Overlanding Rig for Hunting?

Joined
Jan 10, 2016
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80# for the superlight clamshell/wedge RTT

If you don't have the camper top/truck topper yet, that adds weight.

The full on GFC which is the camper shell with a wedge married to it is 270#, but you pay for the weight savings and the wedge being married to the camper.
WOW!

I just checked out the website linked. Its $7000.00 to $8000.00 for a canopy with a small tent mounted to top. Crazy. It looks like the tent is the same length and width as the tacoma bed, and maybe 4 ft tall on the tall side. There are no specs on the website so not sure on that.

Whats the advantage to this versus just setting a tent up next to your truck? I have a Kelty tent that easily sleeps two that can be set up in minutes. It is also tall enuff to stand up in, plus room for a buddy heater if needed. I think its 8x10. On longer trips we have slept on cots, and you can put 1 or two tote bins full of stuff under the cot.

I have also noticed it seems like it is colder sleeping up off the ground in the back of my truck versus sleeping on the ground. I could imagine sleeping that high above the cab of a truck could make for some tuff sleeping conditions on a windy evening.

I have hunted Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, and California. At least how I hunt this seems like a disadvantage. I either have a camp set up, and drive to different areas from camp each day, or mostly do backpack hunts.

I am really curious to hear the advantages of these setups from the guys that use them. I see tons of rigs driving around in Oregon with the roof top tents, so there is obviously a ton of people that like them.
 

Vandy321

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WOW!

I just checked out the website linked. Its $7000.00 to $8000.00 for a canopy with a small tent mounted to top. Crazy. It looks like the tent is the same length and width as the tacoma bed, and maybe 4 ft tall on the tall side. There are no specs on the website so not sure on that.

Whats the advantage to this versus just setting a tent up next to your truck? I have a Kelty tent that easily sleeps two that can be set up in minutes. It is also tall enuff to stand up in, plus room for a buddy heater if needed. I think its 8x10. On longer trips we have slept on cots, and you can put 1 or two tote bins full of stuff under the cot.

I have also noticed it seems like it is colder sleeping up off the ground in the back of my truck versus sleeping on the ground. I could imagine sleeping that high above the cab of a truck could make for some tuff sleeping conditions on a windy evening.

I have hunted Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, and California. At least how I hunt this seems like a disadvantage. I either have a camp set up, and drive to different areas from camp each day, or mostly do backpack hunts.

I am really curious to hear the advantages of these setups from the guys that use them. I see tons of rigs driving around in Oregon with the roof top tents, so there is obviously a ton of people that like them.
I'm not buying it for hunting...I pack in for hunts and carry a soulo or a supertarp, even late season in CO. This is for family, not everyone's wife is cool with sleeping in the dirt/mud. Road trips, camping, fly fishing trips, scouting trips etc. etc. Its clooser to 5ft wide than 4, and at 270#, it's strong enough with its aluminum build that it can survive when I go wheeling, where a fiberglass canopy does not. The ground is colder than the air, thus sleeping pads for insulation from the ground, it is not colder in a RTT. The GFC has been tested over 60mph winds when open, it does fine. It also closes up tight around the bed with the 3 panels on the camper closed and you can have the dogs down in the bed and then climb up into the tent from the truck bed (removable foam bedding panels) and stand fully and get dressed, no need to use a ladder to access from the outer tent doors if the weather sucks. And diesel heater compatible as well. It can also be packed up and ready to roll in about 2 minutes, pull the clamshell down, drive away, easy as that. I can't think of one single advantage to dropping a tent next to the truck.
 

Billinsd

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What's the advantage to this versus just setting a tent up next to your truck? I have a Kelty tent that easily sleeps two that can be set up in minutes. It is also tall enuff to stand.
I don't have a roof top tent. I may never buy one, but I'm interested. A big plus is that sometimes it's difficult to find a place to pitch a tent. You probably could stop off a road or highway shoulder and sleep in your truck in the roof top tent.
 

Billinsd

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I can't think of one single advantage to dropping a tent next to the truck.
The biggest advantage is the cost. My Alps tent was about $150. A full GFC is $7-8k, an RTT is about $1k. Another is the weight. Lastly, if your truck bed is loaded with a bunch of stuff, you to take some or most out and put in on the ground, exposed to the elements, then put it back in. I'm talking about me in my double cab 2002 5 ft bed. I'd like to buy a RTT system but can't justify it for myself.
 
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Squamch

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Having a ton of crap bolted to your truck isn't advantageous offroad or on. The broverlander fad has been great for small fab shops and offroad shops. Horrible for cool places, and trails.

That said, overland is a state of mine, centering on tilley hats, cargo shorts, and a not so secret desire to be Australian. I recommend just bringing some camping and recovery gear in your truck, and going hunting.
 

