Discussion Topic |
|
This thread has been locked |
Tom Patterson
Trad climber
Seattle
|
|
|
Feb 16, 2019 - 05:57am PT
|
donini - nice rig! We have a teardrop, but you can't stand up in it (unlike yours).
I don't know if you've seen this on YouTube, or not, but there's a fun vlog done by a photographer named Mandy Lea who is full-timing it in one of those TABs (she started with a TAG).
You can see it HERE if you're interested.
Have fun with that thing!
|
|
Bad Climber
Trad climber
The Lawless Border Regions
|
|
|
Feb 16, 2019 - 06:38am PT
|
Okay, I'm in love with the fancy Sprinters, and the trailers are all cool, but why does watching these vids make me want to grab a bivi sack, a wool blanket, a wad of hardtack and call it good? What would Norman Clyde do?
BAd
|
|
FRUMY
Trad climber
Bishop,CA
|
|
|
Feb 16, 2019 - 07:37am PT
|
What would Norman Clyde do!
The world would be a better place if men asked them selfs that before they did anything.
|
|
surfstar
climber
Santa Barbara, CA
|
|
|
Apr 17, 2019 - 02:40pm PT
|
We currently just tent camp, and keep having discussions on what would be the next step up - for extended trips during retirement (7-12 years off - still dreaming!)
Van or truck setup vs trailer
Both have pros/cons. We usually don't need to stealth camp, and many crags require a drive from camp, so we're leaning trailer.
THIS is the one that has caught our eye, for the main reason that we want to be "outside" when camping - a plush trailer/van lends to too much inside feeling and missing of sunsets. This trailer would allow you to still feel like you're outside cooking when you're inside escaping bugs/weather/etc...
https://safaricondo.com/en/caravanes-alto/
Currently our top contender. Great reviews. 18 month lead time, hand built in Canada for ~$30k. Light, tows easily. Hope they're still around in 5-10 years...
|
|
FRUMY
Trad climber
Bishop,CA
|
|
|
Apr 18, 2019 - 10:22am PT
|
Nice looking rig. All that glass makes me think it will be hot. Having my own real bathroom and shower ( things I would not have wanted ten years ago ) make life really nice when it's wet, cold, & blowing.
|
|
Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
|
|
|
Apr 18, 2019 - 10:34am PT
|
Virtue signaling one’s love of being a hard man with a bivy sac is all well and good, until it starts sleeting - just don’t come knocking on my camper door.
Health exigencies are the determining factors for many peoples’ descent into glamping.
|
|
formerclimber
Boulder climber
CA
|
|
|
Apr 18, 2019 - 10:41am PT
|
Most of this glamping is a lot worse to health than tent camping in sleet - it's just the effect is not immediately obvious. Most of these trailers are boxes full of toxic chemicals that outgas a lot, especially in warm weather. Only all-aluminum ones/aluminum interior or some old ones that mostly outgassed are not that.
(LOL @ $700/month trailer being "affordable" at minimum wage)
|
|
Reilly
Mountain climber
The Other Monrovia- CA
|
|
|
Apr 18, 2019 - 10:50am PT
|
‘Outgassing’ duly noted, formerclimber.
|
|
formerclimber
Boulder climber
CA
|
|
|
Apr 18, 2019 - 10:59am PT
|
‘Outgassing’ duly noted, formerclimber.
Good that you care
|
|
formerclimber
Boulder climber
CA
|
|
|
Apr 18, 2019 - 11:11am PT
|
I weighted on buying a cargo van (wouldn't even consider a trailer for travel because of massive headache of dealing with storing, maneuvering/parking, protecting, towing, extra gas costs and remodeling it-getting rid of all the chemical crap these things are stuffed with).... big pop-up tent for rainy/snowy weather, with vestibule. Takes seconds to setup without anything inside it getting wet and quick to take down. The only drawback is quickly drying it all out not being easy on a trip. Plus having propane catalytic tent heater seem to work just fine (and may be mini camp cot in case floor gets wet).The good/fun memories come from all the aspects of dealing with tent camping, not from sitting in a box.... van is as far as I'd go (in the future - and I lived out of backpacking tent and sedan car for years, so know all the annoyances that come with long term tent camping). Having a cat travel with me is the only reason to get a van setup.
|
|
Batrock
Trad climber
Burbank
|
|
|
Apr 18, 2019 - 01:18pm PT
|
My set up while climbing with Medusa last week. He sleeps in the penthouse.
|
|
formerclimber
Boulder climber
CA
|
|
|
Apr 18, 2019 - 04:55pm PT
|
If I end up going for cargo van conversion I'm going to do this:
no permanent bed or seats/benches of any kind - camp cot is easy to fold, they now take no space folded - fold away for the day. Folding camp chair to sit in.
