Loadout · 1 night
Overnight ATV camp loadout
A one-night, ride-in camp kit that stays under typical ATV rack ratings: backpacking-weight shelter, sleep, stove and water.
Quick answer
Pack a one-night camp like a backpacking trip: a 2-person tent, a bag rated for the coldest night, an insulated pad, a canister stove and a water filter, in two dry bags on a rear rack or one rear box. Keep the heaviest items (water) low and centered, over the rear axle if possible.
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Weight and rack limits
Goal: keep camp gear well below your rear-rack rating so water, fuel and tools still fit. Weigh the kit and compare it with the rating for your class (table below).
Rack ratings are per rack and are a limit for the rack, not a target. Add up everything on each rack, including the box or bag itself, and keep it well under the rating; weigh your loaded kit with a bathroom scale and use the running total on the printable checklists.
| Class in our database | Models | Front rack rating (lb) | Rear rack rating (lb) | Towing rating (lb) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry (<500cc) | 9 | 66-90 lb | 133-180 lb | 802-1350 lb |
| Mid (500-649cc) | 15 | 75-121 lb | 100-242 lb | 661-1830 lb |
| Mid-large (650-899cc) | 14 | 88-120 lb | 176-240 lb | 848-1830 lb |
| Big bore (900cc+) | 10 | 120-200 lb | 240-300 lb | 1500-1830 lb |
| 2-up touring | 23 | 44-121 lb | 77-242 lb | 772-1830 lb |
Ranges across the models in our database for each class; blank cells in a source are skipped, and some front ratings are not published. Your own machine's rating is on its model page and in the owner's manual and is the number that counts.
Every loadout starts here
- Helmet and eye protection (a helmet is mandatory under 18 in Utah, and wear one regardless): Bell MX-9 MIPS helmet, Oakley Airbrake MX goggles
- Gloves: Mechanix Wear M-Pact leather work gloves
- Satellite messenger or beacon for anywhere with no cell service: Garmin inReach Mini 2 satellite communicator, ZOLEO satellite communicator, ACR ResQLink 400 personal locator beacon
- First-aid kit: Adventure Medical Kits Mountain Series Hiker first aid kit
- Tire repair and air: Slime 20503 tire plug kit (40 piece) plus a 12 V compressor such as VIAIR 88P portable air compressor or Kensun 12V compressor for ATV tires, and a low-pressure gauge such as JACO Elite 0-15 psi tire gauge
- Multi-tool and a small socket/wrench set: Leatherman Wave+ multi-tool, TEKTON 45-piece socket set (SKT95301)
- Water, food, headlamp, paper map or offline map, tell someone your route and return time.
Shelter and sleep
- Tent: NEMO Hornet 2P ultralight tent or Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 tent.
- Sleep: Kelty Cosmic 20 sleeping bag, NEMO Disco 15 sleeping bag or Big Agnes Bolten SL 20 sleeping bag; pad Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite sleeping pad. Rate the bag for the coldest night: high-country nights are cold even in summer.
Kitchen
- Stove: MSR PocketRocket 2 stove, SOTO WindMaster stove or Jetboil Flash 1.0 L cooking system; pot, lighter plus backup, spork.
- Food in a sealed bag; use a bear-resistant container or hang food where bears live (Fishlake NF and others).
Water
- Filter: Katadyn BeFree 1 L filter or Sawyer Squeeze water filter (Amazon search); carrier Reliance Fold-A-Carrier 5 gal water container if no source.
- Plan at least 1 gallon per person per day in the desert (NPS guidance), more in heat; treat water from streams (Forest Service says only treatment makes undeveloped water safe).
Camp comfort
- Headlamp Petzl ACTIK CORE headlamp, lantern Goal Zero Lighthouse Micro Flash lantern, chair Helinox Chair One (original).
Packing
- Earth Pak 40 L roll-top dry bag or Sea to Summit Big River dry bag 20 L dry bags, Kolpin rear trail box (93201) (Amazon search) rear box, ROK Straps ROKCAM adjustable stretch straps straps.
Printable checklists and roundups
- ATV camping checklist
- Safety & first-aid checklist
- Recovery checklist
- ATV camp setup: tent, sleep system, stove & water gear
- Best ATV cargo boxes, rack bags & dry bags
- Best ATV LED lights, pods & headlamps
Guides
- Camping from an ATV
- Utah dispersed camping rules for ATV campers (BLM and national forests)
- Luggage, racks & storage boxes
Trails this suits
- Little Sahara Recreation Area
- Sand Hollow State Park & Sand Mountain OHV Area
- Cedar Mountain / Markagunt OHV System
Sources
- NPS: Hiking at Canyonlands (water guidance)
- Dixie National Forest: Camping & cabins (dispersed camping rules)
- Dairyland Insurance: Paiute ATV Trail Guide, Dec 9, 2025 (insurer; secondary source)
- BLM Utah: Dispersed Camping (PDF)
Product links are affiliate links; we have not tested these products and show no prices. Rules and closures change; confirm with the land manager. Researched Oct 27, 2026.