Project Choose Your Own Adventure

[*insertusernamehere*]

I want an AMG R63 with that pop up now

GOD DAMMIT I WANT A TURBOCHARGED FUCKIN WAGON WITH A ROOF TENT

I'll take one without the tent k thanks. My Miata needs a complimentary vehicle.

[CaptainHenreh]

I want an AMG R63 with that pop up now

GOD DAMMIT I WANT A TURBOCHARGED FUCKIN WAGON WITH A ROOF TENT

I'll take one without the tent k thanks. My Miata needs a complimentary vehicle.

I mean Jesus RJ if you want a flex that bad I'll sell you mine. It's a dope-ass car but I can find another one I guess.

[.RJ]

TURBO TURBO TURBO TURBO

[Senor_Taylor]

So I guess I have to do this now



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[V1GiLaNtE]

So I guess I have to do this now



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Why, so you can never park your 4Runner anywhere ever again in NOVA? I personally think you're better off with a high quality ground tent like something from OZ tent over a RTT. RTT's are more or less permanently mounted which reduces MPGs, increases your COG, decreases your access to tight places, and you have to pack up if you want to get in your rig and run down a trail or leave base camp.

[Senor_Taylor]

So I guess I have to do this now



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Why, so you can never park your 4Runner anywhere ever again in NOVA? I personally think you're better off with a high quality ground tent like something from OZ tent over a RTT. RTT's are more or less permanently mounted which reduces MPGs, increases your COG, decreases your access to tight places, and you have to pack up if you want to get in your rig and run down a trail or leave base camp.

I'm aware. I wasn't serious.

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[ryangreen1]

So I guess I have to do this now



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Why, so you can never park your 4Runner anywhere ever again in NOVA? I personally think you're better off with a high quality ground tent like something from OZ tent over a RTT. RTT's are more or less permanently mounted which reduces MPGs, increases your COG, decreases your access to tight places, and you have to pack up if you want to get in your rig and run down a trail or leave base camp.

I'm aware. I wasn't serious.

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But this would make your silver 4runner way cooler than the army of other silver 4runners in nova.

[.RJ]

Is it better/worse than a pop-up tent in the roof? I know those get even more expensive...

This came across my FB feed this morning so down the rabbit hole I go

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.rei.com/product/115101/yakima-skyrise-3-rooftop-tent">https://www.rei.com/product/115101/yaki ... oftop-tent</a><!-- m -->



I ask my wife what she thinks of the roof top tent, seems like a cheaper buy in to 'longer term adventure type travel' than building out a van, or to test those waters i.e. just the tip, if we want to go around for a week or more at a time and we can just put bicycles on the hitch rack I have.

Of course, "we dont need that its too expensive!!!"

Never mind she wants to save money and spend $10k on a fucking tent on wheels sylvan go camper... <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.sylvansport.com/shop/sylvansport-go-camper/">https://www.sylvansport.com/shop/sylvansport-go-camper/</a><!-- m -->

[Senor_Taylor]

Is it better/worse than a pop-up tent in the roof? I know those get even more expensive...

This came across my FB feed this morning so down the rabbit hole I go

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.rei.com/product/115101/yakima-skyrise-3-rooftop-tent">https://www.rei.com/product/115101/yaki ... oftop-tent</a><!-- m -->



I ask my wife what she thinks of the roof top tent, seems like a cheaper buy in to 'longer term adventure type travel' than building out a van, or to test those waters i.e. just the tip, if we want to go around for a week or more at a time and we can just put bicycles on the hitch rack I have.

Of course, "we dont need that its too expensive!!!"

Never mind she wants to save money and spend $10k on a fucking tent on wheels sylvan go camper... <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.sylvansport.com/shop/sylvansport-go-camper/">https://www.sylvansport.com/shop/sylvansport-go-camper/</a><!-- m -->

Just do it. Easier to ask for forgiveness than permission right?

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[JPolen01]

Never mind she wants to save money and spend $10k on a fucking tent on wheels sylvan go camper... <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.sylvansport.com/shop/sylvansport-go-camper/">https://www.sylvansport.com/shop/sylvansport-go-camper/</a><!-- m -->

:lol:
That is the dumbest, lamest looking contraption I have ever seen. Please post a time lapse of you setting it up when you get it. Including audio of you cussing will garner extra points.

[.RJ]

I don't want one. It's a waste of money for a tent on wheels.

Would rather put $10k toward a van or 16' airstream if that's the end game but with only a few weeks vacation a year it doesn't make sense right now.

Realistically we will camp 10 weekends a year. Right now I have a ridiculous overgrown 6 person tent that I can't put up by myself but happy wife happy camping.

