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

Makes perfect sense. Anything black for that matter. Not to long ago I read a report of someone that ran over a black bear in a Tacoma. ROFL!

I'll try to find the post...

EDIT: Here it is:

Wow! That's a lot of bags! I'm a backpacker and I have a Mountain Hardware Ultralamina 15 degree bag for about 5 years now. It's worked great for me. Love mine almost time for a new one though...

 

I use mostly MH bags. Have additional stuff for the wife and kids, but they prefer the heavy down blankets for some reason. Would rather huddle together in the cold. Summer and spring is different though.

 

LED bars are a rip off for the price vs the preformance you get out of them. Totally not worth the money. HIDs and big lamps still rule the Light word.

Having had a winch for a while but had wheel MANY times alone without one. I agree now i should have got one sooner. Very good tool.

I also believe having dual batteries and 360º lighting is very handy if you ever get caught at night. Which i have and do. it is a god send to beable to light up everything like day time in the middle of the night in some remote area looking for something/someone/repair/saving whatever.

I use my lights a lot. Helps a ton for spotting deer too.

 

Sub'd

 

+1 on dual batteries. Very handy for accessories and for emergency jump start.

Of the all 74,331 members and truck owners of Tacomaworld, I think you are the undisputed annihilator of the night. If I was doing any kind of off-road night ops, having a setup like yours I would think would be ideal. I thought about adding some lateral lights to the roof rack for lighting up camp on occasion. I do pack a nice portable 12v florescent work lamp for emergency auto repair, nice tool for $20.00. Packs down small and puts out good light at only 13 watt.

 

For sure on the winch. Same as you, I waited and luckily never got a good stuck without one. But since, I've used it to get out of some pretty shitty spots - even spun the rig around with a couple of snatch blocks..

I'd like to wire up a cheapo LED bar on my rack, over the rear. It'd definitely help with illuminating the area at night..

But yes, I totally agree on the light bars. As I've said all along - and not looking to start a flame war.. but I find it insane! I guess I just find it funny how so many people get fixated that they need to have "x" amount of gear by brand "x, y and z" or else they can't venture out into the back country. Saw it with a trip I made last weekend.. started with 5 guys interested - all but myself and another guy ended up going out. Had one person claim he couldn't go because his GPS navigation software wasn't ready, another guy said he didn't have enough lights and finally another guy said he couldn't go because he didn't have a winch anchor.. Come on!

I hate that color temperature, too. Absolutely sucks in snow or any kind of precipitation..

If I was to upgrade, I'd retrofit a set of LF240s. Should have jumped on the set of XGT HIDs that I saw on Craigslist last time I was in Anchorage.. Of course the cut wires and $50 price was a fairly clear indicator that they were stolen..

 

For bags I have a big canvas bed roll. 3 bags inside of it and a wool blanket. Its big and heavy, but I dont get cold. I usually just toss it out on the ground, except in the summer, too many bugs.

 

Something to be aware of too on the LED light bars is that there have been a number of reports that the Rigid LED light bars are RF noisy, and after installing some people report interference with the VHF/UHF/HF radios.

 

I have a 10" rigid on my rhino, I was less than impressed with the light output. I am putting LF170s on my truck when I get the cash.

 

i use OR Bivys and Gloves. Another great brand.

 

Are you guys kidding me? I am about to invest in 7 bars for my 360 view.

RF Noise too? Just the Rigids? or all of the bars?

 

Addirundax, roclkys, green/white mountains (?)

 

If getting light out far isnt your concern I wouldnt worry about it, they do pretty good for flood pattern. I am often on 2 lane roads at night, I want distance. If I were to outfit my rack with lights, I would probably do LEDs.

 

I can understand that. I leave mine at home in the winter.

 

Yea dual batteries is awesome. I love being able to self jump.

The one thin led bars are good for is flood lights for like camp lights and stuff. Just don't wait your money on fancy ones. Mine are blitzpros and work perfect for that reason.

And yea..I do lots of night/evening runs to the mountains so..definitely worth it

Ya like I posted above. Blitzpro bars are great for side fills and rear lights. Don't break the bank at all and work good.

Those kind of people are usually obsessed with the gear instead of the actual journey and experience of getting out. The people that get out when they have nothing and slowly acquire the right and better tools are the ones that truly appreciate good gear. But they also always use it well haha those guys that dropped out don't sound like they woulda have enjoyed your trip haha

I'm sad I wasn't in Wyoming. Totally would have met up with you for part of it.

I LOVE my lf240s. Seriously awesome lights. I got mine used for 100 bucks. Love them. Solid lights for sure. My nothing comes close to my 55w hid Hellas. Epic bright. Sometimes too bright though I will say..

 

Why would you do that? That is a huge waste of money

 

You prefer the Hellas over the LFs?

 

For a daily running high beam with distance..no. The 240s reach farther and being a halogen turn on instantly. HIDs need to warm up and flicking them on and off a lot isn't good for them.

But for pure light output, the hid retro fit Hellas beat the 240s. But halogen vs hid is a no brainer.

Love em both really

 

Ok, well, here is the delema. I have some bitcoin, 3k-4k worth that I am cashind in. I only have $4 invested in it.

What would get for that price point then? I was thinking 2 AirLockers and LED bars.

Rigid
either a 40" or 50" combo E2 FOr the front.
2x 20" SR2 Combo for either side of the back rack
2x 6" SR2 for the rear for the back rack
2x D2 fOr either side of the front rack back between the cab area on swivels for on the fly adjustment.

 

Regear and lockers

Armor

RTT bed rack
Fridge freezer
Winch
Front long travel


All for LEDs for sides and rear lits...just I'd get something else. Rigid is a rip off. Your just paying for name brand.

I would never run an led bar for a front main light. Not yet. Just not worth it. Even ridgids 50" bar only goes half the distance of a hid light.

I'd get two 8" front main lights. Then some fogs and maybe 4 roof lights or a led bar for a flood light.