Interesting watching the different methods of camping. It mirrors mine over the years.
Still have a backpacking tent wrote 6 pounds on it. Was before the ultralight craze hit and it was state of the art at the time. Been a minute or 10 since I've used it LOL.
In the 70's I threw a mattress in the back of the FJ55 with the seats down it was there for 2 years straight in Wa. State. Finally rotted out and I had to throw it away. But on any given weekend was ready to go with gear on top of it and would head out on a Friday and show back up on Sunday night or Monday morning. Smelling of wood smoke.
Toggled back and forth between "SUV" and pickups over the years each time getting something different. More room in a pickup with a topper and for additional space would build a half platform over my legs so that I could situp and change clothes, etc. It is an old mountaineering trick at the approach base camp.
Last time did that was almost 10 years ago just after I turned 60 and have moved on since then to cabins at a lodge, easy enough to find them in the North Woods of Mn. and Canada. Used to think they were for rich folks but once you reach a certain age they are worth it. Besides I'm not trying to be the richest man in the graveyard when it is all said and done. They are nothing fancy but usually have a HDTV
Ran a modern version of a wall tent for decades in between. The key to staying warm is to get the hell off the ground. A good cot will have knee knocker stretchers at the ends for tension.
Warmer weather a Big Buddy heater goes a long ways to taking the chill off. Set the tank outside the tent and run the hose to the heater through the cutout for the wood stove.
I always carry and setup a CO\smoke detector with me. Never had it go off with the propane Buddy heater. But was common to go off with the wood stove both CO and smoke alarms.
But a cabin at a lodge is king of them all
Still have to take your own food (at most of them) and I try not to rough it if possible
Well don't have to take ALL of your food. But first you have to go out and shoot some woodcock and then make Woodcock Cristina Di Beccaccia
Sort of like owning and driving a Lexus. Once you do it is hard to go backwards. Besides I'm too old to go back now, the bones and joints say so.
Dated a lady for awhile that said she loved to camp but come to find out only at organized campgrounds. They never sense to me, go camping so that you can be with a bunch of other people. But they usually had showers and electricity. She had an inflatable air mattress I tried to tell they weren't good in the cold but she insisted. And found out why they don't work in the cold as it compressed during the night as it got cold. The electric blanket on the other hand, now that was nice I have to admit.
Had mine for a year now and it is common for me to have a passanger. When I go to shoots everyone wants me to drive for some reason LOL. Last fall was the first time had anyone in the backseat. 2 young ladies hiking the Superior trail popped out on the trail I was on and the older one who was 62 had sprained her ankle. Ended up giving them a ride back to the trailhead on the Gunflint Trail as we were going that way.
I like to use things for a year or so first to determine if I really need to do something like rip out the 3rd row. To gain ~3 additional inches. In my case no I do not.
And know that when I go to sell it the next person is most likely want them even if they don't plan on using them. Went through that with the jump seats on my Taco that I tore out and built a platform for the dogs. Luckily I had them in the garage where they sat for 11 years. Covered in mice piss and poop even though they were wrapped up. The GX may or may not be my last vehicle and none of us are promised tomorrow. In 4-5 years at ~100K miles I will have to make the decision to future proof it for reliability. Or get a LX 700h Overtrail which I could see happening. The 3rd row is staying in place. I think....
Still have a backpacking tent wrote 6 pounds on it. Was before the ultralight craze hit and it was state of the art at the time. Been a minute or 10 since I've used it LOL.
In the 70's I threw a mattress in the back of the FJ55 with the seats down it was there for 2 years straight in Wa. State. Finally rotted out and I had to throw it away. But on any given weekend was ready to go with gear on top of it and would head out on a Friday and show back up on Sunday night or Monday morning. Smelling of wood smoke.
Toggled back and forth between "SUV" and pickups over the years each time getting something different. More room in a pickup with a topper and for additional space would build a half platform over my legs so that I could situp and change clothes, etc. It is an old mountaineering trick at the approach base camp.

Last time did that was almost 10 years ago just after I turned 60 and have moved on since then to cabins at a lodge, easy enough to find them in the North Woods of Mn. and Canada. Used to think they were for rich folks but once you reach a certain age they are worth it. Besides I'm not trying to be the richest man in the graveyard when it is all said and done. They are nothing fancy but usually have a HDTV

Ran a modern version of a wall tent for decades in between. The key to staying warm is to get the hell off the ground. A good cot will have knee knocker stretchers at the ends for tension.

Warmer weather a Big Buddy heater goes a long ways to taking the chill off. Set the tank outside the tent and run the hose to the heater through the cutout for the wood stove.

I always carry and setup a CO\smoke detector with me. Never had it go off with the propane Buddy heater. But was common to go off with the wood stove both CO and smoke alarms.
But a cabin at a lodge is king of them all

Still have to take your own food (at most of them) and I try not to rough it if possible

Well don't have to take ALL of your food. But first you have to go out and shoot some woodcock and then make Woodcock Cristina Di Beccaccia

Sort of like owning and driving a Lexus. Once you do it is hard to go backwards. Besides I'm too old to go back now, the bones and joints say so.
We have, but this is more just for a cold weather solution than anything. I'm perfectly happy on the ground when it's not snowing. We're also planning bringing a heated blanket haha.
Dated a lady for awhile that said she loved to camp but come to find out only at organized campgrounds. They never sense to me, go camping so that you can be with a bunch of other people. But they usually had showers and electricity. She had an inflatable air mattress I tried to tell they weren't good in the cold but she insisted. And found out why they don't work in the cold as it compressed during the night as it got cold. The electric blanket on the other hand, now that was nice I have to admit.

This setup looks awesome! Love the fact that you dont lose the second row.
Im not entirely sure why, but Im having a hard time justifying the removal of my third row in favor of building a platform. Heck Im not sure Ill ever even use the third row (Bachelor, no wife or kiddos to worry about) but it just feels weird to take away that functionality even though I pretty much only do solo travel. Im 5'11" and fit OK in the back with the passenger seat pushed forward. Definitely need a better sleeping pad though as the one i'm currently using doesn't even hold air. Been looking at getting a Luno since its supposed to fit around the wheel well.
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Ive owned mine for a year now and can count on one hand the number of times Ive had more than just one other person with me![]()
Had mine for a year now and it is common for me to have a passanger. When I go to shoots everyone wants me to drive for some reason LOL. Last fall was the first time had anyone in the backseat. 2 young ladies hiking the Superior trail popped out on the trail I was on and the older one who was 62 had sprained her ankle. Ended up giving them a ride back to the trailhead on the Gunflint Trail as we were going that way.
I like to use things for a year or so first to determine if I really need to do something like rip out the 3rd row. To gain ~3 additional inches. In my case no I do not.
And know that when I go to sell it the next person is most likely want them even if they don't plan on using them. Went through that with the jump seats on my Taco that I tore out and built a platform for the dogs. Luckily I had them in the garage where they sat for 11 years. Covered in mice piss and poop even though they were wrapped up. The GX may or may not be my last vehicle and none of us are promised tomorrow. In 4-5 years at ~100K miles I will have to make the decision to future proof it for reliability. Or get a LX 700h Overtrail which I could see happening. The 3rd row is staying in place. I think....