Top 5 Camping Equipment I Use the Most

Escalante from inside the tent

My love for camping started at a very young age. My favorite thing to do is being outdoors, sitting by the fire with friends sharing stories. I regret not sharing my love earlier with my kids.

Young Me and the fish we caught

The Good Old Days

Growing up in Minnesota and North Dakota spending summers fishing and camping are some of my most favorite memories of my childhood. Being out in the wilderness building forts, building sand castles on the lake shore and making smores by the campfire were how I spent my summers as a kid. 

Check out my YouTube video Top 5 Camping Gear I use the Most 

Todays Adventures

Now I combine my off-road adventures with my childhood love, camping with my Jeep. However, as a Jeep owner I know my space is limited. So, I need to be smart and take only the camping gear necessities. 

Two Reasons to be Frugal

When packing for camping in my Jeep I am selective. The first is the limited space for camping gear as my Jeep is all ready full of my recovery gear and tools. 

The second reason is I want to be able to relax and enjoy myself when I am out camping. The less items I have means a quicker set up, tear down and easier clean up which leaves more time to relax and enjoy nature. You don’t need a whole lot of stuff to enjoy a couple of days out in nature. 

My Top 5 Must Have Camping Gear Items

My Jeep and Tent in the Mojave Desert

Shelter - a tent & sleeping gear, or hammock, or the back of your vehicle. Sleeping in the back of my Jeep is my preferred choice which means I need to be strategic about what I pack into my Jeep. Weigh your options of setting up and tearing down a tent vs. less stuff and sleeping in the back of your Jeep. If you have a 4 door.  

Campfire cooking

Cooking Grate over the fire is my favorite way to cook. You don’t need to have a big camp stove with propane to carry in your Jeep. Just make sure there are no fire bans before you head out on your adventure.  

Quesidilla cooking in cast iron frying pan

Cast Iron Pan – If you plan your meals right this is all you need to cook. There is no reason to get all fancy out on your adventure. With your cooking grate, tin foil and the cast iron pan you can make some great meals. And still have time to enjoy your time.   

L.T. Wright Handcrafted Knives

LT Wright knives & machete 

I love my LT Wright kitchen set. I take them with me every time. The machete also works great for making tinder and kindling for the fire!   

L.T. Wright Handcrafted Knives Review 

Campsite in Escalante

Camp Chair - Camping is about relaxing and enjoying the simple things. I love chilling in my camp chair by the campfire. 

Check out my YouTube video Top 5 Must-have Primitive Camping Items 

Frozen Lake Driving Tips

How To Be Safe On The Ice

I have driven my Jeep on many terrains such as rocks, mud, slick rock, snow, dirt roads, mountain shelf roads, and dried up creek beds. Each one presents it's own challenges. 

The terrain I took my Jeep on this past month has got to be one of the scariest and most dangerous of all terrains.  A frozen lake! 

My Jeep on a frozen lake

Check out my YouTube video ➤➤Top 5 Tips for Driving Your Jeep on a Frozen Lake 

My Jeep parked by a fishhouse

We weren't on the lake for a day of wheeling. We were driving to and from a fish house, which if you live in the great frozen tundra of Minnesota it is a way of life. 

You shouldn’t take it for granted. You need to take many precautions and drive with care. If you are driving on the ice for the first time I highly suggest you find an experienced frozen lake driver to go with you because you need to be prepared for the worst.

Tips I learned about driving My Jeep on a frozen lake

Know the thickness of the ice

If you have a medium sized truck you need to wait for the ice to be at least 12 to 15 inches thick before you take your vehicle out on the ice. You need to check the ice every so many feet to make sure the whole lake is frozen.

Drive with your windows rolled down 

in case you go through the ice. You will need a quick escape. I have one of those tools that can break a window, but by the time I reach for it in my glove box it could be too late.

Don’t fasten your seatbelt

 again this is for a quick escape. 

Stay well-spaced apart 

from other vehicles and fish houses when you are driving and parking on the frozen lake. You don’t want all the weight pilling up in one spot. 

Don’t drive fast 

Fast driving sets up a pressure wave on the ice that can cause the ice to fracture. My niece shared this with me and said a good example of this is on the show Ice Road on Netflix. 

Anytime you take your Jeep out no matter what the terrain you should always be prepared from extra gas to water and food, to wearing the proper shoes, having the proper gear the list goes on. 

Check out my other Off-road Driving Tips post for more on the different terrains you may encounter on your adventures.  

[How To] Be a Jeep Girl with Confidence

Top 5 Tips

Jeep Girls standing by their Jeeps

In the past, many years ago, it was rare to see a woman behind the wheel of a Jeep on those off-road trails. Now a days the number of women off roaders has grown. Sometimes it can be intimidating to hit the trails with a group of Jeepers especially if you have never wheeled with the group before. 

