How to pack up a JKU for camping?

[zimm17]

What setups have you guys found that works best? I plan to take my family of 4 out to the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests in Virginia for some mild off-roading and camping. I'll be starting out with a family tent, cooler, folding chairs and of course bags of clothes, gear and food. Eventually I want a fridge/freezer to replace the cooler. While I'd love an adventure trailer, that's not in the budget. Maybe a receiver hitch cargo rack? I have two booster seats so the rear seat has to stay in place. I'd rather avoid a roof rack as I park in my garage daily. Another idea was a little 4x6 harbor freight trailer and load it up and let it get beat up on the trails? I have access to an old sears x-car-go rooftop box that I could put on the little trailer too.

 

[Frank]

I expect you aren't using a drawer system or rack or anything of the sort.

I'm in the same boat and plan to do just as we used to do in the military. Pack it up and then unpack it. Pack it up and then unpack it. You will eventually figure out how to put it all in in the best way possible.

 

[zimm17]

Nope, no racks or drawers. I have a collection of action packer and Rubbermaid totes. I'll have to see how much I can pack in there and figure out a solution for the rest.

 

[Jeeper4life]

I'm in the same boat, one day I will have a nice set up

 

[donaldj]

I only use totes for things that must not experience impact. Duffel bags and things with some give that can change shape as needed will help ensure you get more in there, more easily.

As always, big stuff first, then little stuff around it and to act as stabilizing the big stuff, then the "I need to access this NOW" stuff like the first aid kit which should be accessible from an opened door/tailgate with minimal digging.

 

[CCH]

One problem with the cheap trailer idea is that you can beat that Harbor Freight trailer to the point of failure, and then you have to deal with it while out in the boonies. If your kids are in car seats, it sounds like you will have enough to handle without that.

I really recommend packing like you're backpacking other than the family sized tent. Less is definitely more in a JKU, especially when you lose cargo space to passengers. Putting as much as you can in soft bags that can be molded to take up every available space also helps. I've found that going with too many hard sided tubs gives up valuable space, so I use one for kitchen gear and one for dry food to keep it from getting crushed and try to put the rest in soft sided bags. Sleeping bags, tents and clothing can be smushed in a variety of creative ways to fill every spare cubic inch. Weight is also an issue. Things like storage drawers add weight that takes away from the actual gear you carry. With four people and the extra gear and food they require, that matters.

I have a hitch mounted cargo basket. It helps, but when loaded I can't access the rear of the Jeep and it is vulnerable (say goodbye to your departure angle), so I only use it when absolutely necessary. It sounds like one may be necessary for you though. Pick one that has a rise to it, rather than one that goes straight from your hitch. It helps with clearance a bit. It is a really good place to carry coolers. I have one of the hitch tightners below to help reduce wobble. It doesn't eliminate it, but it does help.

http://www.amazon.com/Anti-rattle-N...52184054&sr=1-54&keywords=hitch+cargo+carrier

 

[tarditi]

I have a hitch rack that I installed folding table legs on so it serves as a table, too.

I pack my ARB and Dosko Campmate in the back, along with some camp chairs, sleeping bags, etc., and the larger items go on the rack.
I set up basecamp ASAP and unload all of the camping stuff as well as any loose items that we can spare.

My family of 4 (2 adults, 2 kids) are quite comfortable on or off-road with this setup.

I am searching for a trailer right now, though - can get a decent platform for less than $1000 and it can serve as a mule to carry spare fuel, water, etc.
I considered a roof rack, but love my sunrider top and want to keep the COG low... I have found some decent examples of M416 trailers in the price range of a DIY harbor freight trailer with mild accessorizing.

 

[expedition4x4]

Make sure the weight is distributed evenly!

 

[MOguy]

What setups have you guys found that works best? I plan to take my family of 4 out to the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests in Virginia for some mild off-roading and camping. I'll be starting out with a family tent, cooler, folding chairs and of course bags of clothes, gear and food. Eventually I want a fridge/freezer to replace the cooler. While I'd love an adventure trailer, that's not in the budget. Maybe a receiver hitch cargo rack? I have two booster seats so the rear seat has to stay in place. I'd rather avoid a roof rack as I park in my garage daily. Another idea was a little 4x6 harbor freight trailer and load it up and let it get beat up on the trails? I have access to an old sears x-car-go rooftop box that I could put on the little trailer too.

