Ben i get your minimalist philosophy however i feel the humble box trailer could be part of it. With a box trailer as opposed to a dedicated camper trailer you have something that has a purpose at home when not camping. By being realistic about where you are going to take it (and not) a standard box trailer as opposed to a heavy duty high end off road model might suit the weekend camper fine. It might also mean that by having somewhere to load gear into it might even influence what type of vehicle you really now need too.
Fair comment, Jeff, I have previously said to myself that if I was ever going to take a trailer it would be a simple box trailer purely so I can spread weight more evenly. I'm not at that stage and doing my best to avoid it, but I do agree with your comment here. ~ Ben
As a GU driver & a tourer that loves living out of an RV5 , wife not so much :P limiting my roof load has always been a concern. This my help some plp get an understanding of roof load limits www.rhinorack.com/en-au/load-rating-calculator. As Ben said I also have no affiliation with Rhino rack and run a Tracklander 2.2m fully enclosed rack which comes in close to 10.5 kg's lighter then the equivalent popular Rhino rack. Running things like long range fuel tanks and fitting water bladders in wasted cabin spaces always saves your roof load capacity. Keep up the great vlogs guys.
Thanks for your feedback, fingled, this calculator is a good place to start, it's still worth consulting your vehicle manual though as they can all vary a bit. ~ Ben
Yes, it certainly does, I don't tow so haven't looked into it in detail but vehicles have a maximum towing capacity and towball weights that need to be looked at alongside the existing vehicle weights. ~ Ben
Cars also have a GCM (Gross Combined Mass) to take into account when towing. The weight of the trailer + vehicle can't exceed the GCM. A 2019 Ford Ramger Wildtraks GVM is 3200kg, with a 913kg payload, and a GCM of 6000kg. The braked towing rating is 3,500kg, but with a kerb weight of 2287kg at the full 3,500kg if towing this only leaves 213kg of payload, which may only manage to get two full sized adults without baggage. Modern wagons are worse than dual cab utes on payload / GVM. Something to seriously consider when looking at new vehicles for camping / off-road is the availability and cost of GVM upgrades 🙁 Another thing to note is kerb weight is measured differently between manufacturers. Some include half a tank of fuel, some include a full tank.
@@patoh90 thanks for your feedback, great information. Tow capacities isn't something I've done much research on... 213kg payload though! Doesn't leave much to work with. I couldn't find anything concrete on kerb weight either, as you mention the amount of fuel in the vehicle seems to vary. I think the most important thing is that the conversation is happening to prompt people to consider their vehicle weights for the safety of themselves and other road users. ~ Ben
@@placestosea yep, it's a topic that just keeps on giving. It's one thing to move everything from the roof to the cargo area, but then you need to consider the weight over the rear axle and try and move what you can as far forward as possible. At the end of the day, if you travel light then you don't have this hassle. ~ Ben
Doesn't that form part of why you would be packing like a minimalist, Andrew? Vehicle weights are not well understood and there are too many dangerously overloaded vehicles hurtling down highways creating a hazard for themselves and other road users. If you pack like a minimalist you'll have a lighter and safer vehicle. ~ Ben
@@SnowysOutdoors Hey, I generally enjoy your show, my only feedback is that sometimes (the two shows I particularly commented on) where the conversation gets stuck down a cul-de-sac. It seems you are really good at packing like a minimalist and wanted to learn from that. Instead, it was a lot of the episode on weight limits. If this episode had been called 'camping and car weight limits' then maybe you could have done a different episode on packing like a minimalist.
We have found that loading our 4WD, roof rack and watching the GVM is so important. This discussion needs to be held by everyone including manufacturers. Weights of bull bars and other gear needs to be freely available so we can be well informed and ensure our vehicles are safe for all road users.
I have a lease car which I can't modify in any way. I'm very interested in future episodes which discuss compact camping including power packs instead of dual batteries etc. Love the videos
If you want to run a drawer system look at a DIY one that is not hard mounted into the vehicle. Mine is removable with in a couple of minutes and over all is not very heavy. This also forms a bed platform for me to sleep.
@@michaelhermans4753 Im not sure what my system weighs exactly but I know its not a lot. I used 1 sheet of 12mm ply to make the top platform, legs and drawer. I also used 9mm ply to make a cupboard on one side where the electronics such as Ctek, fuses etc live and some cables come through to allow a hidden charing spot. I wouldnt think it is much more than what you say though. The 140ah Deep Cycle is probably heavier.
