Spending time in nature is one of the best ways to escape modern life, and SUVs provide convenient transport solutions that enable people to reach their camp sites safely and comfortably.
Car owners looking for an SUV suitable for camping should carefully evaluate features like ground clearance and cargo capacity, along with models that allow the back seats to fold flat for comfortable sleeping areas.
Honda Pilot
Honda’s Pilot SUV is an unassuming three-row vehicle capable of accommodating multiple people and their gear comfortably. Honda has upgraded this generation’s Pilot, providing more refined interior materials, including an improved 1.75:1 cupholder-to-seat ratio, impressive cargo space capacity, and even offering off-road adventures via steel skid plates and nearly an extra inch of ground clearance for off-road adventures! Additionally, there’s even an off-road TrailSport trim available with nearly 1 inch more ground clearance.
The 2018 Pilot is also one of the fastest SUVs in its class, sprinting to 60 mph in 6.9 seconds. Additionally, its powerful V-6 engine can tow up to 5,000 pounds – enough for towing two side-by-sides or a 24-foot camper trailer!
Starting at $30,000 for the base LX model, additional trim levels such as EX-L and Touring add more premium features, with TrailSport and Elite models taking it into luxury territory at prices that remain highly competitive with other premium cars. Every Pilot comes equipped with either front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive (with torque-vectoring AWD on Elite models). Each comes equipped with the same 3.5-liter V-6 engine coupled with either front or all-wheel drive; front wheel drive models feature torque vectoring AWD as standard; front or all-wheel drive (with torque vectoring AWD on Elite models).
Toyota 4Runner
The Toyota 4Runner may seem outdated in our unibody SUV age, but its body-on-frame construction provides ample traction and utility when overlanding or camping. Seating five comfortably across its two rows with ample head and legroom; its optional third row offers even more space, though for shorter trips this cramped row should only be considered an option for small children.
The 2024 4Runner TRD Pro stands out from its peers by using physical buttons and knobs instead of capacitive touchscreens; something we took for granted until recently when most new vehicles relied on capacitive touchscreens instead. Furthermore, its off-road capability sets it far apart from its aging competitors with terrain modes, locking rear differential, and all-terrain tires with great traction capabilities.
Add additional comfort and functionality when car camping by installing a Luno Sleeping Platform. This quick-and-easy accessory can turn the back of your Toyota 4Runner into an inviting sleeping area in minutes, before quickly being stored away when not needed.
Chevrolet Colorado
No matter your path of exploration – urban or outdoor – the all-new 2023 Chevy Colorado has the power and capability to meet any challenge with ease. Boasting longer wheelbase, shorter overhangs, taller ride height and an aggressive approach angle; its rugged bodywork swells and bulges in all the right places; plus its first-in-class+ StowFlex tailgate provides room to store gear and tools!
Interior of the Colorado is designed for five, featuring a spacious back row and ample legroom. A 11.3-inch infotainment touchscreen featuring Google CarPlay and Android Auto as well as all-digital gauge display is also available, along with GearOn storage system featuring 2-tier loading and bed divider for secure cargo. Plus you’ll get Bose seven-speaker audio system and 4G LTE Wi-Fi connectivity – making for a cozy cabin experience!
Subaru Outback
No matter your level of experience with overlanding or budget exploration, Subaru Outback vehicles make ideal camper conversion vehicles due to their robust engines, excellent safety ratings and tremendous towing capacities.
With its award-winning Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive system and impressive ground clearance, the Jeep Wrangler JK Unlimited is well equipped to take on off-road adventures. Skid plates underneath offer protection when venturing off the beaten path while cutting-edge technologies like X-MODE and Hill Descent Control give added stability for off-road journeys.
Your vehicle should provide ample room in the rear for all of your camping gear, while also folding down into a flat surface for sleeping if you add a bed platform or add WeatherTech window shades for privacy purposes and to maintain temperature regulation both summer and winter. Furthermore, it will need a wiring harness in order to connect it to a trailer.
