Living in the car has evolved over the years from a short-term escape to a life-long plan. It gives the option to turn your life into a more sustainable and minimalistic one while enjoying a sense of adventure every day. If you want to spend your days traversing around the city and nights watching the moon across the ocean, this blog will surely amuse you. We have a checklist of all the essentials you need to stay safe, sane, and satisfied when living on the roads, whether in your car, van, or truck. So, read on!
Here’s a list of 7 essentials that I have extracted from Amazon US. All of these have high ratings and good customer reviews.
Sleeping Essentials
The first aspect that bothers many about living in a car is comfort especially when you want to yawn and stretch. Here we have some of the options to shop from:
Olee Sleep Tri-Folding Memory Foam Topper, 4 inch
The 100% polyester, tri-folding memory foam topper is portable and highly comfortable. The memory foam expands faster and maintains the surrounding temperature. It adjusts as per your body’s needs and gives you added snugness. It’s easy to fold and lighter to carry. It has good durability and softness.
Ratings: 4.3
Total ratings: 4,660
Price: $71
OGLAND Car Air Inflation Travel Bed Mattress
If you are camping in an SUV, this is just the right choice for you. The SUV air mattress is an inflatable thickened bed with an electric air pump. The sleeping pad can fit in a minivan truck and is perfect for making a comfortable bed on your passenger seat. It’s big enough to fit more than one person and has the durability to stay flawless for longer. The super bearing capacity can entertain up to 150lbs weight of more than 2 adults.
Ratings: 3.7
Total ratings: 859
Price: $34.97
KingCamp Big and Tall Flannel Sleeping Bag
The KingCamp sleeping bag is suitable for both warm and cold weather. It’s a waterproof zip bag made with lightweight material. It’s durable and easy to carry with a high-quality skin-friendly fabric. The bottom zippers help maintain the ventilation, making it a soothing experience to snuggle in.
Ratings: 4.4
Number of ratings: 144
Price: 69.99
Storage Solutions
You may have a lot of things to carry with you on your journey of living in the car, and for that, the best thing is to get trunk-size organizers that are made especially to fit in the vehicles. From clothes to cables to devices, here are some shortlisted organizers perfect for all your items.
FORTEM Car Storage Organizer
The collapsible multi-compartment trunk organizer comes with a nonslip bottom and adjustable securing straps. The foldable blue cover makes it easy to carry and accommodate in your car. The fabric, finishing, and smoothness if of the finest quality and are one of the top-rated products on Amazon. The detachable lid helps keep your precious items secure.
Ratings: 4.7
Number of ratings: 31,540
Honey-Can-Do SFT-01166 Soft Storage Chest
The Amazon choice Honey-Can-Do organizer comes with many tiny and big pockets. It has a two-compartment interior that helps in organizing your stuff efficiently and neatly. You can fit in sports equipment, groceries, and everyday essentials.
Ratings: 4.6
Number of ratings: 12,817
Price: $12
Amazon Basics Backseat Trunk Organizer
It’s one of the cheapest organizers you can get. With 7 protective pockets, this clutter-free car truck is designed to fit in the backseat and has a durable 600D polyester that can carry sports items, devices, and all kinds of gear. It comes with a year warranty and has many pockets to keep your emergency kits and precious items safe.
Ratings: 4.3
Number of ratings: 1,253
Price: $12
Samsonite Expanding Golf Trunk Locker Organizer
Made with a ripstop polyester, the waterproof organizer helps keep your car clutter-free and your mind at peace. You can carry your world in this trunk-deep storage unit. Its movable dividers help manage your stuff neatly and fit all your storage needs. It comes with compartments that can hold up to three pairs of adult shoes and all your clothing and necessary items. The ventilated mesh offers quick visibility to find and get what you need without disturbing the rest of the items.
Ratings: 4.6
Number of ratings: 1,511
Price: $82
Hygiene and Sanitation
When it’s about living your life on the roads, the biggest concern is about hygiene and sanitation. You may skip a meal or avoid changing clothes, but you can’t avoid it when nature calls, and at that time, you miss the luxury you have at your home. So, here are the best alternatives for you to enjoy your new adventure and stay clean and hygienic.
Camco Portable Toilet with Seat and Cover
The portable travel toilet comes with a camping bucket which is designed for travelers and campers. It has a capacity of 5 gallons with a comfortable seat and a lid. The lid snaps properly on the rim to ensure the perfect grip of the bucket. Its sturdy features make it more durable and lightweight. It’s UV-resistant and has a detachable bucket inside, which makes it easy to wash and clean.
Ratings: 4.7
Number of ratings: 8,203
Price: $25
HyperGo Quick Mint Refreshing Body Wipes
Made with biodegradable material and all-natural ingredients, the pack of 20 wipes provides deep, clean, and sweet fragrances on your skin. These bathing wipes come in a 2″ x 12″ size that evenly clears your body and frees it from bad odor. It gives you instant freshness and keeps you safe from germs and bacteria.
Ratings: 4.6
Number of ratings: 1,240
Prices: $14
Purell Advanced Hand Sanitizer Refreshing Gel
PURELL hand sanitizer with 2x sanitizing strength helps keep you and your family protected from germs. It cleans the skin and keeps it soft and hydrated. The sanitizer does not have a strong smell but a light minty fragrance. It helps kill bacteria faster. Just a few drops can protect your skin efficiently.