I remember those first couple of years on the trail. I was intimidated being in a world made up of mostly men. Fortunately, I have always had a very positive experience, and everyone was so helpful and patient with me. That is not always the case.

How to be a Confident Jeep Girl 👉 Watch Here 

5 Reasons Jeep Girls are Cool 👉Watch Here

As a Jeep Girl you can be your own worst enemy. Here are some tips to help build your confidence on the trail and so you don’t ambush yourself.

Know Your Jeep! 

Jeep Momma doing an install

This first one is a biggie. Know Your Jeep! On a trail ride I hosted a new Jeep girl joined us. Someone else had been working on her Jeep and trailered it to the trail. Once off the trailer she got behind the wheel and we headed out. Not to far into the trail her Jeep ran out of gas. She had no extra gas, nor any Jeep supplies like recovery gear or tools, nothing. It is important to know your Jeep and have all the essentials. Make sure you go over your Jeep before each trail ride to make sure it is trail ready. It is your Jeep you should have knowledge of your Jeep.

Be Prepared with Proper Gear!

Holding my steering stabilizer

If you don’t know what you gear to brings check out My Off Road Guide 👉 Read More

It can be overwhelming, and you can’t have everything at once but at least get the basics. We all need help on the trails, but you shouldn’t be totally helpless. 

Know Trail Etiquette

Jeep Girl spotter on the trail

This same Jeep Girl was unaware of the trail etiquette and created some bad situations. Know the “rules” of the trail, at least the basics like the role of the trail guide, always follow the trail guide and don’t go off by yourself. 

 Always check your rear-view mirror so you know when your group has stopped. Those are just a few. There are more links of examples in the description.

Trail Etiquette, Top 5 Tips 👉 Watch Here

Off-road Tips & Must Have's 👉 Watch Here

Confidence 

Changing my gear oil

Try to do your own modifications. Don't attempt a engine swap or lift your Jeep right off the bat. You can start small with a headlight swap or adding basic sliders to your Jeep. Don’t be overwhelmed and let the modifications intimidate you. Usually, the companies of the Jeep parts are very helpful, and you can call them for help, or you can reach out to Jeepers in a local group.

Respect

Jeep Momma selfie

Don’t sabotage your own respect by disrespecting yourself by posting those half naked pictures with your Jeep. Post with dignity and you will be treated with dignity.

If you are new to the Jeep life or having trouble fitting in, these Top 5 confidence builders might help you get a good start. If you ever find yourself struggling feel free to reach out to me I would be happy to help you.

What NOT to Buy for Your Jeep

Top 5 Modification & Accessories

Unboxing my new Jeep parts

There is a saying Jeep stands for Just Empty Every Pocket. When you start buying accessories and modifications that spending adds up, so sometimes you need to be smart about spending your money.

Unboxing my new rock sliders

When you start down the path of modifications and accessories, it can get out of control because you are so excited to buy Jeep stuff. It is almost like an addiction and can get out of control. 

Unwrapping my new front bumper

To help you save money or from being teased by your fellow Jeepers and friends, here are some Jeep Momma tips to keep you on the right path. There are just some Jeep parts that you should not put on your Jeep.

These are just my opinions as I am sure some Jeepers may not agree. Again, just my opinion I don’t meant to offend anyone.

What Not to Buy Jeep Momma YouTube Video

 Angry Grille 

The seven slot grille is iconic and what Jeep is famous for. I believe covering up the seven slots is sacrilege Why even get a Jeep if you are going to disrespect the seven slots with an Angry Grille? It breaks my heart when I see Jeeps with the angry grille as they are covering up one of the cool things about Jeep.

Electric slide out side steps 

Having a step to get into your Jeep for some is important. However, you need to be very careful on what kind of step you purchase. There are side steps that slide out from under your Jeep when you open your door. While these are cool, they can do a lot of damage to your Jeep or they could get torn off if you ever decide to take your Jeep off road. There are better options out there that are more practical for a Jeep. I love my Barricade Rock sliders. They protect my Jeep while I am off road and on the rocks, plus they work great to get into my lifted Jeep.

Colored headlights 

Led Headlights are a must, but please don’t make them colored. They are useless unless they are white, yellow or blue any other color is illegal to drive with them one, so in essence you are wasting your money. You would only be able to use them when parked. You are better off spending your money on some other colored accessory that you can appreciate when your Jeep is on the road.

Wheels with silly off sets and low profile tires 

Jeeps are built for off-roading and these type of tires and wheels are worthless unless you leave your Jeep sitting on the showroom floor.  

Eyelashes

Let’s just leave fake eyelashes for the trendy young girls. These things don’t need to be put on your Jeep. Just plain stupid… In My opinion.