If the roads/trails you travel will allow for a trail I would go that route. Ycan get a used cargo trailer, boat trailer or whatever usually for a few hundred bucks. Modify a bit so it will work for you. You don't have to spend money on a high dollar adventure trailer.

I have 5X10 cargo trailer and did a spring over and it sits on 33s. I changed the hubs so they matched the jeeps so I can interchange rims and tires if needed. I am in it for less than $500. Mine is pretty big but you can get a smaller one.

If the terrain you travel allows you to take a trailer it makes traveling for extended time and distance a lot nicer than a rack. I only use my rack when I can't take a trailer.

Here is somebody who made the Harbor Freight trailer into an off road trailer. it is a good write up and a lot of info. It seems it is working very well for him. http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/f27/mini-harbor-freight-type-trailer-ultimate-build-up-thread-1180456/

 

[kayadog]

I know you said no roof rack, but what about one that is easy to take and off? You could get rain gutter mount crossbars (pretty inexpensive) and run your rooftop box or an inexpensive cargo rack up top and then take the crossbars off when you aren't using them. Proline racks have cheap crossbars and cargo racks. I know the rain gutters aren't super strong but you would be fine putting light bulky items like sleeping bags up there.

 

[Mass_Mopar]

I try to put all my tools and heavy items in the backseat footwell to help with weight distribution. Under the backseat goes stuff that I hopefully won't need since it's a huge pain to dig them out (spare parts, other SHTF items). All food and kitchen gets packed in the back along with the fridge, the aux battery, and the solar panel. The shovel, the umbrella (aka awning) and the camp chair all get packed across the back last. Light stuff like clothes duffels, sleeping bags, sleeping pads all go on top and hopefully tucked to the sides to maintain some rear-visibility. The only time I bring the hitch rack is when I need extra fuel. It's a pain, but I customized a cheap harbor freight rack to tuck up nicely around the spare tire. I strap it to the tow hooks so that it doesn't move an inch while underway. The tent goes on the roof with a rhino rack 2-bar backbone system. Trash goes in the trasharoo on the spare tire.

 

[MOguy]

if you are interested in ideas for a hitch rack this is how I have done mine.

 

[jjohnson1892]

x2 on a gutter rack setup, that would be the easiest if you're running a hard top. I'd avoid any other roof racks without access to a hoist in a garage - I run a Gobi and, while I love it, having it on daily is a pain.

Also, consider getting compression bags for clothes / loose fabric gear. Saves space and can fit under the backseat (I keep my freedom panel bag there on a daily basis and swap it out when I need the space).

Finally, consider a Trash-a-roo or other spare tire bag. Have one on mine and use it for recovery gear and odds-n-ends, plus trash in a sealed bag.

 

[AeroMoto]

I'd start with areas you wouldn't normally associate with storage. Under the front and rear seats, and in between the car seats. I've had good luck with stuff sacks from Outdoor Products on Amazon. You can throw your stuff in the sack, then under the seat. Then when removing it, it eliminates pulling only one glove or one sock out at a time. Also consider an attic/overhead cargo net. I don't know of any brands, but I'm looking for one to stuff light things like pillows and sleeping bags. I've also got my eye on this rack system for tie downs:

http://www.macscustomtiedowns.com/product/jeep-track-kit-jk-wrangler-four-door/VersaTieTrackKits

I built a platform and folded down the rear seats (just me and the wife and sometimes the dog), so I'm not quite in the same boat as you. I've also got my eye on Molle seat back panels. This will allow you to mount all kinds of bags/pouches on the back seat for smaller stuff.

http://store.springtailsolutions.com/MP-X-Seat-Back-MOLLE-Panel_p_48.html

I've got no associations with either company, in fact I don't even have either of them.

 

[JIMBO]

:sombrero: Ya just can't beat a trailer/RTT/airtent--

That'll leave the jeep free to play all day/night-

Carry all the camping gear/coolers/tools/RTT in the trailer and the "REST" in the jeep-

The RTT/w sleeping bag/air mattress-goes up in 10 minutes and the airtent in 5 minutes

Can'tbeatit

:costumed-smiley-007:wings: JIMBO