Team-BHP (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/)

-   Route / Travel Queries (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route-travel-queries/)

-   -   Options for Car Camping in India (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route-travel-queries/168456-options-car-camping-india.html)

Over a period of time, I have been searching for topics and experiences of car camping in India. Realised that there were very few who are into it, with some clubs and travel agencies / adventure clubs (as they call themselves) organising such trips. However, little is known about individuals undertaking car camping, probably due to apprehensions of safety, intrusion to privacy and lack of options. Of people who I heard had expedition vehicles and other RVs, and more in the type of Outback experiences in Australia, India has not yet come of age. Considering the enthusiasm amongst fellow travellers as on date, I feel it is a good option for people who want to indulge in such activity, create their own personal space and have a great experience with their vehicle and pristine nature.

For reference, I am attaching a few of the links I tried to go through.

http://wikitravel.org/en/Car_camping

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outback

http://lifestylerr.com/going-camping...-thrillpart-1/

http://www.indianholidaygetway.com/i...urs-india.html

A Tourism Ministry guideline I guess:

http://tourism.gov.in/Uploaded/Guide...0110208201.pdf

The point in case is, with the vast possibility of options available in India, there is no reason why this activity cannot flourish. It offers unlimited thrill, a test both to the man and machine, the ability to plan and execute, arrangement of equipment and the like.

I hope to find like minded travellers and car-lovers who wish to go car-camping and form a great group of enthusiasts. What better forum than tbhp? Banking on the rest of you enthusiasts to keep this thread going and improve the quality of wanderlust!

A few pics from the web and from my vehicle









The below pictures are from my Pajero which I have acquired for doubling up for this purpose, including a DIY bed and other equipment. (May have a look at my Garage to have an idea)





Identifying locations, trails, parks/wilderness where camping is possible, routes, maps, facilities and those involving living off the land is important. Hope this works.

To be contd...

(Mods may kindly make necessary changes as to the location of this thread as I could not actually make out where to place it)

Excellent information "Unavowed_X9".
The modification looks promising. clap:

A great DIY.

Also the following product can be used if you want to use the 2nd row seat for more passengers.

http://www.amazon.in/Car-Travel-Infl.../dp/B00AUP7O1I

http://www.snapdeal.com/product/xele...ith/2010450298

Yes. These do seem really good options. The flip side is the sleeping length is severely restricted and can be used by children only. Further, I feel the front seats cannot be reclined with this set up in place to enable an adult to atleast sleep in comfort.
However, this is most suitable for people owning hatches and sedans!
The costing on my DIY was just under 5k. And its a flat & full length bed that even a 6'-tall can sleep with comfort, including the option of keeping the front seats in normal driving position to enable move of the vehicle while the people behind can rest (with due precaution though).
May kindly refer to the following URL of my post, along with pictures and estimate.

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/modifi...ml#post3730517

Identification of locations and routes where car camping is possible would be a great benefit to enthusiasts.
I have identified a few good locations. Attaching the links to one of them, and shall keep updating.

1. Potagarh (old Fort/Port)
Ganjam
Odisha 761026

Offers a breathtaking view of the Rushikulya River merging into the Bay of Bengal.
Accessible by a track / bundh along the river just before the bridge while heading from Bhubaneswar.
Very less movement of people, except for workers accessing that area for constructing the remaining part of the track along the river.

https://www.google.co.in/maps/place/...4f75132f?hl=en

Lots of related threads on camping :thumbs up

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

Can you please give more details on the bed. Made of what? How is it secured? More pics, etc.

Please refer to the link about the DIY.
It was a pretty simple setup. Details are available in the post.
I used 19mm ply, carpet, metal frame bolted on the same spot where the 3rd row seats are fixed.

Excellent thread Unavowed_X9. I am a big fan of camping but have done it just twice till date in India.

I have few queries regarding the stoves -
1. I have a Coleman dual fuel stove that runs on unleaded petrol. It is getting extremely difficult nowadays to get loose petrol from the pumps. However even if I get hold of a litre or two, how safe is it to carry petrol in plastic bottles over long distances. What precautions can one take?
2. I have seen people carry gas stoves to camping sites. How safe is it to carry small gas cylinders in a vehicle over a long distance?

Also I would like to add a few items to the list -
1. Inflatable bed
2. Battery powered inflator as one might have to setup camp at a distance from the vehicle and one will not be able to use car tyre inflator
3. Head torch as one's hands can be free
4. Salt for leech in case one is camping in the hills
5. Foldable chairs
6. Hammer
7. Bug spray
8. Large bins to carry the trash back

Here are a few pictures from our camping in Ladakh (Zanaskar)

Wow.
Excellent pics. I really admire the way you travel. Passionate as I can say.
I have read many of your travelogues and pretty impressed! Keep driving and keep exploring. Would be privileged to join you for a drive some time.

