The right car: tips & recommendations for real campers

Camping car – Traveling and adventuring by camping by car is extremely popular in Germany.
It allows flexibility and independence and is a great way to experience the beauty of nature.
There are various options, such as renting or buying used or new vehicles.
You can sleep in a roof tent or caravan.
To ensure a carefree trip when camping by car in Germany or abroad, it is essential to find out about the relevant regulations and advice.
You can find more tips here!

Tips for your vehicle: your car needs these features!

Your suitable camping car should offer enough space for equipment, sleeping accommodation and luggage.
A four-wheel drive is helpful for navigating rough terrain and accessing remote campsites.
A car with a higher roof offers more storage space and allows you to stand upright and move freely inside the car.
A robust car designed for tough conditions is important to cope with longer distances and uneven terrain.
A power supply in the car is important to charge electronic devices such as cool boxes and lighting.

The most important criteria for the camping car!

  • Enough space
  • All-wheel drive
  • Sufficient height
  • Strong robustness
  • Power supply

Which car is suitable for camping?

A van or an estate car are particularly suitable for camping trips, as they offer plenty of storage space for equipment and camping gear.
An SUV or off-road vehicle may also be suitable, especially if you want to drive in rough terrain.
It is also possible to use a pick-up truck, especially if you want to transport heavy equipment.
Here it is worth choosing a roof tent, a tent trailer or a camping body solution.
In principle, you can go camping with any make of car, as long as the car is suitable for the conditions and requirements of the camping trip.
Of course, these are different for every camper.
Depending on the requirements, it is important that the car offers enough space for equipment and camping gear and can also drive on uneven terrain.
It is also important that the car is safe and reliable to avoid problems on the road.
Some affordable car models that may be suitable as a camper car are:

  1. Toyota RAV4 (roof load up to 85 kg)
  2. Honda CR-V (roof load up to 85 kg)
  3. Mazda CX-5 (roof load up to 100 kg)

If you want to use a roof tent, you should make sure that the roof load of the roof and the size of the car are suitable for the specific roof tent.
The roof load describes the maximum weight a car can carry on the roof.
If you want to find out more about how to attach the roof tent to your car, you will find it here:

Affordable & practical: rent or buy?

Your own car is available at any time without the need for a reservation, so you can plan your itinerary flexibly and save on rental costs.
It can be individually adapted to your own needs, e.g. for camping equipment.
It can also be used for other purposes and therefore offers more mobility.
If well maintained, it retains its value and can be sold later.
Owning a car is more familiar than renting one and you know its strengths and weaknesses.
If you would rather buy a car, then it offers you these advantages:

  • Own availability
  • No rental costs
  • Individualization
  • Freedom with the itinerary
  • High mobility
  • Long-term value stability
  • Familiarity

By renting a car, you avoid the high purchase costs of owning your own car and the associated maintenance and repair costs.
A rented car can be equipped with special camping equipment that you wouldn’t otherwise own.
If you no longer need the car, you don’t have to worry about selling it.
These are the advantages of renting a car:

  • Avoidance of high acquisition costs
  • No costs for maintenance & servicing
  • Possibility for special camping equipment
  • Easy returns: no sales problems

It is important to check the conditions and costs of the rental in advance and, if necessary, take out fully comprehensive insurance.
You can rent a car for camping in various ways:

About a car rental company

You can rent a car from a large car rental company such as Avis, Hertz or Europcar.
Sometimes they offer special deals for camping equipment.

Via an online platform

There are online platforms that allow you to rent a car directly from a private rental company.
Here you can also find more specialized models that are suitable for camping.

About a specialist

There are also specialized providers who specialize in renting out cars for camping.
Here you can often find a larger selection of suitable cars and get special offers.

Tip!
If you are already renting a car, you can also rent a roof tent.
Find out more here:Rent or buy a roof tent?

But buying a car?
But then used or new?

