Switzerland, with its breathtaking landscapes, towering mountains, and serene lakes, is a paradise for campers. However, taking your car camping in this beautiful country during the summer requires careful preparation to guarantee a comfortable and enjoyable experience. Whether you're a seasoned camper or a novice, having the right gear is crucial. Here are five essential items from WeatherTech that you need when camping in Switzerland this summer.
Sunshades: Beat the Heat
Switzerland's summer sun can be intense, especially at higher altitudes. When your car is parked for long periods at a campsite, it can get extremely hot, causing discomfort and potential damage to the interior. Prolonged sun exposure can lead to faded upholstery, cracked dashboards, and overheated electronics.
The inside of your car's temperature can rise very quickly above 40C within 30 minutes, causing potential heat stroke in humans and pets. Your car becomes like an oven, with every surface radiating heat via the stagnant air inside.
The diagram showing the heating of the inside of a car from sunlight. It illustrates the temperature rise over time with a human and a dog inside the car. The temperature outside starts at 85°F (29°C) and the inside temperature rises from 90°F (32°C) to 130°F (54°C) over 30 minutes, showing the distress caused by the heat.
Here are a few tips for Essential Gear for Summer Camping in Switzerland.
WeatherTech provides either just the front windscreen protection, or for longer periods and much improved protection our all-windows sunshades, that cover every window, providing the ultimate protection as the sun moves from East to West.
WeatherTech (dual-sided) sunshades are the perfect solution to this problem. Designed with our advanced interwoven rib system, they fit your vehicle's windows precisely. These sunshades reflect sunlight and reduce interior temperatures significantly. By using WeatherTech sunshades, you can keep your car cool and protect it from the harsh effects of the sun, providing a pleasant return after a day of exploring.
Essentials: find sunshades that fit, most don’t, it’s necessary to have at least 90% coverage. Find those that don’t use suction cups. These dry in the heat and then become detached. Don’t use cheap options. They are just cheap!
Do’s: Find the best-fitting sunshades you can. Your car is expensive; using air-conditioning all the time, is not just environmentally unfriendly. It takes a toll on your car. A good set of sunshades costs from 99CHF to 249CHF for a large SUV fully covered.
Facts: Sunshades prevent the effects of UV, air-conditioning or climate control, is just a reactionary solution.
Tips: Sunshades protect damage to your cars interior. Your dashboard is already burning on the forecourt of your vehicle retailer. Everyday the materials become weaker, lose their colour and fade. To maintain the value of your car at resell, then buy Sunshades that work!
Car Mats: Keep It Clean
Camping often involves various outdoor activities such as walking, climbing, and exploring mountain passes. These adventures are exhilarating, but they also bring dirt, mud, and water into your car. The last thing you want is a dirty and messy car interior that can be challenging to clean.
So our advise is to dump the “car carpets” as quickly as you can and go to all-weather water-resistant car mats/liners. Carpet mats are totally porous and the first encounter with water (with a high degree of salt from the roads), will go straight through to the floor carpet, which you cannot replace. From that first encounter, your carpet and car floor is now beginning to degrade from the effects of salt erosion!
WeatherTech car mats are designed to tackle this issue head-on. Made from high-quality materials, these mats trap dirt, mud, and water, preventing them from spreading throughout your car. They are designed to fit your car exactly and are easy to clean and durable, WeatherTech car mats protect your car's flooring, making post-adventure clean-up a breeze.
Essentials: Just dump those car carpets from day one; they do nothing to protect your car; they are a pain to clean. They move around (are dangerous and cause safety issues) and they are the cheapest item that the vehicle manufacturer can put into your car, that’s not a good start.
Do’s: Find the best-fittingbest fitting car mats, usually plastic, weighing around 700-800 grams, with high sides, anti-slip studs/grips underneath, that are easy to clean, for under 300 CHF for the front and back. Over 3 years, this is a great investment.
Facts: Good all-weather mats, keep your car clean, takes the hassle out of messes, and helps retain the value of your car.
Tips: If you have a sports car like a Porsche, then when you purchase remove the carpet mats, hang them on the wall in your house. Put in WeatherTech and then when you sell the car, put your untouched Porsche carpet mats back in! Your car will sell for much more than your investment in your WeatherTech advanced car mats.
