Newbie looking for advice

[SitkaTundra]

Hey everybody. I’m wanting to wander down the vehicle based camping path.

I have a 2010 tundra double cab 4x4 that’s bone stock except for a warm Trans4mer grille guard, some go rhino step bars, and wrangler duratracs.

This is my daily driver south of Atlanta. I am heading to SC Sunday to pick up a leer camper shell. Figured that was a good place to start.

I have two small children (toddlers) a wife and a small dog.

Really wanting to take baby steps at this point. But I have always loved the idea of a RTT (either vehicle based or trailer based).

What advice can you give someone just getting their feet wet? Thanks!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[Tex68w]

First of all, welcome to the Portal! You've certainly come to the right place and should find plenty of info on the topic and more specifically in regards to your Tundra.

My recommendation would be to rent/borrow a RTT and/or trailer to use for a weekend before you buy either. They both have their pros and cons but it's best to see their short comings first hand before you plop down your hard earned cash on either. I just added a camper/topper myself recently, I think you'll be happy with your purchase.

 

[SitkaTundra]

First of all, welcome to the Portal! You've certainly come to the right place and should find plenty of info on the topic and more specifically in regards to your Tundra.

My recommendation would be to rent/borrow a RTT and/or trailer to use for a weekend before you buy either. They both have their pros and cons but it's best to see their short comings first hand before you plop down your hard earned cash on either. I just added a camper/topper myself recently, I think you'll be happy with your purchase.

Thank you! Glad to be here! I’ve been looking at renting from Cascadia up in Chattanooga for a while. I follow Primal Outdoors and Jason Koertge on YouTube and really like both their setups. Not sure I’m quite ready to blow turtle back level money yet though.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[moderndaynorseman]

What I try to do with every trip is take stock of what I want and compare it to what I actually need for the type of trips I do. My setup will most likely vary from your setup (depending on length of trip, how remote you go, how many people, etc.) but I am still fairly stock apart from a topper, front/rear bumper/rock sliders, winch, and a 30" light bar.

Do I want a diesel Ram 2500 on 37's with a long travel suspension? Heck yeah. Do I need one? Narp. Same thing goes for some of the more hardcore mods, like doubler transfer cases, 38"+ tires, exo cage, etc. While cool, they are way beyond what I'll need and would end up as unnecessary cost and weight. Granted, I'm still tossing around the ideas of swapping in a 2.8L diesel + dana 44 w/ matching rear axle so I can run 34"s w/ lockers soooooo....

When I pack the truck, I'll make a list of everything I'm bringing and check them off as I use them on the list. Everything that doesn't get used gets pulled from the list for the next trip. Certain things like tools, first aid, emergency food/water, will stay no matter what but cutting the bulk and packing light are fairly important (at least to me, haha.)

 

[rayra]

First find out if your family likes camping before your spend a ton on an RTT.

8 person 2 chamber standing height ground tent is as little as $200. A little careful shopping and you can find variants with a large rain fly which can bridge the gap between tent and the rear of your vehicle. It's a good place to start with a tent with no end of room for a young family and room to put all your gear it it too and still give mom and dad the illusion of privacy. Added bonus, room for a dog or two.
Individual single air mattresses. Less disturbance than two people sharing a larger mattress and more fault tolerance if the mattress develops a leak.

 

[SitkaTundra]

First find out if your family likes camping before your spend a ton on an RTT.

8 person 2 chamber standing height ground tent is as little as $200. A little careful shopping and you can find variants with a large rain fly which can bridge the gap between tent and the rear of your vehicle. It's a good place to start with a tent with no end of room for a young family and room to put all your gear it it too and still give mom and dad the illusion of privacy. Added bonus, room for a dog or two.
Individual single air mattresses. Less disturbance than two people sharing a larger mattress and more fault tolerance if the mattress develops a leak.

Thanks. The wife and I love to camp and I want to go a lot more then we do. The kids love going to our family land and staying in my father in laws camper. We have a big ground tent with a vestibule that will sleep all four of us. I’m hoping I can get the kids out there before it gets too cold for them and see how they like the tent.

