Glove boxes are small compartments built into the passenger side dashboard. These boxes are commonly used for storing miscellaneous items like a vehicle’s owner’s manual. Some glove boxes also lock, which makes them great storage for your valuables when you leave your vehicle.
While you can put anything that fits into a glove box, it’s better to keep it organized rather than having it look like a junk drawer. Plus, there are some glove box essentials that every driver should have. Read on to learn more below.
Tips and Tricks For Making Camp In The Snow
A wintery backdrop will be enchanting, but before you can relax and enjoy it, camp needs to be set up. Choose a spot that’s sheltered from wind as much as possible, and preferably pick a location that has southern exposure so you bask in whatever sunlight you can get.
If you’re going really minimalist, a layered tent with a weatherproof skirt is what you need. Clear a flat spot about four feet wider in diameter than your tent to begin with, then set it up with the skirt on the outside, flat on the ground. Peg it down well, then shovel snow all around the tent onto the skirt. This acts as a seal, eliminating wind from pushing into the tent and freezing you out, which is awful in the middle of the night especially.
If you have the resources, set up a second tent for cooking. What’s most important here is a windbreak to prevent your flame from blowing out. Because a fire quickly consumes the oxygen in a confined space, you should make sure either a vent flap is open or leave the door wide open.
If you’re interested in setting up camp really quickly and avoiding the need to shovel, a rooftop tent is a great option. Brands like Smittybilt make overlanding tents that set up in only a few minutes – at least, tents for sleeping quarters.
Other must-haves for your winter camp include:
- A cot or insulated sleeping pad
- A stove or heater
- Cold-rated sleeping bag
- Extra blankets or battery powered clothing
Tips For Food and Drink
Camping in the cold weather even tastes different than summertime camping. Rather than a few cold drinks down the hatch while you sit in a lawn chair, you’ll need to intake plenty more calories since your body is working hard to stave off the cold.
High-calorie snacks will sustain your energy levels throughout the day, like trail mix and protein bars. You’ll want and need hot meals to chase away any chills you might get, which you can either prep ahead of time and warm up on the campstove or campfire, or prepare using Camp Chef stoves. Some dehydrated meals can be reconstituted in minutes with almost no effort, and they’re a fantastic option if all you’re prepared to do is boil water.
For beverages, leave the alcohol at home. While it feels like you’re warming up, it actually promotes heat dissipation and can lead to hypothermia. You simply don’t feel like you’re getting cold. Instead, choose staples like coffee and tea, or select calorie-rich options like hot chocolate that fuel your body for the day. Nothing helps better than starting the day out right with a big breakfast of nutritious, hot food before the cold sets in.
Essential Camping Tools and Gear
Naturally, a first aid kit is an essential piece of equipment for your cold weather camping plan, and it should contain fast warming packs to help in the event of frostbite or hypothermia. Aside from playing it safe, here are some clutch items to have with you for your trip.
Kitchen equipment
Bring your food along in a high-quality cooler, not to keep it cold as much as it is to keep it from freezing solid. And with that, you need a way to heat your food and water, plates and cups, and especially utensils. In this weather, there’s little chance you can eat your food by hand, bare-handed.
And rather than bringing a big jug of water, bring smaller bottles since it’s all but guaranteed your spigot will freeze on a jug.
Gear for your adventures
Unless you’re headed to hot springs, there’s no chance you’ll need swimsuits. Instead, plan for more gear-focused adventures. Snowboards and cross-country skis, snowshoes, hiking boots or PAC boots, goggles, and heavy gloves and a hat will be a necessity if you’re camping in the cold weather.
Recovery gear
It’s exponentially more dangerous to camp in the winter, even if you don’t have to worry as much about bears that have found their dens to hibernate. Slippery roads could mean you slide off the shoulder with no traffic around to help. You could get stuck in the backcountry where no one would see you for days. You need to be able to help yourself.
Your truck or SUV needs to have a winch installed, and if not, a portable winch or come-along to you to traction. Bring along a jerry can of fuel. Traction pads could be the only thing that helps you traverse a path you wouldn’t think twice about in the summer. And a hi-lift jack should always be in your truck.
Comforts of home
Hey, it’s supposed to be fun! Make sure you pack a few things to keep you comfy if you’re waiting out a blizzard. Camp chairs, efficient portable LED lighting, and some games to pass the time are fantastic, and maybe download a couple of shows onto your smartphone. It’s camping, but you don’t have to live like barbarians.
Whether you need the camping essentials or the finer things to make your winter camping trip a success, start your shop at 4 Wheel Parts. With thousands of items from top brands like Rampage, fab Fours, and Dometic, you’ll be ready to stay warm and enjoy yourself on your cold weather camping trip.
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