Vandy321

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The biggest advantage is the cost. My Alps tent was about $150. A RTT is $7-8k. Another is the weight. Lastly, if your truck bed is loaded with a bunch of stuff, you to take some or most out and put in on the ground, exposed to the elements, then put it back in. I'm talking about me in my double cab 2002 5 ft bed. I'd like to buy a RTT system but can't justify it for myself.
RTTs are not $8k. A full GFC is, but a standard RTT can he had for just over $1k
 

Vandy321

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Having a ton of crap bolted to your truck isn't advantageous offroad or on. The broverlander fad has been great for small fab shops and offroad shops. Horrible for cool places, and trails.

That said, overland is a state of mine, centering on tilley hats, cargo shorts, and a not so secret desire to be Australian. I recommend just bringing some camping and recovery gear in your truck, and going hunting.
You're just mad nobody has a secret desire to be a Canuck🤣
 

Vandy321

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I don't need more people up here enjoying our outrageous gas prices, dirt cheap syrup, and generous hunting seasons. And I definitely don't want a bunch of broverland dorks geotagging the cool spots I like to go to!
...or the socialism, gun bans, and lack of public lands.
 
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I don't have a roof top tent. I may never buy one, but I'm interested. A big plus is that sometimes it's difficult to find a place to pitch a tent. You probably could stop off a road or highway shoulder and sleep in your truck in the roof top tent.

Especially at rest areas
 

ethan

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I got mine through a very unique set of circumstances and a heck of a deal. But like every other aspect of all outdoor gear, nothing works for everything and lots of things have a place. I like my little trailer set up!
 

Billinsd

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That said, overland is a state of mine, centering on tilley hats, cargo shorts, and a not so secret desire to be Australian.
I'll disagree. I think overland is the desire to be more comfortable camping while off roading. There's also a bit of overthinking things, which I do a lot of. I look at overlanding for inspiration and ideas. I ground myself by not wanting to spend a lot of money and add any unnecessary weight to my truck, it's a balance of comfort versus weight, clutter, and money. It's all extremely personal.
 

Billinsd

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What I really liked is a wirehair dog breeder in Indiana has a Ford 250, double cab. He took out all the passenger seats and put in a refrigerator and a battery and a microwave. He can stretch out and lay back on the passenger side. He built a platform to sleep on. He's got all his stuff in the cab and can take 6 dogs in the bed. He's super mobile and goes bird hunting in the West. The downside is his Ford 250 is not great off road. What he has isn't really overland, but the fridge and battery and taking out the seats are. What he has is for solo hunts with his dogs. Check out ghost point wirehaires, Eric Forester on youtube. He has a pay site for $3 a month that I paid $3 for a month just to see how he modified his truck.
 
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Nice rig OP! I have a 2020 Tacoma OR that I set up for adventures, travel and hunting. I went back and forth on RTT and decided against in the end. Would be curious what you think after using a while. You probably saved a nice chunk of money buying it set up rather than doing it yourself. You will prob find things you want to change about it too. Tacos are very capable off-road and mine has taken me to some gnarly trailheads. Enjoy!
 

5MilesBack

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Both trucks were stock with stock tires, the 6 speed transmission was constantly downshifting at the slightest incline to maintain speed.
I would NEVER get a Tacoma with an automatic. I can't stand automatics. Every time I want them to shift (up or down) they don't, and every time I don't want them to shift.......they do. I had an F-350 with the auto for just a couple years, every time I'd be cresting a hill......it would downshift right as I was getting to the top and then slingshot the truck over. If I'm not in control of the shifting.......then I'm not in control of the vehicle. That's never good. Love my old Toyota and current F-350 with a manual.
 

billoo349

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From reading all this I've gathered that overlanding = camping

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OP
Huntin_GI

Huntin_GI

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I got an OV Tune on my ‘19 OR with a Leer canopy and full Prinsu rack. Made a world of difference but I do plan on re-gearing. Rig has seen a lot of action in the last 1.5 years and is a champ. Adding a C4 fabrication bumper and 10K Smittybilt winch this next week. Will run this rig until the wheels fall off as my camp rig. I didn’t want a rooftop tent because I prefer backpack hunts and if I’m hunting from the truck I either sleep in the bed or throw out a small shelter.


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I too lean into backpack hunts. Until now, I have been throwing the tent up beside the Subaru and sleeping there. A buddy and I did a 4th season elk hunt this year and used the bed as "camp" but when packing up/ moving spots you had to get packed down well enough to fit 90% of your gear. My hope is the RTT helps prevent that and we retain our bed space for gear but only time will tell.
 
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