Used cars are generally cheaper than new cars.
Many used cars already have a proven performance history and are therefore more reliable than new models.
Used cars can often be easily customized to meet the needs of the camping lifestyle.
Used cars usually depreciate less than new cars.
The advantages of a used car at a glance:

  • Cost efficiency
  • Reliability
  • Customizability
  • Value stability

A new car has no previous owners and no signs of use.
New cars often come with a manufacturer’s warranty to help with any problems.
New cars often have the latest technology and safety features.
In addition, they usually have better fuel efficiency and lower emissions.
With a new car, you can often choose specific options and features.
That’s what you get when you buy a new car for camping:

  • As good as new
  • Guarantee
  • Technology
  • Efficiency
  • Configuration options

Compact cars: insider tip fits in every garage

Compact cars often offer a good balance between manageability and functionality for camping trips.
You save space, but still get plenty of power and stability.
These compact vehicles are particularly popular:

  1. Ford Bronco Sport (roof load 69 kg)
  2. BMW X1 (roof load 75 kg)
  3. Mini Cooper (roof load 75 kg)
  4. Suzuki Jimny (roof load 85 kg)
  5. Daihatsu Rocky (roof load 120 kg)

Can I also sleep in the car?

In Germany, it is permitted to sleep in a car unless there are specific laws or regulations that prohibit this.
There are some places where parking and sleeping in a vehicle is not allowed, such as in residential areas, on sidewalks or on certain road sections.
It is important to know and observe the local laws and rules.
You should also not spend too long in your car for safety reasons.
The “restoration of physical fitness to drive”, i.e. just under one night in a public parking lot, is generally harmless in Germany.
However, you should not stay longer than this and the camping chairs and barbecue should not be unpacked either.
Then the whole thing is considered “living” and that is not permitted.
However, it is important to note that wild camping may be prohibited or restricted in some countries and regions.
It is therefore advisable to find out about the local laws and rules beforehand.
And now a brief summary of the regulations:

  • Sleeping in the car allowed in Germany
  • Important: observe local laws and regulations
  • Do not stay in the car for too long
  • “Restoration of physical fitness to drive” permitted
  • Longer than one night is considered “living”
  • Wild camping may be prohibited or restricted (check local laws beforehand)

If you want to use the roof tent for overnight stays, you can find more tips here:

Latest articles

Go wherever you want.
Stay where it’s most beautiful.

Stay up to date and subscribe to our Newsletter here.

Products

Locations

Help

Scroll to Top
Offroad
Raised and extra stable for road and off-road… What do you do if you are traveling in regions with poor roads or drive an off-road vehicle or SUV whose dome height does not fit conventional trailers? The solution: the off-road tent trailer from CAMPWERK – specially developed for extreme conditions. This unique model impresses with a raised and particularly robust AL-KO chassis that can withstand even the most demanding off-road routes. The entire body is made of lightweight but sturdy aluminum, reinforced with durable stainless steel components. So you are perfectly equipped for any terrain.
Black / Silver
Available now: The CAMPWERK Offroader in the exclusive Black/Silver Edition CAMPWERK is expanding its range and now also offers the popular off-road tent trailer in the coveted Black/Silver Edition. The high-quality aluminium body is completely anodized in matt black, while the mudguards are powder-coated in elegant “Gun Silver Metal”. An absolute eye-catcher on any road and in any terrain!
The off-road trailer from CAMPWERK impresses with its lightweight construction: Thanks to the aluminum body, the base only weighs around 300 kg when empty. With a permissible total weight of 1.5 tons, it offers an impressive payload capacity of up to 1.2 tons – ideal for small excursions, transport and even larger expeditions.

Visually, the trailer blends in perfectly with the appearance of an off-road vehicle or SUV with its coarse-tread MT tires and robust, full-length aluminium mudguards. The mudguards are also designed in such a way that they are ideal for the safe transportation of petrol and water canisters or gas bottles.