[Apoc]

We're vacationing in RV/camper capital of the world, apparently, and I've noticed a few of these. The biggest problem for me is storage. We'd end up paying to park somewhere.

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://nucamprv.com">https://nucamprv.com</a><!-- m -->

We have a Nemo Wagontop tent that's really nice. Check out some out their smaller things, if you want easy to set up. I'm gonna pick up a smaller tent for the kid and I to do weekend things together, when he's a bit older.

[ScottyB]

The biggest problem for me is storage. We'd end up paying to park somewhere.

this was the biggest challenge so far with the teardrop - the logistics of where you're actually going to put the stupid thing the 340 days a year that you're not pulling it around. you really don't want to leave one sitting outside...its amazing what hail and UV rays will do to rubber and flexible, waterproof material over time.

we hit the trail this past weekend for a camping trip.

bad news - we went into camp setting up knowing we had severe t-storms on the way, and they dumped on us all night. we barely got set up and fed in time.
good news - trip was a blast, we stayed dry (when we wanted to) and the wife and son are enjoying camping more and more. i never thought i'd win my wife over which was part of the whole point of the teardrop. she's getting more excited which only makes it more fun for me.

the trip was for enjoyment but its also a really important trial run on how family camping can work and what changes i need to make in prep/equipment to make it so we're spending the most amount of time having fun and not setting up/breaking down camp half the time or chasing down equipment shoved in bags or drawers. this was hugely helpful for narrowing down some new storage and access goals for the teardrop as i continue plotting out the galley and storage areas:

• build in collapsible counter space. kitchen prep areas get used up really fast.
• need places to hang wet things...i will install cleats on the outside of the camper to allow for line tie-ins from things like trees or poles.
• centralized bath and kitchen storage. kinda obvious, but just confirmed nothing is more frustrating that rooting through bags for stuff you need every day that gets continually buried.
• lights and good light switch access. man does it EVER get dark in the woods. i forget that living surrounded by light pollution and convenience all the time.
• ensuring a fairly large fresh water container. we went through 8 gallons in 2.5 days (2gal "dispenser" style jugs) between hydration, dish washing, hand washing, and cooking. I am looking at the 5-7gal. jerry can style carriers to install in the galley....possibly with an additional one stored on the tongue.
• i can't wait to get the cooler out of the back of the Xterra and into the back of the teardrop on a slider. its just a huge, heavy PITA to have to carry it around in the primary access area of the back of the car.

[Apoc]

So is this also the defacto camping thread? Cause I feel like there's a lot of us who do it and we need somewhere to gear whore it up. This is especially true for those of us with kids... cause they complicate everything.

[EclipseTurbno93]

So is this also the defacto camping thread? Cause I feel like there's a lot of us who do it and we need somewhere to gear whore it up. This is especially true for those of us with kids... cause they complicate everything.

Perhaps this is cause for a new camping thread so this one can stay focused on the project?

[JPolen01]

I'm sure you already have this Scott but head lamps are the cats meow. Our golf cart at hyperfest had a short in the headlight circuit and kept blowing the fuse. It was a rental so we sure as hell weren't fixing that. It happened to be the darkest night possible at hyperfest with no moonlight so we couldn't see see shit. Cue the head lamps my buddy had in his truck. Driver and passenger rocked them and we made it around without hitting too many things.

[ScottyB]

Perhaps this is cause for a new camping thread so this one can stay focused on the project?

i think we've hit critical mass, lets do this

I'm sure you already have this Scott but head lamps are the cats meow.

i do and you're right, they are part of my critical gear list that goes on every trip. in fact i use mine around the house all the time - working under the car, grilling late, etc. such a great invention.

i have Petzl Tikka 100 lumen units which have been a great balance between low cost / output / ease of use.


the other must-have that i've enjoyed is my Goal Zero Mini Lighthouse. super happy with that one.

[Apoc]

The weird thing about the PNW is you don't need lanterns because it doesn't get dark until 10 during camping season. I swear by headlamps though... actually keep one in my nightstand.

[ScottyB]

mediocre progress on the floor frame. poplar 1x3's. this will form the "meat" of the sandwich, plywood on the bottom, flooring on the top with 3/4" hard foam insulation in the frame gaps.


from left to right, the small framing supports will be where the under-floor storage box gets built in. basically under our butts. if you can picture it, our bodies laying down will take up the first 3 sections of framing and the galley will be the last section. in the back/far right there's an extra frame support running the width to give some extra strength to the floor under a lot of heavy stuff such as a big cooler, fresh water container, and probably the AGM sealed battery.

[Senor_Taylor]

Would you mind not using Photobucket? Didn't know they still existed.

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