Truck Camping Photo Thread

I took the truck on the interstate over the weekend, first time since adding the roll up bed cover. I wanted to check the mpg after adding a OV 87 tune, steel RCI sliders, front and trans skid plates and the new bed cover. Running Bridgestone Revo 3 AT in 265-70-16.

Wife and myself with air conditioner running and cruise on 70 mph.

I got 21.6 mpg. I'm thinking I should be able to get 20 mpg with 300 lbs of camping gear in the bed, under cover.

I understand mileage will drop dramatically in the mountains..

 

Wild camping in Baja. Prepping for our round the world trip

 

Now you're just rubbing it in our faces!

 

LOL...FACT!!!
Zim

 

No the message is the same. He loves you but just uses a different tone of voice to tell you....ahahahahahahahahaha
Beautiful pics Sir.
Zim

 

Went out for a night in London. Wanted to test the waters with our little one. Went great, she literally slept like a baby

 

Wow, the Brits really changed up the city.

 

It’s really quite amazing what they’ve done over the years haha (London, Ontario)

 

Which over soft topper rack are you rocking? Looks intense btw!

 

Personally designed it, and had a buddy laser cut and bend it up out of 1/8" aluminum plate. Then I TIG'd it together.

I couldn't find a rack out there I liked, and most were either heavy steel, riveted or bolted sheet, or stooooopid expensive TIG'd aluminum.

This one would easily have cost near $2000 as it only weighs a whopping 26#s and can support 600#s (static). I have a total of $220 into it, so I feel that I am gaining traction on paying myself back for the purchase of my Miller Dynasty 280 water cooled TIG setup.

 

Holy smokes that’s sweet! What are the odds you’ll sell your plans?

 

If I ran a soft topper (or go back to running one) THIS rack would be a must. And yes I'd absolutely pay you to replicate. Preferably not $2K, but I fully recognize thats likely what a production model would cost.

 

What can I say? How about we're having a ball and spending a total of $2,500 to $4,500 a month total while seeing amazing places.

I'm trying to get you all to join me!!

 

Been there and done that LOL. We're happier than hell you are getting to see the world now. Be safe out there and have a blast.
Zim

 

There is a reason TIG welded aluminum racks are so damn expensive out there (if you can find one), and why I chose to build my own. With that, there is a reason why TIG welding an aluminum rack isn't going to be cost effective for you to have me build another. Unfortunately I don't have the shop space to just bang this kind of thing out willy nilly. My two car garage is full of my mostly useful junk and I had to dedicate a solid week of a rearranged garage to get enough space to glue mine together.

Now, If I had an actual shop (like a 40'x60', or even better 60'x100' shop) where I could have an actual space dedicated to just working on metal fab, I would consider banging out a few of them for fun.

It's an absolute mind game for me to know that I could design and build a product for myself and have others like and want one as well. I build one-off stuff all the time for my projects (mostly due to market unavailability, costs involved, or not invented yet). As much as it makes sense to attempt to "go into business" making such products, I just can't (I'm a horrible boss with no sense of a quitting time). That and as soon as I finish fabbing up a projeft and prove to myself it is worthy of internet knowledge, I have moved on to something completely unrelated. So, in a sense I would be restricting myself from future personal coolness if I stopped life to get onto manufacturing any one (or two) items.

Maybe when I retire and eventually get my shop.

The luxury of being creative with an overactive imagination, 3D rendering in my head, skilled enough not to cut off my body parts while cutting things, no inibitions to buying tools and teaching myself how to use them, and with a "can do" attitude, I get shit done (on my toys).

 

I'm hiding out

 

Sorry if my comment came across as if I was soliciting your services. Was intended to be more of a tip of the hat in applause of your design and skill.

……

I’ll see myself out.

 

No, you're good bro.

PM sent so as to not get this thread too far off topic.

 

Another visit to the Green Ridge State Forest in the Potomac Highlands of MD. This time I stayed on site 27, did some trail riding and cooked some good food! Here’s the trail riding video. Good stuff toward end, including Potomac.



Some good food to follow…



And some camp pics…

 

Awesome!! Cool dog too!