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Barry A.
Elite Nomad
Posts: 3576
Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Redding, (North) CA
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Mood: optimistic
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posted on 1-11-2007 at 09:10 PM
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Seems to me------
----that you could tow a regular Jeep Rubicon behind a MUCH cheaper vehicle and practically accomplish the same thing.
Actually, the new 4 dr. Rubicon is big enough to carry anything that I want to camp with, and I can use the 80K left over to finance years of
exploring------and my wife feels the same way. After all, when camping you are supposed to be CAMPING, not relaxing in expensive luxuary------takes
all the fun out of it. 
------and in a pinch, you can sleep inside the Rubicon.
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bajataco
Nomad
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Registered: 11-26-2003
Location: Arizona
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posted on 1-11-2007 at 09:24 PM
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Barry A.
----that you could tow a regular Jeep Rubicon behind a MUCH cheaper vehicle and practically accomplish the same thing. |
Apples to oranges IMO. The point is to have the freedom to explore at will, on a continuous route, without having to back-track to a base camp every
night. You take the base camp with you. No towing hassles. Less fuel.
| Quote: | Originally posted by Barry A.
After all, when camping you are supposed to be CAMPING, not relaxing in expensive luxuary------takes all the fun out of it. |
To each his own. "Luxury" is relevant to the traveler. Having spent 4 months living out of a Toyota Tacoma traveling the full length of the
peninsula, I think a quick-deploy sleeping solution doesn't detract from the experience, rather it enhances it. Setting up a tent on the ground every
night on an extended trip gets old fast (for me anyway). I enjoyed having our little sleeping deck inside our camper shell. It makes for a more
relaxed set up/break down of camp each day. A shower is an awesome feature, especially when it's hot and dusty. And a well thought out camp kitchen
is always a bonus. Generally, the more you simplify and create efficiency with your camp, the more time you have to enjoy your surroundings.
[Edited on 1-11-2007 by bajataco]
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Barry A.
Elite Nomad
Posts: 3576
Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Redding, (North) CA
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Mood: optimistic
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posted on 1-11-2007 at 09:42 PM
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taco----All true, but this is my solution-----
(1) We NEVER set up a tent-----we sleep on cots, or inside the vehicle on a "sleeping platform" that is always set up with ALL our "gear" below
it.
Almost all our kitchen gear is in one removable covered wooden box that we take out and it sits on a special set of legs (off the ground).
We have a foldup picnic table that we eat at, and a little utility table that we cook on, using propane stoves, lanterns, heaters, and bar-b-Q that
all hooks into a 3 gal bulk propane bottle.
We have a sun-shower that hangs from a special bracket on the side of our vehicle, which elavates it, and a special rubber mat on the ground, and both
my wife and I have enough water in that one sun-shower to take a decent shower. Since we almost NEVER camp where there is anybody else, we don't have
to worry about privacy. If privacy is an issue, we take our showers in the dark. It takes us about 20 mins to set up camp, or to take it down.
Very simple, and a lot of fun, we think. Been doing it for years, and probably will continue. Occasionally we take a motel for a night of relative
luxary. We are both in our 60's.
The vehicle currently in use is a 1989 Isuzu 4-dr Trooper.
Works for us. We can just never quite justify an RV, tho I am sure it is nice. We always have a wonderful time.
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Mexray
Senior Nomad
Posts: 964
Registered: 8-31-2002
Location: California Delta
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Mood: Baja Time
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posted on 1-11-2007 at 09:44 PM
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Elf...
...I'm with you on that, our F-350 came quipped with some existing 'pin stripes'...found a super deal on a 1999 model, and went from there with
some improvements, etc. The camper also has it's won 'pin stripes', it's a 2000 model, so we now have that 'big-buck' look for about 1/3 the
cost of some new stuff!
I too like the looks of the Roamer Jeep concept rig...you can see that it's mated to the Wrangler Unlimited (4-door) version...and as I mentioned on
another thread, they are really a good looking rig, this year, as a good friend just bought one and brought it by for me to look at....imagine,
electric windows and door locks in a Jeep! You can still take off the top and the doors, and the windshield still folds down! Hey it's still a
Jeep, with lots of improvements under the hood, too!
That fold-down roof-tent idea is real popular down under, and over in So. Africa. A great way to goo 'light' and be able to sleep off the ground
and away from all the creepy crawlers that wander the outback in the dark!
