1 Bored Clerk's Garage Built Camper

Great photos! Looks like a great trip.

You're right about Nevada. So much to that state.

Your pics are making me sad, since I didn't get to take my annual trip out west this year.

 

Bummer! I had a big Moto trip planned this summer but bailed on it. I wasn't going to bail on this. Guaranteed I was near way less people on this trip than if I stayed home.

I'm on my way home on I5 now. I was in cell service black hole but I'll update this thread when I get home.

 

I miss the west trip, but we did just get back from a week in Key West - camping right on the water! Don't feel too bad for me..... LOL

 

Saw you on I5 today going North in Red Bluff. Can’t miss the color!

 

Oh, nice! Was I being a dickhead? I think I was still pretty chill by Red Bluff.

 

Haha! I was going south so I was safe regardless.

 

Day 2 cont'd

After looking at the map, I realized that Alabama Hills was very close and would be perfect for camp that night! I had always seen cool pics and who doesn't want to see where Tremors, parts of Iron Man and about 398 other films were shot? Plus, funny looking rocks!


Here was my spot for the night. Not too shabby. I, for some reason, thought this place was a little remote or somehow lightly trafficked. That is not the case. It's right outside of a town and it is heavily trafficked. There are people camping EVERYWHERE. However, once you're nestled into one of the more private spots, you feel fairly alone. Get there early and plan to drive around a lot to find a spot you like...or any spot at all. Worth a visit for sure but I won't be dying to go back.





The Arch Loop Trail is definitely worth the walk. It's not very long nor difficult but it feels special if you're alone. I would recommend walking it counter clockwise from the main parking area. And get there near sunrise if you can. I was very taken with Mt Whitney. It's a stunning pile of granite. I drove up Whitney Portal to the start of the summit hike as well as the JMT (John Muir Trail). I must do this. It just looks unreal.





Before I called it a night, I took my Pixel 3 and a little tripod up into the rocks to mess around with it's night photography capabilities. I didn't edit any of these photos and I didn't have any other apps besides the standard camera app on the phone. It was pretty fun and I was impressed with what it could do. I know nothing really about good photography but I know when I'm having fun.

 

Mt Whitney is pretty special. I've been to the top twice, many years ago.

I was also very surprised how busy Alabama Hills are. But really cool rocks!

 

I'm in the research phase! I'd love to go up. Maybe even do the JMT. I've hiked at 10+k up to 14+k down in Peru and did fine. I did have altitude pills and the special leaves you get in Peru to help with altitude.

 

Northward!

I decided to just cruise up 395. I grew up in Carson City, NV and we spent time up and down 395 but I forget how much cool stuff is along that corridor. The answer is ALL OF IT!


Stopped at this little park in Bishop. It's pretty special to me. When I was little, my mom and dad would drive down to Bishop and my Grandparents would drive up from Canoga Park and we'd meet at this park for the handoff. And usually some ice cream. We would spend a good part of the summer hanging out in Canoga Park. Good times.





Get back muther f@cker, you don't know me like that!

The park appears to have changed not at all. There are some great boulders to play on, some good picnic tables, a nice stream and probably the same ducks...now elderly, of course.

Great spot to stop. However, the parking is limited to 24 minutes right next to the park. Not 20. Not 25. Twenty FOUR minutes. So, when my 24 was up, I grabbed a McD's unsweet tea and headed north.


Wish you were here. The mid day sun, 50mph wind, soggy feet, hand held phone camera version. Which is, arguably, the more authentic experience at this location.

By the way, my shoes (and feet) haven't smelled the same since.

One question: As you head north on 395 out of Bishop just as you hit the Mono County line, if you look back over your left shoulder, there is a dope ass canyon with what appears to be a dirt road going right through the middle of it. Anyone know anything about it? I debated turning around for a good 15 minutes. Obviously still thinking about it and haven't google earthed it yet.

One statement: Jim Croce and 395 go down smooth together.

I'm going to go ahead and start a new post for my next stop. You savvy 395ers probably know what's up.

 

Back in time.

I try to not look at actual maps nor use GPS when I'm vacationing real hard. Only when I'm stuck and need an out. I like to let the wander happen until the wander done run out. So, I'm cruising up 395 and see a sign for Bodie. Screech....right turn, son! I haven't been there since I was maybe 6 or 8 and it was awesome. So must it be still today.


It's got to be the biggest and best preserved (suspended decay) ghost town in the whole country. Fight me!








This is just a wee sampling of the cool stuff here. I just took pics of stuff that had the right color and contrast for my eyes.

Sunrise would be a great time to be here or if there was a really colorful sunset. Park hours don't seem to allow for that but I imagine some really good light hits this place.


I came in through the most highly travelled (and probably shortest) south west entrance as it was the first I came to and the only one marked for Bodie. I would highly suggest coming in through Bridgeport. You'll need a map or GPS to be sure you're doing it right but it's got a much more adventurous feeling to it. The road in is wide and washboard and we'll travelled. This northwest route is far from that. Plus, you should be able to find dispersed camping out there quite easily as there were a lot of spur roads that looked ripe for great camping. I should have taken one and camped. The high ones were snowy and this terrain can get messy in a hurry when it's saturated.

