[IssacHunter]

Well I've been thinking of a new setup for camping that is fairly quick without costing a fortune. I would like to get a hardshell RTT but $$$ and I've mainly slept in the X but I'm currently working on a drawer setup so that won't be an option soon (at least not a comfortable one).

I think I've settled on the Overland Pros 270° awning with full wall kit and I'll mount the awning to my roof rack with ARB awning brackets. This will provide me adaptive shade to cook on my drop table and allow me to put a small tent inside the awning walls.

As for the tent I hate camping on the ground which sucks with bad weather and I dislike trying to crawl in and out of one too. I mainly want a tent that can be put up in a decent amount of time and is freestanding so I think I'll go with a cot tent. I've been looking at a Kamp Rite CTC XL so this will keep me off the ground and I can move it around if need be.

I figure with this setup I'll be good for most weather and seasons and if I go camping in winter I could line the awning walls with reflectix which is what I made walls for the Xterra with which made cold weather camping much easier. It may not be "Overland cool" but should work what do you guys think?

 

[AlbatrossCafe]

Why not just put a cheap non-tent cot inside of the awning when you want to sleep? With it fully enclosed as pictured, you should stay dry.

I've used a cot under plain ARB awning (with no side cover) when it sprinkled lightly and was too lazy to set up a tent and it worked perfectly. Takes like 5 min to set up everything.

 

[IssacHunter]

Why not just put a cheap non-tent cot inside of the awning when you want to sleep? With it fully enclosed as pictured, you should stay dry.

I've used a cot under plain ARB awning (with no side cover) when it sprinkled lightly and was too lazy to set up a tent and it worked perfectly. Takes like 5 min to set up everything.

Mainly thinking about colder weather conditions too. I figured having the tent would allow me to retain heat better in fall/spring. Their isn't a large difference in price on a Cot vs one of these tents and I can take the tent off the cot and use it independently too. Guess I'm odd like that >

 

[SHIFT_X]

Mainly thinking about colder weather conditions too. I figured having the tent would allow me to retain heat better in fall/spring. Their isn't a large difference in price on a Cot vs one of these tents and I can take the tent off the cot and use it independently too. Guess I'm odd like that >

Are you planning to buy ALL the walls for the 270 awning?
The awning is $350, the wall set is $375 and individual walls are $70.

I only ask because I'm considering this awning down the line.

 

[IssacHunter]

Are you planning to buy ALL the walls for the 270 awning?
The awning is $350, the wall set is $375 and individual walls are $70.

I only ask because I'm considering this awning down the line.

To save on shipping/cost if I change my mind later I'm thinking maybe. I'd like to have at least 2 though.

 

[civicjoe]

Finally got my drop down table in to install onto the rear tire carrier from Front Runner. Excellent piece for the price. Gonna have to coat the cutting board with Thompson or something to protect it given it can rot in the elements. I just plan on using it as additional table anyway.

This is awesome, ive been kicking around trying to do something like this, looks like a simple way to go about things, how did you mount it? I see nuts and bolts but nothing that looks like its holding it in place.

 

[IssacHunter]

This is awesome, ive been kicking around trying to do something like this, looks like a simple way to go about things, how did you mount it? I see nuts and bolts but nothing that looks like its holding it in place.

Thank you.

I had Dave weld on some tabs on my Maxterra TC so I could mount it (the silver screws you see on the backing go into them). You should be able to use small ubolts with a metal flat to do the same depending on what your TC is.

 

[IssacHunter]

I also went and got a new Coleman stove today to replace my broken one. I must say for what I assume is the replacement model it's a lot cheaply made (Paid $32 for it on sale). The steel is thinner and it doesn't have the red ignite knob on the left like my old one did (not sure how old it was as it was my Dad's). It works though and now I can get some hot food again at camp vs making sandwiches for the cooler so it will work nicely for tomorrow.

I'm also looking and seeing if I can get one of older dual fuel ones on eBay as a backup/winter setup.

 

[eighty]

I'm also looking and seeing if I can get one of older dual fuel ones on eBay as a backup/winter setup.

What’s the second fuel for Coleman? I’m eyeing this one GAS ONE Propane & Butane GS-800P https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LW87Z9O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_k-VnBbWAYCNY3

Half the size of Coleman. Nice and compact.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[IssacHunter]

What’s the second fuel for Coleman? I’m eyeing this one GAS ONE Propane & Butane GS-800P https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LW87Z9O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_k-VnBbWAYCNY3

Half the size of Coleman. Nice and compact.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Like these https://www.coleman.com/guide-series-dual-fuel-stove/3000003648.html

Can run on white gas or regular unleaded gasoline.

 

[TerryD]

I also went and got a new Coleman stove today to replace my broken one. I must say for what I assume is the replacement model it's a lot cheaply made (Paid $32 for it on sale). The steel is thinner and it doesn't have the red ignite knob on the left like my old one did (not sure how old it was as it was my Dad's). It works though and now I can get some hot food again at camp vs making sandwiches for the cooler so it will work nicely for tomorrow.

I'm also looking and seeing if I can get one of older dual fuel ones on eBay as a backup/winter setup.