@@MicksGarageDarts That battery is a killer for weight I’m wanting to go lithium under the bonnet, but my 100Ah AGM is only 6 mths old My draw system weighs less than the 3rd row seating that I removed from the patrol On big trips I remove the second row seating approx 50kg and allows heaps of room for water bladders, 75l Engle and 2kva Honda generator to run the camp
Great show! I describe myself as a minimalist camper too, so there was much nodding with what you were saying. But drawers make it above the line for us because the extra convenience is worth it - less tying stuff down, easier to pack unpack,, easier to get to stuff. 150 Kg is a bit off. Our ply wood Drifta drawers are more like 50 Kg.
I agree, Darryl, I'm not sure where I pulled 150kg from. I did have another listener mentioned that if you need to add a fridge slide then the weight can creep up quickly, but even then 150 kg is probably a stretch. That being said, at 50 kg drawers are still a lot heavier than the 6 or so plastic tubs that I use which probably weigh in at less than 5 kg. Each to their own though, tubs are a little more mucking around. ~ Ben
@@sydneyraj it's a homemade job. I got some 20-25mm square steel tube from a salvage shop and used the third-row seat bolts for one cross-bar, and some 90-degree brackets anchored to the tie-down points on the floor of the cargo area to create a second crossbar. Then I put a few braces between the two crossbars and some 12mm ply covered in marine carpet on top. I have enough clearance underneath to slide low profile tubs in and out, and I can store my camp table on top of them too. Nothing professional, but it came up ok, cost the best part of a couple of hundred bucks, and weighs a lot less than any drawers. ~ Ben
This is my favourite episode of this podcast, I've watched this episode a few times now because it's such a good episode. With that said a quick correction. Tare is the vehicle mass with all fluids and 10L of fuel in the tank. It does NOT include any accessories such as tow bars, roof racks or bull bars *even when factory mounted/fitted* Kerb Mass/Weight is the same as tare but with a full take of fuel. Again it does not include accessories. GVM is the maximum weight, exactly as Ben stated except it also includes accessories. So if you have 400kg between your kerbside and GVM, you also have to take into account the weight of any bull bars, tow balls, light bars, etc and subtract their weight before thinking about payload (what you can pack in the boot or on the roof) Would also add that GVM should be attempted to be distributed evenly front and back, left and right in addition to down low. So if you're putting things on the roof, putting them to the front or middle (depending on front accessories) can help counterweight the rear payload. ATM is the maximum amount your vehicle can tow GCM is the combined maximum weight of both your vehicle and anything being towed. It's important to know both ATM and GCM if towing because ATM assumes no vehicle payload. Therefore it's possible for ATM to exceed GCM. Just because your engine is capable of towing something doesn't mean that your vehicle legally can. Would appreciate an episode which brings in an expert on roof racks like you did with zempire, to discuss roof rack attachments and load limits in more detail. Would also appreciate a perhaps slightly longer episode or two part episode which runs through the legalities associated with camping. Especially some of the ones that many people might find surprising, or may have never thought about. Would be a great episode because I see so many people out camping that are doing the wrong thing and it just spoils it for everyone.
Thanks for your feedback, TJ Marx. I'd recommend people look closely at just how their vehicle specs are measured as I've seen a few different interpretations of GVM, Tare etc. I think the main thing is to get people thinking about the weight of their vehicle. We probably wouldn't do anything on roof racks as we don't actually sell or install them, it's not an area we feel we can be an authority on. As for legalities, I'm not sure what we could or even should cover here without getting someone in the specific area of law involved. For the most part, outside of the law in general, our recommendations would be to follow the guidelines for the national park or region you are camping in, or organizations like Leave No Trace who provide ethical principles for people in the outdoors. ~ Ben
pays to be planned ahead benny...let the wife pack it and see how she goes lol hahaha nah im the same mate i play tetris like when i pack it...great episodes keep it up.....maybe a live campfire question episode or maybe a give away wink wink
Hey Ben and Lauren, some great points about vehicle weights and you’re absolutely right with people being close if not over GVM without knowing! If you ever consider a drawer system check out drifta mate they’re, from what my research suggests are the lightest on the market and they’re a custom built set to maximise usable space in the back of your vehicle. I have a set in the back of my dual cab ute and it’s a brilliant set of drawers and their system with a slide out table is awesome.
