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

I've always been pretty meh about fridges. A good cooler, dry ice, and some proper packing and I can make it 7 days and I'm usually not out longer than that without driving by some place that has ice. If I won one or someone gave me one I would rock the hell out of it but there are many other things I'd buy prior to getting a fridge.

 

Haha yeah...at least that's what the wife says

 

That's what I think as well.

 

Got another pic of how you have all that layer out on the bed?

 

Ah the fridge! Yes! I remember having a conversation with my wife when I told her about the idea of a +12v fridge. She listened to me speak for about 60 seconds, stopped me and said go buy it now! NEVER has she done that with any other big purchase before hahah.

 

I bought mine and figured I'd just ask for forgiveness. Surprisingly, she took right too it, loved the idea of being able to package food and keep it dry and told me just not to tell her how much it cost.

Worth it.

 

With two years retrospect, I never would have imagined how much time it would save having a fridge. Time saved is like money in the bank. That alone has made the fridge worth the cost. When I add in all the other benefits, I'm ahead in a big way. I hope my fridge lasts a looooong time.

 

A good cooler is definitely on my list. The week trip we did with our cheapy ones was such a hassle. Buying 2 bags of ice every single stop. A fridge would be nice but i think a good cooler will do just as well. I've been watching everyone post reviews in the "high end cooler" thread

Not even the rtt? Mine realized that the ground tent sucked and said get a rtt!

 

When i went down the Grand Canyon our coolers had almost as much ice when we got done as they did when we started, 3 days before. Very little melted even in ~100° weather. They were the 65l yeti coolers

 

Awesome. Good to hear. It wasnt ever above 80 and i was constantly filling them, but like i said cheap cooler (like something youd take to a bbq for a few hours) and they were opened quite a bit during the evenings.

This is the one i think im gonna get when i have the funds.

http://m.samsclub.com/ip/sportsman-cooler/prod10150470

 

I felt the same way until I borrowed a fridge for a week long trip. I've never used a cooler since. It's also my wife's favorite piece of equipment besides the tent and camp toilet.

 

I guess my bank account couldn't handle borrowing a fridge or an RTT I'll sleep on the ground, shit in the woods, and wash my hands off by digging for a beer in my cooler. Wait, that doesn't sound right...

 

Having done it both ways. Fridge > Cooler, and the best part is you keep the cooler for house parties, etc. Just another option to have.

And no RTT here. Doesn't really work for our family of four with small kids. Instead we use a 10'x10' Kodiak Canvas VX Series tent with Exped Mega Mats. Full size pillows, blankets (or bags). Propane tent heater in cold weather. We spared no expense for our family camping comfort. It's funny at times when my wife and I talk to family and friends about our camping experience. They think we rough it. Haha.

 

Hmm. someone forgot to tell me it wouldn't work for my family with 4 kids. :dunno: Been a game changer for us. Wouldn't do it any other way. Just more evidence that everyone is different and there's no single right way to do things.

 

My wife and 3 year old love the RTT. Haven't taken the little baby yet but I have no doubts she will like it too.

 

post fixed.

I have tremendous admiration and respect for what you have accomplished with your family of six. Amazing trips in amazing places, you are a great inspiration for me, and probably countless others.

The RTT is neat. I envy the speed of deployment / breakdown. I wish I could make the RTT work for us, but no matter how I slice it, it just doesn't fit our requirements well.

 

@catattacksdog sure thing bud! It's just a receiver hitch cargo rack that was given to me, so I bolted it across my bed and it works wonders for keeping my stuff organized! The description of the contents is in my signature. I wrecked the truck right after putting the ZORT tire cover on, so no decent
pictures of it. The truck is getting an ARB front end as we speak. The net is just to keep the DPS happy, I'm not sure what the rule is on having random chit strapped down on top of your bed. The cans, high lift and shovel have carriage bolts from the top and wing nuts on the bottom, because I trust that over a strap.

 

FYI

The original "Truck Conversation" xtranormal videos that were thought to be lost to time have been found, on the Internet Web Archive.

http://web.archive.org/web/20120116120930/http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/7339561/truck-conversation

 

For sushi I think.

 

It's all good, and please don't take my comment as a jab at you. Like I said, everyone has different needs and ways of accomplishing what they need to whether it's with gear like tents, or with mods to vehicles or even the vehicles they choose to drive. There is so much on the internet that people shoot down anything that is done differently than how they do it. I've probably been guilty of that myself, albeit unintentionally. Bottom line, is keep exploring (especially with your kids) and whatever gear/equipment works best for you is just fine.