This Car Camping Privacy Hack Is Easy, Effective, And Affordable

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Car camping works in a pinch or as a long-term strategy, and it's easy to do just about anywhere tent camping is allowed. However, even roomy SUVs can feel tight when serving as both a storage and sleeping cabin. Furthermore, privacy is a challenge with all the windows, especially if you're camping during high season or in a popular national park. It's tricky to change clothes or catch a nap, especially with other outdoor enthusiasts nearby.

Before you decide to invest in a full-blown recreational vehicle, consider adding an affordable pop-up canopy to your packing list for flexibility and privacy. Popular models like the E-Z UP canopy tent are simple to pop up and strike down, and it's an intuitive and tool-free process. You can also purchase a set of four attachable sidewalls that enclose the canopy to effortlessly adjust the level of airflow and solitude needed.  

This hack is about more than privacy. It also offers a fair amount of functionality to car campers. An over-the-car canopy can shield your vehicle from rain, sun, and bird droppings, and provide a larger footprint for storing gear and moving around. Especially with sidewalls attached, your belongings are as secure as they would be in a traditional tent, including the car itself.

A makeshift car canopy is a low-tech privacy solution that's more affordable than investing in an RV or high-end tent. They can even encompass trailers or other camping and tailgating accessories attached to your vehicle if the canopy is large enough, so invest in one that's 10-by-10 feet or larger. 

For example, if you have a teardrop camper behind your SUV, you can cover it with the canopy for additional privacy, with about 2.5 feet of extra canopy space surrounding it for room to move around. This extra space is valuable for weather-sensitive gear like a portable cooler or camping fridge, or a generator. The setup lets you use your car as primary storage, the open canopy space as a living room, and the trailer itself as your bedroom, all for around $200 and a five-minute setup.

Another car camping hack unlocked by a canopy is the ability to properly vent your car while sleeping in it. It may seem counterintuitive to do so, especially on colder days when you want to preserve warmth. However, condensation builds up inside a non-ventilated car overnight, which can actually make the cabin colder. Slightly opening a rooftop or side window can solve the problem, while the awning stops any rain from getting in. And if you're using attachable sidewalls, that can help retain some heat on chilly nights.