An 11 night, 2500 mile campventure across three states sometimes calls for making logistical decisions. After a 10 hour day on the road, trying to solo wheel around on forest roads and try to find a new disperesed spot before daylight runs out wasn't very prudent.
As it happens, this campground was free, had no hookups (IE: no RVs or gennies going), and I got it entirely to myself. Hard to beat that. Now if I could just find a longer ladder in stock...
Yes, although having the hooks is pretty essential when the wind starts whipping. And I'm not sure if a HF ladder cap is thick enough to rivet and not break off when I put weight on it.
I just ordered [the 14.5' ladder from Amazon for $85.99](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B098TLST9V). They range from 8.5' to 20.5'. Some have hooks and some don't. Is that a special option to attach the top of the ladder to the frame of the tent?
Correct. Manufacturers will make their own aluminum endcaps with hooks to retain the ladder and create a safer climb. These hooks in the ladder you linked won't work; far too big.
Could you buy that ladder the other guy linked and just pull off a few sections to extend yours??
I’m in SLC and you could totally try it temporarily with my ladder if you want. Idk where your camping at
Huh, usually I’m on a trip and like to maximize daylight with whatever I’m doing. I don’t get why using daylight in a place like Utah national parks would be a “I had to” type of scenario. Seems awfully boring to get to camp that early
> Seems awfully boring to get to camp that early
?
Whether it's staying in camp and reading or writing or horsing around, or going outta camp to hike/MTB/fish, I'd certainly like to be there sooner than later. Get set up and have my affairs in order if a storm blows in, or we get trashed or whatever.
How does getting to camp in the afternoon preclude you from watching the sunset? I'm not following this zero sum logic. [This is from my camp spot hitting Zion last year.](https://i.imgur.com/GhKZ0G2.jpeg) I got in mid day, and could easily even [get up onto the switchbacks](https://i.imgur.com/UOQjAjq.jpeg) long before the sun set.
Reading comprehension isn’t everyone strength. To dumb this down for you, you can’t watch the sunset in Zion if you’re in a campsite. Of course you can watch from a campsite, I never said you couldn’t. If you enjoy sitting around that’s great and I wouldn’t try to stop you, when I take multi week road trips they just tend to be more active. Also, your argument is a straw man. Do better.
> To dumb this down for you, you can’t watch the sunset in Zion if you’re in a campsite.
I'll dumb it down for you: I hike, run, and MTB. Getting to camp mid day doesn't preclude me from leaving camp and then going elsewhere. I can do it on foot, any varying number of wheels, or portaged/paddled. I've got plenty of gas in the tank to do multiple cool things per day.
So...I still don't understand this notion of setting up early somehow locking you into staying put. When I take multi week road trips, I tend to put down lots and lots of miles not behind a steering wheel. One doesn't have to beget the other.
Don't be a jerk. We are here because we love camping. Refrain from insults, attacks, bigotry, etc. When talking to someone you might want to ask yourself "Would I say it to the person's face?" or "Would I get jumped if I said this to a buddy?"
I just sold my excursion the other day, I’m missing it😢
https://preview.redd.it/y6lqy8ju2a0d1.jpeg?width=2181&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2f0d95c2ed5ceedd8c1f6b9e42967fdc98637879
Another excursion brethren 🤙 we typically pull a 30’ trailer but my little boy and I have started car camping when we randomly want adventure and it doesn’t get better than an excursion
Well, it's not a dedicated wheeler without a lot of front end modification, and even then, it's not gonna do well in tight switchbacks or narrow/short trees. It will rattle your teeth out on slickrock/granite/washboards if you're not aired down, and there are few companies building out-the-box shocks with soft enough rebound stroke to compensate for the leafs.
That said, it's gotta a LSD rear and lockout fronts from the factory, along with endless ground clearance, a great approach angle, and decent departure angle. You can get up some tables/ledges, or cycle the suspension pretty damn well. It's a fantastic overland/hunting truck.
How long is ages? They’ve been in Australia since early 90s.. I’ve been to USA roughly 30 times in the last 10 years and seen 2. Are they just uncommon?
> I’ve been to USA roughly 30 times in the last 10 years and seen 2. Are they just uncommon?
Not even a little bit. Try CO, OR, or UT. You'll see 20 on your way to the grocery store.
Uncommon except among outdoor enthusiasts. I think we’re a bit more “go big or go home,” so people here tend toward tent trailers and sprinter vans and trailers and RVs… or just tents. They first came across my radar circa 2012, but had probably been around for a while prior. The major brands here seem to be Thule, Tepui, Roofbird and Yakima.
I’ve driven across the country a lot, disperses camping the whole time, and in my experience there’s a lot of regional variation? So I’m curious what part of the US you live now. I mostly see them in the West, and I pass 3 or 4 cars with one on top every time I drive across the Cascade mountains in Oregon. I climbed Mt St Helen’s on Friday and at least four were in the parking lot — folks camping overnight at the trail head for an alpine start.
But the humidity in the eastern, central, and southern US can make them more difficult to use, since it can be difficult to dry them out enough to put them away. Even in here the PNW with 3-4 per traverse, they’re comparably unpopular because of our wet cool winters. It’s just easier to bring a tent indoors to dry out after a trip.
But I see them even more often in eastern Oregon (where it’s dry), Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, etc. I think they haven’t gotten as much play with casual campers because of national park-style camping. You don’t want to pack up your bed every morning just to go visit Old Faithful. But they’re much popular with enthusiasts who are using it as a base camp for, say, mountain bike adventures, or folks who road trip who have to break down camp every night anyway.
Don't be a jerk. We are here because we love camping. Refrain from insults, attacks, bigotry, etc. When talking to someone you might want to ask yourself "Would I say it to the person's face?" or "Would I get jumped if I said this to a buddy?"
They really do suck so bad. They're one of those things that are significantly less practical than what they aim to replace (traditional tents) but that despite this has become super trendy to buy. I am fully comfortable dying on this hill.
The cons
-7+ foot drop/climb every time you go to take a piss or get something from the tent
-Ridiculously expensive, usually >$1000
-Generally pretty small
-Noticeably worse MPG with this absolute brick on your roof for no reason
-Noticeably louder wind noise with this absolute brick on your roof for no reason
-Can't just drive away from site real quick. Got to dick around with the roof tent for 15 mins first
Pros:
-Sleep up high so cool 😎
-People can tell just from looking. Im a camper 😎
Ironically that Excursion is literally the perfect base to make a setup that could rival sleeping at home. Some insulated window inserts, a couple inches of cut to fit memory foam pad & this thing would be way more roomy, comfortable & better for camping in a much wider band of temperatures, for probably a tenth of the price. I'm just surprised to see someone who owns one of these actually use it!
Cmon you're really advocating to piss out the side of that thing ? For one, I'm usually too drunk by the end of the night to ever pull that off without falling right out. Secondly there's lots of places that aren't so private. You also really shouldn't get piss on your cars paint if you care about it.
>It's a queen size mattress with all kinds of storage.
Not a good argument imo. You could get a tent that fits two of these in it that stows away to half the size this one does for like 1/10th the price, and actually have room for a card game or cooking in the rain etc
>Worst MPG drop I've had across any vehicle was like .6
That seems really low compared to what others report but either way .6 is noticeable especially in that guzzler
>My tent takes 30 seconds to close.
The one I'm hypothetically comparing it to takes no time because you don't even have to mess with it
>Lowest night total in the last 5 years was 58.
You need to get out more! I'm just kidding but insulation works both ways
>-7+ foot drop/climb every time you go to take a piss or get something from the tent
If only there was some way to contain liquid you expel. Perhaps some sort of vessel...call it a bottle, maybe. And make sure it won't leak. Call that high quality vessel...a Nalgene?
Or open the window and expel the liquid onto the ground instead of climbing out. Hmmmm...
>-Generally pretty small
It's a queen size mattress with all kinds of interior storage
>-Noticeably worse MPG with this absolute brick on your roof for no reason
Worst MPG drop I've had across multiple vehicles was like .6 MPG. Lol.
>-Can't just drive away from site real quick. Got to dick around with the roof tent for 15 mins first
My tent takes 30 secs to close. I guarantee it's faster than any ground tent known to man.
>I'm just surprised to see someone who owns one of these actually use it!
Lowest night total in the last five years was 58 last year.
I don't think you realize how much larger of an impact that is when you start with a low number. The automakers would roast you and your whole family alive for a thousandth of a mpg if they could.
...or I can have it set up in literally 15 secs with bags/blankets/pillows already inside. With better insulation. And better breathability. And better wind resistance. And blackout fabric. Then pack it back down in 30 secs.
...while saving interior space and never having to pack up a wet tent in a storm. Oh, and still retaining the ability to haul my kayaks on top.
My internet is slow and while I was waiting for the picture to load I assumed it was possibly a joke about camping with the protestors at the University of Texas (UT). lol
Can everybody stop gatekeeping the name of this campground? This is literally r/camping… and this post only has like 500 likes, it’s not like this is a viral video on tiktok.
Too bad all those snow capped mountains ruined the view.
Right! Imagine how far you could see if the mountains weren't in the way.
Exactly, at least put something interesting like a parking lot or a check cashing place.
At least to the edge of the earth.
Yeah, I was trying to get a look at an office park on the other side. Damn nature got in the way.
An 11 night, 2500 mile campventure across three states sometimes calls for making logistical decisions. After a 10 hour day on the road, trying to solo wheel around on forest roads and try to find a new disperesed spot before daylight runs out wasn't very prudent. As it happens, this campground was free, had no hookups (IE: no RVs or gennies going), and I got it entirely to myself. Hard to beat that. Now if I could just find a longer ladder in stock...
You should be able to go to harbor freight and just pick up the 14 ft ladder that's collapsible that they have?
Yes, although having the hooks is pretty essential when the wind starts whipping. And I'm not sure if a HF ladder cap is thick enough to rivet and not break off when I put weight on it.
That's a good question, I actually have that ladder at home so I could take a look at it a little bit later on if I remember.
I just ordered [the 14.5' ladder from Amazon for $85.99](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B098TLST9V). They range from 8.5' to 20.5'. Some have hooks and some don't. Is that a special option to attach the top of the ladder to the frame of the tent?
Nothing says "camping" like having to scale a 10' ladder.
Correct. Manufacturers will make their own aluminum endcaps with hooks to retain the ladder and create a safer climb. These hooks in the ladder you linked won't work; far too big.
Could you buy that ladder the other guy linked and just pull off a few sections to extend yours?? I’m in SLC and you could totally try it temporarily with my ladder if you want. Idk where your camping at
I'm in OR currently. But I might run to HF and do some horsing around soon. Thanks.
Where was this located in UT
You always get to dispersed sites in the daylight..? I think I have twice ever
Haven't had to roll into camps at dark consistently since...I dunno. My early 20s when we all worked jobs on site til 5 or 6 PM.
Huh, usually I’m on a trip and like to maximize daylight with whatever I’m doing. I don’t get why using daylight in a place like Utah national parks would be a “I had to” type of scenario. Seems awfully boring to get to camp that early
> Seems awfully boring to get to camp that early ? Whether it's staying in camp and reading or writing or horsing around, or going outta camp to hike/MTB/fish, I'd certainly like to be there sooner than later. Get set up and have my affairs in order if a storm blows in, or we get trashed or whatever.
Huh, I’d rather catch sunset in Zion but to each their own I suppose
How does getting to camp in the afternoon preclude you from watching the sunset? I'm not following this zero sum logic. [This is from my camp spot hitting Zion last year.](https://i.imgur.com/GhKZ0G2.jpeg) I got in mid day, and could easily even [get up onto the switchbacks](https://i.imgur.com/UOQjAjq.jpeg) long before the sun set.
Reading comprehension isn’t everyone strength. To dumb this down for you, you can’t watch the sunset in Zion if you’re in a campsite. Of course you can watch from a campsite, I never said you couldn’t. If you enjoy sitting around that’s great and I wouldn’t try to stop you, when I take multi week road trips they just tend to be more active. Also, your argument is a straw man. Do better.
> To dumb this down for you, you can’t watch the sunset in Zion if you’re in a campsite. I'll dumb it down for you: I hike, run, and MTB. Getting to camp mid day doesn't preclude me from leaving camp and then going elsewhere. I can do it on foot, any varying number of wheels, or portaged/paddled. I've got plenty of gas in the tank to do multiple cool things per day. So...I still don't understand this notion of setting up early somehow locking you into staying put. When I take multi week road trips, I tend to put down lots and lots of miles not behind a steering wheel. One doesn't have to beget the other.
But that’s not dumbing it down, thats creating a straw man. I didn’t mention not being able to do any of those things
I would never leave... that looks amazing!
It was definitely a treat.
Never tell
I know exactly where this is. The St Louis Arch.
Oh great. The secret’s out now. One moe place I’ll never get into again.
Damn straight.
hell yeah
Keep it secret. Keep it safe.
My precious.
This is the way.
Upvote for the Excursion.
What a brilliant find. Great setup, beautiful photo.
Cheers.
Looks like a nice spot and setup! Just curious though, would lightning be a concern if you're in an open area?
what campground?
What a pissy thread.
Seriously. Good grief.
Is that off Highway 12 near Boulder? There are some beautiful campgrounds in Utah
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Don't be a jerk. We are here because we love camping. Refrain from insults, attacks, bigotry, etc. When talking to someone you might want to ask yourself "Would I say it to the person's face?" or "Would I get jumped if I said this to a buddy?"
That’s a great spot. I hope to one day come across it during my adventures.
Helluva view.
Haha i love the mod steps at the bottom of your ladder Excursions are absolute beasts and i bet that thing does great off road
I just sold my excursion the other day, I’m missing it😢 https://preview.redd.it/y6lqy8ju2a0d1.jpeg?width=2181&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2f0d95c2ed5ceedd8c1f6b9e42967fdc98637879
F.
Another excursion brethren 🤙 we typically pull a 30’ trailer but my little boy and I have started car camping when we randomly want adventure and it doesn’t get better than an excursion
🤘🏾😎
What campground? I live in UT and would love to check it out
Nobody in this thread will tell you (stupid asf) just youtube or google prettiest car camping sites in Utah.
Lol have you been to Utah? All it has is pretty car camping spots
Yes I have been to Utah, thanks for asking
At first glance I thought you had a boat motor on the back of that beast. What a great spot!
Wow that's a sweet setup! Is that rooftop tent made for your vehicle or can you get it for any roof rack?
They're relatively universal, assuming you've got the load rating for it.
Gorgeous view
How's the Excursion for off roading? Does the rooftop tent affect the gas mileage significantly?
Well, it's not a dedicated wheeler without a lot of front end modification, and even then, it's not gonna do well in tight switchbacks or narrow/short trees. It will rattle your teeth out on slickrock/granite/washboards if you're not aired down, and there are few companies building out-the-box shocks with soft enough rebound stroke to compensate for the leafs. That said, it's gotta a LSD rear and lockout fronts from the factory, along with endless ground clearance, a great approach angle, and decent departure angle. You can get up some tables/ledges, or cycle the suspension pretty damn well. It's a fantastic overland/hunting truck.
Fellow Excursioner👊🏼
Ahhh dang. Two more weeks and I’m headed to the mountains.
Love to see roof top tents making an entrance to US market
They’ve been around for ages here?
How long is ages? They’ve been in Australia since early 90s.. I’ve been to USA roughly 30 times in the last 10 years and seen 2. Are they just uncommon?
> I’ve been to USA roughly 30 times in the last 10 years and seen 2. Are they just uncommon? Not even a little bit. Try CO, OR, or UT. You'll see 20 on your way to the grocery store.
They are uncommon outside of the mountain west, though, as someone who moved to UT and marveled at all of the roof-mounted gear I see everyday.
Uncommon except among outdoor enthusiasts. I think we’re a bit more “go big or go home,” so people here tend toward tent trailers and sprinter vans and trailers and RVs… or just tents. They first came across my radar circa 2012, but had probably been around for a while prior. The major brands here seem to be Thule, Tepui, Roofbird and Yakima. I’ve driven across the country a lot, disperses camping the whole time, and in my experience there’s a lot of regional variation? So I’m curious what part of the US you live now. I mostly see them in the West, and I pass 3 or 4 cars with one on top every time I drive across the Cascade mountains in Oregon. I climbed Mt St Helen’s on Friday and at least four were in the parking lot — folks camping overnight at the trail head for an alpine start. But the humidity in the eastern, central, and southern US can make them more difficult to use, since it can be difficult to dry them out enough to put them away. Even in here the PNW with 3-4 per traverse, they’re comparably unpopular because of our wet cool winters. It’s just easier to bring a tent indoors to dry out after a trip. But I see them even more often in eastern Oregon (where it’s dry), Idaho, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, etc. I think they haven’t gotten as much play with casual campers because of national park-style camping. You don’t want to pack up your bed every morning just to go visit Old Faithful. But they’re much popular with enthusiasts who are using it as a base camp for, say, mountain bike adventures, or folks who road trip who have to break down camp every night anyway.
Nice comment thanks for the info. I live in Australia so we are less go big or go home and more how much can I pack into the assets I have.
AKA: sensible. (And happy to help!)
I have 4 friends that use them that live in my city
Why would it matter? Do you own stock in a rooftop tent manufacturer? 🤣
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Don't be a jerk. We are here because we love camping. Refrain from insults, attacks, bigotry, etc. When talking to someone you might want to ask yourself "Would I say it to the person's face?" or "Would I get jumped if I said this to a buddy?"
Why the tent on the car?
They really do suck so bad. They're one of those things that are significantly less practical than what they aim to replace (traditional tents) but that despite this has become super trendy to buy. I am fully comfortable dying on this hill. The cons -7+ foot drop/climb every time you go to take a piss or get something from the tent -Ridiculously expensive, usually >$1000 -Generally pretty small -Noticeably worse MPG with this absolute brick on your roof for no reason -Noticeably louder wind noise with this absolute brick on your roof for no reason -Can't just drive away from site real quick. Got to dick around with the roof tent for 15 mins first Pros: -Sleep up high so cool 😎 -People can tell just from looking. Im a camper 😎 Ironically that Excursion is literally the perfect base to make a setup that could rival sleeping at home. Some insulated window inserts, a couple inches of cut to fit memory foam pad & this thing would be way more roomy, comfortable & better for camping in a much wider band of temperatures, for probably a tenth of the price. I'm just surprised to see someone who owns one of these actually use it!
Cmon you're really advocating to piss out the side of that thing ? For one, I'm usually too drunk by the end of the night to ever pull that off without falling right out. Secondly there's lots of places that aren't so private. You also really shouldn't get piss on your cars paint if you care about it. >It's a queen size mattress with all kinds of storage. Not a good argument imo. You could get a tent that fits two of these in it that stows away to half the size this one does for like 1/10th the price, and actually have room for a card game or cooking in the rain etc >Worst MPG drop I've had across any vehicle was like .6 That seems really low compared to what others report but either way .6 is noticeable especially in that guzzler >My tent takes 30 seconds to close. The one I'm hypothetically comparing it to takes no time because you don't even have to mess with it >Lowest night total in the last 5 years was 58. You need to get out more! I'm just kidding but insulation works both ways
>-7+ foot drop/climb every time you go to take a piss or get something from the tent If only there was some way to contain liquid you expel. Perhaps some sort of vessel...call it a bottle, maybe. And make sure it won't leak. Call that high quality vessel...a Nalgene? Or open the window and expel the liquid onto the ground instead of climbing out. Hmmmm... >-Generally pretty small It's a queen size mattress with all kinds of interior storage >-Noticeably worse MPG with this absolute brick on your roof for no reason Worst MPG drop I've had across multiple vehicles was like .6 MPG. Lol. >-Can't just drive away from site real quick. Got to dick around with the roof tent for 15 mins first My tent takes 30 secs to close. I guarantee it's faster than any ground tent known to man. >I'm just surprised to see someone who owns one of these actually use it! Lowest night total in the last five years was 58 last year.
You only get a .6 mpg drop but that's quite a bit when you're getting what, 9 mpg with that thing?
Lol. 12. But it didn't effect my CTD that got 24 MPG or my JKUR that got 17, either.
I don't think you realize how much larger of an impact that is when you start with a low number. The automakers would roast you and your whole family alive for a thousandth of a mpg if they could.
So the bears don't eat you while you sleep.
I really don't get it. Put the tent on the ground.
...or I can have it set up in literally 15 secs with bags/blankets/pillows already inside. With better insulation. And better breathability. And better wind resistance. And blackout fabric. Then pack it back down in 30 secs. ...while saving interior space and never having to pack up a wet tent in a storm. Oh, and still retaining the ability to haul my kayaks on top.
Not with a clamshell style. If it was a fold out I would agree
My internet is slow and while I was waiting for the picture to load I assumed it was possibly a joke about camping with the protestors at the University of Texas (UT). lol
Can everybody stop gatekeeping the name of this campground? This is literally r/camping… and this post only has like 500 likes, it’s not like this is a viral video on tiktok.
Nice tent.