I car camp at various times throughout the year. It ranges from a full camp setup with canvas tent, sun shade, and a pit toilet/tent to a sleeping bag in the bed of the truck. What/how you pack depends on what you want.

I would rather pack simple. I take 2-3 30qt sterilite containers with lids. One is a dry box for food. One is my kitchen (paper plates, silverware, small skillet, etc.). If I take a 3rd box, it is usually another dry box for food like granolas and snacks.

I have a 2-burner propane stove and a 1 burner stove. The 1-burner is stored in a 6-quart Tupperware. If I?m nomadic, I take the 1-burner. If I take a full camp setup, I might bring both.

I always have a shit shovel, 1-burner stove, and a blanket in the truck. I add to that as I need.

Organizing like that makes it easy to grab and go. I do a lot of weekend trips in the upland hunting season. I like to be mobile so I can sleep wherever I ended the day. All I need to throw in the truck is a cooler, my sleeping bag, the kitchen box, a case of water, and the food dry box.

If my wife is along for a few days of camping, I?m taking everything, including a separate ?privy? tent and a toilet. I also have a buddy heater and CO detector if I want to stay warm. I use a cot in the tent and add a 3? memory foam pad. With a pillow and a sleeping bag, I sleep pretty well for a couple days.

This method works for me. The boxes keep stuff modular and when I need something I always know what box it is in. I can take fewer boxes for a light camp, or take everything plus the kitchen sink if my wife is coming along.