Thanks for your feedback, C Henderson. I've had a look at the Drifta drawers, they look good. Btw, I may have overstated the weights of drawer systems in this episode with my 150kg claim, it's probably more likely in the 50-100 kg range, but I'm sure there are some that are above this too depending on the materials used. There are plenty of people who love their drawer system, it sounds like you are one of them, I can't see how it would work to benefit my setup at the moment though. ~ Ben
@@SnowysOutdoors definitely have to pack more carefully in the back of a wagon, probably on the money mate by the time you fit your drawers and then you’ll need a slide or drop slide there’s another bit or weight especially those dropslides. 40kg by themselves.
@@chenderson4969 Basic Drawers from 4wd Supacentre are 70kg and have the top fridge slide but personally I think DIY is the best option if you can, Drifta gear looks tops no doubt but their price sure reflects it. Cant find a weight either on their website. I built my system for around $300 (Not including Drawer Fridge brought from Snowys) and it wouldnt weigh more then 50kg, about 75kg including the fridge.
Yes the roof load rating and rack load rating has surprised the heck out of me from seeing Ronnie Dahl & Tyler Thompson's videos... And it has changed my mind about the Rhino Rack that I was going to purchase as the off road load rating is way under what is needed seeing it drops a fair bit from street driving...
It surprised me too, Gary. It's not just related to Rhino rack btw, they just seem to be the only roof rack manufacturer being transparent about these ratings, other brands put the responsibility solely on the purchaser. I don't have a Rhino Rack, but I applied their logic to my roof rack as the strength not only needs to come from the rack and mounts but also the roof structure of the vehicle. ~ Ben
@@SnowysOutdoors Yes I think the roof rack industry has really been shaken up for the time being... I know I will be doing a lot more research before purchasing one now. Especially to ensure the off road capability is just as strong as the on road... Keep up the good podcasts & product reviews. They've already assisted me in purchases...
@@garyjust9211 I run Pro-Rack track mounts on my Pajero & after watching Ronny & Tyler I did some digging. Pro-Rack say to Halve the load rating when off road so in my case their limit says 110kg for the 3 rack system I have but off road that's 55kg. Mitsubishi say around 100kg for the roof load limit but don't give a definitive answer and therefore don't give an off road limit either. Pretty much any Roof Top Tent would put me over limit.
@@MicksGarageDarts it makes you question the worth of a roof rack when it can end up weighing more in itself than the cargo you can carry on top of it. ~ Ben
I’ve always had the issue where I can pack the car well at the start of a holiday but when it’s time to come home I really struggle even when there is less stuff. Must just be related to time and energy levels. I don’t do it enough to get good at it I guess.
I think that's a phenomenon that everyone experiences, Brenton, a bit like something new never going back in the box the same way I think. Theoretically, less gear should fit easier, yet you find yourself scratching your head trying to work out how you managed to get your gear to the campsite in the first place. It's another reason why I don't like to be packed to the gills before I leave, that way I've got some flexibility in my packing space and I don't end up frustrated when packing up at the end of the trip. ~ Ben
It bothers me that Aussie 4wd / camping products are designed so big and heavy. There really hasn’t been enough investment in compact light weight quality Aussie camp gear. Thank goodness for sea to summit
Would you please recommend a easy to setup gazebo for a single person or small please. I need it more as shelter for my stretcher tent and to setup my kitchen and a small space to sit if it rains. Thanks!
Gazebo's are largely the same when it comes to setup, Teacoholic. The only real difference is when you consider air pole gazebos which may suit your purpose. Check out the Zempire air pole shelters for some good options here. Otherwise we have found the Oztrail 2.4 or larger 3.0 gazebos to be the best value for money. ~ Ben
Spot on with the roof rack, the gu patrol can go to a max of 130, the 100 kg rating is like driving 5 k under the speed limit it's very safe. Th,ere will be nips issues on a gutter mount.
This info came from a well known roof rack company in BAYSWATER VIC, it's info they provided but as you said for insurance and peace of mind use the 100kg rating. That's what I have done.
