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

Didn't realize this was a thread. A couple weekends ago we did our first camping trip in our Go Fast Camper.

Much faster to get everything set up compared to setting up the RTT and annex just to have enough room for us, the kid, and the dog.

 

Finally got my shell. ARE CX with side windoors and a Prinsu rack on top to go with the one I had on the cab already. Love having the extra room, and was able to finish my camper buildout. Who says you can’t sleep in a short bed?? Headed up to Humboldt this weekend, hope there isn’t any smoke so I can test this setup out on trail.

 

One thing I love about setups like that is how normal it looks from the outside. Hope it works out well for you!

 

my key to longer trips is keeping things simple and tidy , pack + unpack in sequence. The minute it strays from that, I immediately get frustrated having to look for stuff.

Absolutely true on budget. I splurged on a few things like the fridge because Utah and ice dont mix well, and went dirtbag on others. HDX home depot storage bins are perfect for my uses.

Everything has a place in my truck, and in its place it comes and goes without fail.

Electrical spares, hardware, and tools tuck behind the passenger seat in the footwell.
Goalzero Yeti sits on the footwell hump with a charger running to the front 12v plugs
Duffel bag sits behind my seat in the footwell.
Dog Hammock with Draco and the first aid bag on top
headlamps and lanterns in the back door pocket
roadflares, vest, etc in the passenger rear door
15gal or 30 gal of fluids across the front of the bed
kitchen box (HDX yellow top) and firewood behind that
recovery gear drawer and fridge round it out
$9 unkillable walmart folding chairs fit between the tailgate and the fridge

 

Bingo! Organized and the least hassle per set-up/tear-down are the biggest factors that keep it enjoyable for us. We’re in a new spot almost every night so a 30+ min camp setup and breakdown just isn’t acceptable to us haha.

 

Theres a longer form 4XOverland video that breaks down that very point. If it takes you 3 hours to set camp when all you want to do is enjoy a beer, what are you doing?

 

That's why I love this setup, especially with break ins being common in San Francisco (thankfully I have a garage).

Will report back after my first tip this weekend.

 

This is the kind of info I like to hear from others and get ideas on. If we end up camping this weekend like I hope to I’ll have to remember to get pics of my layout and logic behind it.

 

Took me about a year and a half to get everything exactly where I want it and dialed in, but as funny as it sounds, I forewent buying a newer vehicle this year because I didn't want to have to figure out and relearn my entire setup

Turns out GX460s aren't as big as tacomas. Who knew?

 

Only reason I bought a 3rd gen. Didn't want to put any more money into my access cab 1st gen since it wouldn't be large enough for a the addition of a kid.

Once I get my rear suspension done, my goal is to focus on organization. Get a roof rack for the maxtrax and hi-lift, get some quick fists for the shovel and axe on the outside of the camper, then figure out how and what to mount inside the camper to get it up off the floor of the bed. My goal is to have only the fridge and my dry food storage container in the actual bed of the truck. That way when we get to camp all I have to do it take the food storage container out of the bed and I'm good to go.

Currently, I take everything except for the fridge out of the bed once we get to camp so we have room for the kid and dog to sleep down there at night. Only takes about 10 minutes to set everything up, but I'd like to not have to load and unload everything all of the time.

 

Yeah load/unload gets lame quick. Thats the glory of my setup. Tailgate down, folding chairs out, kitchen is one tote in the back to pull it out, slide the fridge out, boom, kitchen (and camp) entirely setup save tent, which i delpoy when Im ready for bed because I've been caught by a last minute beer run, etc and dont wanna put the tent away again.

 

just stumbled on this thread. Sub'd... Hopefully I can supply to it when I get out venturing again.

 

Answer: Getting all the internets points obviously.

 

Wife had a gig up in big bear, so I decided to drive her and spend the day on some trails up there.

 

Cooled down a bit in the Bay Area so I slept on the coast last night. The waves give such nice background noise in the evening.

 

1000+ mile Utah roadtrip complete!

Went down to Zion, over to Lake Powell and then mosied our way home. Lot more pictures on the big camera, but heres what got taken on my phone.


You shall not pass!...ok, but slowly

 

Threw Bed setup together for over landing. It’s a 6’ wood extension in my 5’ bed. All I do is throw a tent over the rear and it’s complete.

Next up, roof rack and basket! More pics to come soon!

 

Carlsbad state beach, CA

 

Always wanted to camp here or San Elijo! How far in advance did you book this? Seems like weekends are booked out months in advanced.

 

Being a local to San Diego I've stayed at San Elijo a few times. Looking west the scenery is nice but looking east you can see the mini-mall across the road. It is also loud with trains going by through the night. Quite a number of rats as well. It's always booked full of RVs and surfers living out of their vans.