How do you pack for overland/off road

[kolelt]

Even overlander Ronny Dahl sleeps in a tent on the ground.

I like minimal so if I were to buy another 3-season tent it would have similar outline as that Nemo, although old-school. I regret selling my Walrus Microswift in the 90's that was well made and compact. Good for places where it's hard to find dirt for the stakes and windy where a low tent is better.

Yeah I saw Ronny’s Trent. It’s on legs but basically on the ground.

 

[RAD4Runner]

...It’s on legs ....

Yeah, that was his upgrade from an earlier tent - LOL! A tent-cot combo. I've seen a few people use that at car-camps.

Where we slept above Reflection Canyon ^^^ is windy and on slick rock; No dirt to drive tent stakes into and hard to find rocks to tie guy lines around. Many people have lost tents there. A tent with lots of surface area would get blown away easily. Sleeping like I did is fine but wind blowing directly on my face or pushing the sleeping bag could wake me up. A small tent like the Nemo Gogo, or older Sierra Designs Flashlight would be a good compromise- but still need to find a plce to stake it out, else you lose it.

 

[Mark_BC]

Is it crazy to bring a rear axle with you, ready to go with a new bearing already installed? I don't know what this weighs, maybe 30-40 lbs? I haven't done this job yet so I'm not sure how heavy they are. I go remote and blowing a seal would be a major PITA. Having a spare ready to go with seal would make me feel more comfortable.

 

[kolelt]

Is it crazy to bring a rear axle with you, ready to go with a new bearing already installed? I don't know what this weighs, maybe 30-40 lbs? I haven't done this job yet so I'm not sure how heavy they are. I go remote and blowing a seal would be a major PITA. Having a spare ready to go with seal would make me feel more comfortable.

Rear axle is definitely more than 30-40lbs.

 

[octanejunkie]

I've seen more then my fair share of vehicles ripped apart at trail heads cause some dude left a bag of Doritos in the car.

Damb, I don't even like doritos

I don't even know what to eat from the fridge in my house. Can't imagine what I'd do with a fridge in a 4Runner.

If I had a fridge in my 4runner it would be full of condiments and no food. Probably

Real overlanders haul trailers, apparently

 

[I'mStock]

Is it crazy to bring a rear axle with you, ready to go with a new bearing already installed? I don't know what this weighs, maybe 30-40 lbs? I haven't done this job yet so I'm not sure how heavy they are. I go remote and blowing a seal would be a major PITA. Having a spare ready to go with seal would make me feel more comfortable.

With all due respect, and I said "with all due respect" - this sounds insane.

 

[Hopeless Diamond]

With all due respect, and I said "with all due respect" - this sounds insane.

Maybe buy a beater for parts, then tow it, using it as an off-road trailer. When something breaks down, you can just trade parts

 

[habanero]

Maybe buy a beater for parts, then tow it, using it as an off-road trailer. When something breaks down, you can just trade parts

OR- have your other half drive another one and secretly call it the Parts Truck.

If I had a fridge in my 4runner it would be full of condiments and no food.

Condiments are food, and I don't really like doritos either.

Real overlanders haul trailers, apparently

That 1st trailer is awfully nice but I'm still glad I'm a not-a-mall asphalt crawler so I don't have to pull one.

 

[Mark_BC]

Rear axle is definitely more than 30-40lbs.

Really? How much can a bar of metal with a flange on the end weigh?

 

[Mark_BC]

Actually, come to think of it, I could tow an entire rear end behind me and build a small trailer around it. That way if you run into trouble you just do a full rear end swap which isn't too hard to do... in the spirit of the other thread about trailers. If you are going to tow an axle it might as well come in useful.

 

[octanejunkie]

Really? How much can a bar of metal with a flange on the end weigh?

I think the Assumption was that you were talking about an ENTIRE housing, complete with axles, differential etcetera, not just an axle shaft assy.

Also, the E brake levers on the back plate are directional, driver side passenger side specific, so if that mattered you would need to carry two axle assys

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[rkntoy]

I stepped up to a Nemo GoGo Elite 5 years back. 1lb 6oz and it can pack into a Nalgene if you wanted to. Fully waterproof and no poles. It uses an air beam to create the rigid front opening. It is the best bivy/1man tent on the market according to many reviews. It's also one of the most expensive. I got it as a pro deal at way less the wholesale. I would never pay retail for it but it really is sweet.

I've never used it when car camping though. lol

I loved my Nemo for bikepacking until I wore a hole in the beam I couldn't find. I think it was from bouncing around on the trails. I switched to an REI Quarter Dome 1.

 

[Scramble]

Is it crazy to bring a rear axle with you, ready to go with a new bearing already installed? I don't know what this weighs, maybe 30-40 lbs? I haven't done this job yet so I'm not sure how heavy they are. I go remote and blowing a seal would be a major PITA. Having a spare ready to go with seal would make me feel more comfortable.

Yes, it's insane, around 50lbs & greasy AF. Like Octanejunkie said, they are side specific. Just carry extra gear oil to get you out of a remote location. They dont leak that fast.

 

[theesotericone]

I loved my Nemo for bikepacking until I wore a hole in the beam I couldn't find. I think it was from bouncing around on the trails. I switched to an REI Quarter Dome 1.

Did you try the old fill up the bath tub, fill up the bladder, submerge bladder and squeeze trick? I had a leak in my old thermarest that I could only find after squeezing it under water. A few drops of seam grip later and it was bomber. Still is.

I do a lot of alpine stuff and the weight of the Nemo just blows me away. Light and fast. I'm getting older so it's hard to be fast anymore without the light part. lol

 

[Rock_Rat]

I'm getting older so it's hard to be fast anymore without the light part. lol

Excuses...

 

[theesotericone]

Excuses...

Nope. Wisdom. lol

I still get up trails as fast, or faster, then I did 20 years ago. I just carry less shit and take more Vitamin I.

 

[Rock_Rat]

Nope. Wisdom. lol

I still get up trails as fast, or faster, then I did 20 years ago. I just carry less shit and take more Vitamin I.

All kidding aside, I used to sleep with n integral designs bivy sack, TNF bag on a coiled rope inside the old purple and grey BD megamid. Now...HAHA! Not a chance - yea it's that getting "old thing". I'm with you...

 

[T4R2014]

Actually, come to think of it, I could tow an entire rear end behind me and build a small trailer around it. That way if you run into trouble you just do a full rear end swap which isn't too hard to do... in the spirit of the other thread about trailers. If you are going to tow an axle it might as well come in useful.

At that point I'll just buy a fullsize pickup with a camper on the bed and tow the 4Runner. But yeah, I took apart an old axle for shits and giggles last weekend. That axle shaft is heavy af and smells disgusting. I'll take the risk of not having it.

 

[kolelt]

The axle housing is heavy. It’s definitely not a light item. With that said. Im considering redesigning my storage box. Maybe with a slide on top equal size to the box. So you could easily slide out all your stuff. Or maybe a design to accept the front runner boxes. Also, has anyone seen these tents ?
https://www.gazelletents.com

 

[octanejunkie]

That axle shaft is heavy af and smells disgusting.

One thing about gear oil, the smell is forever recognizeable

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