@@bignedau that's good to know, I think I know who you may be referring to. I'm working at keeping it all as much below 100kg on my GU roof as I can. I reckon I'll see many benefits to relocating this gear, from fuel economy to handling and ease of packing and accessibility. ~ Ben
Great to see you guys talking about weight limits. Recently checked out my Pajero and found Im about 400kg below my GVM as the vehicle sits day to day. Add me, the wife & our son and there is about 320kg so now we are about 80kg below. Fortunately most of my gear lives in the vehicle. I have 3X rack system by Pro-Rack on my Pajero and Pro-Rack state they can hold 110kg, Mitsubishi can not give me a Roof Load Limit but estimate 100kg. Even going from the Pro-Rack limit I can carry 55kg off road and a basic Roof Top Tent is more than that. Tyler's video on Fraser Island started this discussion and Ronny jumped on after a heated discussion with Tyler not understanding what had happened. With a small Solar Panel, Light bar, small metal basket, tool box & awning Im not too far off my Roof Load Rating as it sits so I dont carry more on there. If your'e looking at a drawer system and its 150kg I will suggest building your own. Im about 300kg over Kerb weight with an Alloy bar, roof stuff mentioned, DIY Drawers, Dual Battery, Dometic CD-30 fridge etc. If towing it comes under Combines Vehicle Mass which is normally quite a lot higher and includes the vehicles towing capacity. Check out my channel for how Ive set up my Pajero and a discussion soon on my weights etc.
John Cardogan (Autoexpert) has done some good youtubes about vehicle loads, towing, roofs rack loads and tyres on his channel. His engineering explanations are pretty easy to understand.
I have a 40L Engel which has been ticking along for at least 15 years now. The current model is the MT-45F. I like this size as it's big enough for my family of four and small enough to make me think about what I am taking for each camping trip.
Just to be clear, I HAVE NO ASSOCIATION WITH RHINO RACK... You need to research carefully, I believe Rhino have done some research and testing on their racks since all the noise of their racks failing occurred, and either have, or will be, removing their OFF ROAD rating. It also needs to be noted the racks which have been slammed, were also carrying FAR TOO MUCH and well OVER the rated limits of the vehicle roof load rating. An interesting video to watch which will educate you on the pros and cons of putting weight on your roof is one done by The Enforcer and the Dude, which applies to racing cars. While their video is talking of weight distribution in racing cars, it will graphically show you what can/will happen when you put 30kg on your roof, and even more so, 100kg on your roof.
That's a really interesting video, Ross, thanks for the heads up, here's the link for anyone interested - ruclips.net/video/D23B1h2T_YU/видео.html. Rhino Rack still had the information available when I was doing my research, but there has been a lot of chatter about it and I can completely understand why they might remove their offroad ratings. It certainly leaves a big grey area surrounding just what parameters we should stick to for offroad limits. I reckon the moral of the story is to just carry less, and carry what you do have down low. This isn't just for the safety of the driver and passengers, but also for other road users, and we all have a responsibility to pack our vehicles safely. ~ Ben
Yep, two of my Fav Off Roaders Tyler Thompson and Ronny Dahl good info.
Yeah, can get lost for hours watching their antics. ~ Ben
Ben i get your minimalist philosophy however i feel the humble box trailer could be part of it. With a box trailer as opposed to a dedicated camper trailer you have something that has a purpose at home when not camping. By being realistic about where you are going to take it (and not) a standard box trailer as opposed to a heavy duty high end off road model might suit the weekend camper fine. It might also mean that by having somewhere to load gear into it might even influence what type of vehicle you really now need too.
Fair comment, Jeff, I have previously said to myself that if I was ever going to take a trailer it would be a simple box trailer purely so I can spread weight more evenly.
I'm not at that stage and doing my best to avoid it, but I do agree with your comment here.
~ Ben
Loving these episodes. Keep up the great work
Thanks, Far Out. ~ Ben
As a GU driver & a tourer that loves living out of an RV5 , wife not so much :P limiting my roof load has always been a concern. This my help some plp get an understanding of roof load limits www.rhinorack.com/en-au/load-rating-calculator. As Ben said I also have no affiliation with Rhino rack and run a Tracklander 2.2m fully enclosed rack which comes in close to 10.5 kg's lighter then the equivalent popular Rhino rack. Running things like long range fuel tanks and fitting water bladders in wasted cabin spaces always saves your roof load capacity.
Keep up the great vlogs guys.
