Boondocking/Stealth Camping in a Bronco II

[sgtsandman]

I’ve slept in the bed of the 2019 once. The 5’ bed is too short. Do not recommend.

The 2011on the other had has been just fine with the 6’ bed.

 

[BroncLander]

Yup, tent and air mattress is way more comfy.

I’m actually at the point where I’d like to start looking for a small RV that I can tow my Choptop behind. Or build something like Matt had at the last TRS ride, straight Redneck toy hauler, 40’ 5th wheel with a slide in camper on the front, truggy, side by side and quad on the back. An actual bed to sleep in.

I carry a tent, a hammock, a few tarps and for sure in the right setting I'll use whatever is best. Sure do like being able to just stop and sleep and then start up and go though.

 

[BroncLander]

So, I guess I will continue updating this thread as I go.
Boondocked in the Walmart Parking Lot again last night so I could head out at first light. I slept in of course and made my way West around 8am.
I stopped at a gas station in Prince George because the trip to Vanderhoof is exactly 100 kilometers (60 miles). So with a full tank I made my way there. The tires are really noisy. Hum hum hum hum down the hwy at cruising speed. That's ok though. They have great traction on everything so it's a good trade off.
This 2.8 leaks oil. And burns it off. Probably typical for these engines with high mileage (I'm reading close to 300,000km on the odometer/180,000miles). And it HATES hills. For steep grades I have to come down into 4th and it slows to 80km/hr (50mph?).

So on arrival to my 100km stop, the odometer showed having done 70km. So now I know that 70km/hr on the speedometer is equivalent to 10km/hr in real life. Also, it took 15 liters to fill (about 3.5 gallons). That's $25 in fuel to drive one hour on the hwy. Not terrible, but not great. I guess with 31s it's to be expected. That's 1.5L per 10km. Or about 16mpg. I think my math checks out but feel free to correct me if my estimates are off.

So now I'm sitting tight at my favorite fishing hole and might camp for a few days, catch some fish and just recuperate my energy. I deal with chronic fatigue and chronic pain from fibromyalgia so it was a big part of why I chose this vehicle that I can just park and sleep in anywhere relatively stealthy and unbothered.

Here's a video update and some mileage/fuel consumption for the 100/km (60 miles) for the math geeks

 

[4x4junkie]

When I wake up, well you know Im gonna be, Im gonna be the man who wakes up getting his toenails chewed by squirrels. Haha that's a decent setup tbh

A friend sometimes teases me saying that a bear or something's gonna come chomp on my feet or try to eat me lol (he who often uses a ground tent rofl)

11 years with the setup I've yet to have any wildlife encounters (I usually bring the hatch down so that it's within a foot or so of being closed). However I do keep a few different defenses on hand just in case.

 

[Shran]

A friend sometimes teases me saying that a bear or something's gonna come chomp on my feet or try to eat me lol (he who often uses a ground tent rofl)

11 years with the setup I've yet to have any wildlife encounters (I usually bring the hatch down so that it's within a foot or so of being closed). However I do keep a few different defenses on hand just in case.

I fell asleep under a tree while turkey hunting a few years ago and woke up with a chipmunk on my chest! I think he was just as surprised as I was…

I used to camp in the back of my 4 door Explorer and had plenty of room. Wouldn’t want to try it in a shorter vehicle though.

 

[bobbywalter]

For Years . .

i hate camping

 

[bobbywalter]

A friend sometimes teases me saying that a bear or something's gonna come chomp on my feet or try to eat me lol (he who often uses a ground tent rofl)

11 years with the setup I've yet to have any wildlife encounters (I usually bring the hatch down so that it's within a foot or so of being closed). However I do keep a few different defenses on hand just in case.

Seen to many 150 pound cats and 600 pound bears out there to get a good night's sleep. Out at the reno stampede one time the coyotes were right on me....I had to bean the lil bastards with rocks.....was on the trailer deck ...just a sleeping bag ....

 

[BroncLander]

Seen to many 150 pound cats and 600 pound bears out there to get a good night's sleep. Out at the reno stampede one time the coyotes were right on me....I had to bean the lil bastards with rocks.....was on the trailer deck ...just a sleeping bag ....

Once when I was about 17 a bunch of us were drinking and passed out around a campfire by a river. When we all woke up in the morning it became evident that a pack of wolves had come up on us in the night and a couple of them came right up to each of us to check us out as we slept. There was about 10 sets of tracks

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Seen to many 150 pound cats and 600 pound bears out there to get a good night's sleep. Out at the reno stampede one time the coyotes were right on me....I had to bean the lil bastards with rocks.....was on the trailer deck ...just a sleeping bag ....

A couple months ago I had coyotes running in the barn lot beside my garage as I was wiring on my Ranger (you know, with my back to the big open door)

So I grabbed a big chunk of steel and my biggest ball peen hammer and started beating on it. They didn't seem to like that.

I have been known to crank up a tractor too to encourage them to go chase go harass the neighboors instead. If the coffeegrinder starter doesn't run them off the straight piped 2cyl does.

 

[scotts90ranger]

I fell asleep under a tree while turkey hunting a few years ago and woke up with a chipmunk on my chest! I think he was just as surprised as I was…

I used to camp in the back of my 4 door Explorer and had plenty of room. Wouldn’t want to try it in a shorter vehicle though.

A twin air matress fits PERFECT in the back of a 4 door explorer, done that a few times too

 

[superj]

i love camping, except the setting up the tent and taking down the tent, hot nights, cooking food, hearing everyone in the other tents at night, and being woke up really early by others.

hmm, maybe i actually hate camping now that i have written that down

 

[superj]

and i say that because i haven't been camping in years. i could easily camp on the beach, its only 8 minutes away to the national seashore, but who wants to camp where its all mosquitoes and sand blowing around with 25-35mph winds. all your food is full of sand and your vehicle immediately starts rusting.

 

[Shran]

and i say that because i haven't been camping in years. i could easily camp on the beach, its only 8 minutes away to the national seashore, but who wants to camp where its all mosquitoes and sand blowing around with 25-35mph winds. all your food is full of sand and your vehicle immediately starts rusting.

Having been to Port Aransas a few times that is all relatable, the miles of cars on the beach all lined up is a bummer. My buddy's mom has a house there so that's where we stay.

30 minutes to the national forest here and you can camp just about anywhere with nobody around. It's nice.

 

[sgtsandman]

i love camping, except the setting up the tent and taking down the tent, hot nights, cooking food, hearing everyone in the other tents at night, and being woke up really early by others.

hmm, maybe i actually hate camping now that i have written that down

I tend to camp where less people want to. So, most times the only bother is if I have to pack the equipment away wet.

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

For Years . .

i hate camping

Does sleeping in the front seats of a <name a brand> 1 ton count?