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Truck Camper Essentials: 10 Things We Actually Use Every Trip

dogs sitting in the doorway of a truck camper while camping

When we first bought our truck camper, I stocked it like we were preparing for a wilderness survival expedition.

Every cabinet had something in it. Every storage compartment was packed. At the time, I was fully convinced our ability to successfully go camping depended on having every possible item we might need.

Extra blankets. Extra cookware. Random gadgets. Camp chairs. Probably things we never even used.

And then we took the camper down a particularly rough dirt road.

It didn’t take long before we realized that maybe… just maybe… we had brought too much stuff.

Things started flying out of cabinets. I’m pretty sure at one point a camp chair launched itself across the camper. Somewhere along the way we even ended up with a nice little ding in the wall — which we later covered with a shiplap kick board when we did a few truck camper upgrades.

By the time we got home from that trip, I had learned a very important truck camper lesson.

The first thing I did was pull everything out of the camper.

Anything we hadn’t actually used during the trip got removed.

From that point on, the rule was simple:

If it didn’t earn its place in the camper, it didn’t stay in the camper.

After a lot of trial and error, here are the truck camper essentials we actually use every single trip — the gear that makes camping easier, keeps the camper cleaner, and earns its permanent place in our tiny rolling home.

Truck Camper Essentials We Actually Use Every Trip

Leveling Blocks

Leveling blocks are one of those truck camper essentials you don’t fully appreciate… until you try to sleep without them.

We once slept in an unlevel camper and it felt like we were about two inches away from rolling off Mount Everest.

Dramatic? Maybe.

But sleeping on an angle is genuinely not ideal.

Chris and I start slowly rolling into each other depending on which direction the camper is leaning, I’m trying not to squish Jingle, and nobody gets a good night’s sleep.

And then there’s the refrigerator.

During that same camping trip, we were so unlevel that our refrigerator unit actually crystallized. The fridge stopped working, food started going bad, and we were forced into emergency ice cream consumption.

So seriously… bring your leveling blocks.

If you want to make sure you never forget something important for a trip, I created a full camping trip planning system that includes checklists so you don’t forget the essentials like we used to.

Cordless Bissell Vacuum

Next up is our handheld cordless vacuum.

I originally bought one for the house to clean the couch, and I loved it so much that I bought a second one that lives permanently in the camper.

It’s an absolute essential for managing dog hair and dirt.

I can vacuum:

It’s truly a lifesaver.

Especially for someone whose eye will start twitching if I have to walk barefoot across a crusty dirty camper floor.

If you camp with dogs, a cordless vacuum quickly becomes one of the most useful tools you own.

(It’s also part of how we manage keeping our truck camper clean with dogs.)

We’ve learned a few tricks for camping with dogs in such a small space.

The Wilderdog Blanket

The Wilderdog blanket has earned permanent status in our camper.

We camp with two dogs, and they are both extremely committed to bringing the outside… inside.

Jingle thinks it’s his job to collect leaves and debris from the campsite.

Lulu is absolutely convinced that laying directly in the dirt is the most comfortable option available.

The Wilderdog blanket is perfect for throwing over camp chairs or the dinette cushions to keep mud and dirt off everything.

It’s one of several things we always bring for the dogs when we go camping — I actually shared our full list o what we pack for our dogs when we go camping.

It’s also incredibly cozy.

And I will absolutely steal the dog blanket for a nap if the opportunity presents itself.

It washes well, never loses its softness and is easy to shake out every morning.

Starlink

Starlink is another truck camper essential for us.

It allows us to stay connected with family and friends even when we’re camping in remote places.

More importantly, it allows me to work from our truck camper.

I can open my laptop, write blog posts, send emails, or work from some incredibly remote campsites.

I was born for that type of work environment.

We also use Starlink to run a small camera inside the camper when we leave the dogs for short periods of time — like when we do national park hikes where dogs aren’t allowed on the trails.

Being able to check on Jingle and Lulu throughout the day lifts a lot of anxiety.

Most of the time when I check the camera, they’re just sprawled out on the bed taking naps.

Bug Net

Chris would probably argue that this next item is not an essential.

But it absolutely is.

A bug net.

Nothing ruins a camping trip faster than gnats flying directly into your eyeballs.

I will absolutely retreat into the camper to avoid the barrage of flying assassins.

Bugs in my face will send me into a full rage.

So instead of avoiding camping during the summer months, I just wear my bug net.

Is it fashionable?

Absolutely not.

But it keeps me sane and allows me to enjoy the campsite without fighting bugs the entire time.

Thermocell

While we’re on the topic of bugs…

A Thermocell is another essential.

We use ours all the time to keep mosquitoes away from the campsite.

It makes a huge difference when you’re trying to enjoy a quiet evening outside without getting eaten alive.

Hatchet

A small hatchet permanently lives in one of the drawers in our camper.

Chris uses it constantly.

It’s perfect for:

Could it be used for protection?

I guess.

I’ve never tested that theory, but it’s a versatile tool to have when you’re camping in the woods.

Since it fits neatly in the drawer, it has earned its permanent spot in the camper.

First Aid & Emergency Kit

A first aid and emergency kit is one of the most important things you can bring camping.

You never know what might happen, and having basic medical supplies could make a huge difference in an emergency.

Our kit includes:

It might seem excessive until the day you actually need it.

Extra Water

Water is another essential.

Bring more than you think you need.

It sounds obvious, but you’d much rather have too much water than not enough.

And if you camp with dogs, you need to account for them in your backup water supply too.

The first time we went camping in our truck camper, Jingle got sap all over himself (apparently this is a recurring theme).

We had to give him a full bath.

I spent the rest of the trip fully convinced we were going to run out of water and die of dehydration.

We were only about 15 miles from a store…

But still.

A Small Toolbox

Last but definitely not least: a small toolbox.

With tools in it.

Because something is always breaking on a truck camper.

It’s one of those things that no one tells you about owning a truck camper.

Chris has pulled out that toolbox on about 80% of our camping trips.

It was there when he attempted to fix the refrigerator.

It was there when we were being swarmed by Asian beetles and couldn’t get the top off the bug spray.

It was even there when his truck blew a fuel injector.

Did it fix the fuel injector?

No.

But the tools were there.

And if something can be fixed on the side of the road, Chris will probably have the tool to do it.

Every camper is different, so it’s worth learning your truck and camper systems so you know what tools could come in handy.

Dirt Road Lesson

Truck camper life doesn’t require a lot of gear.

In fact, we’ve learned that the best truck camper setup is usually the simplest one.

Many of these essentials have earned their place after a lot of trial and error on our camping trips — including one particularly chaotic weekend that involved ticks, tree sap, and falling down the camper steps.

Everything else is just extra weight flying out of cabinets on rough dirt roads.

Ask me how I know.

Let’s Compare Notes

I’m always curious what other truck camper owners consider essential.

What’s one piece of gear you never leave home without?

Drop it in the comments — I’m always looking for ideas that make truck camper life easier.