Thanks for your feedback, fingled, this calculator is a good place to start, it's still worth consulting your vehicle manual though as they can all vary a bit. ~ Ben
its great to discuss this, all good info. towbar down ball weight adds to the gvm of the vehicle
Yes, it certainly does, I don't tow so haven't looked into it in detail but vehicles have a maximum towing capacity and towball weights that need to be looked at alongside the existing vehicle weights. ~ Ben
Cars also have a GCM (Gross Combined Mass) to take into account when towing. The weight of the trailer + vehicle can't exceed the GCM. A 2019 Ford Ramger Wildtraks GVM is 3200kg, with a 913kg payload, and a GCM of 6000kg. The braked towing rating is 3,500kg, but with a kerb weight of 2287kg at the full 3,500kg if towing this only leaves 213kg of payload, which may only manage to get two full sized adults without baggage.
Modern wagons are worse than dual cab utes on payload / GVM. Something to seriously consider when looking at new vehicles for camping / off-road is the availability and cost of GVM upgrades 🙁
Another thing to note is kerb weight is measured differently between manufacturers. Some include half a tank of fuel, some include a full tank.
@@patoh90 thanks for your feedback, great information. Tow capacities isn't something I've done much research on... 213kg payload though! Doesn't leave much to work with.
I couldn't find anything concrete on kerb weight either, as you mention the amount of fuel in the vehicle seems to vary.
I think the most important thing is that the conversation is happening to prompt people to consider their vehicle weights for the safety of themselves and other road users.
~ Ben
@@SnowysOutdoors also axle loadings need to be considered/checked, all the more reason to travel light
@@placestosea yep, it's a topic that just keeps on giving.
It's one thing to move everything from the roof to the cargo area, but then you need to consider the weight over the rear axle and try and move what you can as far forward as possible.
At the end of the day, if you travel light then you don't have this hassle.
~ Ben
This is not about how to pack it is about vehicle weight limits.
Doesn't that form part of why you would be packing like a minimalist, Andrew?
Vehicle weights are not well understood and there are too many dangerously overloaded vehicles hurtling down highways creating a hazard for themselves and other road users.
If you pack like a minimalist you'll have a lighter and safer vehicle.
~ Ben
@@SnowysOutdoors Hey, I generally enjoy your show, my only feedback is that sometimes (the two shows I particularly commented on) where the conversation gets stuck down a cul-de-sac. It seems you are really good at packing like a minimalist and wanted to learn from that. Instead, it was a lot of the episode on weight limits. If this episode had been called 'camping and car weight limits' then maybe you could have done a different episode on packing like a minimalist.
@@andrewandtanya thanks for your feedback, we'll definately take this onboard. ~ Ben
Loving the podcasts guys.
Thanks, Cassius. ~ Ben
We have found that loading our 4WD, roof rack and watching the GVM is so important. This discussion needs to be held by everyone including manufacturers. Weights of bull bars and other gear needs to be freely available so we can be well informed and ensure our vehicles are safe for all road users.
I agree, Tracey, it should be far easier for any individual to understand the limitations of their vehicle when it comes to load capacities. ~ Ben
I have a lease car which I can't modify in any way. I'm very interested in future episodes which discuss compact camping including power packs instead of dual batteries etc. Love the videos
Good idea, Tony, we do cover off on some of this in future episodes, but something we could dive deeper into. ~ Ben
If you want to run a drawer system look at a DIY one that is not hard mounted into the vehicle. Mine is removable with in a couple of minutes and over all is not very heavy. This also forms a bed platform for me to sleep.
@@MicksGarageDarts mine is similar and only weighs 30kg
Made from 12 ply and Alumenium
Many steel draws systems weigh 100kg
@@michaelhermans4753 Im not sure what my system weighs exactly but I know its not a lot. I used 1 sheet of 12mm ply to make the top platform, legs and drawer. I also used 9mm ply to make a cupboard on one side where the electronics such as Ctek, fuses etc live and some cables come through to allow a hidden charing spot. I wouldnt think it is much more than what you say though. The 140ah Deep Cycle is probably heavier.
@@MicksGarageDarts
That battery is a killer for weight
I’m wanting to go lithium under the bonnet, but my 100Ah AGM is only 6 mths old
My draw system weighs less than the 3rd row seating that I removed from the patrol
On big trips I remove the second row seating approx 50kg and allows heaps of room for water bladders,
75l Engle and 2kva Honda generator to run the camp
That was really useful information. Thank you!
