When your ute is part transport, part storage, and part base camp, the setup matters. A good camping and overlanding setup keeps your gear protected, organised, easy to access, and ready for whatever the trip throws at you.
From weekend camping trips to longer off-grid missions, Utemaster gear gives you a solid foundation for carrying camp gear, recovery equipment, roof-top tents, lighting, tools, and everything else that makes life on the road easier.
By trade, Arden Packeer is a software developer. Outside of work, he is all about family adventures, overland travel, and getting off-grid in his fully kitted Ford Ranger.
His setup shows what a proper overlanding build needs to do: carry more gear, stay organised, protect valuables, and still be practical for everyday use.
With Utemaster gear as the foundation, Arden’s ute is set up for:
Braden Currie lives life at full tilt, balancing world-class racing with family adventures and everything in between.
With his Centurion Canopy, he can switch from race mode to family adventure mode without rebuilding the whole ute every time. Gear has its place, it is locked away, and the setup works whether he is packing for training, weekends away, or time outdoors with the family.
Less time packing and repacking means more time doing what matters.
A good setup should make life easier every time you stop, unpack, camp, and move again.
1. Organised storage
Camping and overlanding gear gets messy fast. A proper setup gives every piece of gear a place, from recovery boards and tools to cooking equipment, lighting, chairs, bags, and wet gear.
2. Weather and dust protection
Tracks, gravel roads, rain, mud, and beach trips can punish exposed gear. A sealed canopy or hard lid helps protect bedding, bags, electronics, food, tools, and recovery equipment from dust and weather.
3. Roof-carrying capacity
Roof-top tents, awnings, swags, kayaks, recovery boards, and bulky camping gear all need strong mounting options. A good ute setup should give you carrying flexibility without making the vehicle harder to live with.
4. Easy camp access
When you pull into camp late, you do not want to empty half the tub to find one thing. Side access, lighting, shelving, tie-downs, and smart accessories make the difference between a setup that looks good and one that works.
5. Everyday practicality
The best overlanding setup should not ruin the ute during the week. It needs to carry camping gear when you are away, but still stay practical for work, family, shopping, sport, and daily driving.
Yes. A canopy is ideal for camping because it gives you secure, weather-resistant storage for bags, bedding, tools, recovery gear, cooking equipment, and camp accessories. Large side doors and internal lighting also make it easier to find gear at camp.
Yes. Utemaster canopy roof rack systems are designed to carry practical touring gear such as roof-top tents, awnings, recovery boards, kayaks, and bulky camping equipment.
A canopy is usually better if you carry larger gear, need side access, or want a full camping and overlanding setup. A hard lid is better if you want a lower-profile setup that protects gear while keeping the ute clean and simple.
Common overlanding gear includes recovery boards, tools, air compressor, lighting, first aid kit, water, food storage, camp chairs, cooking gear, bedding, roof-top tent or swag, awning, and spare parts. The right setup keeps this gear secure, protected, and easy to access.
Your ute should make every trip easier - from packing and storage to camp setup, recovery gear, lighting, and the drive home.
Start with the setup that suits your vehicle and the way you travel.
Life's adventures are waiting. Head to the Dream Ute Builder and get started.
