Camping with Ranger

[fili450r]

they make inflateable materesses that fit in the back of your truck and thats what i would do.

haha, i could see me now..... "Damn, forgot the air pump again....all well, just use air out of the tires again." haha, now, you guys really got me thinking!

 

[koda6966]

Hell, just throw a twin air mattress in the back with a cap and your all good.

They fit almost perfect. Here's mine from the summer trip to the lake.

I had hoped to go this year, but I don't know if I'll be able to make it. You usually need to make reservations a year in advance to get a waterfront spot with a good launch, and I wouldn't camp there any other way. I mostly want to go for the hiking trails this year though. Man do I love the Catskills.

If you don't already have a cap, the alluminum ones are VERY light but condensate and make a lot of rain noise, the fiberglass ones are heavier but I have a theory that they're also quieter. Plus I don't see the fiberglass having a lot of condensation. It was like a sauna in there around 10:30/11:00am.

 

[fili450r]

If you don't already have a cap, the alluminum ones are VERY light but condensate and make a lot of rain noise, the fiberglass ones are heavier but I have a theory that they're also quieter. Plus I don't see the fiberglass having a lot of condensation. It was like a sauna in there around 10:30/11:00am.

if i ever get a cap, it will be fiberglass. haha, but anyways, i got a little more room with a stepside? so i am still just gonna drop my futon mattress in there. i got a soft cap on it now. and with my parents land, i just go out and sleep in the woods, when not raining.

just a fun night every now and then.

 

[strvger]

please keep in mind that water weighs about 10 lbs/gal. QUOTE]

actually 8.35lbs per gallon

that is without the weight of the container, baffling, valves, etc. averaging 10#/gal is the safe way to calculate total weight. that's what we always use on our fire dept.

 

[koda6966]

if i ever get a cap, it will be fiberglass. haha, but anyways, i got a little more room with a stepside? so i am still just gonna drop my futon mattress in there. i got a soft cap on it now. and with my parents land, i just go out and sleep in the woods, when not raining.
just a fun night every now and then.

Less room. The inner side walls of your bed are at the same distance as your inner wheel wells. Here's a quick sketch I made showing what I'm saying.

 

[Hopman]

if i ever get a cap, it will be fiberglass. haha, but anyways, i got a little more room with a stepside? so i am still just gonna drop my futon mattress in there. i got a soft cap on it now. and with my parents land, i just go out and sleep in the woods, when not raining.

just a fun night every now and then.

Go ahead & get a 'glass cap. I've got one on mine my truck, an it works well. Just be sure get a good quality one, like a Century, A.R.E, or a Leer.

 

[feellnfroggy]

OP have you ever gone camping with just a tent and the things you need? Or hiked to a camping spot? Its the same thing except your driving. Just keep a cell phone on you and flares for emergencies. Theres list of good things to keep in your truck in case of emergencies in the tech section. And a post around here somewhere of the same thing, but other than a bed and change of clothes and a gun to get dinner and knife to make dinner.... what else do you need? Well, water I guess, I would thoroughly clean a B2 fuel tank and do the mod to the ranger and use it for water. You only need it for drinking. You can cook with whatever water is on the property. you dont need electric. Period. Thats not camping. Get a metal coffee pot from walmart and put it on your firerack. LOL coffee is the only other necessity.

 

[FordMan016]

i took mine camping with about (im guessing) 300-400 in the bed and a boat, motor and trailer filled with supplies ( trailer rated for 400 lbs and it was maxed lol ) the ranger hauled it like no bodies business for 2 hrs there and back, then a month later went again to another campground 2.5 hrs out.

 

[john112deere]

I've slept in my '97...probably at least a dozen nights, over the years. Few in the front seat (not real comfortable, but it works).

Several weekend trips sleeping in the back under the cap. I figure the cutoff is around three nights- any longer than that, and it's worth the extra hassle of setting up a tent.

Best story of Ranger camping actually involved all three- got in late and spent the first night in the front seat. Next day drove the last quarter mile in, and spent that night in the back. Set up my tent and we were down there about two weeks. It rained around 6" those two weeks. (Seriously. Virtually unheard of in that part of Maine.)

Me and the Ranger came out in a less than dignified fashion (it was a lot muddier than it looks):


*I'm a spoiled "car camper" for the most part. I like to pitch my tent within 100 yards of where my truck is, and if I'm by myself I just run into town two or three times a day and buy food. Cooking is NOT a part of my idea of a vacation.