The first mod - adding a campfire on command.
The Softopper camper mode - still amazed my wife actually did this trip:
When we added the REI 6 person - the tent being in stealth mode:
Running battery tests with the Dometic 55im
Hiker Trailer mode - didn’t like that as much as I thought we would.
First group “big” trip, GFC’s looked amazing:
After that trip, did a smaller group, still in Softopper mode, but ended up at 9F over night. Frost on the sleeping bag foot end was extra “special”
Ended up having a “rapid deceleration event” due to an inattentive fellow road traveler, added electric brakes to the Hiker.
King of the Hammers time, and remembering past outings and how awesome the GFC’s were:
Needed a trip, but couldn’t rouse anyone for an early chilly run - so Comb Ridge area called and I did a solo run.
About this time, the group chat kicked off and yeah, that GFC joined our household.
New battery - 30Ah LiFePO4 and testing for use. 2 gallons of water, 90F outside, open a few times a day, 100w panel. My wife humored me with all this on the patio.
Made a few attempts to rig up bedding, but ultimately didn’t really like the bedding in the back. It went back to the cab.
New year trip in the making, needed better tires this time around, and yes, even though the GFC is lightweight, added the Icon RXT - hover mode initiated
And when I got home, still clears the garage - not by much though.
Now it’s looking good in the native environment:
Still happy with the load out - Dewalt extra large toolbox as Kitchen and bench and step into the sleeping area. Low cost but effective Plano bins - pantry and compressor labeled, bucket which contains the mylar bag which contains those LNT blue bags.
Fixit Pass in the Swell, bigger stuff than I would normally do, but a couple of fantastic spotters, led this blue truck through.
After the Swell trip, started thinking about the house battery. Knew the 30Ah would get me through 2 days no sun easily, started making cutouts. Wanted the wheel well to protect the tender bits. Used some cordage to run potential wire lines.
Need another trip to clear the mind, couple of friends from work, did a 3 day weekend together. The 4Runner at the end, Taylor, used a wok and made stir-fry. Crazy Cats did that smell good! Put on my list to experiment with a wok for a cooking utensil.
Still pondering on the electrical - maybe mounted on the cab side wall? Eh, don’t like the aesthetic- but put it to CAD (corrugated aided design) to confirm
Ended up with a side panel, protected from stuff in the bed by the wheel well. The 30Ah battery and Victron 75/10 SCC worked well on a 9 day trip through Idaho’s Lost River Range.
Couple of shots, enjoying the modifications and deliberate definition of the use case.
Coffee setup, always pairs well with a sunrise
Added side panel access for table and Moon Shade. Previously they lived on the top of bins in the back. This is so much nicer and quicker for setup. SendCutSend for the win.
@Rancho ie. LumberingBear water bottle holder
Lost River Range trip Aug 2025, slept comfortably with ~40F nights. Great group of guys to be out with.
Quick 3 day weekend trip Kaibab NF, more GFC’s.
Still lovin’ it. Time to finish 2025 strong. Saw this quote in Adventure Journal #38 -
Orion
The old scoundrel spends his summers lurking behind the sun, then come late August starts to rise a little before dawn, heralding the arrival of a new season and climbing toward his inescapable presence in the winter sky. Orion slides through fall as he always does, in eternal pursuit of the seven sisters of the Pleiades. Fortunately, the distance between them remains forever unbridged, the stout bovine presence of Taurus between them, just in case.
BTW - the magazine is worthy of a subscription, especially when out enjoying the sounds of “not city”.