I'm glad it was helpful, Coralie. ~ Ben
Great content guys! 👍
Thanks, Brend. ~ Ben
Great show! I describe myself as a minimalist camper too, so there was much nodding with what you were saying. But drawers make it above the line for us because the extra convenience is worth it - less tying stuff down, easier to pack unpack,, easier to get to stuff. 150 Kg is a bit off. Our ply wood Drifta drawers are more like 50 Kg.
I agree, Darryl, I'm not sure where I pulled 150kg from. I did have another listener mentioned that if you need to add a fridge slide then the weight can creep up quickly, but even then 150 kg is probably a stretch.
That being said, at 50 kg drawers are still a lot heavier than the 6 or so plastic tubs that I use which probably weigh in at less than 5 kg.
Each to their own though, tubs are a little more mucking around.
~ Ben
@@SnowysOutdoors Hi Ben, what kind of shelf you got. I hit gvm on my Patrol y62 looking for shelf idea. Some one suggested connect-it or qubelok
@@sydneyraj it's a homemade job.
I got some 20-25mm square steel tube from a salvage shop and used the third-row seat bolts for one cross-bar, and some 90-degree brackets anchored to the tie-down points on the floor of the cargo area to create a second crossbar.
Then I put a few braces between the two crossbars and some 12mm ply covered in marine carpet on top.
I have enough clearance underneath to slide low profile tubs in and out, and I can store my camp table on top of them too.
Nothing professional, but it came up ok, cost the best part of a couple of hundred bucks, and weighs a lot less than any drawers.
~ Ben
@@SnowysOutdoors Thx Ben. Much appreciated
This is my favourite episode of this podcast, I've watched this episode a few times now because it's such a good episode.
With that said a quick correction. Tare is the vehicle mass with all fluids and 10L of fuel in the tank. It does NOT include any accessories such as tow bars, roof racks or bull bars *even when factory mounted/fitted*
Kerb Mass/Weight is the same as tare but with a full take of fuel. Again it does not include accessories.
GVM is the maximum weight, exactly as Ben stated except it also includes accessories. So if you have 400kg between your kerbside and GVM, you also have to take into account the weight of any bull bars, tow balls, light bars, etc and subtract their weight before thinking about payload (what you can pack in the boot or on the roof)
Would also add that GVM should be attempted to be distributed evenly front and back, left and right in addition to down low. So if you're putting things on the roof, putting them to the front or middle (depending on front accessories) can help counterweight the rear payload.
ATM is the maximum amount your vehicle can tow
GCM is the combined maximum weight of both your vehicle and anything being towed.
It's important to know both ATM and GCM if towing because ATM assumes no vehicle payload. Therefore it's possible for ATM to exceed GCM. Just because your engine is capable of towing something doesn't mean that your vehicle legally can.
Would appreciate an episode which brings in an expert on roof racks like you did with zempire, to discuss roof rack attachments and load limits in more detail.
Would also appreciate a perhaps slightly longer episode or two part episode which runs through the legalities associated with camping. Especially some of the ones that many people might find surprising, or may have never thought about. Would be a great episode because I see so many people out camping that are doing the wrong thing and it just spoils it for everyone.
Thanks for your feedback, TJ Marx. I'd recommend people look closely at just how their vehicle specs are measured as I've seen a few different interpretations of GVM, Tare etc. I think the main thing is to get people thinking about the weight of their vehicle.
We probably wouldn't do anything on roof racks as we don't actually sell or install them, it's not an area we feel we can be an authority on. As for legalities, I'm not sure what we could or even should cover here without getting someone in the specific area of law involved. For the most part, outside of the law in general, our recommendations would be to follow the guidelines for the national park or region you are camping in, or organizations like Leave No Trace who provide ethical principles for people in the outdoors.
~ Ben
Minimalism is wealth. 😁🤙🏻
Great show B & L. 💥
Thanks, Johannes. ~ Ben
GVM isn’t what your vehicle can carry. GVM is the maximum your vehicle can weigh including what it is carrying.
Yes, that's my understanding. ~ Ben
pays to be planned ahead benny...let the wife pack it and see how she goes lol hahaha nah im the same mate i play tetris like when i pack it...great episodes keep it up.....maybe a live campfire question episode or maybe a give away wink wink
Thanks for the ideas, Tas Camping & Hiking Adventures, and I'm glad you are enjoying the content. ~ Ben
@@SnowysOutdoors yes it's good mate no more cheap Chinese reviews lol
Hey Ben and Lauren, some great points about vehicle weights and you’re absolutely right with people being close if not over GVM without knowing! If you ever consider a drawer system check out drifta mate they’re, from what my research suggests are the lightest on the market and they’re a custom built set to maximise usable space in the back of your vehicle. I have a set in the back of my dual cab ute and it’s a brilliant set of drawers and their system with a slide out table is awesome.
