Designed for off-road adventures and rugged terrains, overland tents are durable and a breeze to set up. But while some prefer the cool look and mobile nature of rooftop tents (RTTs), the fact is they can be cramped inside and not offer much in terms of elbow room for creature comforts.

This is why we think a ground tent – like a canvas bell tent or shelter-style wall tent – is a practical choice for overlanders. So consider adding these essential accessories for overland ground tents to make the most of the space.

8 Essential Accessories for Overland Ground Tents

Enhance your camping trip and protect your investment by outfitting your overland ground tent with these essential accessories.

1. Ground Tent Fly Cover

A smart essential accessory for your overland ground tent is a protective fly cover. An overland tent fly cover offers many advantages. Placing a tent fly cover across your overland ground tent will provide an air pocket to keep it cooler on those scorching hot days. It can even offer UV protection.

But a tent fly also keeps a tent dry. On rainy days, the tent fly cover sheds water, keeping it free from dampness and moisture. And that same air pocket will limit condensation. A dry tent also makes packing up worry-free.

Furthermore, some fly covers are designed to double as a sun shelter.

2. Tent Awning or Vestibule

Yes, fly covers double as sun shelters. But they don’t extend too far beyond the tent. For that, you need a tent awning.

Tent awnings are a wonderful essential accessory for overland ground tents that need an extra vestibule space in front of the door. A vestibule-like awning at the entrance of your tent makes a dry covered area to store boots and extra gear, or just sit under as you drink hot coffee watching the morning rain.

3. Footprint or Ground Tarp

A footprint or ground tarp is an easy extra accessory to pack for your overlanding excursion. And there are multiple reasons why you should use a tent footprint. Situated beneath your overland ground tent, this essential accessory ensures that the base of your tent remains clean, insulated, and protected.

A footprint or ground tarp is a wise addition to any tent setup. However, for overlanders, it guarantees an extra layer of insulation against the cold. And since overlanders are often set on uncleared and unkempt campsites, having a ground tarp will protect the bottom of the tent from becoming punctured by any rocks and sticks, which also maintains the integrity of the tent.

If you choose a canvas bell tent for overlanding, do yourself a favor and purchase a round footprint to match. Otherwise, you’ll struggle with overhang from a square shape, tucking the corners in every time.

4. Propane Heater or Wood Stove

If you enjoy overlanding in the cooler fall or winter months, then you should seriously consider a propane heater or woodburning stove. A heater or stove will add warmth and comfort to your overland tent and make your trip more enjoyable.

More than just warmth, a tent stove offers many benefits. For instance, tent stoves can keep food and a kettle warm. Plus, you can add a rack to hang damp or wet clothes out to dry.

But whether it’s a canvas wall tent or bell tent, be sure to do a little research to choose the right tent stove for your overlanding setup, preferably one that is portable and lightweight. And don’t be intimidated to outfit your tent with one of these great accessories – installing a wood-burning stove is pretty easy.

All we suggest is to learn some tent stove safety tips too.

5. Rechargeable Fan

For those overlanders who venture out into the scorching deserts in the hotter seasons or hate the humidity, a camping fan is a must-have! This essential accessory will make your overland ground tent much more breathable, creating circulation and airflow in humid conditions.

Choose a portable standing fan or a fan that can clip from or hang onto the tent. We suggest a fan with a built-in rechargeable battery for long-lasting uses. If you can charge it from your rig, even better!

Know what would make the perfect camping fan? A rechargeable tripod fan with an oscillating head and glowing night light.

6. Lamps and Lighting

Overlanding and setting up camp in the middle of nowhere makes for great stargazing. But when you need to shine a little light on your site to pitch the tent or prepare meals, you’ll need proper lighting.

Portable LED floodlights are perfect for overlanders. An essential accessory for overland ground tents, these floodlights put out tons of lumens and spread far, illuminating the entire site. These bad boys are like construction work lights but often rechargeable or able to run off your rig.

7. Camping Furniture

Overlanders tend to pack minimally. So, admittedly, squeezing lots of camping furniture into the rig to make your overland tent nice and cozy probably isn’t top of mind. However, it’s also worth mentioning that camp furniture has come a long way in terms of portability and weight.

At the very least, get yourself a few camp chairs to unfold around the fire at night or bring under your tent awning during the rain.

8. A Tent Repair Kit and Spares Stakes and Poles

Having a tent repair kit on hand can save you a lot of unforeseen headaches. You never know what you might encounter when you’re overlanding, and a repair kit for your tent can make things right. Luckily, an overland ground tent is much easier to repair than a rooftop tent.

GearAid is a well-known brand for nylon and synthetic-style tents. But for canvas overland tents, we suggest something specifically designed to patch up the cotton canvas.

Check out our Canvas Repair Kit and Mesh Repair Kit for DIY repair options.

You also might want to consider packing spare stakes, poles, and guy lines. You just never know when nasty weather could come in and you might need extra stakes and rope to secure your shelter.

The Advantages of Placing Your Overland Tent on the Ground

As mentioned, many of these essential overland tent accessories are best used with ground tents. Overlanding rooftop tents might offer a sense of security knowing your home is atop your rig, but they lack some of the comforts and practical needs overlanders might want. That’s where an overland ground tent offers some advantages.

Advantages such as:

• The ability to leave the site. Never worry about folding down a rooftop tent just to find firewood or go for a quick day-trip adventure.

• Affordability and resale value. Ground tents are much less costly than your average rooftop tent. Then, if you ever swap vehicles or upgrade your tent, reselling is easier (and far less proprietary to each car). Plus, ground tents are easier to repair.

• Creature comforts. Woodburning stoves, awnings, and more – ground tents offer many more practical, functional accessories than rooftop tents.