Car Camping / Trip Reports / Photos / Buildouts / “Overland” / Expedition Rigs Area (homeless?)

Well like I said in my earlier post, it's different for everyone. I don't typically camp in places where I'm worried about someone taking my spot. So I don't feel like I need to leave stuff to hold to place but if I did it would just be the trailer. Again, another reason it works for me and maybe not for you.

As for speed of takedown, I'm not trying to say I can do it faster than you. I also said it's totally different for someone like you who is solo vs someone like me who has a whole family along. But it's still not a big deal for me to break camp and take off if I need to.

Please don't take any of my comments as an arguement and that I think that RTT's are the end-all-be-all. They work for some people, they don't for others. There is no right or wrong approach.

 

I am not taking your comments as arguing. I was actually just curious if there was something I didn't think of. It also sounds like you are talking about moving camp in general? My comment about beating me was in regards to driving to a lake for the day while leaving camp set up or going to just explore an area because the fishing is dead. You'll beat me with pack up time because I am a slow mover . You are right though, my views represent that of a single male who camps alone 99% of the time. One day I will have a trailer. Probably not with an RTT but just to have a permanent truck camping unit that I can lock my gear in while I am gone and leave the bed open for firewood and the pooch.

 

I'm pretty interested in this myself. I've been leaning toward the dual battery as in going to have a winch someday as well.

 

Although I can't speak from experience as I don't have a fridge or a dual battery system in my truck it is to my understanding that if your going to run a fridge it's best to have an auxiliary or a dual battery system. I'd be too worried about depleting your starter battery and getting stranded somewhere if you were solo. Your starter battery is also probably not a deep cycle battery. You're going to significantly reduce the lifespan of your starter battery if you run it down with a fridge constantly. If you really don't want to do a dual battery setup then I'd make sure you at the very least carry a good booster pack with you. But if you're going to go out and buy one of those id just put that money towards a dual battery system. Head on over to Expedition Portal and search through their forum as they have tons of information on dual/auxiliary battery systems and the different ways of wiring them.

 

I'm looking into a GoalZero. They have a variety of sizes and they can be left in camp while out and about. Thy can be charged by the vehicle while driving or solar when parked. Its all built in too. They're more expensive or at least on par with a decent dual battery setup. However, after looking at what you get as far as a full sine wave invertor, usb ports and flexibility of charging, 120, 12 and solar, they're very tempting.

 

The last time that I ran mine overnight without the truck being on I drained my battery and had to charge off the solar panels. But it was still super cold. Most of the fridge/freezers now run well enough and are insulated enough that if they are at temp at night just shut them off and don't open them. It should be fine that way.

 

That's what I was hoping. Thanks Whitecloud.

 

I unplug my fridge at night too and it still keeps things cold. I have one of the older ARB fridges. It works great. From what I hear the newer ARBs have a low voltage sensor and will shut themselves off if the battery is drained too low.

 

My IndelB has a low voltage cutoff. I have left it powered in the driveway/garage for 2 days or so (longer) and have yet to trigger it. That's on a 31M battery.

 

I realize the discussion started as a question about RTTs, but there is another option that has not been mentioned - the teardrop trailer. You have the drawbacks of a trailer, but there is a huge upside, too.

I am building a sleeping platform in my truck (still need to add drawers) for sleeping when by myself or in an emergency when we do not have the teardrop with us.


When the situation allows, the teardrop offers comfort, warmth, security (parking lot, not backwoods!) - and no wet tent to put up if/when it rains overnight. Also, having a nice kitchen setup makes cooking easy.

Here are some pictures of last weekend at a local lake - the first trip with new truck.



Not better, not worse - just another option.

As was previously mentioned, the only important thing is getting out there!

 

It is built to take on fairly rough trails.

I need to add "sliders" on each side to protect the fenders from side impacts. Also, I will add a Bulldog Jack to each rear corner, to aid leveling the trailer, if necessary.

 

That's cooler than the backside of a pillow! I dig it. What make and model is it?

 

Great looking sleeping platform! I like the metal drawer slides. May have to do this to my truck one of these days! Thanks for the ideas. Jealous of your teardrop!

 

that's my set up

Just to add, that padlock is keyed alike to my truck key
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/s...93F9LYOwPOUPqLJYaO2wsitttTNITyz922RoCA3Dw_wcB

 

Hmmm, tell me about that water jug/pump setup. What's the capacity?

 

I had this set up bookmarked

http://www.livingoverland.com/2013/08/12-volt-water-system-scepter.html?m=1

 

OK, somehow I feel like I am winning with my 7 ga aquatainer cube with spigot and gravity feed. Rotate it 90 degrees at camp, no effort/power needed, $18 bucks. Fits perfect in the trailer next to the ARB, got a second one for in the truck bed. No leaks works great.
http://www.rei.com/product/618168/reliance-aqua-tainer-7-gal

 

You can just lay the Scepter on edge too

 

The teardrop is made by Little Guy (www.golittleguy.com). It is a Silver Shadow model on a Rough Rider frame (they usually do not build that configuration.) It sits on a 3500 lb. axle with 10" brakes.

I built the kitchen setup. They have several options for the kitchens, but I really didn't like any of them. So, I deleted their kitchen, and built the one you see. It works really well for us.

I have a build thread for the TD on Expo (link in sig) if you are curious.

 

Thanks. This platform is my 2nd go around - a little different than the first one I built.

I am looking forward to the 5' long drawers. BTW, the slides by themselves are about as heavy as all the wood in the platform. They are heavy duty and should last a long time.