To ensure flexibility, the off-roader’s tyres can be individually adapted to the towing vehicle on request, so that only one set of spare wheels is required. The standard ball head coupling can also be optionally replaced with a DIN or NATO eye.
T-drawbar or V-fork ?
Thousands of trailer drivers know the problem of tight spaces only too well: if you drive into a narrow lane and have to turn, it is important to back your car as far as possible against the trailer in order to get around the bend without any problems. With a T-drawbar, you can utilize the maximum steering angle. This is precisely why we at CAMPWERK rely on this tried-and-tested technology – for optimum flexibility and maneuverability, no matter how tight things get.
T-drawbar
V-fork
T-drawbar
V-fork
Chassis
  • Extra strong square T-drawbar 100x100mm for maximum stability and best maneuverability
  • Axle up to 1,500 kg with maintenance-free hexagonal rubber spring axle
  • Optionally with watertight wheel hub
  • 2 crossbars
  • The chassis is exclusively from the renowned manufacturer AL-KO, market leader in the car trailer and caravan sector
  • Safety indicator on the clutch
  • Independent suspension
Aluminum body
  • Our aluminium trailers are equipped with anodized aluminium profiles
  • double-walled anodized aluminium side panels 30mm, 440mm high
  • Large emergency lighting with integrated rear fog light
  • Equipped with balanced tires as standard
  • Base plate stable screen-printed base, non-slip
  • Complete M8 stainless steel screw connection (V2A stainless steel)
  • Electrical system: Supply cable (wiring harness) standard with 13-pin plug
  • Tailgate latches very elaborate, made entirely of stainless steel
Wheels
  • Black powder-coated steel rim
  • 235/85 R16 tires optionally adaptable to towing vehicle
  • Mud Terrain tire tread
  • Special wheel connection for your towing vehicle on request
Terrain values
  • 350 mm ground clearance
  • 570 mm wading depth
  • 27° slope angle
Equipped for every situation thanks to the versatile accessories...

Raised dropside

20L canister

Towbar adapter for bike carrier with coupling connection

2-4 bike racks

Anti-drag clutch

Onroad

The perfect solution for your camping adventure:
Road trailer with tent
Imagine a first-class equipped road trailer that is ideal for camping trips in Germany and the surrounding countries.
This trailer comes with a sturdy holding device for a matching tent that can be set up in no time at all.
The result is your mobile home – ready for unforgettable tours!

Your decisive advantage: you are ideally equipped for your vacation in a particularly cost-effective way. And when you’re not on the road, you can use the trailer as a conventional utility trailer. We offer you the road trailer in two versions, depending on your needs: An unbraked version with a permissible total weight of 750 kg and the braked version recommended by us with a permissible total weight of 1,300 kg.
10-year guarantee
Our trailer base was not created in the laboratory – it was made for the real world. The robust construction is optimized for tough conditions. Oversized axles and virtually indestructible aluminum frames ensure exceptional durability. We are the only supplier in Germany to give you a 10-year guarantee on this unique quality!
T-drawbar or V-fork ?
Thousands of trailer drivers know the problem of tight spaces only too well: if you drive into a narrow lane and have to turn, it is important to back your car as far as possible against the trailer in order to get around the bend without any problems. With a T-drawbar, you can utilize the maximum steering angle. This is precisely why we at CAMPWERK rely on this tried-and-tested technology – for optimum flexibility and maneuverability, no matter how tight things get.
T-drawbar
V-fork
T-drawbar
V-fork
Chassis
  • 2 crossbars
  • Maintenance-free rubber spring axles
  • Independent suspension
  • The chassis is exclusively from the renowned manufacturer AL-KO, market leader in the car trailer and caravan sector
  • Safety indicator on the clutch
Aluminum structure
  • Our aluminium trailers are equipped with anodized aluminium profiles
  • double-walled anodized aluminium side panels 30mm, 440mm high
  • Large emergency lighting with integrated rear fog light
  • Equipped with balanced tires as standard
  • Base plate stable screen-printed base, non-slip
  • Complete M8 stainless steel screw connection (V2A stainless steel)
  • Electrical system: Supply cable (wiring harness) standard with 13-pin plug
  • Tailgate latches very elaborate, made entirely of stainless steel
Equipped for every situation thanks to the versatile accessories...