One thing I had considered is possibly getting a fox wing awning or similar and just putting our tent right up to it. Kids get the tent, wife and I get the truck.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[SitkaTundra]

What I try to do with every trip is take stock of what I want and compare it to what I actually need for the type of trips I do. My setup will most likely vary from your setup (depending on length of trip, how remote you go, how many people, etc.) but I am still fairly stock apart from a topper, front/rear bumper/rock sliders, winch, and a 30" light bar.

Do I want a diesel Ram 2500 on 37's with a long travel suspension? Heck yeah. Do I need one? Narp. Same thing goes for some of the more hardcore mods, like doubler transfer cases, 38"+ tires, exo cage, etc. While cool, they are way beyond what I'll need and would end up as unnecessary cost and weight. Granted, I'm still tossing around the ideas of swapping in a 2.8L diesel + dana 44 w/ matching rear axle so I can run 34"s w/ lockers soooooo....

When I pack the truck, I'll make a list of everything I'm bringing and check them off as I use them on the list. Everything that doesn't get used gets pulled from the list for the next trip. Certain things like tools, first aid, emergency food/water, will stay no matter what but cutting the bulk and packing light are fairly important (at least to me, haha.)

Thanks. Given that my kids are so young, I’m not thinking anything super remote or with long travel between. I’m thinking maybe US Forest Service campgrounds in north GA for now and see how it goes. Maybe extend a trip once we get our feet under us as far as the vehicle based part goes.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[DetroitDarin]

have you thought about tires? And recovery gear perhaps?

Off the top of my head I'd build a check list kinda like this:

Don't Get stuck Stuff:
Tires. Don't only shop for "knobby-looking tires" as some tires that LOOK like mud terrains don't clear mud at all and turn into mud-donuts. those are awful. Reputible brands are a good choice; don't freelance too much in this area when new. Winch. You can wire the front and back of your truck, get a hitch in the front and carry the winch from front to back as you need it. Not ideal, but it's better than nothing. Traction Boards like maxtrax, etc. You can even make them:


Tree-saver. Snatch block. Gloves. Recon the places you want to visit - via visually or through the forums or google etc to get an idea of what you're getting into.

Don't get killed stuff:
Robust First Aid supplies; buy two kits and practice with one. Kids would love it; making mummies and stuff.
Emergency Water. Water purification basics. Idiot-proof fire making (lighters, etc. I dipped make-up removal cotton pads into wax and let them dry. Rip one half way in half and place under tinder. they work super good). Emergency Shelter stuff. I have the little buddy propane heater and i love it.

Don't get Bit stuff:
Benadryl. Tylenol. Mosquito Spray. Bear Spray (as appropriate for location).

Don't get robbed:
Firearm (check local laws - and laws of the place you're going). Practice situational awareness. Recon the places you want to visit - via visually or through the forums or google etc to get an idea of what you're getting into.

Don't be a slob stuff:
Trasharoo or other solid trash carry-outer. Babywipes for on-the-spot "showering" if you get dirty. Hand santizier. Or good ol' soap.

 

[ttengineer]

Fellow ATLien here.

Welcome.

Lots of great info here. So I would suggest you do lots of research before you buy. I’m a hardcore believer in buy once cry once.

Having said that, it sounds like you’ve already done a fair amount of research and know what you’re leaning towards.

So, do you use your truck as a truck? As in, do you often carry things in the bed? A RTT is great but they can be a pain in the ******** if you don’t have a family member to help you remove them from your rig when you need the full access to the bed. Personally, I added a RTT to a rack over my bed but made sure the cross bars are quickly removable so I can keep the tent mounted and more easily remove it for storage during the week since I haul with my truck.




Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[SitkaTundra]

have you thought about tires? And recovery gear perhaps?

Off the top of my head I'd build a check list kinda like this:

Don't Get stuck Stuff:
Tires. Don't only shop for "knobby-looking tires" as some tires that LOOK like mud terrains don't clear mud at all and turn into mud-donuts. those are awful. Reputible brands are a good choice; don't freelance too much in this area when new. Winch. You can wire the front and back of your truck, get a hitch in the front and carry the winch from front to back as you need it. Not ideal, but it's better than nothing. Traction Boards like maxtrax, etc. You can even make them:


Tree-saver. Snatch block. Gloves. Recon the places you want to visit - via visually or through the forums or google etc to get an idea of what you're getting into.

