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Thinking of making screens that can be velcro-ed onto the rolled down rear windows, and cutting a nice 2" thick dense foam insert for the 4'x8' area behind the front seat for camping.
Has anybody else done some camping cheats like this or better ?
Not saying I will never tent camp again, just like the idea of being able to pull into a nice state park campground instead of a motel when on a road trip.
We often have a kid sleeping in the back of the Ex when we go camping as a family because 5 grown bodies, a large dog, and all our crap don't comfortably fit inside a tent trailer at bedtime. We've used the dinette cushions and a sleeping bag with moderate success, but honestly, an air mattress is probably your best bet due to storage and ease. There's even a 12v outlet in the back! When planning ahead, I just remove the 3rd row so that I don't have to leave it exposed to weather and animals at the campsite. I've even been known to plug in a small electric space heater and leave it on the driver's floor (on low, of course) so that my teen can stay warm. Can't say that I've put any type of screen over the windows. We camp at 10k feet here in Montana and there isn't many bugs out at night even in the summer months. Hell, we had snow last weekend......
Last year late summer my son and 2 friends were backpack camping in the mountains in your area and got stuck in a blizzard on a high ridge, worst night of their lives they said, or best if you look back on it for bragging rights, I say. Good ideas you have there, here we would need the screens for hot buggy nights (Minnesota).
Oh yeah! It's called Overland camping and the Ex is the perfect platform to do it from. My Ex is exclusively an Overland rig as I only drive it out for camping and fly fishing trips. We have removed the 3rd row seats and once you fold down the second row seats, add the 4" foam mattress with 2 big, ol' school flannel sleeping bags together it works very well. It works in any weather, right? No leaks in heavy rain, no sagging tent roof in the snow and if the wife gets a chill simply turn the ignition ( I set mine up with the remote ignition so that I can be in the sleeping bag and turn the rig on from the back...just make sure you turn the rig off after everyone warms up. I have done a lot of things to help support our Overlanding like front and rear winches cuz she's a big girl, I removed the rear spare and put it on a custom bumper with a tire swingout, added a SmittyBilt roof rack, dual battery system so I don't ever drain the primary start battery with all of our stupid gadgets, and the list can go on and on. However, you don't necessarily need all of that stuff to camp out of your Ex. A couple of chuck boxes full of your favorite camping gear and some awesome destination is all you really need. If you want any ideas or suggestions drop me a PM and I would be happy to share. Enjoy the trip!!
We've used a futon mattress a few times when we didn't want to fool with the tent. Fits great without the 3rd row in. And I've been wondering about some sort of screen configuration too. Interested to see if anyone has any suggestions.
Also, I like those bumpers excursion69. What brand are they?
My wife and I camp in our X all the time. Last summer we took a geocaching trip from New Mexico to Seattle, Washington and back. Not pulling a trailer or having to set up a tent and take it down every day made for a great trip.
I cut screens for the rear windows and use magnets to hold them in place. The magnets (rare earth) work well to hold the screen in place even in some wind and keep the bugs out and let air in with no velcro stuck to the truck and looking like crap.
With the rear seat out and the middle folded down a queen size air mattress fits perfectly in the back. There's even room left over at the back doors for a cooler and camping essentials container. Our duffle bags ride on the bed during the day and get moved to the front seats at night. Rear power outlet is convenient for airing the bed up and down if necessary. The air mattress can be deflated and rolled back and the 2nd row seats set up for travel if for some reason you end up with an extra passenger. Works well for two adults or two adults and one smaller child at the most if necessary.
To block extra light, when necessary, I've cut reflectix to fit the side and rear windows. These also help keep heat out of the truck when not using it as much, or prying eyes when your gear is in there and you're away for a bit. I use a regular window shade for the front window but could cut some reflectix to fit there as well.
JSPEX, my bumpers were made by a company out of Vancouver, Wa called Hard Notched Customs or HNCUSA.com they aren't the fastest, but they are excellent quality and heavy duty. The lights were originally Chinese brand and fair quality, blue hue LED's. I am in the process of swapping to Rigid Pods in the bumper and the 20"light bar. I have 12,000 lb smittybilt XRC winches on both ends and I have lifted both ends off the ground easily. Lesson learned, don't pick up both ends too high because I almost tipped the ol'girl over on her side when I lifted the rear after already having the front off the ground 6" or so...it wants to do a tight rope act and she aint balanced well. If you ever "need" to see how much the winches can handle do one end at a time
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