Outfitting Taco for several months on the road

My wife and I are planning on retirement next June (2015). One of our dreams, while we are still young enough to do it, and enjoy it, is to travel the States, focusing on the great National Parks of the west and Alaska. We live in Maine, so it'll be a long haul!

I have a 2014 AC 4cyl 5spd.

Would likely do some mixture of campgrounds, and motels, but expect to be on the road for several months.

I am interested in ideas, or experiences folks have had, regarding equipment, or pictures of rigs set up for such an adventure.

Random thoughts...

I'm thinking I'll buy a cap, perhaps a raised one. Might want the option to sleep in it, in the event of rain. We'll carry our 6 person tent, anyways.

I have a bit of concern regarding the ability of the little 4 banger with a heavy cap and equipment struggling over oxygen deprived mountain passes. Trading to a 6cyl is an option.

We'll have a combined age of 126 years, so might consider an upgrade to more comfy, plush seats, if such a thing is available.

Ideas???? Anyone done it? If so, what'd you bring? If you haven't done it, what would YOU bring?

 

http://www.socalteardrops.com/

 

I'll start by saying I have no experience with the capability or power of the 4 cyl. But for my camping trips and experiences I'll tell you what I used or wish I had.

List:
Roof top tent (best investment I ever made for camping)
Water Source (showers, drinking, etc. Never know when you may need it)
Eating Utensils
0* or better sleeping bag
Food (of course)
Axe / Shovel (Firewood is nice, getting out of tough situations, sharp object)
Hi-Lift (Extremely useful tool)
Magnesium or Other type fire starter kit
Fire Extinguisher
Light source
Spare Parts

And I'm sure I missed some things but these things would be on the top of my list

 

bigger truck or 4runner

 

Porta toilet.....using public restrooms for two months???? I'm considering a similar trip from Fl. to the NW. and starting to gather items, ie, cb radio,GPS, rechargeable flashlight, second spare tire, etc.
Happy trails to 'ya

 

Not out of the question. Sat in a high end Silverado a while ago, and sort of melted into the seats.

Good point of the porta potty. Will have to consider those bio needs.

 

As much as I hate to say it, you might want the V6. That is a long drive with I'm sure a lot of hills and you will be carrying a lot of gear (right?) Although the 4 Cyl. could do it, you would be more comfortable in the V6. IMHO.

Hope you have a great trip! I live in Alaska

 

Personally, I like the idea of a tear drop camper. They weigh anywhere from 900 to 1200 pounds and the 2.7 can handle that pretty easily. And everything is contained, so you don't have unload all your camping gear when you get to a campsite. My towing experience is pretty limited, but I towed a Uhaul trailer loaded with furniture for my son to Denver in July. Weight was around 1500 lbs. and my 2.7 auto did really well. The route I choose took me over a couple of 8000 ft. passes with a couple of steep, extended grades which did cause the truck to work pretty hard, but not enough that I wouldn't do it again. Still got 17.5 mpg while towing the trailer.

 

I'd seriously consider trading up. I live in NE Utah and travel a few mountain passes regularly with long 6% grades. There is no way I would want to do it in a fully loaded 4 cylinder with a topper. I'm in the process of having a topper built for mine and I put my V6 to the test. I filled the tank, put 5 people in it and loaded the bed with 800 lbs. I took it up Parley's Canyon with AC cranked. The V6 did ok but I did downshift to 3rd on the steeper grades.

Get over to http://www.expeditionportal.com/ and check out some rigs built for overlanding.

 

teardrops are awesome and i think it would be good for your trip. super expensive though. a rooftop tent is cheaper but you'd need a rack or a cap to mount it. if you're going with only a cap and are ok with sleeping in it think about all your kit. Is it going to be a pain to move everything out of the back to sleep each night?

 

So....

How much camping have you done already? If you've done a lot, you'll already have a good idea of what you want to bring and what you want to leave behind. For example, I couldn't contemplate such a trip without a couple of dutch ovens for cooking, and for that long a trip I'd probably want a stove that was both easy to clean and hooked up to a large fuel bottle. The stoves I use now are great for weekend jaunts but wouldn't do me for a protracted trip.

What does it take for you and the wife to sleep comfortably outdoors?

On the ground? Most folks can't sleep comfortably on the ground even with a thin pad. I can, but for such a long trip I'd likely prefer a cot. I'm not a fan of thick inflatable pads; they're just not very comfortable for me personally - I sweat and bounce and end up rolling off.

But sleeping inside the back of one of those teardrop trailers could be pretty darn cozy (if you're not claustrophobic) on a nice thick bed-like pad, and would leave the back of your truck free for hauling gear.

You'll need a couple camp chairs, a camp kitchen, whatever potty arrangements are needed to keep the Mrs. happy, and probably an "easy up" type popup shelter for keeping sun off and to cook and eat underneath when the inevitable rain storm hits.

Alternatively, do a little self introspection. Do you LIKE camping? Cooking outdoors? Campgrounds? If it turns out not to be your thing - You can save a lot of coin on gear by admitting up front that you're gonna stay in lodges and hotels, and avoid gearing up for camping nights you don't end up taking. The worst of all possible words it to buy and carry all that gear, then never end up using it because you stay in lodges and eat prepared meals.

 

The trailer idea is a good one. Get a V-6 truck and a small trailer...unless you plan on doing a lot of motel camping. Another option is a lightweight pop top camper for the taco- http://www.fourwheelcampers.com/index.php/products/for-minimid-size-trucks/finch-5-0-4-door/

Tents are cool until the bears show up. There is stuff that can eat you out here in the wild west.

 

Don't keep or eat your food in your tent!

Make no mistake:

1. Bears have no interest in eating people. (However, they have no problem with fighting people who are in between them and the yummy food they DO want to eat.)

2. Any full grown bear that wants to can rip open that camper you showed NO PROBLEMO.

 

As a CO resident I agree with you for the most part. A black bear wants nothing more than to eat and get away from people as long as it's not a city bear. A Grizzly bear on the other hand is VERY agressive. not necessarily intent on eating you...but you will have a bad day if you don't leave them the heck alone.


On a seperate note I highly reccommend a GPS with some of the new software available

http://www.huntinggpsmaps.com/

I have the Colorado and Wyoming maps for my handheld and you can find trails, CG's, and the crow on the fencepost at the end of the road if you want.

 

No disagreement here.

 

I had a 2.7 with a truck cap, sleeping platform, some sliding plastic containers underneath for food, tools, cooking equipment, etc.

I also had a Yakima Rocket Box for larger, bulkier items.

One of the best things I did was mount an ARB Awning on the side of my cap. It is great for hanging out, cooking, and sun-shade of course.

My girlfriend and I would use this set-up all the time for adventures, all in a regular cab!



Also! this is a great question for the folks over at expeditionportal.com

you'll find a lot of resources there to help you figure out what works/what doesn't work.
Have fun

 

1. I have had a slightly different experience.


2. Although I agree nothing is bear proof given enough time, a hard shell at least gives you time to flip the safety off. Bear behavior is a difficult thing to predict. Everyone has their own bear safety rules, and most of them work, until they don't.

 

There's a lot of cool stuff on that site, but also an incredible lot of it would be overkill for the type of trip the OP has planned.

 

What's going on in that picture? I can't quite tell. Obviously it's a bear.

 

Looks like a skinned, dressed bear in a cooler for transport to me