Poor Man's Overland

[BackpackingDad]

I read and admire all the work people do on their 4Runners. (@Antman is my hero!) I've learned so much and only wish I could afford to do more to my rig. But such is the challenge for a man with limited resources. One of my latest inventions is a poor man's overland set up. I did this for a solo wilderness trip I took last week in the Sangre De Cristo mountains. I thought I would share in case anyone is interested in a similar set up. The Kodiak Canvas Swag tent fit perfectly on my Gobi rack. My 4WD took me to 13K elevation and some beautiful places in the wilderness. Maybe there are others who might benefit from a similar set up. Cheers!

 

[Ray Dunakin]

Very nice!

I didn't know Texas had mountains like that. Almost looks like Colorado.

 

[BackpackingDad]

Everything's bigger in Texas... Except our mountains. Colorado has that one hand's down. But I will say that the Sangre de Cristo is a hidden jewel.

 

[MisplacedTexan]

Did you sleep in the tent on the roof? If so, how did you get in and out....looks like the entrance is over the cab

 

[BackpackingDad]

Yes. I climbed the gobi ladder at the rear. There was just enough room to walk along side the tent on the rack and enter at the head. Probably would have been easier if I flipped the tent but at 50yo, I still managed just fine. Either way, it was a comfortable night's sleep.

 

[MisplacedTexan]

Yes. I climbed the gobi ladder at the rear. There was just enough room to walk along side the tent on the rack and enter at the head. Probably would have been easier if I flipped the tent but at 50yo, I still managed just fine. Either way, it was a comfortable night's sleep.

I was sitting here trying to figure out how you climbed through the sunroof, and managed to close it after getting in the tent. That method makes way more sense.

 

[ritmatt]

I have thought about looking for a tent that would fit on the Gobi rack. Looks like you figured out a solution. You certainly had some pretty views!

 

[coulter6]

Do you mind sharing where this is?

 

[77Bronc]

Where are those mountains located? It sounds like they are in TX, I thought the Sange De Cristo's were in NM?

Thanks.

77

 

[wfo9]

Good idea.. Also

The back of the 4runner with a sleeping platform also works pretty good for over-landing, solo. Just saying....

Don't feel bad... Everyone I know that had a RTT mounted on their truck could not wait to get rid of it..

And yes we do have mountains in TX. Not like CO, but it is a very diverse state if you actually take the time to explore it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guadalupe_Peak

But the OPs pic looks like NM or CO. Tx mountains are in more desert like climates. Ideal to visit in the winter and fall, not so great this time of year.

 

[Dark Lord]

Good idea.. Also

The back of the 4runner with a sleeping platform also works pretty good for over-landing, solo. Just saying....

Don't feel bad... Everyone I know that had a RTT mounted on their truck could not wait to get rid of it..

And yes we do have mountains in TX. Not like CO, but it is a very diverse state if you actually take the time to explore it.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guadalupe_Peak

But the OPs pic looks like NM or CO. Tx mountains are in more desert like climates. Ideal to visit in the winter and fall, not so great this time of year.

Sorry to hijack your thread OP, but I must ask this to wfo9. Can you elaborate more about why people you know want to get rid of there RTT? I'm only asking because an RTT is on my list to buy. Our next overland trip at the end of July into August might be our last trip without one unless you can convince me otherwise. We've had success sleeping in the back, but the RTT looks so much nicer, and appears it can save us some cabin room. It's also nice because we'll be able to sleep at truck stops with it as we do in the cabin opposed to setting up a tent.

Anyway [MENTION=128473]BackpackingDad[/MENTION], overlanding is overlanding. As long as you're traveling and exploring, doesn't matter what you drive or own. You've already accomplished more than what most people who buy expensive rigs have.



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[Jhalko]

Sorry to hijack your thread OP, but I must ask this to wfo9. Can you elaborate more about why people you know want to get rid of there RTT? I'm only asking because an RTT is on my list to buy. Our next overland trip at the end of July into August might be our last trip without one unless you can convince me otherwise. We've had success sleeping in the back, but the RTT looks so much nicer, and appears it can save us some cabin room. It's also nice because we'll be able to sleep at truck stops with it as we do in the cabin opposed to setting up a tent.

