Posts
193
Joined
11/14/2013
Location
Chula Vista, CA
US
Edited Date/Time
5/24/2026 7:32pm
I recently had the realization that the foot/base of the bike pump I’ve had the past 10 years doesn’t actually matter, and that when I remove it I have a much easier time packing/accessing it in my minivan.
That made me wonder what else I haven’t thought of yet. What have you found out there that packs exceptionally well for mini van bike camping? Anything that doesn’t take up much space or that has a shape that lends itself to easy access is fair game.
Electric pump is good and small. I never even use my regular pump anymore.
Not strictly bike related but the front runner chairs are great: https://www.dometic.com/en-au/product/front-runner-expander-chair
always good to have a chair in the car
Anything that saves space makes it easier to carry bike stuff so it’s a welcome contribution. A recliner that folds up real tiny is one of my holy grails
Ion pathfinder 320 or similar spec party speaker. I get 20-30 hrs use out of a full charge. If I’m driving long distance I can charge it up. Plenty loud for a large group and pretty reasonable at bedroom volumes.
Rollable mattress pillow tops. I keep one and a sleeping bag in the truck always and will use several on longer trips. Very comfortable for the space and much quieter than an air mattress.
dc camping acs. Run em off a scooter battery. Light enough to carry in a large backpack for tents and can double for a vehicle.
>dc camping acs
What do you use? The Zero Breeze MIII is pretty enticing but even at its small size it’s hard to imagine it fitting into a backpack
Well I’m talking about a large camping/hiking backpack not a Jan sport.
I got a vevor brand ac. Not sure the model.
I don't have a van, but I'm a serious player when it comes to the game of moto Tetris. I often have to get three motorcycles and a whole weekend's worth of equipment into my Tacoma. Here are some basic premises that I have found to be useful:
-Stack things that will nest: I put my gas can inside my upside-down bike stand and put that inside another stand or two. They fit like cups in a cupboard. I could imagine the same being true for MTB tires, gearbags, etc.
-Trap loose items in a tray or drawer: It looks like you have a zippered container in the image, so you're probably already doing this. I have an old milk crate which keeps grease, oils, chemicals, measuring cups, rags and the like all together in one spot. It is sturdy enough that I can stack things on it and the contents are protected.
-Keep everything small: I have a track toolbox which is barely larger than a big lunchbox. All I need for a day at the track or trail. It fits right next to the milk crate under my motorcycle in the footprint between the wheels. Like I said, Tetris.
You may also want to look into inflatable camping pillows to save space. I would imagine there are also space-saving options for sleeping bags.
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