Leidys and I have been taking the Gladiator out every weekend, getting accustomed to its capabilities and comfort factor. We travel solo due to our
health issues. The Gladiator has exceeded my expectations and then some.
The approximately 6" of front suspension lift provide enough room for the 38" Patagonia MTs to droop and stuff without fender interference.
Ken, did you notice the graffiti on the rock in your second photo? Your Jeep is literally on LSD!
The next time I return to Johnson Valley, I will carry along some sandpaper and remove that bs. The rock is a perfect RTI ramp that I plan on using
to test brake line length.
Ken your off road toy assume I hope to join you on next Baja run
Southern California isn't as interesting as Baja California. But, I'm not getting involved in any runs until the pandemic isn't an issue, Larry.
Just today at Big Bear Lake, my wife and I shared the parking lot with a,"Healthy American" who was sneezing, coughing, with a box of Kleenex in one
hand and a cigarette in the other. Trying to stay away from people outside of our household for the time being. Trying not to get bored out of our
minds at the same time. Baja is 100% better.
I'm with you Ken my area in baja is open and beach. it is as safe as it gets simple no people. Going to Ensenada shopping now that is scary.
Larry - one year ago, I bought a 3M N-95 respirator as I was resurfacing my pool and needed to protect myself. If you can find a good N-95
respirator, you'll be safe from breathing in viral pathogens while near asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals alike.
In the morning, I am going to install an over the knuckle steering modification that will improve the steering geometry and better overall steering
feel that can handle the 38" tires.
This morning, I decided that an easy weekend would require reconfiguring my camping routine and ditching the REI Basecamp tent along with it's
ubiquitous poles, gangly rain fly and burdensome stakes. The air mattress that loses inflation at 3 am also will be tossed aside in favor of a new
ARB SIMPSON III roof top tent and lower ARB annex for privacy. This will mount to the unusually sturdy ACE Engineering Upper Decker unit with roof
top tent steel mounts.
The Upper Decker will contribute to a dust and water-free environment for my tools and gear while my tent will ride high enough to avoid creating wind
drag at highway speeds and sway during off camber trail maneuvers. Probably one of the best configurations for a Jeep Truck (JT) Rubicon that is
garaged at night and taken out on a regular basis with minimal set up time for my and my wife's busy schedules.
Arrival of equipment should be at the end of October 2020. In time for the desert season. I'm excited - looking forward to some remote travels to
Death Valley this winter.
The only downside(s) I see with those truck mounted tents are:
1. Gravity
2. Have to always park on a level spot, not always practical
3. Can't leave your campsite and explore, all or nothing.
4. Air mattresses are too cold, especially if you use a cot.
5. Tent always exposed to the elements, limited lifespan (?) Most home garages may not have clearance so always outside. YMMV.
I've found it pretty easy to travel/car camp with:
1. A cot to keep you off the ground, small footprint, instant set up
2. Thick Thermarest mattress (no cold air under you like inflatables)
3. Auxiliary tent (8x7) big enough to contain cot (rain, mosquito protection if needed) I only use a tent if absolutely necessary, otherwise it's
always open skies for me.
I see several trucks in my neighborhood with those rack mounted tents, unfortunately none of the owners I've talked to have actually used them. Go
figure. I just noticed one of the trucks has now removed everything, rack, tent, gas cans, traction mats. All gone. Maybe he's just storing it
since he hasn't used it.
I'll be interested to see your experiences and observations, good luck!
John has some good points, but I have never felt an air mattress was cold...
The roof mounted tents have one issue, perhaps for older folks: The late night pee... Falling, missing a step on the ladder, etc. would be a concern.
My Instant Tent from Coleman has been nothing short of amazing for the past 9 years in Baja, so it will work a bit longer, I think?
John has some good points, but I have never felt an air mattress was cold...
I used my Klymit Static V Lite insulated backpacking pad on my cot for a
short while. It's always worked great on the ground. But, I found I was getting cold at night, and realized body heat was just going out from the
bottom of the cot. So, I went back to my Thermarest Camper XL pad, which is like sleeping on a bed, and being cold no longer an issue.
Eastern Sierra, July 2020 (Thermarest and 30* bag)
Wyoming, July 2019 (note Klymit pad and 15* bag!)
Good point about the need to pee at night, too. Nothing like being able to just get up and put your feet on the ground, a cot is the way to go IMO.
Yes, I do most of my solo camping on a cot... the air mattress is more comfortable but there is the time to inflate (electric pump is nice) and
deflate and roll up. The cot is easy-sneezy. I took both during my 8 Baja Bound research trips. Some nights, I would not use the tent and sleep under
the stars. But, if near the Pacific side (wet, cold) or on the winter nights (cold everywhere), I used the Instant tent. I hate cold (so does my
wife), so we like Baja from June to October! My research rips began after Christmas 2016 until October 2017, then one more in August 2018.
The Basecamp 4 by REI takes a good 15 minutes to 20 minutes to set up when you consider the stakes and the air mattress and the bedding. I have
limited time on weekends and want the wife to be happy about going away over night and to not feel as if its a chore.
to mount on the back of the truck. When I leave the truck and lock the bed, the Upper Decker secures my cargo, tools, gear, everything. I plan on
storing the tent when not using it.
The lower annex is nice because it will allow for privacy in places there usually isn't any to come by.
Two nylon straps allow one to lower themselves down as they climb down the proprietary ladder, avoiding a fall in the night.
The only issue I see with the Upper Decker is the same as with any regular camper shell. You always end up climbing into the bed of the truck to get
anything up against the cab. Even when the Upper Decker is opened and lifted, you only have a narrow crack up by the cab to reach anything. For
security, I'm sure it's fine, but as for practicality, meh. Have you looked into one of those roll up bed covers? My neighbor has one and it seems
very practical and secure.
And, if you're going to remove the truck top tent and store it, how much time are you really saving versus the 15 minutes to set up your regular tent?
How much space does that take up to store, versus a tent and mattresses? Also, how heavy is that truck tent when putting it back on? I see it's
listed as weighing 154 pounds? And, do you also have to buy a rack for your truck to mount it?
I'm just looking at the real costs versus the alternative of a new, easier to pitch standalone tent, a couple cots, and mattresses. Big delta, but,
it's your truck and your money. I've been weighing the pluses and minuses of these setups since I first saw one several years ago. I car camp for
over a month each summer, so I've tried every configuration of camping. Always looking for new and better ways, as long costs are reasonable.
I'm looking forward to a report on how this new configuration works out. Good luck!
"If it were lush and rich, one could understand the pull, but it is fierce and hostile and sullen.
The stone mountains pile up to the sky and there is little fresh water. But we know we must go back
if we live, and we don't know why." - Steinbeck, Log from the Sea of Cortez
"People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care." - Theodore Roosevelt
"You can easily judge the character of others by how they treat those who they think can do nothing for them or to them." - Malcolm Forbes
"Let others lead small lives, but not you. Let others argue over small things, but not you. Let others
cry over small hurts, but not you. Let others leave their future in someone else's hands, but not you." - Jim Rohn
"The best way to get the right answer on the internet is not to ask a question; it's to post the wrong answer." - Cunningham's Law
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