Car camping in a Ford Ranger
Cook off the tailgate, sleep in the bed or beside it. See the kit for a couple below.
Ranger car camping setup and accessories
9 items, ~$965 total. Amazon prices. Affiliate links: we earn a commission on Amazon purchases at no extra cost to you.
Sleeping in the bed? Swap the tent below for a Ford Ranger truck bed tent.
Tent
Marmot Crane Creek 3-Person Tent
- Fits:
- 3 person
- Rating:
- 3-season+
~$299
Check price on AmazonSleeping Bag (x2)
Kelty Cosmic 40°F Sleeping Bag
- Rated to:
- 40°F
- Fill:
- Synthetic
~$73 each
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Klymit Insulated Static V Sleeping Pad
- Warmth:
- Three seasons (R 4.4)
- Type:
- Inflatable
~$83 each
Check price on AmazonCooler
Coleman Classic 52-Quart Cooler
- Holds:
- 52 qt
- Keeps ice:
- 3 days
~$55
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Coleman Cooler Quad Chair
- Packs:
- Standard quad
- Supports:
- 325 lbs
- Seat:
- Padded
~$40 each
Check price on AmazonCamp Lighting
Coleman 1000-Lumen LED Lantern (BatteryGuard)
- Brightness:
- 1000 lumens
~$50
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Lepro Rechargeable LED Headlamp
- Brightness:
- 300 lumens
- Power:
- Rechargeable
~$10 each
Check price on AmazonCamp Stove
Coleman Triton 2-Burner Propane Stove
- Burners:
- 2
- Fuel:
- Propane
~$84
Check price on AmazonCook Set
Fire-Maple Feast 12-Piece Camp Cookware Set
- Pieces:
- 12
- Surface:
- Steel
~$65
Check price on AmazonOne press puts the whole kit in your cart; take out anything you already own there.
Not quite you? Change who is coming, the quality tier or the season - your Ranger stays filled in.
What fits in the Ranger
Full-size cargo space: any tent, cooler or chair we list fits - nothing has to pack small.
Midsize truck that's easy to live out of for a weekend. The bed handles bulky gear; a bed-mounted tent or topper makes it a sleeping platform.
Sleeping in the Ranger's bed
The bed is the bedroom and the cab is the closet.
- Bed tent: a Ford Ranger truck bed tent makes the bed a flat platform off the ground in a few minutes. In a short (five-foot) bed a six-footer sleeps diagonally.
- Cap or topper: a pad or a truck bed air mattress inside does the same job, in any weather.
- Dry weather: a tarp over the bed rails and a bivy.
- Cooler and food ride in the cab - an open bed is not weatherproof storage.
- No bed tent or cap? Pitch the kit's tent beside the truck.
Car camping in a Ford Ranger: common questions
Is the Ford Ranger good for car camping?
Yes. It has full-size cargo space, so a standard camping kit fits without a roof box.
Can you sleep inside a Ford Ranger?
In the bed, yes: a truck-bed tent or a cap with a pad inside makes a flat platform off the ground. The cab is too short to lie flat, and an open bed is not weatherproof storage, so the cooler and food ride in the cab.