The Best 21 4Runner Camping Accessories

For most of my adult life, I’ve driven either a Toyota or a Subaru. My first Toyota was a 2000 4Runner and my favorite feature was the powered rear window. But what 4Runner camping accessories should you have access to when that window is rolled down? 

That’s the critical question we’re here to research today: what are the best 4Runner camping accessories to make your road trips more comfortable? Let’s dive right in. 

The Best 4Runner Camping Accessories

Camping out of the back of a Toyota 4Runner is all about keeping your camping gear organized and accessible. Here are our top picks for anyone traveling in their 4Runner. 

1. Luno Life 4Runner Air Mattress 2.0

A comfortable camping experience in your Toyota truck or 4Runner starts with a great air mattress. Luno Life designs mattresses specifically for truck beds, truck tents, and, in this case, your 4Runner.

You can easily turn the storage area for your camping gear into your nightly bed with this mattress. It boasts a two-person capacity so you and your camping partner or furry travel companion can comfortably spend the night in the back of your truck.

2. Roofnest Falcon 2 Rooftop Tent

Camping in your 4Runner can be a lot easier if you have a rooftop tent to sleep in. This allows you to keep all your camping gear in the back of your truck instead of loading and unloading each day.

There are plenty of brands out there making truck tents, but Roofnest tents are among the best. The Falcon 2 sleeps two, only weighs 160 pounds, and has a maximum headroom of 60 inches when open.

3. Ironman 4×4 America 6.5’ Instant Awning 

Shade is a luxury that not all car campers enjoy when exploring the great outdoors. But why bother with a standard awning that takes up valuable storage space in your 4Runner when you could connect an easy-out awning to your roof rack?

Roof-mounted awnings are great for providing shade and rain protection. Of course, you’ll just need to be careful not to leave them up in high winds or when any type of rainstorm is predicted overnight. Trust me, I learned that lesson the hard way!

4. Front Runner Camp Kitchen Utensil Set

I know there are some delicious dehydrated meals out there, but a good road trip should entail making delicious meals at your campsite. Cooking will be easier with the right utensils at your disposal.

This amazing utensil set includes a cutting board, spatula, bottle opener, forks, knives, spoons, and a campfire/barbeque fork. Everything has a dedicated storage place inside the roll-up sleeve, which comes with loops and carabiners so you can easily attach it to a tree or your camp table.

5. Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2

Once you dial in your truck camping setup, security becomes increasingly important. A dash mount cam can record footage that can be useful in the event of an accident. Or it can simply give you peace of mind by allowing you to monitor your vehicle remotely.

This Garmin cam offers a 140-degree field of view and automatically saves relevant video clips if an incident occurs. It also has voice controls for hands-free operation to keep you safe while you’re navigating tricky directions or inclement weather.

6. Blackstone 22” Tabletop Griddle

Cooking outdoors is a lot of fun when your Toyota is all nestled into a campsite. But before you hit the trail for a long day of adventure, why not enjoy the ease and convenience of cooking a delicious breakfast on a tabletop griddle?

This Blackstone Griddle runs on propane and offers a 330-square-inch cooking surface. It also boasts two adjustable heat controls, built-in igniters, a stainless steel front plate, and an integrated grease management system to make clean-up smooth and efficient.

7. Jackery Portable Power Station with Solar Panel

Even the most intricately planned adventures can be cut short by a lack of power. Not to mention, some truck and SUV campers might need to work remotely to keep funding their adventures.

That’s why your 4Runner’s camping setup won’t be perfect if it’s missing a portable power station. And it’s a bonus if the power station you choose comes with a solar panel that keeps it charged if you’re boondocking in one place for a few days at a time.

8. GCI Outdoor Kickback Rocker Chair

Nothing beats the comfort of the right camp chair after a long day on the trail. Whether you’re kicking back next to the campfire or leaning back to look at the stars, your camp chair better support you when it’s time to relax.

Personally, I’m willing to spend a little more on a chair that doesn’t have me feeling slumped over all evening. This Kickback Rocker is one of my favorites, as it’s designed to feel just like that tiny wooden rocker I had on my front porch when I was a kid.

9. Adventure Medical Kits Mountain Series Explorer Medical Kit

This is one of those camping accessories we hope you pack but never have to worry about actually using. Still, the right planning goes a long way toward safe, fun, and healthy road trip adventures.

The Explorer Medical Kit is larger than what I’d carry for a backpacking trip, but you shouldn’t have trouble finding room for it in your Toyota. It has all the elements you’d need from a wilderness medical kit, including a face shield for CPR, a wilderness medical care guidebook, and a variety of medications.

10. RIO Gear 32” Roll-Top Camping Table

You might prefer a camp table that can fold up, but I’m personally a fan of a roll-top table. They tend to require less storage space and they’re easier to pack alongside your other 4Runner camping gear.

This tough roll-top table holds up to 60 pounds and comes with a carry bag for easy storage. When open, the table measures 32″ W x 30″D x 27″H but rolls up to 32″ x 9.5″ x 3″ when it’s time to pack up.

11. Lodge Cast Iron Dutch Oven

Save room in your 4Runner’s cargo area for a camping accessory that will help you deliver even more delicious meals. Especially on a cold night, preparing soups, chilis, pizzas, and other recipes in a dutch oven is the way to go.