Don't get killed stuff:
Robust First Aid supplies; buy two kits and practice with one. Kids would love it; making mummies and stuff.
Emergency Water. Water purification basics. Idiot-proof fire making (lighters, etc. I dipped make-up removal cotton pads into wax and let them dry. Rip one half way in half and place under tinder. they work super good). Emergency Shelter stuff. I have the little buddy propane heater and i love it.

Don't get Bit stuff:
Benadryl. Tylenol. Mosquito Spray. Bear Spray (as appropriate for location).

Don't get robbed:
Firearm (check local laws - and laws of the place you're going). Practice situational awareness. Recon the places you want to visit - via visually or through the forums or google etc to get an idea of what you're getting into.

Don't be a slob stuff:
Trasharoo or other solid trash carry-outer. Babywipes for on-the-spot "showering" if you get dirty. Hand santizier. Or good ol' soap.

Thanks. Good advice. I’m very pleased with the duratracs I have now.

As for don’t get stuck, I have a winch plate mounted to the grille guard, just haven’t ever bought the winch. That’s one of those things I always wanted but could never justify. I’ve got a set of recovery boards on my list.

As for don’t get killed, I am an medical first responder and a member of the Georgia DNR wilderness search and rescue team. I always have my jump pack with me. I have also looked into getting something like an Outer Limits Supply medical kit.

Don’t get robbed I got covered. My wife gets annoyed sometimes at the thing I notice. I’ve been involved with law enforcement/emergency response to some to degree since I was in high school and it has made me very aware of my surroundings.

I would love a trash-a-roo but not really interested in getting a new bumper with a rear tire swing just yet. With our kids we always have baby wipes around.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[DetroitDarin]

Thanks. Good advice. I’m very pleased with the duratracs I have now.

As for don’t get stuck, I have a winch plate mounted to the grille guard, just haven’t ever bought the winch. That’s one of those things I always wanted but could never justify. I’ve got a set of recovery boards on my list.

As for don’t get killed, I am an medical first responder and a member of the Georgia DNR wilderness search and rescue team. I always have my jump pack with me. I have also looked into getting something like an Outer Limits Supply medical kit.

Don’t get robbed I got covered. My wife gets annoyed sometimes at the thing I notice. I’ve been involved with law enforcement/emergency response to some to degree since I was in high school and it has made me very aware of my surroundings.

I would love a trash-a-roo but not really interested in getting a new bumper with a rear tire swing just yet. With our kids we always have baby wipes around.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Dude you're set. Go have fun! Camp near me though cuz cannot get enough coverage of bush-first-aid from a Pro. I hurt myself. a lot.

 

[SitkaTundra]

Fellow ATLien here.

Welcome.

Lots of great info here. So I would suggest you do lots of research before you buy. I’m a hardcore believer in buy once cry once.

Having said that, it sounds like you’ve already done a fair amount of research and know what you’re leaning towards.

So, do you use your truck as a truck? As in, do you often carry things in the bed? A RTT is great but they can be a pain in the ******** if you don’t have a family member to help you remove them from your rig when you need the full access to the bed. Personally, I added a RTT to a rack over my bed but made sure the cross bars are quickly removable so I can keep the tent mounted and more easily remove it for storage during the week since I haul with my truck.




Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

You know how it is with a truck, 95% driver 5% hauler.

I’ve been very curious about using a RTT with a camper shell (weight etc). I’m a big guy and have a history of breaking things that support my weight. (Bordering on paranoid)

I like the idea of the leitner rack but not really keen I’m leaving everything exposed.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[hammerg26]

Have you checked out the SEES section yet?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[SitkaTundra]

Have you checked out the SEES section yet?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

The Who say what now?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[hammerg26]

Check this out: Southeast (pr. by the Southeast Expedition Society

It is in the Regional Discussion - Southeast.