Another option is to saw the legs off the cot and make it attached to the wall/fold up, kind of like porta ledge.
Small shower stall in the back + composting toilet.
No drawers and minimum shelving. Mesh bags by the ceiling/on the walls for storage, few high metal shelves that can fold up. Food storage in a couple of plastic crates/removable/no kitchen pantry.
Kitchen prep "table" - metal shelf that folds away/doubles as dining table too.
Backpacking stove is plenty for cooking/no need for a range.
Pumpless water dispenser - the one that hangs on the wall and dispenses water when you push the plug up, they don't sell them here for decades now I guess/has to be bought overseas. This also allows to have less things to winterize.
The only thing that is truly static would be the shower.
|
|
FRUMY
Trad climber
Bishop,CA
|
|
|
Apr 19, 2019 - 08:17am PT
|
I put about 300,000 miles traveling in this unit. I have had Vans & cargo trucks before and they all have the same problem. You are stuck with your stuff! You can't do any road that is rough. Even if you hang & stow everything in ship shape it gets f_ked up.
With a trailer you can leave it and go on.
I spent the first 50 years of my life sleep outside because I cannot stand the smell of tents. I was as careful as I could be about outgassing.
This is the advantage of a trailer. We left the trailer at camp and have driven up a steep hill so SHE WHO MUST BE OBEYED would have a great place to watch the eclipse.
|
|
formerclimber
Boulder climber
CA
|
|
|
Apr 19, 2019 - 12:04pm PT
|
Regarding smell from tents (off-gassing from car interiors is a lot worse, there's more surface to offgas especially with all the fluff/fibres and the sheer amount of plastic, plus, tires will emit fumes after a hot day not to mention the engine with all the hot oil/fluids evaporation, and pavement fumes):
tent brands aren't equal on this, some are bad (experience with REI) others not so. Washing a new tent really helps. Next step is baking it out in the sun for a while, this worked for me to remove remaining smell except some brands just retain it (a trial and error process). I have older tent that has zero smell, simply, and it's not leaky. Previous tent was the same way. Also, not using rain fly daily - putting it on only when there's rain forecast helps (as the rain fly shouldn't be baked in UV light to the same degree as the main tent, so it may retain more smell...I baked the rain fly out though to the point it has no smell and still have no problem with water), some tents are mostly mesh now. Some companies claim they're not using fire retardant and say their tent won't smell even new (Hilleberg) -- but I haven't tried them. Canvas tent that is fire retardant-free is also a possible option (they don't get waterproofing chemicals or get stuff like silicone only), like at least some Kodiak tents.
|
|
maldaly
Trad climber
Boulder, CO
|
|
|
Apr 19, 2019 - 02:24pm PT
|
After many years of deliberation and indecision we decided on a trailer rig. We got a 17’ Casita, used, for just under $12K. The dinette is our bed, permanently made up and the small two-top does the trick for eating and playing dominoes when we’re inside. We don’t hang out inside unless it’s crappy weather out. Things like spring snowstorms and desert wind/dust storms are what put us inside. We have our car camping kitchen setup outside and that is where we cook unless the weather shuts us down. We rarely use the toilet and only dshower every third day or so.
When we pull the trailer—a PITA—we usually park it for a few days, leaving us with a basecamp we can leave set up when we hike or kayak or climb. We’ve done the van life thing—a ‘65 split-window, an ‘73 VW and an ‘82 Westy. We loved them but found that we were always bumming rides to the crag so we didn’t have to tear down the base camp.
Yup, the Casita, even with 15” tires and a 3 1/2” lift rattles like hell. I travel with a drill and lots of nuts and bolts to fix the hinges so they don’t rip out of the pressboard. I just about have all them secured now. We also figured out how to store all our food and drink so it doesn’t spill or tip over. It’s kind of like having a sailboat. Whatever will fall out or off a shelf or cabinet, will. And there’s always a project to do or something to fix.
All that’s said we love it would never go back to tent camping or van life.
Cheers, Mal
|
|
|
SuperTopo on the Web
|
Let us know!