Northern Virginia Roll Call

Yea it was. But I couldn't get home. Got stuck a few times. And the snow plows got stuck too

They try to avoid it. I have only gotten there one time

 

who is going / taking pics / GoPro of the Rausch Creek thing???

I'd be happy to lend my GoPro to whomever wants to get some nice footage!

 

Only the ruggedized version is that much. The Kukenam Sky is $1400 new, but with REI giving me 20% off and free in-store pickup, I made out like a bandit.

 

I had to delete that.......

 

I told Karen to go get gas there! Thanks for the tip!

 

Very slow this time worse than the first was plus being a retear he says will take quite a bit longer and will never be the same. I've been told 4 times now to find a different line of work and that I should work like I'm 50 and not still 20. Kinda hard when you've been busting your ass doing the same work for 30 years

 

Yeah I have been told that I need to stop busting my ass as well since I have an assistant that does nothing more than collect a paycheck....

After 7 years on my shoulder repair I am so afraid of a re-tear so I really take it easy on that side anymore....

 

Im ready to retire

 

"luckily" I already broke my neck in my line of work....

now I just have a snooze and cruise desk job

 

Ah no wonder...mine is the Autana Sky. I had them mixed up.

 

I dont really get the appeal of an RTT.... what's wrong with a ground tent??

for $1000+ you can buy a nice big tent, camping gear, sleeping bags, air mattress, and all of your gear....

PLUS you dont have to deal with the PITA of driving around with it all the time, or loading / unloading it for trips

 

That will sound a little funny, but I actually wanted the extra weight of an RTT in my bed to soften up my deavers when cruising around. Besides that it actually comes together pretty quick and it is rather fun chilling in one if you get a chance. Honestly though, if you get a decent tent and buy some memory foam mattress pads on Amazon you can have a similar set up for less than $200 I think. Again, I want the weight in my bed which partially drove me to buying one, the used deal on one was helpful as well.

 

I feel the same way. They're super cool, but I could never justify that kind of coin.

 

yea that's def something I didnt think about.... I'm sure it occasionally helps offroad as well.... having a little extra weight for better traction

Agreed. I'd rather take my $1500...spend $500 on camping gear, and $1,000 on a winch, bumper, tires, or lift etc...

 

So what happens if it rained the night before and it's complete mud? Also what happens if there are ground animals or bears? Plus setting up a RTT is way easier than a ground tent. And you can leave your sleeping bags inside and have more room in the cab. And what if you put your tent on some rocks? Sucks for you sleeping.

 

Honestly though if you like how your rear is currently, then I wouldn't go for it. At first my rear end felt great being a mid travel SUA, but with the front end now being LT it makes the rear seem stiffer and since I got the "HD" springs in there that are made for 250# extra weight I figured I might as well load it up. If you don't have HD springs then I wouldn't get one just for weight like I did. But having a roomy RTT is nice when its camping time.

 

This helps too. I got to try out my tent during a rain storm and the awning I had in my ladder made it clutch for taking a leak without getting rained on. There are def some added benefits, back in the "mummy" days I honestly lucked out with not having to deal with rain while sleeping in my truck bed.

 

so if it rained the night before, I always lay a tarp down as a ground insulator anyways under all my tents... and if a bear can climb a tree, a bear can climb a truck / ladder / bed rack etc....

I dont know... I've slept on the ground in a tent hundreds of times.... I guess it all comes down to knowledge on how to prep a campsite...

but I see your point... an RTT is quicker to set up / break down.

 

It comes down to does your budget warrant it and do you like the idea of commuting an RTT. Like I said, if I didn't want the weight then I would of done something different, but bringing a chic along does help rationalize having one over sleeping in my 5 ft bed. This could be rectified with a ground tent though.

 

I don't look at it as a value proposition. I used to use one of the Napier truck bed tents and it was awesome. So nice being up off the ground, especially camping on the beach. It was an enormous pain in the ass emptying the bed to pitch it though.

I'm about to spend 4 weeks on the road camping out of the truck for our honeymoon so quick set up is a priority + I've always kinda wanted one so I finally had enough of an excuse to pull the trigger. If i were just camping a few times a year like I do now, I never would have bought it. I hope it's everything I've made it out to be when it shows up.

I've been camping my whole life, made it through the scouts, fiance grew up backpacking so shes cool and we get by with the ground tent just fine now. I just think it will improve comfort and convenience quite a bit. Open the back and have a drawer set up for cooking, pop the tent open for sleeping. Done. No unloading totes and tables and tarps and putting it all back.