Prepping for 3 weeks in Wyoming/Montana

[jhmoore]

This is not a big vehicle mod thread... the new 2018 TRDORP will be stock on my first big trip. Took it to the mountains in the Eastern Sierra a month ago for a little shake-out, now headed to Wyoming and Montana for three weeks in a couple weeks.

I wish I had some super-nice (and expensive!) overlanding rig, but for now buying the vehicle was enough expense and it’ll run stock on this trip. I don’t anticipate more rough roads than medium-quality gravel roads.

Going solo (much to the ire of my 10 year old, who loves Wyoming!), and planning to sleep in back. Just back from Costco, where I picked up a 3” gel memory foam queen-sized mattress topper. Planned on cutting it down the middle—to make it 6” thick—but it turns out that it just folds over well and fits perfectly!

Now I need
a) a hard plastic bin to fit in the rear footwell where I removed the seat bottom—so that where my feet or head goes will be supported
b) to figure out how in the heck I’m going to fit everything I need on the other side of the back!

While I don’t really want to rely on restaurants and Clif bars for all meals, I’m not sure that a cooler, camp stove, and cooking gear are going to fit!

I’ll add more over the next two weeks of prep... if anyone is interested in poor man’s quasi-overlanding!

That’s the 10 year in the photo below with the bins on the left... she claims that she’s never leaving the back of the truck...

 

[bosox15]

Sounds like a great trip. My famy and I did three weeks last summer through SD, WY, ID, MT, UT, and CO, and made it work inside but without sleeping in there. I'd cut down to essentials as much as possible, no need to apply the entire trip from the get go. Once a week we'd stay in a hotel to do laundry, take showers, and restock, but we could have probably found a coinop laundry or showers.

It helped that I built a drawer system in the month leading up to help manage the storage. Here's a couple pics if you're considering that direction.

https://instagram.com/p/BXwZ09aF2nb/

 

[bigbadpoppa]

I just did a poor man's overlanding / road trip to Alaska.Ill write up a thread soon with pictures on what I used but in short the main pieces for storage.

1. Look for a used roof rack. Yakima or Thule with cargo basket or box. Scored mine for cheap on craigslist. Dime a dozen and you can go universal bars 48"+

2. Built a DIY bed frame / shelving out of plywood

3. Small bbq and random assortment of food. Cooler went on roof.

 

[jhmoore]

Ill write up a thread soon with pictures on what I used

Looking forward to it!

 

[jhmoore]

It helped that I built a drawer system in the month leading up to help manage the storage. Here's a couple pics if you're considering that direction.

https://instagram.com/p/BXwZ09aF2nb/

Good-looking drawers

 

[Scar7]

These storage containers work well and can be stacked two high. I think you can get like 8 into the 5th gen but 4 in the back is best. When you're sleeping, put them outside (they serve as benches) or put them on the roof. Or, you could put your mattress on top of them, too.

https://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/re...thertight-storage-trunk#repChildCatid=1186787

A 25" x 75" x 4" tri-fold Milliard memory mattress is my preferred sleeping pad. I'm not a fan of elevating the mattress like on a cot or anything as it's harder to get into and it's too claustrophobic. With this pad, it's more comfortable than my bed at home. I put my head toward the rear gate.

 

[maybe368]

I would suggest a cargo net or some other way to secure the cargo, you don't want it in your lap in case of a collision. Enjoy the trip. The first time that I went to Montana, I realized what they mean by big sky...Mark

 

[smallfry]

If you want to try and save some space get a jet boil or similar then some of the freeze dried meals and just add water. Some of those are good some are bad (ie French toastone,yuk) kind of crap shot till you figure out the good ones.

 

[txvstrom]

That’s the 10 year in the photo below with the bins on the left... she claims that she’s never leaving the back of the truck...

Better check for stowaways before you leave!

I need pics when you can. Living vicariously through other people's trips this year.

 

[MossJenks]

Dont forget that they have grocery stores is both Wyoming and Montana. And a 5 gallon water jug takes up way less room that 5 gallons worth of 16oz water bottles. Those would be my primary suggestions looking at your current setup.

 

[jhmoore]

Better check for stowaways before you leave!

Yes, I better! She is not going to be happy with me!

I need pics when you can. Living vicariously through other people's trips this year.

Funny, I'm a photographer and have been out the past two mornings testing a new lens (for this trip) and so my brain went straight to trip photos... not prep / 4Runner photos. Oops.

Well, here are a few prep photos of another type. Testing the Nikon 200-500/5.6 out at 500mm.

 

[jhmoore]

Water storage

Water storage is always one of the hardest things to figure out...

While most of this trip will be spent where I'll have easy access to resources, including water, parts of the trip may be more remote. I always try to have enough water on hand to both meet my normal needs and have enough left over to wait out a multi-day rescue or delay.

But water takes up a lot of space! I've been thinking that it'd be great if there was a flexible water bladder that fit well into the footwell behind the driver or passenger seat--when the second row seat bottoms are removed. Is there such a thing??

Also: found bins that are pretty close to the right size for sitting in that same footwell and being level with the back deck--to provide support for either my head or feet when I put in my foam bed and sleep back there.

 

[thennen]

LOVE Montana and Wyoming! Our last trip was in 2012 in my 3rd gen. Being realistic, I rented a low 4x8 U-Haul for all the stuff and kept the inside of the vehicle for people. For my family, that arrangement worked out great. A few hundred dollars more but worth it in my opinion. Whatever you do, enjoy!

 

[jimmynotjim]

I take one of these 7gal Aquatainer jugs for all my trips. It's more than enough and fits in a few places including the wheel well. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001QC31G6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_XJhLBbMK0B25V

 

[MissouriBreaks]

You know there are grocery stores in Montana. No need to take multiple cases of water, just find a store every week or so. When I go on long trips, I typically take 1 case of water and food for 3 to 4 days, and then stop and shop.

I generally find that I have forgotten something and need to stop anyway.

 

[Cboivin]

Sounds like a great trip

 

[CutthroatSlam]

Love this trip. We just bought a home in Stevensville, MT in the Bitterroot Valley. This will be future retirement:

https://www.realtor.com/realestatea...pitan-Loop_Stevensville_MT_59870_M86308-49635

Montana is outstanding for photography. Follow this guy on facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/MontanaCalloftheWildPhotography/

We're there primarily for the fishing, though will probably take up hunting.

Plenty of off road treks to do in Montana.

Wyoming is also a beautiful State.

 

[jhmoore]

You know there are grocery stores in Montana.

Exactly! But (a) I always plan as if I will end up stuck somewhere for multiple days waiting on help, and (b) I'm thinking about closing the trip with some offroad stuff down in the Pariah in Southern Utah, so ... back to (a).

 

[jhmoore]

OK, so can anyone guarantee for me whether I'm going to see serious snow at any point during this trip??

(a) I know that I own not one, but two, full-size ice scrapers (for clearing windows)... but currently cannot find either one in the garage!

(b) I don't own snow chains for 265/70R17, so have to decide whether to buy a set and load them up in the car...

 

[jhmoore]

Love this trip. We just bought a home in Stevensville, MT in the Bitterroot Valley. This will be future retirement:

https://www.realtor.com/realestatea...pitan-Loop_Stevensville_MT_59870_M86308-49635

Beautiful place! Party at your place in a couple weeks? I may be in Missoula...