Arctic Cat
Adventurer
I’m going to give you my 2 cents as far as my experience go. I don’t own a Land Rover and I don’t have all the money to put in A/T Trailer. With that said. Last year traveled from Texas to Alaska (yes 10 states and 3 Canadian provinces in between) over 12,000 miles in 4 months about 30% off road. This year the trip was a little shorter with only about 6,500 miles (about 40% off road including Imogene Pass) on 2 ½ months (Texas, Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico). I did it on my stock 2004 Jeep Wrangler. Some days I camped at regular public campgrounds, some days at remote campsites in the desert. Some days were as cold as 35F and other as hot as 125F No electric and just the water I took with me.
My experience is unique and everyone has their own experience and needs while traveling. For cooking I use a 26 yrs old Coleman 425F stove and I used about 1 ½ gallon of fuel to cook. I used an old military mess kit that is about 47 yrs old and a set of aluminum pots and pans that is 21 yrs old. Next year I will be replacing the pots and pan for a more modern and lighter stainless steel set (MSR ALPINE 2 pot set).
Last year I used hitch rack to put some of my gear, this year I purchased a very small trailer 3 ½ by 5 feet with 12 in tires from Lowes (I know, I know the guys driving the Land Rovers with the Super equipped A/T Trailers told me that was impossible). I used the trailer to transport my gear to set a based camp. While the trailer is not designed to go off road, I did manage to go thru both Hells Backbone Trail in Utah and the Chain of Craters National Byway in New Mexico. The trailer did not suffer any damage; The Jeep did have 2 flats tires thru out the whole trip. I used an old military mummy sleeping bag and I used to shower naked until I got a citation in Utah and I purchased a Trekker Fold a Privy. I’m 47 years old disabled veteran and been traveling and camping since I was about 15 yrs old. When you go in an expedition is a lot different than a weekend camping trip, is more like a way of life and there is a lot work and sacrifices done while doing so. Do take a High Lift Jack? Do take a good First Aid Kit with snake bite kit (I have three first aid kit, 2 smaller and a larger one). Depending where you are going, take extra fuel with you and refuel often, even if you feel that you don’t need to. Take plenty of water with you and once again replenished your water even you don’t feel that you need to. Have a good spare (for both your vehicle and your trailer), take several knives for everyday use, but always have a good Survival knife with you. I was a paratrooper and a grunt while in the service, so I always expect the worst case scenario and I’m firm believer on redundancy. Always have a little bit of cash as in some places “cash is King”. While you may have everything you may need, keep on mind that things don’t always go as planned. Because of that I have what I called a “bailout gear” is all inside a back pack and I have the essentials in there including MRE, first aid kit and other little goodies to help me out in the event I may have to walk and leave the place. I’m getting older and eventually I will look to get something more appropriate such as a tear drop trailer or one of those Campa Cub Trailers, but for now is all I can afford and every year I upgrade my gear a little at a time. I’m don’t about the other guys in here but I would be more than glad advise you so you can get ready for your adventure.
My experience is unique and everyone has their own experience and needs while traveling. For cooking I use a 26 yrs old Coleman 425F stove and I used about 1 ½ gallon of fuel to cook. I used an old military mess kit that is about 47 yrs old and a set of aluminum pots and pans that is 21 yrs old. Next year I will be replacing the pots and pan for a more modern and lighter stainless steel set (MSR ALPINE 2 pot set).
Last year I used hitch rack to put some of my gear, this year I purchased a very small trailer 3 ½ by 5 feet with 12 in tires from Lowes (I know, I know the guys driving the Land Rovers with the Super equipped A/T Trailers told me that was impossible). I used the trailer to transport my gear to set a based camp. While the trailer is not designed to go off road, I did manage to go thru both Hells Backbone Trail in Utah and the Chain of Craters National Byway in New Mexico. The trailer did not suffer any damage; The Jeep did have 2 flats tires thru out the whole trip. I used an old military mummy sleeping bag and I used to shower naked until I got a citation in Utah and I purchased a Trekker Fold a Privy. I’m 47 years old disabled veteran and been traveling and camping since I was about 15 yrs old. When you go in an expedition is a lot different than a weekend camping trip, is more like a way of life and there is a lot work and sacrifices done while doing so. Do take a High Lift Jack? Do take a good First Aid Kit with snake bite kit (I have three first aid kit, 2 smaller and a larger one). Depending where you are going, take extra fuel with you and refuel often, even if you feel that you don’t need to. Take plenty of water with you and once again replenished your water even you don’t feel that you need to. Have a good spare (for both your vehicle and your trailer), take several knives for everyday use, but always have a good Survival knife with you. I was a paratrooper and a grunt while in the service, so I always expect the worst case scenario and I’m firm believer on redundancy. Always have a little bit of cash as in some places “cash is King”. While you may have everything you may need, keep on mind that things don’t always go as planned. Because of that I have what I called a “bailout gear” is all inside a back pack and I have the essentials in there including MRE, first aid kit and other little goodies to help me out in the event I may have to walk and leave the place. I’m getting older and eventually I will look to get something more appropriate such as a tear drop trailer or one of those Campa Cub Trailers, but for now is all I can afford and every year I upgrade my gear a little at a time. I’m don’t about the other guys in here but I would be more than glad advise you so you can get ready for your adventure.