All things Overlanding thread

[alirawk]

I've wondered about why people do this. To me that's the ultimate combination of the worst parts of all the options.

It's slow to setup
It doesn't pack your bedding and a comfy mattress like a RTT does
It doesn't allow you freedom to drive like a ground tent does.

Honestly it seems like it's just a way to justify the awning.

That custom GooseGear platform is the tits though!

I can't disagree with any of your points. I like the awning as I spend quite a bit of time in Joshua Tree and other desert environs where the sun beats like Bonham. Good reprieve from the rays, and with a second person goes up fast.

 

[owyheerat]

Good to know...

TRED PRO review Ok so I tested out the Tred Pros and took a bunch of pictures but I'm having trouble uploading them except the ones I took after . First I found a snow drift about 3 feet deep and drove into it until I got stuck . Throw down the Treds and backed right out . All right ,that was too easy . Found a steep bank probably about 50-60 degrees and 4 foot tall , mix of loose dirt and snow and laid them on it and climbed up with very little spinning . Excellent traction and no damage from the spinning but it was hardly any . I did have the rear locker engaged . Next up was a 16 inch log . I laid one down leaving the middle unsupported and drove on up . I stopped about halfway up to see how much it was flexing and it was a 2-3 inch bow . I laid the 2nd Tred on the other side of the log and went up and over with the front axle of the 4Runner . I drove forward a little and stopped and made sure the rear tire was lined up and drove on up and came crashing down the other side . I got out and looked and sure enough , I broke the end of the 2nd Tred . I'm pretty sure what happened was the 2nd Tred slid forward a little when the front tire went over and it was barely sitting on the log when the rear tire hit it . I should've checked when I lined up the rear but I forgot to . So yes I broke one but I think it was my fault . I've never used the maxtraxs but I would not expect any plastic ramp to support a vehicle with only a couple of inches of bearing . Temperature was high 20's . It might have survived on a warmer day . Now we'll see how TREDs customer service is .

I recently bought a pair of TredPro's (group buy), and find this information helpful. I have used mine several times already, helping others get unstuck in snow. They worked very well in that application.

Thanks

 

[Liquidmantis]

I can't disagree with any of your points. I like the awning as I spend quite a bit of time in Joshua Tree and other desert environs where the sun beats like Bonham. Good reprieve from the rays, and with a second person goes up fast.

Oh, I'm an awning guy too, only I just got mine on like a month ago so I haven't gotten any real opportunity to use it yet. I've just been doing a lot of thinking lately about which approach to camping makes sense for me. I had given the awning plus room some consideration and came to the conclusion I mentioned.

RTT:
- heavy weight up high
- Pain to install/remove and store off vehicle
- prevents carrying kayaks (which in addition to the above presents a big issue for me)
- not good for a basecamping outing, have to breakdown to drive
- MPG impact
+ comfy!
+ quick setup
+ stores bedding outside of cabin

Ground Tent:
- needs flat space
- can be slow to setup
- bedding has to be packed and stowed separately (could try to just bundle it all up but it'd be a bulky awkward operation.)
- PITA for multiday "expedition" travel
- consumes cabin space
+ lighter load
+ keeps vehicle free for driving, basecamping style

At least traditionally I've landed in the basecamping style of car camping, backpacking is another animal. Given that, I think sticking with a ground tent, possibly getting a faster tent like an Oz Tent, or working out in-truck sleeping like you've done, is the best option for me. A trailer might be something in my future as unlike the awning room I think the trailer is the best union of the pros of either option, albeit with a higher cost and greater storage requirements, as well as presenting trail problems. For now there are other things I want to spend my money on and have no trailer plans for the foreseeable future.

 

[Vinsil]

For licensing I've been reading this website this am. Seems to have all the info I need, any other or better resources out there? I'm very interested in this as I also have a boat that I plan to go over the bar with soon, so dual uses!

Home

 

[Liquidmantis]

I've been working through www.hamstudy.org to prep for the test. There are iOS apps you can get, but hamstudy.org provides the questions (with explanations), flash cards, and practice exams for free.

I have the ARRL manual to read through but I'm cramming for the test to get through the dry procedural bits. The electronics I'm good on and just need to study up on the RF portions.

 

[Vinsil]

I've been working through www.hamstudy.org to prep for the test. There are iOS apps you can get, but hamstudy.org provides the questions (with explanations), flash cards, and practice exams for free.

