GEN 2 Math behind overlanding: Exceed truck weight limit?

[Tr4ckD4ys]

If I can give you and word of advice, it would be to NOT get a soft shell tent. CVT makes some decent hardshells (I've owned many of their soft and hard shell tents) but DONT go with the soft shell unless you need to sleep a lot of people in a single tent. Of all the tents I've bought, the James Baroud is, by a wide margin, the best when you're looking at comfort and ease. It's pricey, for sure, and I kinda miss the little bit of awnings that the softhshells have, but I'm so happy to never have to deal with a travel cover and the Baroud has the most comfortable mattress of all I've slept in.

Interesting thought! Is it mostly convenience (I.e. the cover and aerodynamics) or are there additional reasons why you’d chose hard shell?

 

[CR Gittere]

Here is a quick view of my setup, Fox 3.0 live valve, deaver springs +2 and RPG Traction bars, I modified the leitner rack to bolt to the bed and built the bed braces, I wanted to be able to put a dirtbike in the back and then shower off after riding all day. If I am going off roading the road shower comes off in about 3 minutes. I still have the stock spare under the bed, so I take 2 with me. My version of off roading is fast desert style roads, nothing true race course I have a 4 link pre runner for that.

 

[adllewis42]

Interesting thought! Is it mostly convenience (I.e. the cover and aerodynamics) or are there additional reasons why you’d chose hard shell?

It's a few things but, living in the PNW, mostly the ease of setting up and taking down. Few things upset me more than messing with that travel cover when it's 40 degrees and rainy. You get soaked and dirty, and good luck finding some place clean and dry to keep it. Them your whole tent gets soaked and you have to put it all up wet, but then make sure you find a place to open it all back up to dry it. The list just goes on.

Some people have them and they love them. I'm just not one of those people. I know the Baroud is pricey but, as I've learned in life, you really do get what you pay for. It doesn't have to be Baroud, but if give a hard look at all the hardshell options out there.

 

[amREADY]

How is that Yakima rack system working for you? Is it sturdy without the side bars?

So far, so good. But I've been on lockdown for 2 months... will report back any good or bad as I find it.

 

[amREADY]

Everyone's gonna have an opinion on drawers. I too thought that the decked system "took up" space and, on paper, maybe it does. However, it replaces two full bins and now leaves the "floor" of my bed totally flat all the way across. For me, it's perfect. Maybe not for everyone but far from a waste. I also chose to ditch the bed rack (had a KB Voodoo which was fantastic) in favor of a cap because I needed to put two dogs in the back (which works out immensely better with the drawer system now)

A bed system in a cap makes a lot of sense to me. A buddy runs that way and it is a great setup. I think the key is to literally and figuratively weigh the build so that the advantages of bins and the flat 'floor' above them is worth the cost and weight. Believe me, more and more as I get older, I am approaching 'that guy' as far as trying to organize my stuff better instead of just a smashed bag of ******** in bags and totes complete with a lot of rummaging and frustration.

 

[GordoJay]

... trying to organize my stuff better instead of just a smashed bag of ******** in bags and totes ...

I'm not finding your packing list very compelling ...

 

[zombiekiller]

Couple clarifications: I’m not currently buying this whole setup, but rather on the path (piece by piece) to get started with overlanding. I’m starting with rack, tent and suspension upgrades. And that’s where the questions came from. Seeing how far people take it, this thread has provided a lot of good input on how to think about getting started, finding “your own way” of overlanding and ultimately how to think about loads on the bed.

Over time, I’ll have to find my answers to questions around the need for and use of annex rooms, decked system (200lbs is a lot but it adds convenience), power generator + fridge, et cetera, et cetera...

As for rack: I really like the ADD Lander Overland rack, it looks great but there’s no info online around load weights and it’s a steel construction and very heavy. Therefore, it seems that the Leitner ACS Forged system is the best out-of-the-box solution that holds a ton of weight and is sturdy as hell. Just doesn’t look great.

As for tent: I’ve been going forth and back between budget options (tuff stuff) and the CVTs of this world. I just can’t tell “how” different they really are to warrant the extra 1500$. Some of the hard shell tuff stuff tents seem great (I.e. the Alpha)... but it gets you in the Freespirit/CVT price range for non-hard shell ones.

As for suspension: It looks like the Icons give me the most flexibility, bit more lift and are slightly better quality than the Deavers. Given all the uncertainty around load weights, there’s really no other way to go here. I’ll put eibachs as well because I like the leveled look and lastly, I won’t add an aftermarket bump stop kit because that feels a bit overkill for someone not jumping the truck around. Plus they’re hell pricey.

For sure next Memorial Day I want to spend camping and not in the Chicago burbs.

I would rethink the no bumpstop idea.

You're gonna be carrying a heavy load. you're gonna be offroad. That bump stop kit will save you from damaging your truck if an obstacle sneaks up on you. I'd personally want the extra "fudge factor" protection, especially if I'm carry cooking gas and other supplies that I'd like to be able to use once at camp. Preventing metal on metal contact with little rubber pads works for the street, but not offroad. When you hit the stock bumpstops in a raptor, It freaking HURTS. "feel it in your spine for days" kinda hurts.

 

[Tr4ckD4ys]

I would rethink the no bumpstop idea.

You're gonna be carrying a heavy load. you're gonna be offroad. That bump stop kit will save you from damaging your truck if an obstacle sneaks up on you. I'd personally want the extra "fudge factor" protection, especially if I'm carry cooking gas and other supplies that I'd like to be able to use once at camp. Preventing metal on metal contact with little rubber pads works for the street, but not offroad. When you hit the stock bumpstops in a raptor, It freaking HURTS. "feel it in your spine for days" kinda hurts.

You mean something more than the likes of the below? https://offroadalliance.com/product...termarket-leaf-springs?variant=12261404082287

 

[lateralis]

You mean something more than the likes of the below? https://offroadalliance.com/product...termarket-leaf-springs?variant=12261404082287

No he meant like a hydraulic bump stop kit. Like from SVC, RPG etc. Its not cheap but they are worth the money. Personally I'm leaning towards the SCV one when I'm ready for it since you can adjust the height. That way you can adjust it according to your weight/ sag.

 

[adllewis42]

I think, as with everything, it all depends on what you plan on doing. I'm never going over whoops, I'm never going "full send", and the most I'll do is mild rock crawling or cruising down a forest service road. In my opinion, given the springs I have, I don't think I need massive bump stops. I have the kit that Icon says you should use and, for me and for what I do, I think that's enough. Honestly, I don't know that I've ever hit the bump stops on any car I've ever owned and if I ever did it on the Raptor, something's gone wrong.