Shelf and Cabinet Storage
If you’re not going to sleep in the back of your SUV, that area is great for storing gear. Instead of having to climb in to find stuff, invest in cabinet or shelf storage solution.
The aftermarket is full of sliding storage racks and shelves for a variety of SUV models. They make finding what you need quickly and without moving other items possible. It’s an organization freak’s dream come true.
You should know the downside of these sliding storage products is that most require you to bolt them in place. While some might use factory mounting locations, you might have to drill into your vehicle to install others. Not only that, removing this modification is a process, if later you want to haul a large item and you need the full storage capacity of your SUV.
Food Storage
If you live where there are bears, which I always have, you should keep your food secured. A bear can smell food from miles away. Of course, so can other wildlife, like raccoons. But a bear, if determined, can really damage your SUV trying to get to your food.
That means if you want to keep food secured inside your ride, you need something that will seal the smell, completely. While Yeti coolers are fashion statements for some people, their original claim to fame was the ability to keep bears away. You can also get a bear-proof canister.
The solution, if you don’t want to invest in a bear-proof container, is to use a bear bag. You throw it over a skinny tree branch well above the ground, so bears can’t get to the food, and tie the attached rope to a tree trunk or something else secure.
Privacy
You might not want other campers staring through your car windows, for a variety of reasons. After all, if you’re using your SUV for changing clothes or sleeping, it should be a private place.
If your SUV has privacy glass in the rear, that’s a big plus. Consider having your windows tinted if that’s not the case. That still leaves the front windows and windshield as ways for people to see inside.
Those fold-up shades for windshields are an invaluable asset when camping. They provide excellent privacy. As for the front windows, hang a towel over each one. Clip the towels in place, attaching them to the grab handles and sun shades.
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