Prescott area 4wheeling runs

So if you dont mind me asking what was it about the other tent set-ups that make the RTT so much better? Is it the ease? Speed? Comfort? This is a real hard one for me, as I love sleeping on the ground and my tent sets up in literally a minute and I can have my whole camp including tent taken down and packed in 5-10 minutes total. I have to urinate so many times at night, when I backpack I use a Gatorade bottle...I assume this is protocol for any dude in an RTT? I'd hate to be up and down that ladder all damn night! One of my pet peeves is WIND! I HATE WIND! Hahahaha...how is the wind up there on the "summit" In the end its the $1000 price tag for the tent, $300-$700 for bars or rack, mounting brackets....the extra weight...is it that much faster etc...

Help me lighten my wallet! Ha!

Damn! Like that! Compressor in and done? How hard was the install? Did you mount the compressor first and then mount it together in the cubby? Did you get locking cubby doors? Where did you mount your switch?

Hell ya man! Well I will be out there Saturday afternoon myself and Sunday. Unfortunately found out I will need to work Friday, so Ill be leaving sometime Saturday late morning probably. Ill look up some tracks in that area and send you guys the info! Getting closer.....I'm excited to ride my trusty stead into Prescott Nat'l!

 

I got the dual battery installed and the ARB dual compressor in the bed cubby. You can still use the stock cubby door so it looks like nothing is there. The switch is temporarily mounted in the cab. It's temporarily mounted until I get the switch Pro. I might be off Thursday and Friday but I can possibly Offroad Saturday afternoon because in the morning I'm celebrating Thanksgiving. I know of a lot of places to Offroad by goldwater so just let me know which place you wanna go to!

 

I think my main deciding factor is that I really really dislike sleeping on the ground. If you love sleeping on the ground, then a RTT wouldn't be a worthwhile investment in my book.

I feel way more 'secure' sleeping off of the ground. Plus, there is the increased camaraderie between my truck and I, since it is the thing that I sleep on. That's worthwhile, as my relationship with my vehicle is important to me, as weird as that is to non-car people.

No need for a sleeping bag, and I simply pack the tent with the bed already made, pillows and comforters stored inside, etc.

The act of climbing off of the ground, up a ladder, sitting on the edge of the bed, taking your shoes and pants off, and then climbing in is also worthwhile to me. I never liked getting into tents on the ground.

I too use a bottle for my nighttime pisses.

The tents (at least my tent, which was $2,500, not sure about the $1,000 variety) has very limited wind issues. Mainly the zipper pulls, which can be quieted with little bits of tape.

Beds always level (if you level your truck, which you should), no need to dig out or remove rocks or find that suitably flat spot in the middle of wherever you are (I tend to camp outside of traditional camping spots, so the ground isn't always the flattest), no need to dig a trench around the tent if rain is incoming, the annex room (if you're hanging out for more than one or two days) can be a great addition depending on weather, privacy requirements, etc.

Very comfortable to sleep in, and quality sleep, even on adventures, is paramount for me.

 

Hell ya! You made many good points that rung well with me!
Well I guess all I need to decide now is him how high to have my new RTT sit above the bed? Rack or bars? Is weight an issue? Wont be doing my Rxt leafs in the rear until my kings set up next fall?

 

@MR E30

That track you posted a week back looked fun as hell! You' to me me detailed directions on how to get to that trail! Power lines... a little step bar grinding if I remember?

 

Sorry bro got caught up a little longer then expected in town. Did get my ARB in! Works like a charm! Was able to get out Saturday night to hit Montana Mountain.. super fun! Im out again but for the WHOLE weekend this time December 8th...theres some loc guys down here in the valley who have that weekend open as well and are down to 4x4/camp!

 

Awesome!

I went with a bed rack, which puts the top of the tent about 4-6 inches above the top of the truck.

Bars were not on my list at all, as I wanted the versatility of all of the mounting options that the racks come with. Bars are definitely cheaper, but that wasn't able to sway my opinion enough. Needed to have my tent a bit higher off of the ground as well, or the annex room would be way too droopy onto the ground.

Weight has not been an issue for me thus far. It will become an issue in the future, but I am attempting to time a fully loaded setup to my inevitable suspension upgrade. I won't be doing any sort of bed drawer system (which can add a lot of weight) as my truck is my DD and daily workhorse, so occupying the bed like that isn't an option for me. I don;t need much for my excursions, so a couple of chairs and a couple of bins and a bag of clothes and a few tools doesn't effect the rear suspension much.