I have the ARRL manual to read through but I'm cramming for the test to get through the dry procedural bits. The electronics I'm good on and just need to study up on the RF portions.

Thanks, I'll check this out as well!

 

[Krayziekid]

Thanks, I'll check this out as well!

Definitely check out Hamstudy. I used it and studied for about 2-3 weeks and the test was pretty easy. It can take some time to get your callsign after you pass, but it's a great feeling when you get it!

 

[tarouszars]

There is an alternative to a RTT that has received a lot of attention on this site: Sleeping platform inside the ride...

That is a really sweet sleep platform/drawer setup. I think a sleep platform is a great idea for most people. Instead of a RTT where it is annoying basically whenever you aren't sleeping in it, a sleep platform with drawers offers convenient storage all the time. Depending on how tidy you are I guess unloading all your crap is a disadvantage. I believe with non third row seat models you can get pretty even with the second row seats making a nice platform even in you need those seats.

For me personally it comes down to seating. I need one of the third row seats to hold a person. If I could design some kind of modular sleep platform that can be setup upon arrival then I'd love to sleep back there. For now I've been debating between a huge tent, or a smaller tent and having a few kids sleep in the back of the 4Runner.

 

[CRFofiddyF]

Cheaper at wally world

This thing is awesome

I got 2 of them for $1.88 ea at my local wally world. Trying to help other folks to save some money and put that towards mods

 

[Cymon]

That is a really sweet sleep platform/drawer setup. I think a sleep platform is a great idea for most people. Instead of a RTT where it is annoying basically whenever you aren't sleeping in it, a sleep platform with drawers offers convenient storage all the time. Depending on how tidy you are I guess unloading all your crap is a disadvantage. I believe with non third row seat models you can get pretty even with the second row seats making a nice platform even in you need those seats.

For me personally it comes down to seating. I need one of the third row seats to hold a person. If I could design some kind of modular sleep platform that can be setup upon arrival then I'd love to sleep back there. For now I've been debating between a huge tent, or a smaller tent and having a few kids sleep in the back of the 4Runner.

I'm in the same route with 3rd row and eventually wanting a modular drawer system/sleep platform. I will likely take inspiration from [MENTION=107460]Magnetic4R[/MENTION]unner and what he did here...

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/213224-3rd-row-drawer-system-part-1-a.html

 

[v_man]

Thought I'd share some mods that have been useful whether on multi day trips or out rock crawling for the day , plus this thread needs some more pics:hatsoff:

Here's my comm setup , you got RAM mounts for the tablet (mapping) and the phone, plus the mobil HAM unit. I use MotionX for offline mapping...You can also see my shifter lock, an anti-theft measure...

A locking center console made by Tuffy:

My lovely wife holding a dimmer that controls the interior LED lighting strips...

A Blu-Sea 12 circuit fuse block for powering all those accesories...

A voltmeter for my charging system , us OBD I guys got to keep tabs on our electricities. This 8$ meter has been on for about 4 years straight, I think I got my money's worth !

Lights! Lots o' lights, up front I have some LED spreads plus some HELLA driving lights...

Last but not least , yet essential to survival in the overland, a bottle opener!

Cheers!

 

[Vinsil]

Definitely check out Hamstudy. I used it and studied for about 2-3 weeks and the test was pretty easy. It can take some time to get your callsign after you pass, but it's a great feeling when you get it!

Well it looks like both my wife and I are going study and our license and have these in both rigs as well as our home. Thanks for costing me more money...:rockon:

 

[el_kab0ng]

Thought I'd share some mods that have been useful whether on multi day trips or out rock crawling for the day , plus this thread needs some more pics:hatsoff:



Nice! What did I say OP ...give it time.....:artist:

Yeah.. hard to control that conspicuous consumption we're all guilty of here in the US. Maybe I should have set a few more boundaries on my initial post regarding stock vehicles only (i.e. no lifts, sliders, etc).

 

[Liquidmantis]

How about a rename to "All things Overlanding as I define it and exactly like I do it thread" ?

:kiss:

 

[Airmapper]

How about a rename to "All things Overlanding as I define it and exactly like I do it thread" ?

:kiss:

Amen to that. :cheers:

That is what gets me about people defining that word in relation to recreational vehicle use. It is by nature undefinable in detail as it means exactly what it says: "Over land." It is a compound word for crying out loud.

