Who am I?

Hi, I'm Joseph.

TheOutCamp was born out of a specific frustration: when you search for “how to fit a queen air mattress in a minivan” or “what size tent do you actually need once the gear is packed in,” you either receive backcountry backpacking advice that is irrelevant or a vague product description lacking meaningful insight.

Most of my own camping experiences have involved loading a Chrysler Pacifica with gear for weekend trips to state or county campgrounds, totaling more than ten trips so far. This led me to the same question repeatedly: what fits where and what doesn’t? This inquiry has shaped the content of this site.

TheOutCamp about
Im Joseph scaled

How I Work.

Some of the content on TheOutCamp is based on my direct, hands-on experience: the Pacifica setup, sleeping pads, and several other pieces of gear that I have personally packed and used on actual trips. When I draw from this firsthand experience, I will make that clear.

For everything beyond that including vehicle and mattress dimensions that I haven’t personally tested across all models. I rely on comprehensive research: comparing manufacturer specifications, reading verified owner reviews, and watching independent field tests before making a recommendation. When a claim is uncertain or a fit is tight, I will acknowledge it rather than glossing over it. Articles are updated when products or vehicle trims change, rather than remaining unchanged after publication.

Who I'm Not.

I’m not a wilderness survival expert, a former park ranger, or a professional gear reviewer with a warehouse of free products to test. I’m someone who has spent a lot of time literally measuring what fits in a vehicle, and who researches carefully everywhere I haven’t personally tested. If you’re planning a backcountry trip, there are better resources for that. If you’re trying to figure out whether your gear fits your vehicle and your family gets through a weekend at a campground comfortably, you’re in the right place.

Thanks for reading, and I hope something here makes your next trip a little easier.

— Joseph Bijoy