This 4″ dutch oven won’t take up too much space in your vehicle, but it can still deliver once you have a warm fire going. Food has a way of making even the most challenging travel day better, and a dutch oven is fun to cook in and easy to clean when the meal’s over.

12. Camp Chef Everest Two-Burner Stove

Of course, there are going to be nights when your camping lifestyle doesn’t permit a roaring fire. For those nights, you might just need to boil water quickly to prepare a Mountain House dehydrated meal.

A two-burner stove will have you covered there, but it also gives you the flexibility to prepare other meals. This Camp Chef is also a great choice because it has windscreens that reduce heat loss on windy days.

13. LifeSaver Jerrycan Water Purifier

I’ll admit, I’ve had an old round water jug in the back of my Toyota for years now. It works, but it isn’t easy to secure and it doesn’t exactly fit nicely with the rest of my square and rectangular camping gear.

In a 4Runner, organizing your cargo area can feel like a constant game of Tetris. It’ll be frustrating if you have that round accessory that doesn’t nest nicely with everything else, no matter how hard you try. So consider a slim JerryCan that can store and filter your drinking water.

14. MPOWERD Luci Pro Solar Lantern + Charger 

Hopefully, you’re planning to be ready for your 4Runner camping adventures with a headlamp in hand. But it’s also nice to have a supplemental lantern that can be recharged by the sun while you’re driving between destinations.

The Luci Pro takes things a step further and includes a charger to maintain your phone’s battery in the evenings. Plus, it’s quick and easy to inflate and it deflates so it takes up minimal space. I personally place mine on the dash to recharge as I’m driving.

15. Roam Rugged Rolling Cooler

Take it from me: that old soft cooler you’ve had since the early 2000s isn’t going to cut it on a long road trip, especially during the summer. That’s why a rugged rolling cooler is a perfect addition to your 4Runner.

This cooler is designed with rubberized wheels to make it easy to move around the camp. It comes with a storage basket to keep your veggies out of the ice/water below and the bottle opener on the side makes it easy to open your preferred beverage to sip as you relax in nature.

16. Yakima LockNLoad Platform Roof Rack

Standard roof rack crossbars are great for attaching a Thule cargo carrier, kayak rack, or bike carrier. But a platform rack provides much more versatility and, if you use it properly, can nearly double your 4Runners total storage area.

Yakima’s LockNLoad rack mounts to any factory crossbar with their LockNLoad crossbar clamps. Once it’s secure on your roof, it allows you to attach an awning, kayak, or anything else you can’t fit in the trunk, as long as you protect it from the elements.

17. Yakima Full Swing 4-Bike Hitch Rack

Whether you carry road bikes, mountain bikes, or e-bikes, you’ll need a rack that mounts to your 4Runner’s hitch receiver. But the trouble with that is that it can hinder your access to the trunk, which is a pain in the you-know-what when you’re going in and out daily. 

That’s why a full-swing bike rack is the best choice for your 4Runner. It swings completely out of the way when you need to access the trunk and it does so without you having to unload and reload it each time.

18. GSI Outdoors Stainless Steel Mess Kit

The balance with choosing a mess kit for 4Runner camping is getting enough without getting too much. You want to be ready for mealtime without carrying excessive pots and pans that never seem to store easily.

Enter the GSI Outdoors Stainless Steel Mess Kit, which includes a 6.3-inch frying pan, a one-liter pot, a 5.9″ bowl, a 12-ounce cup, carry handles, and a stuff sack designed to accommodate it all. It’s the perfect solution for the solo traveler.

19. Collapsible Dish Bucket

Sometimes the seemingly cheapest and most easily overlooked items are the ones that make the biggest difference at the campsite. Don’t be the camper coming out of the bathroom with their clean dishes oddly balanced in your hands.

Do dishes right at your campsite or at an appropriate spigot with your own collapsible dish bucket. The best part — it doubles as your wash bucket when it’s time to give your 4Runner a bath after your next quick off-road adventure.

20. Sealed Storage Bins

A bunch of loose items is going to be the bane of your existence when you’re traveling in a 4Runner. Keep everything neatly organized by gear type so that it’s ready to grab and deploy when needed, but quick and easy to tuck away when it’s not.

There are plenty of sealed storage bins out there, but my advice is to find similar models that can easily stack together. From experience, you’re better off going with a larger number of smaller bins than fewer large ones.

21. Sea to Summit X Brew Coffee Dripper

And how the heck are you going to have the energy to remember all of these camping accessories, find them, and then dial in your setup so you can relax in comfort under the stars during your next trip into nature?

Why, caffeine of course! Don’t forget a light method to brew the coffee each morning. I’ve never heard of a 4Runner camper plugging a Mr. Coffee into their portable power station, and even a french press can take up too much space in the back of your truck.

Conclusion on the Best 4Runner Camping Accessories

Of course, you’ll need other equipment and accessories for camping out of your 4Runner – propane, ice, dining utensils, and more. You’ll probably tweak your setup every time you come home from a trip so it’s better for next time, but that’s part of the fun. 

Hopefully, these 4Runner camping accessories give you plenty to work with as you organize your ideal car camping setup.

Do you have other recommendations for 4Runner camping accessories? Share them below!