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

That’s near Davenport CA just north of Santa Cruz.

 

Upgrades! Full time padding. No more stealing couch cushions. 75$ at At Home - “premium” chaise lounges cushion. Foam would have been about 45 for the section and some sort of covering, another 10 ish. I paid 20 bucks extra to have it done for me and done way better than I could do. And I didn’t go out for lunch at work today so - there we go. Tags still on it - trying it this weekend, if I don’t end up liking it I can return it and get the more solid cushions, that’ll be about 120 instead, but I would be able to take the covers off and wash them easily annnnd 120 is still on the realm of a normal blow up mattress, etc so - we’ll see how this weekend goes as a test run.

 

Anything to keep those lot lizards happy on your roadtrips

 

Exactly what I need for ski lot camping. Front and back seat out? How difficult is it to do and especially to put back? Do you have details on the frame dimensions, etc.?

 

Yes - I left the back plastic bit in with the bin, removed the rear seat and the hinge. Passenger seat too.

Easy out. Really easy to frame - I just used 1 inch (might have been 1.5 can't remember off the top of my head, I think 1 inch felt a little too flimsy so I went a size up), and a ratcheting cutter. Took a couple hours.

The goal was to have it as easy to take in and out as it would be to take a RTT on and off. So far, I haven't reset the passenger seat. BUT I know the process to do so:

1. Bolt seat back in
2. Recalibrate sensors using techstream and a 66lb weight (30 Kg)

I just haven't done it yet. It's 4 bolts for the passenger seat.


The downside is that while driving, you'll have an airbag light on. This is the SOS for the passenger side airbag, the drivers side airbag will still operate as normal as that doesn't use an SOS setup like the pass. side. For me, this downside means I won't pass inspection, so I need to put the seat back in for inspection. Rear seat was useless anyway so I don't care about putting that back in, BUT it is easy, just a few bolts there too.

I do not have dimensions readily accessible. I can tell you I am 5'10 and can lie flat, the wood is about 6' end to end.


The wiring for the seat (SOS, etc) is still there - I just left it there, didn't try to tuck it up or anything like that.



Put the bolts back in where you took them out of. For the passenger seat this is kind of important since those go through to the outside.

PS - all season mat in the back won't work. Well, it could, but I took it out and have the frame sitting on the floor instead of on the mat. I'm looking for another one on the cheap to hack up so I can have the 60% covered behind the driver





On the left here you can see a hinge-type thing off behind the cubby. I ended up taking that out, it wasn't in the way but it could have been and was a single bolt so out it came.



Here's the frame



Front kicks in a bit because of the center console. No big deal.



Carpeted them - I used outdoor carpet from home depot, it was like 10$ for the section I needed. Cheap. Didn't do a wonderful job but it works. You can see here how I cut the wood at an angle where my feet go for the front. This was a "measure - ish" setup to be fair ...



Can see here how I notched the back for the cubby and have it set there. This actually overhangs the PVC frame by a few inches, but again, no big deal. it's sturdy enough.



This was my first trip with it. The whole point of doing this in the cold in February was that I was doing a cannonball run in March. I stole my couch cushions and will say - they were a bit wide, but damn comfy. I slept like a baby the whole time, it was great. I didn't like the cushions because (1) they covered the AC port that I could have used to charge my work computer, and/or use a battery eliminator for a baofeng radio. (2) they brushed up against the shift knob, no big deal but noticeable. (3) interfered with the center console too. Again, useable but annoying.

Needed something a bit narrower, so I went and got this thing last night and so far I like it. Laid down in the cab last night after clean up and getting it set up and it felt comfortable!

I don't have any pictures but you can stash stuff under it - the section where the passenger feet would be, that little box, is the perfect size for a 24 pack of water bottles.



Long of the short:

Benefits, comfy and contained, easy no setup or breakdown every morning/night.
Cons: Airbag lights, no passenger seats.
I would do it again in a heartbeat.





Now that I look at my BOM, I might have used 1", and 1/2" was the "too flimsy" size.

 

FRGus723 - is camping on top of your truck comfortable? Do you get much rocking?

 

Thanks for the knowledge! What type of plywood for the platform?

 

Uhhh 1/2 5 ply? I got scraps from someone who had leftovers from a project.

 

3 nights out near Jefferson, CO... last time using the Yakima Skyrise 3 before the new RTT arrives.

Little bit of rain, some good sun, dogs wanting to chase 4 wheelers, lots of empty beers in the end.

Was our first time with the ARB 63 fridge in the bed, went from Thursday to Sunday without killing the auxiliary battery (Off Grid Engineering dual battery kit under hood w/ Die Hard group 35 AGM as aux battery).

Good times

 

Not the Taco but travelled all over in this rig. Definitely some huge perks to the van.

 

Keeping it simple these days. North Georgia mountains

 

like the old school tarp pole.

Q: where can i buy one? do they come in mossy oak?

 

Yeah they’re pretty hard to come by these days, I had to custom order that from Cabelas. Gets lots of compliments!

 

My apologies, I just realized that you were really asking about the tarp. That is the REI brand 12x12. It was something like $50 during a sale event and I just improvise setup with a mix of lines, bungees, and support pole. It's been great and has withstood some serious downpours. I believe it only came in this tan color.

 

no; it's the pole i'm after. but thanks for the supplementary information!

 

Nice trip to CO last year. Was a bit damp but an amazing time.

 

Anyone looking for a great camp kitchen organizer- I must recommend the D Camp Kitchen from Adventure Tool Company. I added a paper towel holder with some NiteIze clips to the bottom and we're all set when at camp.

$17 EZ-Roll Holder – Paper Towel Holder | Patented Design | Innovative Paper Towel Holder for RV, Camping, Grill, Garage. Car Paper Towel Holder ● No Tools Needed – Setup Anywhere

EZ-Roll Paper Towel Holder

 

That’s awesome, I just ordered one. We’ve been using a couple LLBean hanging toiletry/shower bags for a similar purpose. I’ve been wanting to get another but they’re back ordered. This looks like a superior option plus it was in stock.

 

Finally figured out I have panorama mode and can get a good picture of the cab setup.

When I go out I have a sheet and pillow case but day to day I do not. Took this bad boy out to LA on a cannonball run. During that trip I stole my couch cushions and had 6 inches foam 22 in wide. Got in the way of the center console but was comfortable. Since then trips to Maine VT NH NY etc. using the current setup with the chaise lounge cushion.

I am 5 10 and can lay fully extended a okay.

 

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Awesome composite! Starlinks?