Mexray has attached this image:
According to my clock...anytime is 'BAJA TIME' & as Jimmy Buffett says,
"It doesn't use numbers or moving hands It always just says now..."
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bajataco
Nomad
Posts: 117
Registered: 11-26-2003
Location: Arizona
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 posted on 1-11-2007 at 09:51 PM
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Barry A.
(1) We NEVER set up a tent-----we sleep on cots, or inside the vehicle on a "sleeping platform" that is always set up with ALL our "gear" below
it.
Almost all our kitchen gear is in one removable covered wooden box that we take out and it sits on a special set of legs (off the ground).
We have a foldup picnic table that we eat at, and a little utility table that we cook on, using propane stoves, lanterns, heaters, and bar-b-Q that
all hooks into a 3 gal bulk propane bottle.
We have a sun-shower that hangs from a special bracket on the side of our vehicle, which elavates it, and a special rubber mat on the ground, and both
my wife and I have enough water in that one sun-shower to take a decent shower. Since we almost NEVER camp where there is anybody else, we don't have
to worry about privacy. If privacy is an issue, we take our showers in the dark. It takes us about 20 mins to set up camp, or to take it down.
Very simple, and a lot of fun, we think. Been doing it for years, and probably will continue. Occasionally we take a motel for a night of relative
luxary. We are both in our 60's.
The vehicle currently in use is a 1989 Isuzu 4-dr Trooper.
Works for us. We can just never quite justify an RV, tho I am sure it is nice. We always have a wonderful time. |
A man after my own heart!  My wife and I use a similar setup in my
Tacoma.
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Barry A.
Elite Nomad
Posts: 3576
Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Redding, (North) CA
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Mood: optimistic
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posted on 1-11-2007 at 10:13 PM
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However, I must confess-----
----that we too have an F-250 4x4 with a 42 inch Callen camper shell with sleeping/storage boxes that we DO use on occasion for that tad more privacy
and convenience, and warmth in cold, wet, and windy country, or when hauling the tin boat (on top).
So I guess I am cheating, a little. 
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David K
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 23426
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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posted on 1-11-2007 at 11:44 PM
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In the beginning... we slept under the stars... on foam mattresses, rolled up when traveling... next came cots, as they were easier to pack up and
elevated you off the ground so you would sleep alone! Sometimes sleep in the back of our vehicles (Wagoneer, Subaru wagons).
Then, with the change from camping solo out on Shell Island or where-ever to camping with our new friends on the Internet, and with kids, we added
tents (privacy and kids fearing crawley things)... Easy dome tents, mind you... but, they require more time to take down and pack away...
The benefit from the change from using wagons to pick ups (Tacomas) is the ease to load and unload gear... I use those large, plastic boxes with snap
on lids (bungee secured). I have 3 of those boxes: 'Kitchen', 'Miscl.' (lanterns, paper towels, whatever else, 'Bedding'... Plus a big canvas
tote bag for the stove, tents, air mattresses, etc.
Pull into camp, pull them out of the back of the truck which also has the ice boxes, folding table, chairs, fire wood, etc.
Now the truck is empty for exploring, driving into 'town' for beer, whatever.
The negative thing about pick up truck camping is bad weather... like rain, etc. This is where a set up like Neal Johns (pop up camper) or big camper
(Bob H) has advantages... The big campers do limit your ability to explore or make quick beer runs unless you take the camper off at camp...
I am not sure if there is a perfect combination... The closest would be a pop up camper or a camper shell set up like bajataco has on a Tacoma or
other truck, I suppose. No way to go get a bunch of firewood and throw it in the back, however.
That 4 door Jeep (JK) Wrangler Rubicon camper is appealing, but being a Jeep would have me concerned for quality... being spoiled by Toyota, Subaru,
etc. which have such high quality that you don't worry about breaking down.
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Barry A.
Elite Nomad
Posts: 3576
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Location: Redding, (North) CA
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Mood: optimistic
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posted on 1-12-2007 at 12:26 AM
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David----
I have full "racks" on both my Isuzu Trooper (Conferr 8 foot x 5 foot rack w/ hard deck), and a Callen built rack (12 feet x 6 feet w/ hard deck) on
my Callen Camper shell on the pickup. This makes it ideal for going out and gathering firewood, or anything else, for that matter, and for when you
are spooked by the critters in the sand, you cam sleep on top of the vehicles on the racks, if you dare. (never done that myself, but my friends
have).
