Thanks for this super honest and sensible explanation, I had a full size truck and hard side camper and found it too much for what I wanted plus a daily driver so your comments were helpful for sure 👍
@@blackfish7163 Yup no problem. The full-size trucks are great for hauling and towing but kinda overkill for a daily especially if they are carrying a camper.
Ha ha, I totally thought you were camping! I like your tent. Steve Wallis has one without a floor that I like. My canopy is getting worn and I will have to replace it soon so I'm keeping my eyes open, (no longer manufactured).
@@easycamperdandog The floor in my tent is removable, I had considered getting an ice fishing hut originally but opted for the gazelle since I can remove the floor and I think I’ll be more likely to use it year round. My popup canopy is probably close to 15 years old and has definitely seen better days. I think it’ll be time for a new one after this winter. I have an 8x8 one but it’s not really enough shelter for rainy cold weather so I never use it. I’m thinking another 10x10 or possibly a 12x12 when I go for a new one. I’ll get one with walls like yours cause that is a great set up.
I agree. Full size trucks are too wide for Cascade and Coast range exploring here in Oregon unless you are planning to bedline the whole thing. I've driven out with them and they get scratched to hell while my Tacoma is untouched.
@@RevN3 Your Tacoma still looks fantastic especially after all the adventuring you’ve done with it. Yup the midsize and older full-size trucks are a much better size for the cascades. Sometimes I think about getting another jeep but after having 7 of them I think I’m done…. Maybe. 🤔
I'm running a 1992 Toyota extracab with a 6 1/2 foot bed and a simple Leer canopy. I made a simple bed platform for sleeping. I've owned it for over 20 years and since it spent its early years in Central Oregon it's rust-free. I've totally rebuilt the engine and added a TruTrac limited slip rear dif and Rancho gas shocks. I don't do any crazy with it. This year I finished the Washington Backroads Discovery Route which I highly recommend. I'd like to do the Bend to Alvord Desert route if I can find a buddy to do it with.
@@highdesertforester That sounds like a perfect setup. Definitely have saved a ton of money having the same truck for the last 20 years. I wanted to do the WBDR in the big truck but never did get around to it. Some great camping spots and sights to see on that trip.
I have a 2nd gen Frontier with short bed, I was sold for the Pro4X features over long bed at that time. I built a wood extension platform with barn doors to slide out on the tailgate. This way, I was able to sleep in my truck bed with canopy on it. You can check on YT, there are some examples might inspire you. Also, I’ve just ordered a tent with stovejack and a pellet stove for tents. Sleeping in the truck bed is good for the road trips, trailheads and national parks but also a tent that you can stand in it and cook your food over the stove is awesome.
@@onurk759 The pro4x trucks are nice. I’ve seen a few of those slide out things for sleeping in the bed. I hadn’t actually thought about making one but it could be a fun project and make for a quick set up. I might start thinking about doing one of those. Having a hot tent is great. I have 4 hot tents and 3 stoves. So far the mini peak xl is my favorite for a smaller space and quick set up. I have the seek outside large stove that I use in it (I just got the glass door for it). I turned my gazelle t4 tent into a hot tent by cutting out a screen for a window and I run a Winnerwell woodlander large in that. Had to make a few heats out of welding blankets but so far it’s held up. Being able to stand up is great. A pellet stove will probably run much longer than a wood stove, I usually rebuild the fire a couple times on really cold nights. Last trip I burned a couple Tacoma Fire Logs and they burned for hours. Only relit the fire once and it was still coals in there.
@ Your setups look nice and cozy, I used to have a titanium stove from Luxe when I used to live in Colorado. It was kinda small for me, I go to camping with my wife so always need bigger tents. Actually, my pellet stove just arrived a couple hours ago, it is a Greenstove Hori5. It burns wood and pellet both and has a oven in it if you burn in pellet mode. It is 30lb so not a backpacking stove but I’m gonna match with a Naturehike Dune tent for car/canoe campings. I haven’t tried any of these gear in the field yet but I live in WA now and I know finding dry firewood is not gonna be easy as Colorado anymore :) Btw, this brand sells pellet attachment for Winnerwell stoves as well, I love Winnerwell stoves. I ordered this Hori5 from them because price was nice for its features and build quality.
