18 Father’s Day Gift Ideas for Caravanning, Camping & 4WD Dads

Father’s Day is coming up, which means it is time to find something a little more exciting than another pair of socks.

For this year’s gift guide, we asked our team members to pick the products they would genuinely be happy to buy for their own dads, partners or other caravan-loving people in their lives.

That gave us a pretty good mix: clever little gadgets, practical camping gear, towing essentials, books for the next adventure and a few bigger caravan upgrades for anyone looking to really spoil Dad.

Here are 18 Father’s Day gift ideas, hand-picked by the Carac team.

1. Navigator Nowhere Chair – Father’s Day Special $104.95

Give Dad a proper place to put his feet up at camp. The Navigator Nowhere Chair has a padded seat and backrest, pivot feet, a collapsible drink holder, wine glass holder and a generous mesh pocket, then folds down into its heavy-duty carry bag when it is time to pack up. It is rated to 150kg and normally sells for $119.95, but for Father’s Day we’ve dropped it to a special price of $104.95.

View the Navigator Nowhere Chair

2. Mawby Hook Safety Chain Coupling Set

One of those clever upgrades that makes you wonder why things were ever done the old way. The Australian-designed Mawby Hook provides a quick-action alternative for connecting your caravan or trailer safety chains. The set is made from drop-forged steel, suits chains up to 13mm and is rated for towing applications up to 3.5 tonnes ATM.

View the Mawby Hook

3. Ultimate 4WD Tracks: Australia

For the dad who is always wondering where the next track leads. Ultimate 4WD Tracks: Australia brings together 40 of Australia’s best 4WD routes, from well-known favourites to more remote adventures. Maps, track grading, preparation advice and plenty of inspiration make it a great addition to the glovebox or coffee table.

View Ultimate 4WD Tracks: Australia

4. Flat Out Compact Starter Pack

A particularly good present for a dad who appreciates an organised caravan boot. The Flat Out Compact Starter Pack combines a drinking water hose, sullage hose and 15A extension lead on compact Multi-Reels, along with the fittings and accessories needed to keep everything neat and easy to use. The reels can also be stacked, helping save valuable storage space.

View the Flat Out Compact Starter Pack V2

5. Navigator Tow Hitch Buddy

Simple, practical and the sort of thing Dad might not buy for himself. The Navigator Tow Hitch Buddy slips over most caravan hitches to help protect hitch components from weather, dust and salt air while the caravan is parked. Its PVC construction, drainage panel and webbing clips make it an easy addition to the setup.

View the Navigator Tow Hitch Buddy

6. Tiegear SHIELD Side Walls

If Dad already has a Tiegear SHIELD awning, this is an excellent way to make his outdoor setup even more useful. The left and right side walls add extra protection from sun, wind and rain, while also providing a bit more privacy around camp. They are adjustable and pack neatly away into their own PAX bag.

View the Tiegear SHIELD Side Walls

7. BOS 3 Rib Gearbox Jockey Unit 50mm

Now we are getting into serious Father’s Day present territory. The BOS 3 Rib Gearbox Jockey Unit is a heavy-duty upgrade designed to make raising and lowering the front of the caravan considerably easier. Its patented gearbox can be operated using a cordless drill or the supplied manual handle, while the articulated base plate helps accommodate uneven ground.

View the BOS 3 Rib Gearbox Jockey Unit

8. BOS Stabiliser Legs 500mm – Pair

Another upgrade Dad will appreciate every time the caravan is set up. These heavy-duty BOS stabiliser legs can be operated with a cordless drill or manually, offer 150mm of vertical travel and are load tested to 1.8 tonnes per leg. Their adjustable base plates can also work at angles up to 30 degrees to help provide a solid setup on uneven sites.

We carry a broad range of BOS products. Not sure what to choose? Read our Frequently Asked Questions in this blog.

