Hey everyone. New here and I have to post so I figured I would give you some info on what I'm doing, and what I've done to prep for it. It's long but I've got a lot to tell and ask. Since it's my first post I'll put it all in here, but probably post some direct questions when the time actually comes. Hopefully I'll get some good advice and YES I've searched and read this forum all the time so it's not "one of those" posts.
Bought a 2004 LC and I love it. Got lucky and found one that was sold in Georgia and stayed there its whole life and is rust free. 203k miles - radiator, alternator, starter, water pump and timing belt replaced at 173k miles. My company "awards" employees with a 1 month sabbatical after staying there for 5 years, and I'm prepping for mine. I grew up off roading and love camping, rock climbing, mountain biking, hiking and just abt anything else outdoors so the decision seemed obvious - overland trip. I plan on bringing my bike and some climbing gear, and for some areas my friends will meet me there, others I'll be alone.
I live in Georgia but every year I fly out to Denver and drive to Moab for a one week camping, rock climbing, mountain biking, and UTV off roading trip. So Moab is a special destination for me, but I still want to see a lot of the rest of the West and would love suggestions. I've driven to Moab from Atlanta before and going East-West through Kansas and Eastern Colorado against the wind was MISERABLE for mileage, so I plan on going south first in a clockwise circle. Main areas I want to hit as of now are Austin TX for the bbq (never been), Joshua Tree to climb (never been), north to Yosemite to climb, then... Well I'm up for suggestions. I don't know much abt the PNW. The furthest NW I've been is the Tetons to ski (Grand Targhee and Jackson Hole). So, I'm up for suggestions. Regardless, after that it's down to SLC to pick up some friends, down to Moab where we'll meet more friends and spend a week, and then something in Colorado (there are so many trails there I've heard of, would love recommendations). Then back to GA w/ the wind at my back. Nothing wrong with the NE or Kentucky or TN, but I own property in TN and my parents live in Nashville, so I can do East Coast or Midwest any time I want. If you looked at a map of the states and drew a diagonal line from Washington to GA, the lower triangle is the general idea of my "loop".
All that said, living in your car for a month is no small feat. I love to camp but, it's gonna be a lot. Already own a ton of gear, I've bought some things and already made some mods, but again I'd love suggestions.
Here's the mechanical prep (I bought this car because I love working on cars) and gear I've installed so far (or own from previous rigs) but I would love your thoughts on what I'm forgetting:
Bought a 2004 LC and I love it. Got lucky and found one that was sold in Georgia and stayed there its whole life and is rust free. 203k miles - radiator, alternator, starter, water pump and timing belt replaced at 173k miles. My company "awards" employees with a 1 month sabbatical after staying there for 5 years, and I'm prepping for mine. I grew up off roading and love camping, rock climbing, mountain biking, hiking and just abt anything else outdoors so the decision seemed obvious - overland trip. I plan on bringing my bike and some climbing gear, and for some areas my friends will meet me there, others I'll be alone.
I live in Georgia but every year I fly out to Denver and drive to Moab for a one week camping, rock climbing, mountain biking, and UTV off roading trip. So Moab is a special destination for me, but I still want to see a lot of the rest of the West and would love suggestions. I've driven to Moab from Atlanta before and going East-West through Kansas and Eastern Colorado against the wind was MISERABLE for mileage, so I plan on going south first in a clockwise circle. Main areas I want to hit as of now are Austin TX for the bbq (never been), Joshua Tree to climb (never been), north to Yosemite to climb, then... Well I'm up for suggestions. I don't know much abt the PNW. The furthest NW I've been is the Tetons to ski (Grand Targhee and Jackson Hole). So, I'm up for suggestions. Regardless, after that it's down to SLC to pick up some friends, down to Moab where we'll meet more friends and spend a week, and then something in Colorado (there are so many trails there I've heard of, would love recommendations). Then back to GA w/ the wind at my back. Nothing wrong with the NE or Kentucky or TN, but I own property in TN and my parents live in Nashville, so I can do East Coast or Midwest any time I want. If you looked at a map of the states and drew a diagonal line from Washington to GA, the lower triangle is the general idea of my "loop".
All that said, living in your car for a month is no small feat. I love to camp but, it's gonna be a lot. Already own a ton of gear, I've bought some things and already made some mods, but again I'd love suggestions.
Here's the mechanical prep (I bought this car because I love working on cars) and gear I've installed so far (or own from previous rigs) but I would love your thoughts on what I'm forgetting:
- Oil Change and oil filter change w/ intention to "flush" after 1,000 miles. Used Valvoline Full Synthetic High Mileage to lube up any old gaskets, but after 1,000 miles I'm switching back to Toyota Genuine Parts oil because I've heard these things "just like that stuff".
- Air filter change - Toyota Genuine Parts
- Diff Oil Change - Front and Rear w/ Mobile 1 Full Synthetic 75w90
- Greased front and rear driveshafts, all 6 fittings - Valvoline full synthetic NLG No. 2 grease
- Woolwax Frame Coating in select spots. There's no rust on the car this is just "preventative". Did it while rotating the tires.
- Replaced the god awful cupholders w/ 3d printed holders from Etsy that actually hold a cup
- Pro-Clip USA Phone Mount (I'm obsessive about having a proper phone mount for nav) and a cassette to aux adapter for tunes. Would love a suggestion on improving that though.