@ Interesting, I’ll have to look into the pellet attachment. Dry wood can be a bit harder to come by in Washington especially on the west side but it’s out there.
I looked at several "pop up" camper options, and ended up going with Alaskan 8 foot this year. They are expensive but I have been happy with it. Its just myself and a dog so the size is right. I have it on a diesel Ram 2500 4x4 so I can get pretty much where I want to go in the central Washington Cascades.
@@simcoebackcountry5998 That’s a great combo. I still look on facebook marketplace every once in awhile and see some older used Alaskans on there. Someday I may get an old 3/4 ton truck and get a canopy or an old Alaskan.
Sorry to see the big rig gone, but I can totally understand. I drive an old Ram megacab with a simple camp build inside my Snugtop. "Overlanding" has become a huge business. While alot of the gear is nice, I prefer the simple things in life. It's great to have choices for your lifestyle setup. Lol I did enjoy watching you navigate all those snowy roads on a pretty stock truck. Looking forward to your new chapter as I also enjoy winter camping. I'll enjoy it a little more when I figure out my diesel heater setup for my deep winter trips. Good luck with the new setup Thx for posting
@@mikes4352 Thanks for watching. Overlanding has definitely become very commercialized. It’s great that it’s become a nice community of people sharing a passion for getting out and exploring but still it’s just going out exploring and camping like has been done for decades. We don’t have to have all the trendy stuff to do that. The big truck was kinda of a blessing and a curse. I’ve had a lot of camping setups over the years and I’m sure this current one will change too. I still think the best setups are just sleeping under the canopy in the back of the truck, nice and simple. I think I might be able to make my diesel heater work in my gazelle tent.
Scott another great video however I don't know if I would have gotten rid of my pickup truck and camper but then I'm old and lazy I just crawling back and go to sleep wouldn't have to set up a tent even though we have more room but I hope you enjoy your new setup Jake McClellan the Oregon boy😊
@@jakemcclellan8399 I may regret getting rid of it. I do miss the power and cargo capacity of the truck and the quicker camping set up that the camper offered but I do enjoy the tent camping too. I may at some point get an older truck with a canopy for a quick simple setup. Hard to say what the future will bring, I tend to never really be satisfied with whatever my current setup is so I’m always looking to change it.
thank you for your round up of the reasons you got rid of your big rig. yes please make a tour of the new Nissan one or at least the features you like / dislike about this new set up and the hard top you got for it also. Looking forward to your next adventures specially now that it's winter and snow more or less (less for us in New Jersey, the snow the other day was a pure joke, it almost melted on contact with the ground and didn't event stick to the asphalt, was not even measurable 🤔
Once I’ve had the truck for several months I’ll make a quick video on what I like and dislike. It’s still too new to me to make an honest review at this point. I’m hoping for several hot tent camps this season and quit a few hikes as well. I just got a glass door for my Seek Outside wood stove so I’m looking forward to using it.
@@samueljlarson I hadn’t planned on doing a review of the truck but I may do one of those 5 things I love/hate type of videos. If I do it’ll most likely be after I’ve had it for a year. I currently have no plans to put a camper on it but if I found something dirt cheap I might change my mind.
That's an awesome tent! I think you're gonna like the froneir, I absolutely love mine. 👍🏽
@@ruggednwexcursions Thanks, frontier has been great so far.
Thanks for the video. We look forward to them. We think you made a wise choice.
Thanks. So far it’s been good, we’ll see what the future brings.
Thanks for this super honest and sensible explanation, I had a full size truck and hard side camper and found it too much for what I wanted plus a daily driver so your comments were helpful for sure 👍
@@blackfish7163 Yup no problem. The full-size trucks are great for hauling and towing but kinda overkill for a daily especially if they are carrying a camper.