So, I broke my rule of looking for a campsite at 3. I decided I'd get lower and look around 4 as there was usually still plenty of light left. Well, after a disasterously long trip down a road to find every available spot packed with hunters, I ended up back on 395 in the dark. It's nearly impossible to find a reasonable spot to camp when it's dark so I drove and drove and drove...to Carson City. Filled up with gas, grabbed some fast food (first purchased food of the trip not counting iced tea) and hit Washoe Lake. There is a campground and park on the south east side...with cell service and Wi-Fi! Grabbed a spot, ate and messed with my phone for a while. Went to bed and woke up with ice inside the camper. A new record low for camping in the camper! 21 degrees! Made a note in my phone to add a heater this next year.


Totally calm with sun hitting Mt Rose/Slide Mt.


Park came with free horsies!


And probably ancient native rock art.


Then I busted ass up over 88 to Mt Ranch, CA to visit family. It was awesome and Im not sharing any pictures except one
This is the Oak tree over their driveway. Snapped this as I rolled out Sunday morning.

Great trip.

 

I'm still figuring out how to work taking photos into my life without letting the task ruin the experience of being out there. The first time it clicked that it could be a great part of the experience or at least a complimentary experience was shooting the night shots at Alabama Hills. I really enjoyed that and hope to continue to work it in.

 

What a roller coaster of emotions. Awesome!

 

A couple of (long) notes on the truck/camper:

5th Gen 4 Runner Brakes: DOPE! I abused the hell out of them coming down fast curvy roads with a lot of braking coming into each corner. Same with slow and VERY twisty roads that require a lot of braking very often. Backing down big steep climbs that petered out...more than 5 minutes of backing in one case because my backup display turned itself off to keep itself from overheating. The brakes kept feeling better as they wore in too. I like that they are a little mushy up top as they aren't so grabby off road. But you do feel like you have to stand on them a bit to get the most out of them. Large caliper pistons with the OEM brake booster will do that.
Weight: I definitely want to go on a diet this year. Both me and the truck! Haha! There are still some things I want to add so this will be a tough balancing act. But I'm going to be considering weight even more as I "finish" this setup. A big part of that will be looking at removing the flatbed as I've mentioned before. I've got a few other ideas but we'll have to see how this progresses. Weight kills acceleration, kills in town mpg and puts more stress on the whole system.
Aero: the top corners of the camper just hang out there in the breeze. You can see the the bug splatter on those areas alone. Removing the flatbed should let me lower the camper 3-4" which would be great for more than aero. Adding a front nose to the camper that helps the air (and branches) around those top outside corners should help. If I'm clever, I'll be able to add the heater at the same time and incorporate a lot of it into that wind deflector nose. Bad aero kills highway mpg and puts more stress on the rig.
Heat: it would be nice to have a good heater for cold nights. I like winter camping but it gets dark so early. Hanging out in the camper for extended evening time would be much more fun if it were warmer. I'm leaning toward something like a ProPex propane heater as it's not really affected by altitude and they run on a fuel I'll be carrying for cooking anyway.
Organization: I'm getting a better idea about what to do with the kitchen box, rear storage box and general ideas around water and propane. Limiting moves when setting up and moving around camp would be awesome. Basically just make the act of camping more efficient. Efficiency there will make it more fun.
iPad: I'd like to have an iPad for running Gaia. I would like to have access to the various overlays. I know I just said earlier that I don't like using such things. But it would have been really handy when I was caught out at dark. I may have been able to find a spot nearby in the dark. I would also like to have entertainment options in the camper. I could foresee times when I may want to be more deliberate about routes to avoid pavement and stuff like that. I would also maybe like to watch videos or stuff like that on long winter evenings.
Lighting: still don't have any real need for tons of additional lighting. I may still get the baja designs squadron sport kit for the factory fog lights then do the anytime mod. Mostly because I hate that I never use the OEM fogs because they are so lame. Might add a light to the inside door of the kitchen box so when it's open, the light shines down on the future cook surface. Maybe two bendy reading lights in the camper? Maybe. Headlamps work fine for that.

Overall, I'm super pumped with everything. Just looking to dial it in.

 

Ha! It's nice to just go out and let the trip unfold how it will rather than will it into shape. Way less stressful for me this way.

 

So, I've decided to go ahead and get my awning mount made in aluminum. I know...kind of a waste of the steel one. I don't know what I was thinking. Anyway, I updated the file this morning and created new documentation for fab. It's been emailed to my guy. It'll probably be two weeks. I just figured I might as well do it right the first time. Especially after my trip...less weight is better. I'll probably save on the order of 20 lbs so it's worth it.


It's mostly the same and I've transferred all of the mods from my steel version over to this. Plus cleaned it up a bit. I'll transfer the holes for the awning when I get the mount back from fab. Didn't want to mess up hole placement by hand measuring and having them laser cut in. Not pumped about the added timeline but it's better than tearing it all apart and doing this later anyway.

 

I totally should have called this

 

Everyone who has read this thread knew it would happen eventually, as soon as he got the steel version back and mentioned aluminum we all knew it would happen.

 

I am running a set of Baja Designs Squadron Sport fogs - they are great! I run yellow lenses, and can actually see through heavy rain! Of course, that is when you aren't facing traffic. Get them - you will like them!

 

Thanks for the feedback! I think I'd go white because I'd likely use them as driving lights off road but who knows...