Enthusiast I
Tents or car camping
- Thread starter Jack Lower
- Start date
Traveler III
There is a whole bunch of discussion of both, and the pros and cons of each in this sub-forum: Camp Q&A
Off-Road Ranger I
Traveler III
Tent camping for sure. I've done enough sleeping in vehicles, and unless I have to, I don't want to do any more. My RTT has been excellent, although I like to ground tent as well. The advantage to the RTT is my wife will go with me, which for me is a bonus. She wasn't big on the idea of ground camping in Florida, or during our trip to Colorado because of animals and the like, but the idea of being up off the ground put her at ease. I never told her that if a bear wants us, he'll just stand on the hood and enjoy his soft taco. Whatever, it's more comfortable than the ground tent, and 100 times more comfortable than sleeping in the driver's seat.
Creator I
I live in Washington and if it isn't raining the ground is usually wet. RTT can be nice for that, but if you use a footprint / tarp under a ground tent with a rainfly getting wet is rarely a problem. A nice mattress pad doesn't hurt either. Sleeping in a truck bed or canopy can be cold without proper insulation.
Influencer II
For me it really depends on the circumstances. Right now my wife and I prefer our hammocks, though that isn't always possible (dependant on trees). When we can't sleep in the hammocks we have either a RTT on our trailer, or a ground tent if we don't have our trailer with us. I'm about to build some portable hammock stands and if those work like they should, I will probably be getting rid of our RTT and trailer.
When I use the truck I use a truck bed tent, most of the time I'm in the Jeep and use a oversized cot tent. I love the thing.
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Contributor II
It depends on the situation. If I'm out on a fire or back road, then I sleep in the rig. For me it's more a safety issue. Otherwise, if I feel comfortable where I am I'll use the tent. If I'm with the family, tents are the only option but then again we're going anywhere we're not comfortable staying.
After some really windy times, my wife and I like to sleep in the truck/shell. Truck is an F250 short bed 6'4" or so and we have two awning on it, 2.5 meter TJM on the passenger side and an Alu-Cab Shadow on the drivers side with walls. So we can sleep out if we want to.
These are from over land last month and we did not use the passenger side wall this time.
These are from over land last month and we did not use the passenger side wall this time.
Advocate III
Tent camping ... I have a Kodak Canvas cabin tent. It's a beast to put up by oneself, but totally worth the trouble ...
Traveler III
- 4,002
- First Name
- Kelly
- Last Name
- Herrin
- Member #
2032
- Ham/GMRS Callsign
- KFØDEX
Warm. Dry. Flat. Quite. Comfortable. No wind noise. No rain. No bears. I carry a ground tent, in case I roll, wreck, or burn the Jeep (something you should do even with a RTT), but sleeping inside the rig makes Overlanding year round a pleasure. Plus, I just don't want the weight, and wind resistance, of an RTT.
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Kathy and I love to go out late winter and all of fall - less people when it is cooler/colder. Just us.
Used to love sleeping in a tent when I was younger. Now I am older and more refined, (and refuse to spend $300K on a motor home) I prefer sleeping in the back of the truck. My boy will be putting his tent on the roof rack. We tested it out; he loves it and both of us are off the ground. Just what works for us.
Advocate III
I love camping on the river in the fall and early spring, sleeping in a tent at night when the temperatures drop into the high 40s/low 50s ... my buddy has a huge camper and I have a Kodiak Canvas cabin tent. We set everything up in the morning and head down to the river to fish. In the heat of the afternoon, we head to the camper and drink, watch movies and nap until the cool of evening comes. We then head back to the river to fish until dark. Night comes and more drinking ensues, around a campfire this time; then, we pass out in the tent, wake up in the morning and do the same thing the next day. Actually, I think what we do can more appropriately be called "glamping."
One nice thing about having a full size truck is you can tow a glamper for glamping if you choose to -
View attachment 25208
Ernie can bring his big bed too
Kathy and some of the kids near the fire on a cold afternoon.
View attachment 25208
Ernie can bring his big bed too
Kathy and some of the kids near the fire on a cold afternoon.
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Traveler III
- 4,002
- First Name
- Kelly
- Last Name
- Herrin
- Member #
2032
- Ham/GMRS Callsign
- KFØDEX
One word,... Stealth. Too many times I've needed to sleep where no camping was allowed.