Ha ha, I totally thought you were camping! I like your tent. Steve Wallis has one without a floor that I like. My canopy is getting worn and I will have to replace it soon so I'm keeping my eyes open, (no longer manufactured).
@@easycamperdandog The floor in my tent is removable, I had considered getting an ice fishing hut originally but opted for the gazelle since I can remove the floor and I think I’ll be more likely to use it year round.
My popup canopy is probably close to 15 years old and has definitely seen better days. I think it’ll be time for a new one after this winter. I have an 8x8 one but it’s not really enough shelter for rainy cold weather so I never use it. I’m thinking another 10x10 or possibly a 12x12 when I go for a new one. I’ll get one with walls like yours cause that is a great set up.
@scottalpine yeah the only thing wrong with my canopy is the velcro is not sticking as well as it used to
@ That’s frustrating, maybe you could add some snaps or some grommets and tie it together.
I agree. Full size trucks are too wide for Cascade and Coast range exploring here in Oregon unless you are planning to bedline the whole thing. I've driven out with them and they get scratched to hell while my Tacoma is untouched.
@@RevN3 Your Tacoma still looks fantastic especially after all the adventuring you’ve done with it. Yup the midsize and older full-size trucks are a much better size for the cascades. Sometimes I think about getting another jeep but after having 7 of them I think I’m done…. Maybe. 🤔
@scottalpine My Tacoma looks good from 20 feet away or on video 😆 There is a reason I only wash it once a year!
I'm running a 1992 Toyota extracab with a 6 1/2 foot bed and a simple Leer canopy. I made a simple bed platform for sleeping. I've owned it for over 20 years and since it spent its early years in Central Oregon it's rust-free. I've totally rebuilt the engine and added a TruTrac limited slip rear dif and Rancho gas shocks. I don't do any crazy with it. This year I finished the Washington Backroads Discovery Route which I highly recommend. I'd like to do the Bend to Alvord Desert route if I can find a buddy to do it with.
@@highdesertforester That sounds like a perfect setup. Definitely have saved a ton of money having the same truck for the last 20 years. I wanted to do the WBDR in the big truck but never did get around to it. Some great camping spots and sights to see on that trip.
I have a 2nd gen Frontier with short bed, I was sold for the Pro4X features over long bed at that time.
I built a wood extension platform with barn doors to slide out on the tailgate. This way, I was able to sleep in my truck bed with canopy on it. You can check on YT, there are some examples might inspire you.
Also, I’ve just ordered a tent with stovejack and a pellet stove for tents.
Sleeping in the truck bed is good for the road trips, trailheads and national parks but also a tent that you can stand in it and cook your food over the stove is awesome.
@@onurk759 The pro4x trucks are nice. I’ve seen a few of those slide out things for sleeping in the bed. I hadn’t actually thought about making one but it could be a fun project and make for a quick set up. I might start thinking about doing one of those.
Having a hot tent is great. I have 4 hot tents and 3 stoves. So far the mini peak xl is my favorite for a smaller space and quick set up. I have the seek outside large stove that I use in it (I just got the glass door for it).
I turned my gazelle t4 tent into a hot tent by cutting out a screen for a window and I run a Winnerwell woodlander large in that. Had to make a few heats out of welding blankets but so far it’s held up. Being able to stand up is great.
A pellet stove will probably run much longer than a wood stove, I usually rebuild the fire a couple times on really cold nights.
Last trip I burned a couple Tacoma Fire Logs and they burned for hours. Only relit the fire once and it was still coals in there.
@ Your setups look nice and cozy, I used to have a titanium stove from Luxe when I used to live in Colorado. It was kinda small for me, I go to camping with my wife so always need bigger tents.