To define it further consistently, you need another word, and in the way some here want to constrain it, a sentence or two as well. The word Overland serves it's full purpose by describing something that is occurring "over land."

It's kinda like saying "I am fishing." There are lots of ways to go fishing, but everyone is pretty happy with that word as long as you are involved in some activity which may involve capturing a fish. You can use a net, ride in a boat, sit on the bank, or peer through a hole in the ice, set a trot line, place a trap, you are still fishing. Any further detail is given if and when needed, but if somebody asks what your doing and is not interested in the minute details, do you get long winded, no, you say "I went fishing."

"Overland" as it related to vehicular activities has already turned into one of those broadly defined words. Some people forget the word is not exclusive to the recreational 4x4 realm, it can relate to freight operations as well. It actually relates to ANY type of traveling or terrestrial transport. It was used to distinguish the movement of goods or people in a time when it was useful to know if things were going to be transported by ship (over water...) or not.

 

[Krayziekid]

Well it looks like both my wife and I are going study and our license and have these in both rigs as well as our home. Thanks for costing me more money...:rockon:

Always a pleasure Vinsil :hug:

I only have a handheld right now, but I got surprisingly good range on it. Hopefully going to put a full set up in the 4Runner soon-ish

 

[owyheerat]

Nice set up

Thought I'd share some mods that have been useful whether on multi day trips or out rock crawling for the day , plus this thread needs some more pics:hatsoff:

Cheers!

V_man, I like the mods you have made to your 4runner, and it is evident you use them.

I just put 2 and 2 together and realized you posted a great write up on Expo. That self recovery method is genius. I loved reading through your story...keep posting.

Here is the link, if anyone is interested.
Across 4 mountain ranges in Death Valley ... - Expedition Portal

 

[el_kab0ng]

Amen to that. :cheers:
"Overland" as it related to vehicular activities has already turned into one of those broadly defined words. Some people forget the word is not exclusive to the recreational 4x4 realm, it can relate to freight operations as well. It actually relates to ANY type of traveling or terrestrial transport. It was used to distinguish the movement of goods or people in a time when it was useful to know if things were going to be transported by ship (over water...) or not.

If you see the first post in this thread, I explicitly defined the phrase for the purposes of this discussion. I'm aware there are other meanings, but my intention was spelled out from the beginning, so there should be no offense when I push back on the direction of some of the posts being made.

I even explicitly ask not to clutter the thread with extreme off roading/rock climbing as it detracts from the spirit of the discussion and there are plenty of other threads representative of that activity.

Granted, I'm not a mod and technically can't stop anyone from posting whatever they wanted (as also stated in the preamble), but I would hope people would respect the intent and understand my position without getting frisky.

 

[e60ral]

Anyone have ideas on material to use to divide up a plastic tote that doesn't take a lot of room?

Right now I have 2 plastic totes, one has kitchen and the other camping. I would like to build some dividers to keep things a little more organized than just throwing it in the tote. Any ideas?

 

[Liquidmantis]

I even explicitly ask not to clutter the thread with extreme off roading/rock climbing as it detracts from the spirit of the discussion and there are plenty of other threads representative of that activity.

No one has gone on about extreme off-roading or rock-climbing. You've complained about someone testing their gear and someone posting some info on their multi-purpose rig, because they mention it works for rock crawling? Because of the bumper?

I think you're going to be hard pressed finding anyone doing overlanding and not just car-camping if you start arbitrary rules like "no lifts and no sliders". Sliders are the first mod I did because I didn't want to risk body damage while exploring. I'm not building a rock crawler and when it comes to playing on the trail I'd much rather be mountain biking. But I do like taking rougher trails to get to remote scenic areas that most other people don't have the capability to reach. I still think I'm entirely in the overlanding camp with sliders, skids, a pending lift installation, and bumper plans as I think that a capable vehicle is a core part of true overlanding, which is the primary principle of my build.

If the rules of the thread are overly strict it's just going to die on the vine but I can certainly respect your wishes in what you want the thread to be and leave it at that.

Anyone have ideas on material to use to divide up a plastic tote that doesn't take a lot of room?

Right now I have 2 plastic totes, one has kitchen and the other camping. I would like to build some dividers to keep things a little more organized than just throwing it in the tote. Any ideas?

How about some cheap coroplast (or free if you "recycle" obnoxious signs)? It's light, waterproof, and reasonably durable.