Everything else I carry in the pickup camper (almost) fits into my bed boxes inside the camper leaving no clutter to get in your way. I also have a
"storage" section in that portion of the camper that extends out over the cab, which swallows up everything else that does not fit in the bed boxes.
I have been very satisfied with this arrangement for over 25 years, which is how old the Callen Camper is.
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Neal Johns
Super Nomad
Posts: 1232
Registered: 10-31-2002
Location: Lytle Creek, CA
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Mood: In love!
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posted on 1-12-2007 at 01:15 AM
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Roll your own roamer, just add camper....
http://www.allpar.com/trucks/jeep/scrambler.html
My motto:
Never let a Dragon pass by without pulling its tail!
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TW
Elite Nomad
Posts: 3047
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
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posted on 1-12-2007 at 02:48 AM
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I've been thru the tents, tent camper, RV trailer, cabover camper (actually like it the best), camper shell to cots under the stars mixed with the
hotel gig. A single burner stove in a box for coffee and cooking. On occasion a second single burner stove if we're making a grand meal. Usually the
larger type meals are in a resturant. Tailgate serves as the cooking platform and the table when necessary.
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bajataco
Nomad
Posts: 117
Registered: 11-26-2003
Location: Arizona
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posted on 4-23-2007 at 03:38 AM
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I was able to see the new Earthroamer Jeep "in the flesh" so to speak, at the recent Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, UT. I'm impressed! They have
released the info and pics of it on their website now at earthroamer.com . The canopy is
really nice, with different materials for different environments. The deployment and closure of the flip-lid for the canopy is controlled by a little
winch motor, so no wrestling with it. Too cool. The frame for it is BEEFY but light. Lots of really high quality hardware. I could see they made an
effort to retain durability but reduce weight (very important for this platform) by using lightweight materials, canvas storage drawers, etc. It has
pretty much everything you would need to be self-contained including solar (with full controls and monitoring) water, fuel, toilet, shower, heater,
fan, stove, faucet, etc. Very, very cool. It's tempting to mortgage the house... my wife and I really want one.
[Edited on 4-23-2007 by bajataco]
[Edited on 4-23-2007 by bajataco]
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Corky1
Nomad
Posts: 386
Registered: 11-23-2003
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posted on 4-27-2007 at 03:09 PM
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I am a motorcycle guy.
If I got into rock crawling how would this work??
1 ton van with stove and propane fridge,
carry motorcycle on rear rack.
If only it were 4wd??
Pict to big will add later??
[Edited on 4-27-2007 by Corky1]
Corky1 has attached this image:
 
"Keep The Rubberside Down" |
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Sharksbaja
Select Nomad
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Location: Newport, Mulege B.C.S.
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posted on 4-27-2007 at 10:40 PM
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prefect!
DON'T SQUINT! Give yer eyes a break!
Try holding down [control] key and toggle the [+ and -] keys
Viva Mulege!
Nomads' Sunsets
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Packoderm
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 1791
Registered: 11-7-2002
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posted on 4-27-2007 at 11:55 PM
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It certainly looks interesting.
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jeans
Senior Nomad
Posts: 826
Registered: 9-17-2002
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Mood: Encantada
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posted on 4-28-2007 at 03:11 AM
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Packoderm
It certainly looks interesting.
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I'm in love! I want one! 
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bajataco
Nomad
Posts: 117
Registered: 11-26-2003
Location: Arizona
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posted on 5-7-2007 at 02:34 AM
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The new XV-JP is currently on a trip to Central America along with one of the full-size EarthRoamers. More details and pics here on their site.
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Barry A.
Elite Nomad
Posts: 3576
Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Redding, (North) CA
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Mood: optimistic
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posted on 5-7-2007 at 03:26 AM
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I'm betting that Ken Cooke runs right out and gets one of these-------a logical "next step up", right??
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Packoderm
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 1791
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posted on 5-7-2007 at 03:52 AM
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Something tells me that the Earth Roamer isn't a hard-core enough rock crawler for Ken.
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Barry A.
Elite Nomad
Posts: 3576
Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Redding, (North) CA
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Mood: optimistic
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posted on 5-7-2007 at 06:17 AM
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Hey Packo------it's a RUBICON-------perfect for Ken.
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jeans
Senior Nomad
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posted on 5-7-2007 at 07:52 AM
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It's the perfect rig, except that the clearance looked low. But the vehicle in the picture taken by the bay seems like it sits higher. No side
steps? Looks even better with more clearance!
Mom always told me to be different
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