Actually, my pellet stove just arrived a couple hours ago, it is a Greenstove Hori5. It burns wood and pellet both and has a oven in it if you burn in pellet mode. It is 30lb so not a backpacking stove but I’m gonna match with a Naturehike Dune tent for car/canoe campings.
I haven’t tried any of these gear in the field yet but I live in WA now and I know finding dry firewood is not gonna be easy as Colorado anymore :)
Btw, this brand sells pellet attachment for Winnerwell stoves as well, I love Winnerwell stoves. I ordered this Hori5 from them because price was nice for its features and build quality.
@ Interesting, I’ll have to look into the pellet attachment. Dry wood can be a bit harder to come by in Washington especially on the west side but it’s out there.
I looked at several "pop up" camper options, and ended up going with Alaskan 8 foot this year. They are expensive but I have been happy with it. Its just myself and a dog so the size is right. I have it on a diesel Ram 2500 4x4 so I can get pretty much where I want to go in the central Washington Cascades.
@@simcoebackcountry5998 That’s a great combo. I still look on facebook marketplace every once in awhile and see some older used Alaskans on there. Someday I may get an old 3/4 ton truck and get a canopy or an old Alaskan.
Sorry to see the big rig gone, but I can totally understand. I drive an old Ram megacab with a simple camp build inside my Snugtop.
"Overlanding" has become a huge business. While alot of the gear is nice, I prefer the simple things in life. It's great to have choices for your lifestyle setup. Lol
I did enjoy watching you navigate all those snowy roads on a pretty stock truck.
Looking forward to your new chapter as I also enjoy winter camping. I'll enjoy it a little more when I figure out my diesel heater setup for my deep winter trips.
Good luck with the new setup
Thx for posting
@@mikes4352 Thanks for watching. Overlanding has definitely become very commercialized. It’s great that it’s become a nice community of people sharing a passion for getting out and exploring but still it’s just going out exploring and camping like has been done for decades. We don’t have to have all the trendy stuff to do that.
The big truck was kinda of a blessing and a curse. I’ve had a lot of camping setups over the years and I’m sure this current one will change too.
I still think the best setups are just sleeping under the canopy in the back of the truck, nice and simple.
I think I might be able to make my diesel heater work in my gazelle tent.
Scott another great video however I don't know if I would have gotten rid of my pickup truck and camper but then I'm old and lazy I just crawling back and go to sleep wouldn't have to set up a tent even though we have more room but I hope you enjoy your new setup Jake McClellan the Oregon boy😊
@@jakemcclellan8399 I may regret getting rid of it. I do miss the power and cargo capacity of the truck and the quicker camping set up that the camper offered but I do enjoy the tent camping too. I may at some point get an older truck with a canopy for a quick simple setup. Hard to say what the future will bring, I tend to never really be satisfied with whatever my current setup is so I’m always looking to change it.
thank you for your round up of the reasons you got rid of your big rig. yes please make a tour of the new Nissan one or at least the features you like / dislike about this new set up and the hard top you got for it also. Looking forward to your next adventures specially now that it's winter and snow more or less (less for us in New Jersey, the snow the other day was a pure joke, it almost melted on contact with the ground and didn't event stick to the asphalt, was not even measurable 🤔
Once I’ve had the truck for several months I’ll make a quick video on what I like and dislike. It’s still too new to me to make an honest review at this point.
I’m hoping for several hot tent camps this season and quit a few hikes as well. I just got a glass door for my Seek Outside wood stove so I’m looking forward to using it.
I have an m- got the same chair set up- i cant see doing it any other way- comfy.
@@nealamesbury7953 Yup that chair in the middle works great except when I bump my head 🤣
Will you ever do a review of your Nissan truck? Are you ever planning to put a camper on it?
@@samueljlarson I hadn’t planned on doing a review of the truck but I may do one of those 5 things I love/hate type of videos. If I do it’ll most likely be after I’ve had it for a year. I currently have no plans to put a camper on it but if I found something dirt cheap I might change my mind.
I know that camping spot! Ha.
It’s a good one with great views.