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

Absolutely beautiful. Love to be there.

 

Awesome looking spot. Any chance you'd share gps coordinates? Guessing not anza borrego from the look of those rocks?

 

Alabama Hills, Ca. Just west of Lone Pine.

 

Thanks! A little google earth snooping and I think I found roughly that spot. I always like to make note of potential stopping points for long trips!

 

Can't stop won't stop another 530km trip this weekend

 

ok i'm pretty new to this the only overlanding i've done was in a millitary vehicle so i'm trying not to make mistakes. TYeti has offered some advice for which i am thankful but for me the tire debate rambles on. i have a 2.7l automatic ac currently i have 17x9 wheels with 285/70's on them but will be needing new tires. i have no desire to have to regear so i'm looking for a good compromise. i'm torn between 255/85's which are all e rated or sticking with the 285's which really aren't that much wider. from what i've learned so far nothing less than a c rated tire is suggested for any off roading. i'm wondering which will give me the most benefit with the 4 cyl the 285's on it now are p rated and i didn't notice hardly any power loss when i put them on perhaps it's the automatic compensating. i'm fairly old school with trucks and have always preffered a wider tire but also understand form doesn't always follow function. i picked this thread because i'm sure there are some people here using 4cylinders off road without having been regeared or at least they once did thanks for the input

 

I need some advice, Tacoma buddies. I need more storage. Specifically, I need more rainproof storage. I currently have 2 48-gallon action packers. And they hold quite a bit of crap, but when there are 3+ people on a camping trip it fills up too quick, and most the time I end up having to dump some stuff in other guys' trucks.

What I have right now are low-profile bed bars. Which I like, they look good, and the action packers slider under them nicely. Here's kind of a shot:



Rule #1 is the wife doesn't want me to put on a cap.
Rule #2 is I need to keep the top of the bed rack clear for a RTT.

The ideal, pie-in-the-sky solution would to just spend $8k on a trailer. But I'd rather it didn't come to that just yet.

My next thought is to get rid of the bed bars and put in a taller bed rack, and then create some sort of double-decker storage system. The Allpro Pack Rack has the right idea with the Gear Rack:




But I'm not sure how much 3 extra 8-gallon action packers will improve my situation. Besides, their Gear Rack sits too low in the bed and the big 48-gallons wouldn't fit underneath. And I'd really like to keep using those.

I suppose I could get a roof rack (Prinsu), but I've never really seen anybody carry anything on those besides a bit of recovery gear. They look cool, but I've yet to see any real storage solutions from them.


So I guess I'm just looking for some creative ideas from you guys. Action packers. Pelicans. Plano. Whatever. I need volume. What have you done??

 

Why not just go get some weather sealing stuff at your home store and seal around the edges? Use a tarp over the action packers if you have to.

 

You're very limited with those

Yer very limited with those restrictions. I would think rack over the cab would be your best bet. I have frontrunners rack over the cab and canopy. RTT on the back, gear on the front, dogs in the bed. And if you got the extra coin, FR has loads of accessories for different storage/mounting solutions.

stock photo, but you get the idea.

 

@PoweredBySoy what about throwing some more Action Packers on top of the closed rooftop tent and then strapping them down?

 

Nice. I have an FR on order right now. All of the accessories are a great perk.

 

I'm saving up for the under-rack table mount. such a good use of space, especially since i raised my rear rack up to accomodate the height of the front.

 

Or these drawers. http://decked.com/truck/

 

Hmmm. As far as I can tell it's only available for Tundra....? I'm sure they cost an arm and a leg too - but the concept is sound. I know I've seen guys around here build custom bed decks. I know they'd help with small knick-knack stuff, but I'm still looking for volume.

It's true.

 

Can you post an example? Not sure what you mean.

 

Only for the Tundra.

 

Actually they've been working on one for the tacoma for quite a while. Should be available early 2017. As far as price, it's MUCH cheaper than other like drawers (weathertech for example would be $3K) and the decked system is shy of $1K.

 

FR sells a pretty nice alu table and a set of rails to mount it under their rack. here's a see-thru shot.

 

The all pro gear rack is optional. I opted NOT to go that route due to it blocking my view to the rear. I opted for the rack so I can use my RTT and put my Rotopax on the outside while maintaining all of my bed space for gear. I have 2 24 gallon Action Packers that I use for gear and camp stuff and, obviously, they fit great in the bed below the bedsides.

 

What size Pack Rack is that? Is that the shortest, 16"?

I know the Gear Rack is optional. I'm just looking for methods to 'double-deck' storage totes. My 2 x 48 gallon action packers should be more than enough room. The problem is when friends start coming with....