Cargo Mats: Protect Your Gear
Your camping gear is essential for a successful trip, but it can also cause significant wear and tear on your car's cargo area. Boots, tents, fishing gear, and other equipment can scratch, stain, and damage your car's interior.
WeatherTech cargo mats are here to save the day. These mats provide a protective layer for your cargo area, preventing damage from heavy and sharp objects. With a WeatherTech cargo mat, you can load and unload your gear with confidence, knowing your car's interior is safeguarded against accidents and spills.
Essentials: Carpets in the back of your car are useless. The cargo area is exactly that, an area for transportation of pets, outdoor gear and goods. Take the carpet out and put in a precise-fitting all-weather waterproof cargo mat. Weighing around 1200 grams (on average), they will preserve the rear area of your car and just be much easier for you to handle ski’s, mountain-bike boots and pets.
Do’s: Ensure that your cargo mats fit precisely to your boot. If you have fold-down 3rd-row seats, then you can buy for the larger or smaller luggage area. There are even mats that now cover the back of your seats for even more protection.
Facts: Damaged cargo areas will cost you at resell, so like car carpets, remove them immediately and install a precise all-weather car mat, from CHF120-249. It’s a good investment.
Mud Flaps: Shield Your SUV
Switzerland's diverse terrain means encountering muddy trails, gravel paths, and wet conditions. For SUV owners, these elements can wreak havoc on the exterior of your vehicle, causing unsightly mud splatters and potential damage.
WeatherTech mud flaps are essential for keeping your SUV in pristine condition. These flaps are designed to fit your vehicle perfectly, providing a barrier against mud, gravel, and debris. Not only do they protect your car's paintwork, but they also reduce the risk of corrosion and damage to undercarriage components. With WeatherTech mud flaps, you can confidently navigate through Switzerland's rugged terrain without worrying about the aftermath.
Essentials: Now you think you don’t need mud-flaps, but essentially they do protect your vehicle from loose stones and rock damage, so fit them early. They will help maintain your car.
Do’s: Find those that fit perfectly, like the WeatherTech clip-on Mud-flaps, designed for each vehicle, they precisely fit the contours of your wheel arch, by model and version.
Facts: Well it's a looks and money thing. Mudflaps will preserve your vehicle's looks, prevent damage, and maximise the value at resell.
Seat Covers: Family, Pets, and Convenience
Camping trips are often family affairs, and that means kids and pets. While they bring joy and excitement to the adventure, they can also bring messes. Spills, crumbs, pet hair, and muddy paws can quickly turn your car seats into a disaster zone.
WeatherTech seat covers are the perfect solution for maintaining clean and comfortable seats. These covers are easy to install, remove, and clean, providing a hassle-free way to protect your car's upholstery. With WeatherTech seat covers, you can focus on enjoying your camping trip without constantly worrying about the state of your car seats.
Essentials: The first spill is enough to embed bad odours, stains and devalue your car immediately. Not only that you will feel bad about yourself, because you know the damage has been done.
Do’s: Find car seat covers that fit, that are well-finished, water-resistant and are washable. If you are going to the mountains, then fit them immediately, so when Angus the dog-jumps into your car with muddy paws, you can relax!
Facts: Once car seats are damaged, its really difficult to get them back. Yes, you can do a full clean, but it's just best to prevent issues, rather than resolve them later. So for around CHF250, good seat covers will help you keep your SUV very clean.
Finally: Embrace Convenience and Safety
Camping in Switzerland offers unforgettable experiences, and with WeatherTech products, you can ensure those experiences are positive and hassle-free. From sunshades that keep your car cool to seat covers that protect against messes, WeatherTech has you covered.
WeatherTech’s products are the ideal Alpine partner. Through all the seasons. You will have preventative protection from the best products that have been developed over 30 years. So, that’s why we are now here in Switzerland, to offer our customers confidence, security, safety and a cleaner car experience.
Investing in these essential items will enhance your camping trip's convenience, safety, and overall enjoyment. Don't let the elements ruin your adventure – equip your vehicle with WeatherTech products and make the most of your summer camping in Switzerland.
Happy camping!