- LED Bulb replacement - low and high beam headlights and fog lights (waiting on interior light kit to arrive)
- Deep Cleaned the interior w/ a steamer and extractor vacuum, looks like new. Deep cleaned the leather seats and re-conditioned. (front driver will need to be fully reupholstered but I'm using a cover for the time being)
- Removed the third row seats
- Removed the side steps for clearance, waiting on rock sliders from Rocky Road Outfitters to arrive
- "Truck Bed Tent" to sleep in the back instead of a roof top tent. I just like the "less wind resistance" aspect for this. I have plenty of sleeping pads, bags, and camp pillows that I can figure out the best combo for fitment. By the way - if you're looking for camp pillows check out the "Klymit Drift" pillows. Been using them for years and they're fantastic.
- Big Slack Off Road Hidden Winch Mount on the way, along w/ a 12,000lb wich that I'll have behind the OEM bumper (I like the look).
- I hate this one but.. 1 1/4" wheel spacers for the rear. My rig came with the TRD Rock Warrior Beadlock rims installed, but the guy only put spacers on the front. (I guess to fit the hubs in the front they're needed) I hated having the front stance 2.5" wider than the rear so I bought matching spacers for the rear. Idk, maybe I'll sell those rims because they require spacers, but I do like the way the actual rims look.
- Gobege air compressor. Wanted to save some $ and not do the whole "dual battery mount + ARB compressor for now - but I know that will be coming at some point.
- Standard recovery gear - shackle bolt tow hitch receiver plus 2x shackle bolts, tow straps, tree straps, traction pads, tire deflators, shovel, pulaski axe
- Standard "keep in the car" tools and fluids
- Standard "camping tools" and "bike tools"
- Folding table
- Camp Chairs x2
- Propane stove & cookware
- Propane Lantern and extra globes
- Pop up "shower and bathroom tent" that is a b*tch to get to fold back up, but works
- Solar shower - gravity fed
- Camp toilet w/ bags
- Eno Hammock
- 2x wool "Sackcloth and Ashes" brand blankets (love these things)
- Kuat Transfer bike rack and Curt 4" tow hitch riser to improve departure angle
- Mountain Bike
- Climbing Gear including Trad gear, draws, and ropes
- Shoes - Chacos, Danner Hiking Boots, 5.10 mountain biking shoes, and La Sportiva Trail Running shoes
- All the "essential" clothing
- Fly rods and fishing gear
- Glock G20 (10mm), Taurus Judge w/ 410 shells, Holsters, Locking Travel Cases, & Bear Spray. This is mostly for protection from animals and to be candid - if I have to use them I'm probably already dead.
- Very good cable locks for my bike and racks
- Books and laptop
- Nintendo Switch (awesome to have when camping in the rain)
- Large Tarp
- 2023 Road Atlas
- Storage containers that shockingly can fit all of this in the back - I've tested it.
- 2lb Ignik "Gas Growler" propane tank
- Some form of gas tank (Rotopax vs Jerry Can, can't figure out a good way to mount the jerry can w/o it causing terrible wind resistance)
- Power Station battery or install dual battery system. I don't have either, so figuring out which I should buy.
- Powered Refrigerator or bringing my existing knock off Yeti cooler (works great, just heavy and takes up a lot of space. Plus, I'll need to constantly source ice)
- Basket roof rack. When I sleep in my car the storage containers go on the ground. I'm wondering if I should get a basket rack to put the containers in while sleeping - plus I could mount a rotopax 4ish gal gas tank up there and that would solve one of my other problems. W/ one on the LC wouldn't fit in my garage anymore, but I could remove it and pop it back on when I go camping, which I do a lot.
- Signal booster - weBoost Drive Reach Overland. This isn't a "disconnect" trip and if I need to coordinate w/ friends flying in that I'm picking up I'd like to have signal if it's 2 days out and I'm in the sticks
- I "lended" my neighbor my small ARB Awning that I had mounts to the TRD Pro 4Runner Roof Rack. Lost my 4Runner in a divorce, the awning was on my previous car though so I took that off. Didn't have a car to mount it on so now it's on my buddy's 4Runner. I'd need to buy new brackets to mount it to my OEM roof rack and it's very small... Kinda debating if it's necessary for this trip but it 100% will go back on there. The "pro's" for this is desert camping and having a shade source. The cons are buying new mounts and possible wind resistance (let's be real, the wind resistance would be minimal).
- New brake pads and calipers
- Bleed and flush brake fluid
- Transfer Case Oil Change
- What tires?!?! Trying to keep the stock suspension - it's actually in good shape. I will be taking a "fully loaded" short overland camping trip with all this gear in a few weeks (after brakes and t-case are done) to see how the suspension holds up off road w/ all that weight. The car came with 285 70 R17 Maxxis Bravo A/T's, but the tread is "meh". Good enough to last these next few months but the last thing I plan on doing before leaving is getting new tires. I like the idea of going a little skinnier for gas mileage, so i was thinking 275 70 R17s. I was also leaning towards A/Ts but I've heard some M/Ts do fine on the highways, and then there are those "gap" tires that are in between a A/T and a M/T. Anyone have a recommendation?