Must-Have Overlanding and Camping Accessories for the Polaris Ranger and General!

When planning your next camping trip, it is not uncommon to experience anxiety with thoughts of destroying your car or truck trying to take it off-road to the perfect campsite.

So why don’t you take your side-by-side instead? If you think about it, your UTV is better suited for the job in just about every way imaginable. Which is why today, we are going to talk about what you need to take your Polaris Ranger or Polaris General overlanding and camping.

Before we dive into the additions and aftermarket camping accessories that you can slap onto your UTV, lets cover a few camping basics you cannot leave home without:

• Sunscreen and bug spray
• Trash bags (please pack all of your trash out of the campsite!)
• Enough food and water for your entire trip (always bring extra just in case)
• First-Aid Kit
• Firewood and fire starters
• Polaris Ranger 2 Gallon Gasoline Pack (fill it up, too!)
• Portable fire pit (many areas have open fire-bans in effect due to wildfire risks)
• Camping cookware, plates, cups and utensils
• Sleeping bags and pillows
• Clothes for the weather conditions and temperature
• Maps of the surrounding areas
• Deodorant and toothpaste/toothbrushes (No explanation needed here)
• Chargers for your cellphones

As mentioned, that is a brief list of things you’d be really annoyed if you left for the trip without. Now we can dive in to a few key pieces of gear to add to your side-by-side:

Polaris Ranger and Polaris General Rooftop Tents

Although the steadfast traditional 2+ person tents are cheaper and get the job done reasonably well, they do have their downsides.

Bugs and other unwanted pests can make their way inside fairly easily. And being on the ground leads to colder nights and warmer days thanks to the heat radiating from the Earth's surface.

Adding a Polaris Ranger Roof Top Tent by Rough Country, however, solves many of these inconveniences.

You’ll be up and out of the way of all wildlife and insects. I don’t know about you, but that will make just about anyone sleep better. And when its hot out, you’ll be up in the air and better able to catch a cross-breeze to cool the tent down, while also being insulated from the cold ground at the same time.

About the only downside for a rooftop tent for some would be the price -- or perhaps climbing up into the tent after a long night and one too many beverages by the fire. But with the added durability and utility, it's easy to argue that rooftop tents pay for themselves and then some -- especially if you regularly take your Polaris Ranger overlanding and camping.

Adding Extra Cargo Space

One of the best features shared among most of the Polaris Ranger and Polaris General lineup is the available cargo space. Although the Mid-Size Ranger, Full-Size Ranger, and Ranger Crew all have decent sized beds, who could blame you for wanting more carrying capacity?

If you need more space for your camping gear than something like the Polaris Ranger XP 1000 Front Basket Rack by Strong Made can provide, then extending your bed space is the right move. With a Polaris Ranger Bed Extension by Ranch Armor, you effectively increase your bed capacity by 60%!

Imagine not needing to leave anything behind on your next camping trip due to storage constraints. Especially on trips where you also need to be able to transport firewood to your campsite, this mod is sure to come in handy!

Keeping Your Food Fresh

When thinking of one's next camping trip, most folks automatically start planning out the food that they'll want to make. And I'm guessing you are no different, because lets face it: food cooked over a camp fire just hits differently!

When it comes to transporting and storing your perishable food, though, that $15 styrofoam gas station cooler won’t cut it for more than a day or two max. Especially while taking your Polaris General overlanding and camping, since you may be 20 miles or more from the nearest ice merchant.

What you need, is a cooler like the Polaris General 20QT Super-Cooler by Kolpin Powersports to keep your ice frozen and your food fresh for days on end. But even with a legit cooler on hand, if your camping trip is going to be far off the beaten path and last for a week or longer, you’re going to need to step up your food storage game.

In this case, a Polaris Ranger/General 45L Portable Refrigerator/Electric Cooler by Rough Country is going to be just what the doctor ordered.

Yes, I did just recommend you purchase and install a portable refrigerator in your Polaris General or Ranger.

Why?

Because you don’t want to be caught on day 7 of your camping trip with your eggs rotten and burger patties spoiled, do you? I thought not!These portable fridges are life savers. Keeping food cold and fresh indefinitely as long as your UTV has power to spare. 

That being said, the more electronic accessories that you add to your build, the more highly we recommend adding a Polaris Ranger Dual Battery Kit by TrueAm. A secondary battery will allow you to dedicate one battery to powering your auxiliary devices such as the fridge. All the while your primary battery will be preserved to reliably start your side-by-side day in and day out instead of leaving you stranded without power.

With all of these mods and accessories, your Polaris Ranger or Polaris General should now be properly equipped for your next overlanding and camping trip. All that is left is to pick a site, grab some food (don’t forget the S’Mores!) and head on out!