I don't know racks but IIRC, Old Man Mountain and Tubus are two (expensive) brands you can't go wrong with.

Camping, your best bet for a trip to remote areas is probably a foam mat to sleep on instead of an air mattress, which could be prone to be punctures. Get a nice thick foam mat and it won't be too uncomfortable...with tents, think about weight and durability. Tarptents (just google it) are awesome but on the pricy side. You can get a one-man tent for under 200 bucks and it weighs like a pound plus a few more ounces.

Tires, I dunno, but it strikes me that if the bike shop you went to wasn't willing to swap out tires as part of a $1300 purchase, maybe look for a place that's more appreciative of your business...