Campsite Ready: car camping setup for sealed-road trips
Rooftop tent, 40L fridge on a lithium second battery, awning and camp kitchen. Fitted before you collect the car.
Campsite Ready is the car camping setup BCA recommends for sealed-road trips in Australia, where you’ll stay at caravan parks, campgrounds and national park sites. We suggest a rooftop tent on roof racks, a 40L fridge powered by a lithium second battery, an awning, a stove, a table and two chairs. It’s the setup we’d use for the East Coast, the Great Ocean Road, Tasmania or a sealed Big Lap.
Is Campsite Ready right for your trip?
Campgrounds have toilets, showers and taps, so the gear here covers sleeping, keeping food cold and cooking. It suits your trip if:
- Most of your route is sealed, for example Melbourne to Cairns along the East Coast, the Great Ocean Road, Tasmania or the south-west of WA.
- You’ll stay at caravan parks, campgrounds or national park sites on most nights.
- You plan to use campground water and showers.
What we recommend, and why
Power and fridge
Keeps food and drinks cold, so you don’t need to buy ice each day.
Powers the fridge for around 30–40 hours and charges your devices. It’s separate from the starter battery, so the engine will still start.
Holds the battery securely and shows you how much charge is left.
Charges the second battery from the alternator whenever the engine is running.
Charges the battery while you’re parked. The lead lets you park in the shade with the panel in the sun.
Track your power use and remaining charge from your phone.
Sleeping
Your bed stays made, and the inside of the vehicle is left for gear. Sleeping off the ground keeps you away from ants, mud and water. Choose from the Tourer, Grand Tourer Lite or Tourer X.
Shade and cooking
Shade and shelter from rain at camp. It takes a couple of minutes to put up.
For cooking your own meals.
A surface for preparing food.
Most evenings at camp are spent outside the vehicle.
Safety
For cuts, burns and bites on the road.
Also worth considering
Lockable storage in the boot: slim, single or kitchen drawer, plus a drawer table and a fridge slide.
Attaches to the side awning to make a private shower.
240V power for laptops, camera batteries and small appliances.
A folding bed with mattress, for sleeping inside the car.
Starts a flat battery without needing a second car.
Which vehicles suit Campsite Ready?
SUVs, AWDs and 4WDs — we fit roof racks for the rooftop tent. Campervans already have a bed and a kitchen, so Campsite Ready gear isn’t needed. Ask us about Starlink, water tanks and Luffare modules for off-grid travel and remote work.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a fridge on a sealed-road trip?
We’d recommend one. Ice is fine for a weekend, but buying it every day over several weeks adds up. The 40L fridge runs off the second battery, which charges while you drive, and leaves the starter battery alone.
Can I sleep inside the vehicle instead of a rooftop tent?
In a Honda CR-V, yes. We build a folding bed that sits on the lowered back seats, and it comes with a mattress. For other vehicles, ask us about custom work.
Is everything fitted before I pick up the vehicle?
Yes. We sell our cars fully set up, so the roof racks, tent, awning and battery system are fitted and checked before handover.
Can I add Campsite Ready gear to a pre-purchase?
Yes. Include it in your pre-purchase enquiry and we’ll fit it before you arrive.
Tell us your route
We’ll suggest the equipment and quote it with your vehicle.