Regarding your queries:

1. I have a Coleman dual fuel stove that runs on unleaded petrol. It is getting extremely difficult nowadays to get loose petrol from the pumps. However even if I get hold of a litre or two, how safe is it to carry petrol in plastic bottles over long distances. What precautions can one take?
Though carrying flamable / explosive fluids is not legal, I am sure everyone agrees there are certain situations that require it to be done. As long as one can carry it safely, without discomfort to the occupants with the fumes leaking into the passenger compartment and considering the risk in case of a spark in circuitry. I would recommend fuel to be carried in metal jerry cans or in the worst case scenario use sturdy plastic cans safely secured on the roof rack.
In this regard, we may refer to the Petroleum Ministry's regulations.
Many countries have similar regulations too.

2. I have seen people carry gas stoves to camping sites. How safe is it to carry small gas cylinders in a vehicle over a long distance?

Same goes to the LPG cylinders. I would carry it on the roof after buffering it inside a wooden case with adequate padding inside which enables protection.

As per the list of items you mentioned, yes, I completely agree.

1. I already have an unfolding bed installed in the vehicle. For camping outside the vehicle in the tents, one may use either hammocks or sleeping mats that are standardly used by trekkers and mountaineers.
2. The inflator I carry is primarily for tyre inflation only.
3. Head torch is one thing I donot have as of now, and I am looking for a good deal on a couple of them. However, the pentorch can easily be used by strapping it to the peak of your cap with a fastener. I do carry an emergency lantern that can be charged through the USB / Power socket in the vehicle.
4. Salt for leech in case one is camping in the hills will be available from the cooking kit one would carry. Chloroquine as well as water purifying tablets in case you have to visit malaria prone areas. A mosquito net proves invaluable.
5. Foldable chairs or camp stools.
6. Hammer and shovel
7. Bug spray
8. Large carry bags or Large bins to carry the trash back
9. Pair of handheld CB radios (since the CB is delicensed and is legal now)
10. Mudplanks and other eqpt for recovery.
11. Updated GPS maps as well as toposheets of the areas if available with the Survey of India for reference.

Will add some more items to the list depending on the kind of drive one would undertake.

Warm regards.
Unavowed_X9

GTO, apt.
Yes, I read through all the links you mentioned. Realised it would be even great if all those locations were properly geotagged / logged to a single place to provide prompt information to aid planning?
Your car is basically an extension of yourself, and as such, camping along with it gives the trip a whole new different meaning and indulgence.
However, what surprised me was that many of the trips were old! Why am I finding fewer and latest such activities? Am I missing anything here?
The latest I see is @blackpearl's trip.
I believe in the economy of the activity so that everyone can have the budget to indulge in this really cool activity. Instead of spending a bomb on making expensive mods to the vehicles, some simple DIYs can really make the thing work!
Hope the great activity gets going sooner in a bigger way. No better way to explore nature along when you want to do it with your vehicle.
Warm regards.
Unavowed_X9

As an afterthought, I searched for some data on legal carriage of fuel in vehicles. Please find some info in the following links.

1. http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/articl...y-store-petrol

2. http://www.whatsupdownunder.com.au/N...-February-2015

The above link (2) is from an Australian source of info normally adhered to while in the outback.

An extract from the same,

"Where to carry it?

This is a good question. Fuel Containers should be well secured and carried externally on your vehicle. It is not safe to store the containers inside a vehicle where the vapours can be inhaled. This can cause nausea, drowsiness or even be fatal as the fumes are poisonous.

But, you are very limited as to where you can safely carry them externally too. The fuel containers must not overhang your vehicle to either side (left or right). Must not be mounted on the front of your vehicle and if mounted on the rear of your vehicle it must be mounted in an approved holder (ADR compliant). If they appear to be mounted in an unsafe manner or they overhang the rear of the vehicle too much (determined by a Police Office or Road Safety Office) then an infringement can be issued. Another reason how the law is considered a 'grey area' as it may be left up to an authority to make a decision at any point in time.

You can carry extra fuel in approved containers in a secure roof basket if no other suitable option is available. It is crucial that they are secured well and strapped in so they can not slide. You do need to keep the weight in mind when adding items to your roof. Each 20l fuel container adds around 23kgs when full so this will change your vehicles centre of gravity and you need to be aware not to exceed your basket's/roof rack's weight ratings.

