Listen to the full episode here:
Keeping your weight down and creating a more efficient setup will elevate your trips…
making them more enjoyable and safer!
In this episode of the Snowys Camping Show, our outdoor experts Lauren and Ben talk you through roof racks, weight allowance, interior storage solutions, and how to best pack your car – plus multi-purpose gear, and a whole lot more. Check it out below for all the details!
Shortcuts:
00:00 – Intro
02:44 – Kerb weight and GVM
06:01 – Roof loadings
07:42 – On road vs off road rating
08:46 – Minimising weight
09:54 – Safety for other road users
11:24 – Packing your weight low
12:00 – Lighter, easier to pack options for carrying water
12:16 – Shelves vs drawers and weight
13:00 – Do you need to carry a second spare tyre?
12:35 – Everything you take should have 2 uses
14:13 – Why Ben doesn’t bring an icebox
15:20 – Accessibility & using all the nooks and crannies
15:50 – Trailers and towing
18:00 – Camper trailers
Mentioned in this Episode:
Products:
Sea to Summit Watercell Water Storage
Tarps: multipurpose groundsheet, picnic blanket, and awning
Blogs:
Towing with a 4WD – What You Need to Know
Other:
Tyler Thompson’s YouTube video
Packing your vehicle safely should be a huge priority for campers. Image: Blacksmith Camping Supplies.
Thanks for listening, tune in again for next week’s episode!
Thanks for tuning in to this week’s episode of the Snowys Podcast. Don’t forget to subscribe to us on YouTube, Spotify, iTunes, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, Pocket Casts, or Stitcher so you never miss an upload.
If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.
Catch you out there!
From tent pegs and air tents, to setups for summer and one-pot wonders – our gear gurus Ben and Lauren unpack the topics on every camper’s tongue, taking each minute to the limit with how-to’s, destinations, and expert interviews. Be it a swag, tent, or ‘swent’ – set up camp with us!
Ben is a real purist camper. I can relate coming from lightweight backpack camping complaining about 50 grams I have to carry for the next 10 days to having small kids and just throwing everything in the car and now camper trailer for their comfort. It is out of control and I have failed unlike Ben. But I have to say that this topic and my family’s safety finally made me recently go online and calculated that I’m 100-150kg off my GVM when I go camping. This is too close so I will be making some much need changes.
He really is Mick! We’re so glad that the episode has made you look into the weight of your setup so that you can make the necessary changes to keep you and your loved ones safe – cheers.
Love that people are talking about vehicle weights, The other weights that also need to be considered is axle load weights for both front and rear. This adds more complexity as you can be under your vehicles GVM but weight distribution over the axles can be exceeded. eg Isuzu MUX has a GVM of 2750kg and a Tare of 2045kg giving availble weight of 705kg but also a front axle weight of 1350kg and a rear weight of 1600kg.
Most vehicles with steel bar winch may already be over the front axle weight . Plenty more to consider.
Thanks for the great feedback Ken, there really is so much to consider when it comes to weight, so it’s great to have these conversations – cheers!