Car Camping in A Honda Element: Setup, Space and Gear
WildFinder SUV Tent
$119.99An SUV or tailgate tent attaches around the open hatch, adding a room to a Honda Element. Check the listing's fit notes against your exact model.
Check price on AmazonSpecsThe Element has been out of production for years and is still a car camping icon: rubber floors, rear seats that fold flat against the sides or come out entirely, and a boxy shape made for sleeping in.
| Cargo behind row 2 | about 25.1 cu ft |
|---|---|
| Cargo with rear seats folded | about 74.6 cu ft |
| Couple's camping load | 18.7 cu ft packed: it fits, with 0 cu ft spare |
| Family of four load | 32.2 cu ft packed: over by about 13 cu ft |
Manufacturer-published figures for the 2003 to 2011 Honda Element, rounded; they vary by trim, moonroof and year, so check your manual. Load volumes are estimates from typical packed sizes, via the cargo calculator.
How do you set up a Honda Element for camping?
- Remove the rear seats for a flat floor that fits a full-width pad.
- The rubberised floor is easy to clean but cold: insulate under your pad.
- Clamshell rear doors make a sheltered side entrance.
SUV and tailgate tents for a Honda Element
WOLFWILL SUV Tailgate Tent with Awning Waterproof SUV Tents for$61.95Check priceSpec sheet
Economical Car Camping Tent$89.99Check price
Napier Sportz Cove$111.98Check price- WildFinder SUV Tent$119.99Check priceSpec sheet
TIMBER RIDGE 5-9 Person SUV Tent with Screen Porch and Awning for$229.99Check priceSpec sheet
Napier Sportz SUV Tent$399.99Check priceSpec sheet
What should you sleep on in a Honda Element?
Measure the floor with the seats folded before buying anything. A thick self-inflating pad (3 to 4 inches) follows small slopes and steps in the folded seats better than an air mattress, and insulates the cold floor. SUV-specific air mattresses that fill the rear footwell suit people who want the widest bed and do not mind the pump. Either way, add a foam layer when nights drop below about 50F: the car floor is cold.
Pads and mattresses for the cargo floor
Screens, shades and comfort
Extra cargo space
A roof box needs crossbars and your vehicle's roof load limit; a hitch carrier needs a receiver.
Keep planning
Frequently asked questions
Can you sleep in a Honda Element?
Yes. Measure your own from the tailgate to the back of the front seats with them slid forward, then pick a pad or mattress about 2 inches shorter. Ventilate with two windows cracked behind mesh screens, and never idle a gas engine for heat while you sleep.
Will a family camping load fit in a Honda Element?
A family-of-four load of a 6-person tent, two coolers, four chairs, bags, pads, stove, table and duffels comes to about 32.2 cu ft packed. Honda Element usable cargo is about 19 cu ft by our estimate, so it runs about 13 cu ft over: a rooftop cargo box of 14 to 18 cu ft usually solves it.
Is it safe to run the engine while sleeping in a Honda Element?
Do not idle a gas or diesel engine for heat or air conditioning while you sleep. Exhaust can leak into the cabin, and snow or a nearby wall can trap it, and carbon monoxide is odourless. Use insulation, a warm bag and a pad for cold, and a battery fan and window screens for heat. Carry a battery carbon monoxide detector either way.
Get the car camping checklist
One printable page: the full packing checklist plus our three complete setups with current prices. No sales sequence.
Used only to send the list. You can also read every setup free on this site.Researched guidance, not professional advice. Figures are published specifications or clearly labelled conventions; check your own gear's manual and your campground's rules.