DON'T BUY OFF EBAY. People grossly overprice that old Coleman gear. I've got my eae to the ground for you one of the white gas ones brother. [emoji6]

 

[IssacHunter]

Cherokee trip. Warning: Image overload

DON'T BUY OFF EBAY. People grossly overprice that old Coleman gear. I've got my eae to the ground for you one of the white gas ones brother. [emoji6]

Appreciate it brother.


Well I just got back from Cherokee National Forest. Was a fun little trip. I took the back roads and forest roads initally getting there so got to see a lot of beautiful land along the way. Unfortunately I got rained out this morning so couldn't do any hiking today before venturing back :frown: but I was able to go to Whitetop Mountain yesterday and enjoy some food while taking in the view :grin:

It all fit somehow lol

For those of you who watch Mountain State Overland this forest road back entrance may be familiar >

I ended up driving straight to Whitetop when I got there as I wanted to make it before dusk

Some people didn't like the sign too much :/

Saw an interesting site at the Appalachian trail parking spot...Now that's a home on wheels.

I ended up finding a spot to setup toward the end where you had to go through 3 watered sections. Water was only like 6" deep but I guess no one wanted to come here.

Their was a little offpath that lead to a couple overgrown camping sites. I've heard camping isn't allowed on Whitetop but guess that doesn't stop some lol

The view up here is AMAZING!

Cooking time :grin:

As I was eating I saw what looked like a stock black Pro4x coming down the path but then they turned around before the water section. Noooo you could have made it brother! :crying:

Time to leave Whitetop and head back into the forest.

Coming back into Cherokee I took a forest road called Skull Gap. Pretty badly rutted out but then I came across a great camping site that had a picnic table and tree coverage. Score! >

Though I had to clean up a lot of beer bottles/cans in the area. Seriously people this is what closes stuff to us :angry5:

Woke up the next morning to intermediate raining but beautiful sun rise.

Yay for breakfast and trying to cook this during bouts of misting shows I need that awning for next trip lol.

Venturing out

Airing up for the trek back home. Still love this adventure X and can't wait for many more to come.

 

[TerryD]

Looks like a fun trip! I hate to admit how much time I spent in the shadow of White Top and didn't go up there. I'm looking forward to getting some exploring done in that area!

 

[IssacHunter]

Looks like a fun trip! I hate to admit how much time I spent in the shadow of White Top and didn't go up there. I'm looking forward to getting some exploring done in that area!

It's a nice sight to behold for sure. Their isn't a lot of area to ride around on but I noticed what looked like a possible hiking path behind that backward campsite I mentioned. Gaia has it listed as "Lovers Leap Trail". Not sure how far it goes as I didn't go up it too far. Their is also 2 fenced off stations of some sort up there too. Didn't look closely at them though.

 

[Vizard]

Damn your X is goals and that trip looks fun as hell

 

[IssacHunter]

Damn your X is goals and that trip looks fun as hell

Thank you and you will get there! Took me about 2.5 years to get mine built up like this and I'm still wanting to play catchup with Derek and Josh's rigs >

Here in a couple weeks I'll have 4 days off from 14-17th so I'm hoping to head back and go a little further into Pisgah National Forest too. Can't wait :grin:

 

[IssacHunter]

Ended up snatching up a pair of Diode Dynamics Luxeon fog lights during the 4th sale. My OEM fogs were well fogged/hazed inside the units. So rather than take the lens off and polish the inside I just opted to get some LED ones and at some point I'll do a retrofit on my headlights to match them.

I'm considering getting a yellow Lamin-X film to put on them but haven't decided yet.

 

[AlbatrossCafe]

I have those same fogs. They were brighter than my OEM headlights. They have worked great and are really easy to adjust. And now the retrofit HID kit I just picked up really completes the package.

I like the mountains over there. They are way greener than what I am used to. WA has a lot more exposed rock and snow vs. smooth-flowing green hills. Do you know the elevation of the peak you were at?

 

[IssacHunter]

I have those same fogs. They were brighter than my OEM headlights. They have worked great and are really easy to adjust. And now the retrofit HID kit I just picked up really completes the package.

I like the mountains over there. They are way greener than what I am used to. WA has a lot more exposed rock and snow vs. smooth-flowing green hills. Do you know the elevation of the peak you were at?

So far I’m impressed by them :grin: . As for Whitetop Wki says it’s 5,518’ elevation. I want to head back to it again lol

 

[IssacHunter]

@TerryD and I had kind of a last minute wheeling trip around Pembroke yesterday. Got to do some nice wheeling through mud and rutted out area's. Saw some awesome views from one of the watch towers and the Appalachian Trail along with meeting some nice folks who were hiking it.

Then we were off to camp....unfortantely they were having a family reunion there and ALL 50 camp lots were taken

So we go off exploring to try and find a suitable spot and ended up getting stopped by a giant tree downed in the road.

So when the axes don't work it's winch time....and when that don't work it's locals showing up with a chain saw and then winch time >

We ended up not finding any suitable areas to camp so we stopped on the side of the road and cooked some food and then headed home

Things were a little interesting as my KC lights were working intermittently on the way out. Today I went to check them as I was unloading the X and they wouldn't turn on at all. Checked the fuse and it was blown. Replaced and tried again. Crackling sound from the driver side light and come to find out the - wire got burned on the harness side. I checked the light on the other's connection to see if it still worked and it does so I'll have to see if KC's warranty is as good as people say it is for a new harness. :frown: