xlcaferacer
Adventurer
I'm seeking some input. I now have a 1989 Toyota pickup with the 22re 4cylinder motor with a Wildernest camper on the back. My build thread is here: http://www.expeditionportal.com/for...-budget-built-89-toyota-pickup-expedition-rig I love my setup for exploring the backcountry trails that I frequent as it is lightweight and offers a nice, but minimal escape from home. The problem is: My kid is getting ready to go off to college in a year (hopefully on a soccer scholarship which is seriously possible at this point in time) and the wife and I are looking for something that we can stay in while visiting and watching games. I would rather stay in my own bed and have minimal amenities; even if it means staying in an R.V. park or KOA in the city, than stay in a hotel and sleep in the same bed as who knows how many others. My wife feels the same way.
So here is the dilemma. I love the Wildernest as a backcountry setup. It is light and offers a comfortable place to call home when on the trail. Even with my little motor I barely know that it is there. The problem is: it is a pain to set up an take down everyday if you want to base camp for several days and explore one area. In my travels of going from point A to point B to point C, etc., it has been great. But if I go to; Moab, or Ouray or wherever you can pull off a weekend of base camping and wheeling many trails in many different directions, it becomes a pain. The other problem is that I want something a little more year round friendly as opposed to the roof top tent style that the Wildernest offers.
So, here are the options that my wife and I are toying with. I really like the idea of a Four Wheel Campers Finch shell as it is trail-rated (to steal a jeep quote), comfortable and light weight and offers year round camp-ability. I could unload it and base camp out of it while leaving the truck free to trail run if I needed that option. The problem with this is that my wife has a '97 4runner that we use as our main ride and a slide in camper obviously doesn't work with it. Even though this truck is fairly capable on the trail, it is not our trail rig. So the other option is to get rid of the Wildernest and buy a light weight trailer that both vehicles can tow, then we would have a comfortable base camp and go back to tent camping on expo type trips. We want hard sides for security reasons and year round weather conditions but also light weight enough so that my 4 cylinder truck can pull it. I know the last part is a stretch but I don't mind going slow and pulling over for traffic. On this side of the spectrum we are leaning towards more dirt rated than trail rated. We like the small Aliner and Chalet a-frame campers as they weigh in about 1500lbs. wet. We also like the 13' fiberglass egg style campers (Casita, Scamp, etc.).
I hope that those who have had any of these setups will give me their feedback. I need help deciding which is best for me as I see plusses and minuses on both sides. Thank you in advance for your feedback
So here is the dilemma. I love the Wildernest as a backcountry setup. It is light and offers a comfortable place to call home when on the trail. Even with my little motor I barely know that it is there. The problem is: it is a pain to set up an take down everyday if you want to base camp for several days and explore one area. In my travels of going from point A to point B to point C, etc., it has been great. But if I go to; Moab, or Ouray or wherever you can pull off a weekend of base camping and wheeling many trails in many different directions, it becomes a pain. The other problem is that I want something a little more year round friendly as opposed to the roof top tent style that the Wildernest offers.
So, here are the options that my wife and I are toying with. I really like the idea of a Four Wheel Campers Finch shell as it is trail-rated (to steal a jeep quote), comfortable and light weight and offers year round camp-ability. I could unload it and base camp out of it while leaving the truck free to trail run if I needed that option. The problem with this is that my wife has a '97 4runner that we use as our main ride and a slide in camper obviously doesn't work with it. Even though this truck is fairly capable on the trail, it is not our trail rig. So the other option is to get rid of the Wildernest and buy a light weight trailer that both vehicles can tow, then we would have a comfortable base camp and go back to tent camping on expo type trips. We want hard sides for security reasons and year round weather conditions but also light weight enough so that my 4 cylinder truck can pull it. I know the last part is a stretch but I don't mind going slow and pulling over for traffic. On this side of the spectrum we are leaning towards more dirt rated than trail rated. We like the small Aliner and Chalet a-frame campers as they weigh in about 1500lbs. wet. We also like the 13' fiberglass egg style campers (Casita, Scamp, etc.).
I hope that those who have had any of these setups will give me their feedback. I need help deciding which is best for me as I see plusses and minuses on both sides. Thank you in advance for your feedback