Raised dropside

20L canister

Towbar adapter for bike carrier with coupling connection

2-4 bike racks

Anti-drag clutch

Material and processing.
The tent fabric of our trailer tents is made from a high-quality, 450 g blended fabric, also known as canvas. This unique combination of cotton and polyester combines the advantages of a natural fiber with those of a modern high-tech material. The result is a robust, breathable fabric that impresses with its pleasant feel and high dimensional stability.

The tent fabric, which is also used by the military, is impregnated and particularly tear-resistant thanks to the ripstop process. In this special weaving technique, thicker threads are woven into the fabric at intervals of around 10-15 millimetres, giving the fabric its characteristic tiled structure and exceptional tear resistance. It goes without saying that our fabrics are opaque and therefore offer optimum protection and privacy.
The basis of our trailer tents is a robust stainless steel frame with a thickness of 3×3 cm. A 1.8 cm thick, water-resistant wooden floor panel is securely fastened to this sturdy frame with stainless steel screws. The frame of the trailer tents is also made of galvanized steel tubing and special stainless steel components that ensure maximum stability. The modern surface finish not only offers a high level of corrosion protection, but also gives the material a pleasant feel and ensures a durable, weatherproof construction.
We rely exclusively on yarn from the German market leader Amann. Thanks to the combination of a cotton core and a high-tenacity polyester core, this yarn is characterized by a particularly high tensile strength and excellent water resistance.

On contact with water, the cotton coating swells and closes the seam holes created during sewing. For additional protection, all seams in the roof area are fitted with a transparent sealing strip to ensure maximum waterproofness.
Less is sometimes more.
We are often asked: What about the water column? For tent fabrics, the impermeability of the fabric is specified in the form of the water column. For cotton tents, this value is usually around 300 to 400 mm. However, our tent fabric offers an exceptionally high water column for cotton fabric of around 750 mm. This means that theoretically more than 75 cm of water can stand on the material before the first drops penetrate.

A major advantage of cotton as a natural raw material is its ability to swell when it gets damp, which provides additional waterproofing. In contrast, synthetic fabrics, which cannot swell, must have a much higher water column (between 3,000 and 10,000 mm, depending on the material) in order to achieve comparable waterproofness.
Good night.
The comfort sleep set consists of a high-quality visco foam mattress that adapts perfectly to the individual body shape, ensuring a restful night’s sleep. The set is complemented by the innovative Froli bed spring system, which guarantees an exceptional sleeping experience. Perfect sleeping comfort in a well thought-out overall package.
Premium mattress.
An excellent mattress is the basis for healthy and restful sleep. Just as every person is unique, their mattress should also be individually tailored to them.
Our premium mattress adapts perfectly to the contours of the body and promotes orthopaedically correct positioning of the spine. Thanks to targeted pressure relief, back muscles and intervertebral discs can relax optimally. The innovative construction and high-quality materials create an ideal sleeping environment.
There are no compromises at CAMPWERK: We rely on flexible visco foam with memory function. The unique combination of supportive foam core and relieving visco foam topper ensures maximum sleeping comfort.
  • Visco-elastic mattress.
  • High-quality Tencel® cover (38 % Tencel®, 62 % polyester).
  • Four practical turning loops.
  • Four-sided zipper.
  • Removable, divisible and washable.
  • Four practical turning loops.
Suspension.
Good ventilation is crucial for your well-being and sleep hygiene. To ensure maximum sleeping comfort, we combine our mattress with an innovative Froli slat base. The flexible spring elements form a comfortable slat base with individually adjustable firmness zones. This combination ensures orthopaedically correct positioning of the body and provides targeted, pressure-relieving support. This effectively prevents tension and one-sided strain. The open, air-permeable cells also enable optimum ventilation and create a healthy sleeping environment.
Are you allergic or do you have special health requirements? No problem! We cooperate with a renowned German mattress manufacturer to offer customized solutions. Simply contact us and together we will find the ideal mattress for your needs.