors back into your camper with them. Jingle thinks it’s his job to collect leaves from the campsite, and Lulu is absolutely convinced that laying directly in the dirt is the most comfortable option available.
The Wilderdog blanket is perfect for throwing over the dinette cushions or camp chairs to keep mud and dirt off everything. It’s also surprisingly warm and cozy — which means I frequently end up stealing the dog blanket for myself if we’re sitting around the campsite.
We’ve washed ours countless times and it has held up really well, which is saying something considering how much abuse it gets from two camping dogs.
It’s one of those items that earned a permanent spot in our camper, and it actually made the list in our truck camper essentials we use every trip because we use it constantly.
Why We Pack This Way
Camping with dogs has changed how we travel. It forces us to slow down. To plan ahead. To think about temperature, terrain, and water use differently.
Whether we’re boondocking down a dirt road or staying at a campground, having a simple dog camping checklist makes life in our truck camper smoother — and a lot less chaotic at midnight.
If you’re like me and your brain turns to soup while packing, I made a Truck Camper Planning System that includes our exact dog packing checklist so nothing gets forgotten.
The dogs are part of this lifestyle. They’re there for early morning coffee outside, quiet evenings by the fire, and every dusty mile in between.
And now, at least, we’re prepared for the sap.
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