Wedge Life

I'm lucky to camp at altitude where they're hardly seen year round but when we do camp with mosquitoes we usually have repellent and try to minimize opening the doors or tailgate. Before we go to sleep, a sweet old fly swatter for a minute or two does the trick for us haha

 

Where I live the bugs are heavily elevation-dependent. If I'm up high it's not generally an issue. Camping below treeline means lots of mosquitoes at certain times of year. I use a prototype Nightfall Overland bug net for the rear hatch and it works super well at keeping the Drifter bug-free (if we ever have the time we'll finalize and release this sucker, but we have two months of work stacked up currently!). For anything that does make it inside while the windoors or bug screen are open, popping the screen off the MaxxAir fan and turning it on full-blast exhaust for a minute seems to do the trick. Bloodsuckers in the Drifter just haven't been an issue for me yet, even in areas where I can't stand outside for 30 seconds without finding multiple mosquitoes on me already.

 

Ooooh, I'm gonna have to try the fan method lol

 

I DIYed a bug net for the back entrance. It's two flaps with some velcro to attach it to the sides and magnets in the middle for entry/ closing

 

I also have a DIY big net from our flippac but most of the time out curtains keep most of the critters out. We have sprayed it with bug spray from tine to time.

Down the road I’d like to grab one from either @belloinsella or @joeydurango along with some window covers but it’s been back burner’d for a little while

 

if the bugs are bad out i use this guy inside...

https://www.amazon.com/Thermacell-C...ocphy=9031985&hvtargid=pla-352077517657&psc=1

and something like this hanging from my rear awning...

https://www.amazon.com/BroElec-Emer...ping+lantern+bug+zapper&qid=1597167934&sr=8-9

I try keep all doors closed as much as possible but will be looking into a rear hatch screen. As mentioned for the ones inside i remove the fan screen and suck em out... which provides a fair amount of entertainment at the same time - chop chop chop! no mercy....

 

I like that fan on exhaust with no screen idea.
Edit: I just need a fan. And a tent. And a lot of other stuff.

 

I leave the fan screen on and watch the bugs get stuck then press them out with my finger lol.

I also have one of those bug zappers that look like a tennis racket in the Drifter. Works amazing

 

I’m sorry to hear about your luck. We have had campsites poached even when we left tents/tables/hammocks. For decades of tent camping, we had no problems, but in the last 5 or so years it seemed to change. A couple times, folks just pulled in and set up right next to us (while explaining that we were welcome to stay!). (Of note, the common theme was highly desirable sites next to water)

To keep this “thread relevant”, here’s what we decided: abandon the idea of holding campsites entirely. Wedge campers offer serious speed and flexibility as tools to exploit. We can set up and tear down faster than tents or RVs can even pick a spot. We get some cool spots, but are always mobile. If we leave a spot we take all our stuff. If three vehicles pull up to camp beside us, we’re gone (and quick). Changing our approach has removed the stress of “I hope someone didn’t mess with camp while we were gone”. In our neck of the woods, it can be a long way from a campsite to our trail. Sometimes, we’ve really lucked out by snagging open sites close to the next morning’s trailhead just by exploring in the late afternoon.

It’s also enabled us to wander and explore lots more. We might go for an early hike, drive to find a nice spot for lunch, set up the hammock, nap, think about where to hike/ride the next day, wander over that way, and find a cool camping spot over there.

On topic idea:
Maybe a big rainfly? They pack small, and can still be useful for privacy or sunshade. I tote my old one around because they can be super handy sometimes. Strung up properly, they’re an imposing structure.

Good luck!

 

Yeah, we have only tried having our spot held a few times and I'm not sure it's worth the fuss, especially after our last encounter. I don't want to have to worry about it. It's a little tough right now when our mountains are inundated with people who would otherwise be elsewhere, but alas it is true that the wedge can serve us anywhere!

 

Any wedge owners with a dometic fridge leave it on for a few days while out in the field? I know this is all ballpark depending on the exterior heat (~70F for grins), the temp of the fridge (40F) and our second battery (Odyssey PC1400), but I'd love some real world examples of how long your fridge has lasted in the wild when you've been out having fun backpacking or doing other activities. I'd rather not returned to spoilt milk. I would think that given our setup we'd get at least 3 days (72 hours) since a larger dometic pulls 1.3 amp/hr (https://www.gearpatrol.com/cars/a529134/dometic-cfx-75dzw-portable-refrigerator-review/). Thoughts?

 

To be certain how about doing a test run at home before you head out?

Do your normal pre-trip preparation but instead of food use something like containers of water and leave the truck in the driveway.

This what I did. I found out I can run my fridge in 90 degree heat indefinitely as long as it gets full sun during the day.

Edit: Sorry, I can't speak to your set up. I have an edgestar that's super thirsty in comparison.

 

I don't have a wedge but I have used my fridge rebranded dometic, for at least a week while in camp. I do have a 2nd battery and a 100W solar panel. No problems.

 

I let my fridge run for almost a week straight in the truck parked on the street in Bend, OR last summer. I have a single Northstar 27F AGM that was a month old at the time. I returned back to the truck and it started like the battery was charged up full.
I will likely continue running a single battery until I start using my pure-sine 1000W inverter and get solar.

EDIT:

$1,270 Dometic CFX 50W CFX 50W 12v Electric Powered Portable Cooler, Fridge Freezer

Dometic CFX 50W

 

Yeah, so far, I have been throughly impressed w/ fridge (ARB Zero) & battery performance. In the 70 degree to less than 70 at night situations, I could let it run for 2-3 days straight and were talking the battery is still above 90% w/ the fridge sat at 35 degrees. In super hot weather, I have gone 48 hours between starts and the battery was still only down in the 80% range.

 

Already beginning to feel like autumn up high... mornings are chilly, the grasses are browning up, flowers are dying off. Won't be long.

 

What elevation is that your at?

 

About twelve grand at camp! Thirteen+ on the ridges and peaks.

 

That’s killer. My house on the east coast sits above 5k, and that’s close to the biggest we got out here

Looking forward to coming out there soon and doing some dual sport riding with my bros.

 

BRAP!