Anyway [MENTION=128473]BackpackingDad[/MENTION], overlanding is overlanding. As long as you're traveling and exploring, doesn't matter what you drive or own. You've already accomplished more than what most people who buy expensive rigs have.
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I love mine, but gotta be buying it for the right usage, I could see some folks regretting the purchase if it didn't truly fit their needs. My only real negative taking cost out is that I can't park in my garage with it on. LOVE set up and take down.

OP, very creative, just hope you don't have to use the tree in the middle of the night!

 

[Danimal]

Good on ya; getting out there without buying $5000 worth of gear the internet told you that you need before going. Looks beautiful there, too!

However, I don't understand: why did you put a ground tent on your roof vs on the ground? The overlanding thing is crazy; it has nothing to do with gear, yet that's all it's about these days on forums and YouTube. RTTs have little benefit in my experience except for quick set up and take down. I've done the RTT thing and yet continue to use my nice ground tent when dispersed car camping (what the rest of the world has called "overlanding" for the last 50 years).

 

[jrob]

That is a most excellent setup dude! Love the minimalist yet effective approach. It's really all about getting out there, and using these machines to do what they are made for. For a lot of our early trips to Utah, we slept on a $40 air mattress in the back just fine, and up until very recently my method for hauling gear and camp kitchen stuff around was a couple of sterlite boxes that I got from Target for $15.

I'm going out on a limb and saying those pictures were taken in Co somewhere North of Alamosa and south of Salida. Peaks look a little high for NM unless maybe Taos area.

We really love our "big fancy" RTT a lot, but I was not without significant internal debate prior to purchase. They aren't for everyone but it suites our needs very well.
I still call it camping though. I can't bring my self to use the term "overlanding" seriously. As far as I am concerned that crowd could stand to be taken down a peg or two.

Way to get out and enjoy it man. Super Jealous. We will be fleeing the Houston heat Durango bound mid August ourselves.
Safe travels!

 

[wfo9]

Sorry to hijack your thread OP, but I must ask this to wfo9. Can you elaborate more about why people you know want to get rid of there RTT? I'm only asking because an RTT is on my list to buy. Our next overland trip at the end of July into August might be our last trip without one unless you can convince me otherwise. We've had success sleeping in the back, but the RTT looks so much nicer, and appears it can save us some cabin room. It's also nice because we'll be able to sleep at truck stops with it as we do in the cabin opposed to setting up a tent.

Anyway [MENTION=128473]BackpackingDad[/MENTION], overlanding is overlanding. As long as you're traveling and exploring, doesn't matter what you drive or own. You've already accomplished more than what most people who buy expensive rigs have.



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Watch this video... I think it gives a good perspective and covers some of the reasons my friends have ditched theirs.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-R6B4wT5hnI" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Like most things... pros and cons.

Their main complaints that I remember were.
- Weight on the roof. Killed MPG on road and hurt offroad perf. A big anchor of sorts.
- Extremely difficult to mount/remove (unless you setup a lift of some sort)
- setup not as easy as it looks (mentioned in the video)
- Can't park in most garages...
- Way too small and cramped
- Took away from the minimalist approach of camping... Take what you need (no more...no less)

 

[BackpackingDad]

Thanks for the positive feedback everyone! As for my personal reasons for a RTT, I would offer the following:
- When solo, I felt better being above the ground away from critters. (Even with a 9mm at my side):gun4:
- Putting the tent on the roof kept it clean when it came to packing up.
- Probably most important, I could leave the tent on my roof as I moved locations each night climbing to higher elevations. It was really convenient!

As for the location, this is a road you can take due west out of Westcliffe, CO. It is hwy 160 (also known as Hermit Road). The road becomes increasingly difficult the higher you go in elevation but there are some great dispersed camping all along this road. Hermit lake is a good place to fish and maybe Horseshoe as well (I did not fish there). Once the snow clears, you can take the road all the way up to Hermit Pass near 13,000 feet. Absolutely beautiful!