You must not carry more than a total of 250 litres of fuel on/in your vehicle at any one time (including the contents of your standard fuel tanks).

Carrying fuel containers on the rear of caravans or on the drawbar of trailers is not advisable. This is because fuel can ignite on impact and these areas are most prone to collision. However, I was not able to get a definite answer regarding legality of this except that they must be securely mounted.

This is NOT legal advice by any means. Give your insurance company a call and ask them if they have any restrictions on fuel container placement. Best to get any advice of that nature in writing for reference if ever needed later on."

3. http://www.hse.gov.uk/cdg/manual/com...ems/petrol.htm

Though the above link (3) is from UK, common laws would accept a UN standard, and as such, the below can hold good in terms of legal issues.

An extract from the page,

"Up to 1 litre of petrol can be carried under the LQ provisions (see Main Exemptions).

As a "small load"
The small load exemptions (Main Exemptions) will be applicable up to a total quantity of 333 litres (if other dangerous goods are carried the aggregation rules must be applied). The containers must be UN approved (see Packaging) and properly labelled (see Consignment Procedures). Typical 5 litre containers purchased from car accessory shops and garages may not be so approved.
A typical case would be the carriage of two or three jerricans in a van. Providing those cans are UN approved, marked UN 1203 and labelled with the flammable diamond, the only requirements are

Driver training in accordance with ADR 1.3
Carry 2 kg fire extinguisher
Stow the jerry cans correctly to avoid damage or loss from the vehicle
Note: a typical steel jerry can might be marked un 3A1/Y/170/**/GB/****

** is the year of manufacture and **** the packaging certificate number.

In this case no density figure is give after the "Y" which means it is suitable only for liquids with relative density ≤ 1.2 (petrol is typically 0.8 or less)"

Warm regards.
Unavowed_X9

One issue that dissuades people from camping is usually the security aspects. We lack designated car camping parks/spots. In some places like Himachal it is possible to simply go a little off road and camp in perfect peace. However, I cannot even think of doing the same in the North East. Though I had visions of camping in these jungles and hills but alas for the last 3 years my stuff still remains packed in the boxes. Car camping is mighty useful when you are travelling the desolate but safe lands. I would not advise car camps when you are around our NHs or while travelling with a female companion. Come to think of it, I cannot for the love of me see myself camping by a road side except in HP, Uttrakhand, some parts of Maharashtra, Sikkim and may be Gujrat.

Completely agree. The key is to camp in mutual support and be aware of the security / social / crime / other aspects prevalent in the area. Till such time improvement is seen, having a local always helps. NE isnt risky in all the locations. Depends from place to place. One needs to have some security and emergency apparatus handy in case of an emergency as well. It is the existence of nosey people and nuisance elements that spoils the good time.
There are numerous links about how to achieve a certain degree of safety & security while car camping.
Find below some:
1. http://www.traveldudes.org/travel-ti...your-car/13626
2. http://blog.esurance.com/10-tips-for.../#.VgFgcd-qqko
3. http://greatist.com/fitness/know-you-go-camping
4. http://onadimeadventure.com/10-safet...camping-alone/
Further, where is thrill without the danger?

Just what I was looking for!!

I am planning to take a solo road trip from Pune to Jodhpur(Rajasthan) and I also plan to spend my nights sleeping in my car. I drive Hyundai Xcent. I being 6'1, sleeping in the back seat is not very comfortable. I was wondering, if I can take out the front passenger seat and make a bed for me using few mattresses. I have never done this and I am not sure if taking out the passenger seat is a good idea. Any ideas, suggestions would be much appreciated.

Why not? For that, wouldnt you have to remove the rear seat as well too?
Even though it is a solo trip, since you are 6'1", I doubt if you can fit into an Xcent! One option would be to see if removing headrests of the front seats and reclining them completely after shoving them full front will result in getting you a comfortable sleeping position.
Also please refer to BHPian KALINGA's post at
http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/route-...ml#post3807824
Hope this helps.
Warm regards
Unavowed_X9

a. Pune to Jodhpur should be doable in a single very long day IMHO unless you get bad rains / traffic in Gujarat.
b. Worst case, sleep for 4-5 hours in the driver seat itself. I've done it far too many times, including sleeping outside a Kamat on NH4 around Tumkur for my Aug 2013 GGN-Chennai drive :)

Doing anything else is a waste of time.

For a nap simply fold the front passenger seat as far back as possible after removing the headrest and sliding the bench as far forward on the rail. Lie on the back seat behind the driver's seat and stretch ur legs for a nap. Not worth removing seats and doing a bed mod for a solo short trip.