Ratings: 4.8
Number of ratings: 447
Price: $14
Cooking and Food Prep
To soothe your cravings, you don’t have to compromise on junk foods,. Rather prepare grills, steaks, and all sorts of yummy food on the go. Here are the best cookware and food prep essentials for you:
Coleman Gas Camping Stove
Coleman Gas Camping Stove has 2 burners and is made up of alloy steel which keeps it durable for longer. The gas-powered unit has a maximum energy output of 644.7 watts. It’s portable and perfect for campsites, roadside, and picnics. The two wind guards help keep the shield and protect the burners. It has improved knob rotation with a burn time of up to 1 hour.
Ratings: 4.7
Number of ratings: 1,320
Price: $73
Coleman Xtreme Portable Cooler
Coleman Xtreme Cooler keeps the ice for up to 5 days. It has a high capacity to hold up to 100 cans which are good enough to spend more than a week while being fully hydrated. It has cup holders and a comfortable handle to grip. It has a leak-resistant channel drain that provides easy cleaning access.
Ratings: 4.6
Number of ratings:11,.435
Price: $79
Stanley Adventure Even-Heat Camp Pro Cookset
If you want to camp like a pro here, we have the most suitable and loved cookware for you. Stanley Adventure, heat camp cooks, can whip up a hearty meal in no time. The 11-piece camping cooking set includes 8 5” frying pans, 1 9qt saucepan, 4 75qt stock pots, a collapsible cutting board, and many other utensils. The unique, multi-layered bottom provides the right temperature for different ingredients. It’s easy to clean and handy to carry.
Ratings: 4.8
Number of ratings:592
Price: $111
Lighting and Power
Instead of a campfire, one must have some sort of light source as a backup. If you get stuck on the road in the middle of the night or plan on taking an adventure trip through the woods, a handy torch light can be just as useful. So, here are your options.
Energizer TacR-1000 LED Tactical Flashlight
The Energizer TacR-1000 LED is a tactical flashlight with a rechargeable battery. It’s water resistant and has a USB in it. The reliable and lightweight flashlight has a shatterproof lens with its aluminum-grade body. It gives 15x times more brightness with a 4-hour runtime on high mode. Moreover, it provides an impact resistance of up to a meter for dependable performance.
Ratings: 4.5
Number of ratings: 1,416
Price: $39
Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 160
Having a 167Wh Lithium Battery, this solar generator is the perfect backup power supply for outdoor camping or car life. It’s super compact with an AC outlet. The lightweight battery is a standard portable power station that supports up to 5 devices. It features 1*USB-C port, 1* AC outlet (110V 100W 150W Peak), 1* standard DC 12V port, and 2* USB-A ports. You can get your vehicle fully charged in just 4.5 hours.
Ratings: 4.7
Number of ratings: 6,179
Price: $80
Goal Zero Lighthouse 600 Camping Lantern
The 600-Lumen Hand Crank LED Lantern is a professional-grade power. It’s field tested and is environmentally friendly. This lightweight companion can give you an ideal camp or car life. It comes with a USB port and adheres to the Goal Zero target. The built-in handle offers an easy-to-carry body and has the capacity to power all your devices.
Ratings: 4.8
Number of ratings: 877
Price: $69.99
Comfort and Convenience
Let’s find out what we have for your serenity, peace and wellness.
Plasticolor 003704R01 Ford Blue Script Windshield Sunshade
Keeping you safe from the sun rays and maintaining the temperature inside your car, these Ford blue windshields are a must to get accessories. It’s useful when you need a bit of privacy. It comes in a universal fit size of 58 inches wide by 27.5 inches tall.
Ratings: 4.3
Number of ratings: 867
Price: $16
Advanced Elements Summer Shower
What else do you want when you get the facility to take a shower while living in your car? This advanced summer shower equipment is constructed using a 4-ply layer with a reflector panel and an insulator system. It has a capacity of 5 gallons of water and heats up to 110 degrees. Moreover, it comes with an integrated toiletry pouch where you can put your shampoos, body wash, hair brush, and all sorts of essentials.
Ratings: 4.5
Number of ratings: 4,796
Price: $33
Cobra POWER 500W Power Inverter
The portable 500-watt car charger offers 2 fast-charging USB ports with a remote controller. It has 2 grounded AC outlets that can support all sorts of devices from entertainment to small-sized appliances. The easily rechargeable batteries come with a heavy-duty cable.
Ratings: 4.4
Number of ratings: 751
Price: $59
Safety and Security
No matter where you go you must make sure that you and your family are secured. You need to carry necessary items and essentials that can help you stay secure when living in your cars. So, here are some of the must-haves:
Lifeline AAA Premium Road Kit
You must have a complete toolbox to make sure you can take care of your vehicle needs in times of any mishappening. Moreover, your car needs a regular maintenance check, and for that too, a handy kit comes as a valuable asset. This Lifeline AAA Premium kit comes with 42 essentials that include first-aid flashlight, to jumper cables.
Ratings: 4.7
Number of ratings: 8,345
Price: $37
SABRE Personal Alarm with LED Light
The Alarm with LED light has a snap hook that can be attached to your jeans or belt hoops. The 130dB siren is audible up to 1000 foot range. It’s an easily activated alarm and gives you a sense of security. So, if you find yourself in any trouble you can call for help.
Ratings: 4.5
Number of ratings: 57
Price: $11
Remember: when you plan to make the move better, evaluate all the necessary things you must have and then check the reviews and ratings of each product before putting them in your shopping cart.
Learn more in other survival guides for living in your car:
- What You Need to Know About Living in Your Car in California
- 50 Smart Tips for Living in Your Car
- How to Keep Cool While Living in Your Car
