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Camping Privacy Shelters | Essential For Off-Grid & Campground Stays

Updated: Mar 12

About the Author - Muddy Ruttzz

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First Task When Reaching Camp Is Setting Up Privacy Shelter And Toilet


Camping memories should not include a long walk in the dark to a stinky pit toilet or sharing a bathroom with a bunch of other campers. That walk can be avoided by having a good camp toilet system. (See my Video.) You will need a Privacy Shelter to set that toilet up in. I share my experience with the shelters I own and use and why I think they are absolutely required for a quality Overlanding/camping experience.


parking lot at Joshua Tree with outhouse
Pit Toilet At Joshua Tree - They Can Be Stinky

Game Changer! Camping Privacy Shelter Alters The Vibe Of Your Outdoor Experience


My wife loves Overlanding. She would not go if a clean, safe toilet were not available. Toilet system is generally set up in a Privacy Shelter. I own several and they all are great for different situations. They generally require staking down to stay put. What decides which one I use is length of stay and wind conditions. These are the 4 I've been using for the last few years. Also See Video Above.


  1. King Camp Light Weight Pop-Up. Stores flat and springs open. No frame so its not the best in high winds. Can not hang a shower from it. Packs very small.

  2. Cleanwaste Go Anywhere Privacy Shelter. Hinged pole frame, easy setup. Not as easy as the Pop-Up but more wind resistant. Possible to hang a shower but not my first choice. Packs in a sack slightly larger than a camp chair.

  3. Cabelas Easy -Up Deluxe Privacy Shelter. Very strong, clever and durable design. Large diameter aluminum poles. Extremely wind resistant when properly staked. No problem hanging a shower. Packs in a duffel about 4' long, has a little weight to it.

  4. Carside Shower Room - Overland Vehicle Systems. Mounts to side of vehicle, stores there in a zippered bag. Requires roof rack on vehicle. Extremely convenient, deploys and stores quickly. Can be staked if needed. Shower could be easily mounted to vehicle separately for use with the shelter.




King Camp Was First Privacy Shelter We Bought Back In The Van Days


Back of van sitting on grass in campground near picnic table and sun shade.
Diesel Promaster Van Set Up For Camping

We went from being hikers and campers to RVers. RV got sold and we went to vacationing in motels/hotels. Yuck! Missing camping, I convinced my wife how cool a van would be. Then came the Springbar (best tent ever.) Eventually we started going off-grid due to the difficulty making campground reservations in California. After a particularly uncomfortable van trip my wife issued a ultimatum. If I wanted her to camp, kicking my camping game up a couple notches was required. Thats why I purchased cots for the Springbar, the camping privacy shelters, and a portable toilet system.



The Evolution Of My Camping Privacy Shelters Purchases


The King Camp was the first and was fine for most trips. Then came the Death Valley Winter Trip. Wind blew 30-50 mph every night. I staked the King Camp down attaching enough lines to it to stop it from blowing away.


We transitioned into the Cleanwaste. Slightly more difficult to set up but still easy, more resistant to strong winds.


Now we are in our Jeep and off-road trailer era of our camping. The Cleanwaste Shelter serves us well. Working at Bass Pro, they had Cabelas Deluxe Privacy Shelter. Expensive but it made sense to purchase since I got a 50% employee discount.


Jeep Gladiator at Alabama Hills with Roof Top Tent and Cabelas Privacy Shelter
Windy Conditions At Alabama Hills Prompted The Use Of Our Most Stout Shelter - The Cabelas

Overland Systems Carside Shower/Toilet Shelter - Great Addition To My Jeep Wrangler


Solo Overlanding trips driving my Wrangler Ecodiesel take me to remote areas and I often have no need to set up a privacy shelter. When I do need one, the Car Mounted Shelter from Overland Vehicle Systems is a perfect solution. I might do some dispersed camping near Snowbirds while traveling. In that case I can open it up at night and pack it back up easily in the morning. See my Install video for it here.


Can A Privacy Shelter Really Change The Vibe Of A Camping Trip?


Only thing missing from my camp setup consisting of a tow vehicle, utility trailer and roof top tent is a bathroom. The addition of a privacy tent is a equalizer. Shelter acts as a bathroom, changing room and shower room. The sturdier larger ones could even be used as a emergency shelter. Privacy shelter allows me to provide my wife a small bit civilization when we are roughing it off the grid. I know from our time not having one and then adding this piece of gear it definitely smoothed out the camping experience and changed the vibe for the better.


New To Overlanding? Check Out This Article From MotorTrend.


Blog Post and Video helped you? Check out my video above. Please Subscribe to Youtube Muddy Ruttzz. Its Free!



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