 

[jwkilgore]

Thanks for the positive feedback everyone! As for my personal reasons for a RTT, I would offer the following:
- When solo, I felt better being above the ground away from critters. (Even with a 9mm at my side):gun4:
- Putting the tent on the roof kept it clean when it came to packing up.
- Probably most important, I could leave the tent on my roof as I moved locations each night climbing to higher elevations. It was really convenient!

As for the location, this is a road you can take due west out of Westcliffe, CO. It is hwy 160 (also known as Hermit Road). The road becomes increasingly difficult the higher you go in elevation but there are some great dispersed camping all along this road. Hermit lake is a good place to fish and maybe Horseshoe as well (I did not fish there). Once the snow clears, you can take the road all the way up to Hermit Pass near 13,000 feet. Absolutely beautiful!

A RTT was on my list of things to buy, mainly for the reason in bold. A backpacker was almost killed by a bear not too far from me last year while sleeping in a hammock. His dad managed to run the bear off; if he had been camping alone he would have died. Not to mention snakes and spiders and such. I realize the chance of something happening on the ground is very slim, but it isn't zero. Plus the time I went camping and got flooded out by a thunderstorm (inch of runoff water in bottom of tent).

But honestly I like your "poor man's" solution much better. My biggest issue with a RTT is where to store it when not being used. I just can't think of a place at my house... not to mention the difficulty of mounting/removing. But a common 1-2 person tent mounted to a rack is about as simple as you can get, it doesn't up take much room on the trail, and I already have a good 2-man tent in my kit. :thumb3:

 

[Porqupine82]

Good on ya; getting out there without buying $5000 worth of gear the internet told you that you need before going. Looks beautiful there, too!

However, I don't understand: why did you put a ground tent on your roof vs on the ground? The overlanding thing is crazy; it has nothing to do with gear, yet that's all it's about these days on forums and YouTube. RTTs have little benefit in my experience except for quick set up and take down. I've done the RTT thing and yet continue to use my nice ground tent when dispersed car camping (what the rest of the world has called "overlanding" for the last 50 years).

Sleeping on the ground sucks. And before you say it was my tent, Its a $2000 hilleberg, and it doesn't make it suck any less. When you get a good rain, regardless of what whiz bang tent you have, if it's on the ground, you're getting wet. Cold, wet and pissed.

Since roof top camping I've never gotten wet, even with heavy rains from 8pm to 9am. Not one drop inside.

The benefit to roof top tents is tremendous.

Easy set up
Stay dry
Safety from snakes, lions, tigers, and bears oh my!(even if only perceived, the sleep is more fulfilling..)
Smaller footprint
Comfort, no rocks, unlevel ground.

I'm also highly allergic to poison ivy. Unfortunately it is quite common in my area, and now I don't have to worry about finding a space large enough for a ground tent, free of poison. Roof top tents are great.

 

[4FL]

Here is my question for not only this overland thing, but anything similar; when wanting to sleep in a tent on the roof, on the ground, or just sleep inside the 4runner, how do you combat the heat?

I tried the sleeping in a car thing before, and the heat was just unbearable, and opening everything still did not get any draft coming and cool things down (and bugs have to deal with). When in a tent, same thing, the heat is just uncomfortable which makes for a lousy sleep.

 

[BackpackingDad]

Here is my question for not only this overland thing, but anything similar; when wanting to sleep in a tent on the roof, on the ground, or just sleep inside the 4runner, how do you combat the heat?

I tried the sleeping in a car thing before, and the heat was just unbearable, and opening everything still did not get any draft coming and cool things down (and bugs have to deal with). When in a tent, same thing, the heat is just uncomfortable which makes for a lousy sleep.

Camping in the heat is hard to overcome. The one I purchased has a canvas outer layer that endured hours of rain with no problem. If hot, I can zip the canvas down and be covered by what amounts to a mosquito net. I'm usually in altitude where heat isn't an issue but a mosquito net and skivys is about as cool as I can imagine.