 

I can draw up the route on google earth. I'll put together a little itinerary for you. I would be down to do it again, especially since my tube steps are now removed.

I was completely stock, and without my stock tube steps the trail would have been much less nerve wracking. Your stock mud flaps will get beat up several times, but nothing too extreme.

If you want to make the voyage up here I can attempt to join you. It was a fun day!

 

Didnt even think of this!

I guess this is what I need to do as well and really have been. Unless I drop some funds for an alu rack (dissent, KB etc), the cheapo "steel" bars are "heavier" and Im trying to keep my weight down as much as I can.

I am in the same boat!

Have you done any hard core 4x4ing? Can you feel the load difference in the rear with the RTT on? In your opinion is the RTT an issue when it come to having the weight to high?

 

Short of a little armor and 32" tires I am stock as well....No suspension or huge tires here. I have 4x4'ed way harder then I ever thought I would in my Taco "stock!" She has surprised the shit out of me how capable she is in stock form. Just a gem! I really like the default TRAC (traction control) 4Lo system, it will get you up stuff that I really thought would be out of this truck's league...especially stock!

Have you gone down FR700 I think it is? Any hard parts?

I heard you can get from flagstaff to 4 peaks area all dirt with just a highway crossing or two "Overland" Style?? Have you heard of this at all?

I would be so down to route out a track from Grand Canyon to 4peaks or hell...TUCSON! I have heard of and seen on a map the Northern AZ Overland route from Prescott to Flagstaff....but not the entire mid section.... That would be awesome! I'd get patches made! HA!

 

If you don't plan on getting a tent with an annex room the additional height above the ground wouldn't be as major of a difference. But when I had my RTT sitting on the bed rails of my old Tundra, the floorboard was too low to even sit under comfortably. So raising it up was an easy decision.

I haven't done anything that gnarly while loaded with camping gear. Though I have had no issues offroading with a RTT on the back of the truck. It literally made no difference, that I could tell. If you're trying to climb a steep rock face with a 10,000 lb rig, you'll probably be screwed. But I would never load my Tacoma to GVWR anyways, so I personally don't worry about weight that much. The height of the weight can be a problem if you are pushing the roll/pitch limits of the truck, but that too is outside of my current comfort level!

 

Never been down FR700 as far as I can recall.

You ever heard of the Grand (maybe Great) Arizona Trail? Takes you from the Mexican border down by Yuma up to the south rim of the grand canyon. All dirt except for one tiny portion out by Williams.

This epic journey is on my to-do list. Soon. Except I want to make it to the north rim of the GC instead. And document the whole thing.

I need a crew!

 

Well I am IN like Flynn!!! I got some fellas with me as well! We should really look into the trail itself and start planning the trip for next year maybe? Before the rains? I will be in Ouray,Colorado next August, so we should plan to do it after spring...April or something maybe....

THAT IS DEFINITELY A DREAM IF MINE AND WOULD BE AN AWESOME ADVENTURE!

 

Someone told me the 700 road can get you tot he middle of the state from Flag and connects you to the portion in Payson, and then on south from there. I need to do some research or just head up to Mtn. Aire as the entrance to 700 is right there on the west side of the 17.

 

Excellent. I may have a couple of buddies with Raptors who will join in as well.

Very limited info on the trail. I have only read two stories of people doing/attempting it. One on a motorcycle, one as a single vehicle expedition. Both documented fairly well, but limited pictures and route info. Would be shooting in the dark I think.

Next year was my goal as well.

I was just in Ouray last August! Cool little place. Stayed at the Ampitheater campground, which works if you reserve a spot in advance. Great views from its perch up on the side of a mountain. Spot 15 is a great choice if they have it available. Check out Lake City as well. Gorgeous. On my list of places to get a second home.

I agree. Would be a fabulous adventure. I'm thinking it would take 6-8 days though. So it's a serious one.

 

That goes up to quartz mountain. Not difficult trail most stock trucks could do it. Just the base of the mountain there is a fork. Going right is the easy smooth route. Going left is the difficult route that would require 4x4. Park at the opening and hike to the top. It’s beautiful with a full view of Prescott. And the top is all made of quarts. Also I’ve hardly ever seen any people up there

 

Did anyone ever do this?

 

old thread but did you drive the 700?

just curious, thought you'd be interested that the 700 (and 91) are railroad beds from the Flagstaff lumber co, the whole rd you drive is the newer bed with glimpses of the old bed following along just a few meters to the west. lots of cool RR history all along there if you know where to look