Thanks for your feedback, C Henderson. I've had a look at the Drifta drawers, they look good.
Btw, I may have overstated the weights of drawer systems in this episode with my 150kg claim, it's probably more likely in the 50-100 kg range, but I'm sure there are some that are above this too depending on the materials used.
There are plenty of people who love their drawer system, it sounds like you are one of them, I can't see how it would work to benefit my setup at the moment though.
~ Ben
@@SnowysOutdoors definitely have to pack more carefully in the back of a wagon, probably on the money mate by the time you fit your drawers and then you’ll need a slide or drop slide there’s another bit or weight especially those dropslides. 40kg by themselves.
@@chenderson4969 Basic Drawers from 4wd Supacentre are 70kg and have the top fridge slide but personally I think DIY is the best option if you can, Drifta gear looks tops no doubt but their price sure reflects it. Cant find a weight either on their website. I built my system for around $300 (Not including Drawer Fridge brought from Snowys) and it wouldnt weigh more then 50kg, about 75kg including the fridge.
@@chenderson4969 good call, I didn't factor in the weight of some of those slides. ~ Ben
Yes the roof load rating and rack load rating has surprised the heck out of me from seeing Ronnie Dahl & Tyler Thompson's videos... And it has changed my mind about the Rhino Rack that I was going to purchase as the off road load rating is way under what is needed seeing it drops a fair bit from street driving...
It surprised me too, Gary.
It's not just related to Rhino rack btw, they just seem to be the only roof rack manufacturer being transparent about these ratings, other brands put the responsibility solely on the purchaser.
I don't have a Rhino Rack, but I applied their logic to my roof rack as the strength not only needs to come from the rack and mounts but also the roof structure of the vehicle.
~ Ben
@@SnowysOutdoors Yes I think the roof rack industry has really been shaken up for the time being... I know I will be doing a lot more research before purchasing one now. Especially to ensure the off road capability is just as strong as the on road... Keep up the good podcasts & product reviews. They've already assisted me in purchases...
@@garyjust9211 I run Pro-Rack track mounts on my Pajero & after watching Ronny & Tyler I did some digging. Pro-Rack say to Halve the load rating when off road so in my case their limit says 110kg for the 3 rack system I have but off road that's 55kg. Mitsubishi say around 100kg for the roof load limit but don't give a definitive answer and therefore don't give an off road limit either. Pretty much any Roof Top Tent would put me over limit.
@@MicksGarageDarts it makes you question the worth of a roof rack when it can end up weighing more in itself than the cargo you can carry on top of it.
~ Ben
@@SnowysOutdoors that it does Ben. I'm happy to keep minimal gear up there. Awning and solar panel are my main concerns.
I’ve always had the issue where I can pack the car well at the start of a holiday but when it’s time to come home I really struggle even when there is less stuff. Must just be related to time and energy levels. I don’t do it enough to get good at it I guess.
I think that's a phenomenon that everyone experiences, Brenton, a bit like something new never going back in the box the same way I think.
Theoretically, less gear should fit easier, yet you find yourself scratching your head trying to work out how you managed to get your gear to the campsite in the first place.
It's another reason why I don't like to be packed to the gills before I leave, that way I've got some flexibility in my packing space and I don't end up frustrated when packing up at the end of the trip.
~ Ben
It bothers me that Aussie 4wd / camping products are designed so big and heavy. There really hasn’t been enough investment in compact light weight quality Aussie camp gear. Thank goodness for sea to summit
Thankfully campers are becoming more and more aware of weight, Kerri, and I think brands will have to consider this. ~ Ben
Would you please recommend a easy to setup gazebo for a single person or small please. I need it more as shelter for my stretcher tent and to setup my kitchen and a small space to sit if it rains. Thanks!
Gazebo's are largely the same when it comes to setup, Teacoholic. The only real difference is when you consider air pole gazebos which may suit your purpose. Check out the Zempire air pole shelters for some good options here.