View the BOS Stabiliser Legs

9. LeverM8 Poptop Roof Lifter

A clever Australian-made tool that can take some of the effort out of setting up a pop-top caravan or hybrid. The LeverM8 hooks onto the roof handle and uses leverage to make lifting the roof easier, reducing the amount of force required. It weighs approximately 1kg and can work in both vertical and horizontal configurations.

View the LeverM8 Poptop Roof Lifter

10. Ground Dogs 10 Pack with Bag & Socket

For the dad who takes his campsite setup seriously. This set contains ten 250mm stainless steel Ground Dog screw-in pegs with hook collars, all packed into a canvas zip bag. A 19mm socket and drill adaptor are included too, making them quick to drive into most ground types with a cordless drill. This is one of our bestsellers store-wide and an absolute winner.

View the Ground Dogs 10 Pack

11. Sirocco II Cabin Fan

A very welcome present when summer camping rolls around. The original Sirocco II is a 12/24V fan designed specifically with compact spaces in mind. Its gimballed design provides 360-degree directional airflow, with three fan speeds, timer settings, low power draw and the ability to fold flat against the wall when it is not needed.

View the Sirocco II Cabin Fan

12. Hose & Cable Bag Bundle

If Dad likes everything to have its place, here is an easy win. The bundle includes a small hose bag, large hose bag and cable bag, helping keep drinking water hoses, drainage hoses and power leads separated, contained and much easier to store.

View the Hose & Cable Bag Bundle

13. Dometic 2 Cook Turbo FFD Deluxe Gas Stove

Breakfast at camp might be Dad’s job anyway, so you may as well give him the right equipment. This portable Dometic stove has two independent high-output burners and an integrated flame failure device. It also comes with pot stands, a coffee stand, ceramic-coated cooking plates and side windshields for a versatile outdoor cooking setup. Winner!

View the Dometic 2 Cook Turbo FFD Deluxe Gas Stove

14. Camps 13 A4 Spiral Edition

Give Dad a few thousand ideas for the next trip. The latest Camps 13 guide includes more than 4,250 free and low-cost campsites around Australia, alongside updated Hema mapping and useful information such as pet-friendly locations, water points and dump points. The spiral-bound A4 format is especially handy when planning a route on the road.

View Camps 13

15. Enviro Save Water System

A clever caravan upgrade for the dad who hates watching good water disappear down the drain while waiting for the shower to warm up. The Enviro Save system uses a thermal valve to divert the cooler water sitting in the hot-water line so it can be saved and reused, before switching across once the water reaches temperature.

View the Enviro Save Water System

16. Magnetic Gas Level Indicator

Proof that a useful Father’s Day present does not have to be expensive. This simple magnetic indicator attaches to a gas bottle and helps show the remaining gas level while the bottle is in use. It can also be moved from one bottle to another, making it a handy little addition to the caravan toolbox.

View the Magnetic Gas Level Indicator

17. Portable Camp Light

Small gift, plenty of uses. This compact Oztrail camp light puts out 100 lumens and can switch between white and amber lighting, with the amber mode helping reduce the attraction of bugs around camp. A hanger, magnets and clip give Dad plenty of options for mounting it around the caravan, campsite, shed or garage.

View the Portable Camp Light

18. Safe Caravan Towing – The Manual

A good gift for the dad who likes to know exactly what he is doing before hitching up. Written by Ken Wilson from the Truck Friendly caravan road safety program, Safe Caravan Towing – The Manual covers the practical and legal side of towing large caravans, trailers and horse floats in Australia. It is useful reading for newcomers and experienced caravanners alike.

View Safe Caravan Towing – The Manual

Still Not Sure What to Get Dad?

We know caravan and camping dads can be particular about their gear. If you are not quite sure what will work with Dad’s caravan, what he already has or which upgrade would be most useful, just ask us.

The Carac team knows caravan gear, and we are always happy to point you in the right direction.

Or, if Dad is the type who would much rather choose for himself, bring him into Carac and let him loose among the shelves. You might just make his Father’s Day.