Otherwise we have found the Oztrail 2.4 or larger 3.0 gazebos to be the best value for money.
~ Ben
Spot on with the roof rack, the gu patrol can go to a max of 130, the 100 kg rating is like driving 5 k under the speed limit it's very safe. Th,ere will be nips issues on a gutter mount.
Where did you get the 130kg rating from magillasviews? My manual indicates 100kg which is rack and cargo. ~ Ben
This info came from a well known roof rack company in BAYSWATER VIC, it's info they provided but as you said for insurance and peace of mind use the 100kg rating. That's what I have done.
@@bignedau that's good to know, I think I know who you may be referring to. I'm working at keeping it all as much below 100kg on my GU roof as I can. I reckon I'll see many benefits to relocating this gear, from fuel economy to handling and ease of packing and accessibility. ~ Ben
Great to see you guys talking about weight limits. Recently checked out my Pajero and found Im about 400kg below my GVM as the vehicle sits day to day. Add me, the wife & our son and there is about 320kg so now we are about 80kg below. Fortunately most of my gear lives in the vehicle. I have 3X rack system by Pro-Rack on my Pajero and Pro-Rack state they can hold 110kg, Mitsubishi can not give me a Roof Load Limit but estimate 100kg. Even going from the Pro-Rack limit I can carry 55kg off road and a basic Roof Top Tent is more than that. Tyler's video on Fraser Island started this discussion and Ronny jumped on after a heated discussion with Tyler not understanding what had happened. With a small Solar Panel, Light bar, small metal basket, tool box & awning Im not too far off my Roof Load Rating as it sits so I dont carry more on there. If your'e looking at a drawer system and its 150kg I will suggest building your own. Im about 300kg over Kerb weight with an Alloy bar, roof stuff mentioned, DIY Drawers, Dual Battery, Dometic CD-30 fridge etc. If towing it comes under Combines Vehicle Mass which is normally quite a lot higher and includes the vehicles towing capacity. Check out my channel for how Ive set up my Pajero and a discussion soon on my weights etc.
Thanks for the info, Mick, it's great to hear from more people considering these things. ~ Ben
John Cardogan (Autoexpert) has done some good youtubes about vehicle loads, towing, roofs rack loads and tyres on his channel. His engineering explanations are pretty easy to understand.
Thanks for the feedback, C McD. Here's the link to his channel for anyone interested - ruclips.net/channel/UCKcC11ircL-HI7TieCr9XQg. ~ Ben
Hey, question for Ben, what fridge do you use and what size?
I have a 40L Engel which has been ticking along for at least 15 years now. The current model is the MT-45F. I like this size as it's big enough for my family of four and small enough to make me think about what I am taking for each camping trip.
@@SnowysOutdoors Awesome, thanks. Would love to see one of your awesome video reviews on the Bushman fridge to get your personal impressions.
@@Slash2768 I've been thinking about this for a while now, the Bushman fridge is awesome and unique, we'll add this to our list.
~ Ben
If you take care with what you take & pack Ive found my Dometic CD-30 30L drawer fridge works a treat for solo of 2 of us for a few days.
@@SnowysOutdoors Awesome I very much look forward to it!!
Just to be clear, I HAVE NO ASSOCIATION WITH RHINO RACK... You need to research carefully, I believe Rhino have done some research and testing on their racks since all the noise of their racks failing occurred, and either have, or will be, removing their OFF ROAD rating. It also needs to be noted the racks which have been slammed, were also carrying FAR TOO MUCH and well OVER the rated limits of the vehicle roof load rating. An interesting video to watch which will educate you on the pros and cons of putting weight on your roof is one done by The Enforcer and the Dude, which applies to racing cars. While their video is talking of weight distribution in racing cars, it will graphically show you what can/will happen when you put 30kg on your roof, and even more so, 100kg on your roof.
That's a really interesting video, Ross, thanks for the heads up, here's the link for anyone interested - ruclips.net/video/D23B1h2T_YU/видео.html.
Rhino Rack still had the information available when I was doing my research, but there has been a lot of chatter about it and I can completely understand why they might remove their offroad ratings.
It certainly leaves a big grey area surrounding just what parameters we should stick to for offroad limits.
I reckon the moral of the story is to just carry less, and carry what you do have down low. This isn't just for the safety of the driver and passengers, but also for other road users, and we all have a responsibility to pack our vehicles safely.
~ Ben