Project Snowball❄️ trip to CVT in Bend, Oregon for Black Friday (1 Viewer)

[Hojack]

I posted about CVT having a 40% off Black Friday sale. I had never even slept in a rooftop tent before but loved the idea. Backpacking and mountaineering are a passion of mine. Most times we sleep at the trailhead and it’s usually late. The Mt. Baker Hardshell Rooftop seemed like a great idea. Plus quick overnight trips make it super simple to have camp ready by removing 2 straps. So I figured I’d take a days drive to Central Oregon to Bend. 23F this morning getting Snowball❄ warmed up and my Yakima Load Warrior removed.

The fastest way to Bend hwy 26 on the Mt. Hood highway. With all the fresh snow both Timberline and Mt. Hood Meadows ski areas opened today. I figured the traffic could be bad and snow covered that route probably over 90% of the way.

The southern route would go along the eastern Willamette Valley foothills and up HWY 22 past Detroit Lake in the Santiam Hwy. Snow covered about 70% of this route. I decided I’d take the south route even though it was longer.

Headed into the high Cascades toward Santiam Pass.

Black Butte and Suttle Lake
If you’ve ever sat back and enjoyed Deschutes Brewery’s Black Butte Porter than here is what it’s named after. Oregon’s Metolius River emerges on the north side of the Black Butte as a full blown River from a spring fed through the aquifer below the Cascades. It’s has World class fly fishing for Bull Trout. It maintains a constant 48F temperature year round.

And what’s a road trip with out some company. Reload is becoming such a great dog. Looking forward to the adventures ahead.

 

[Hojack]

Ponderosa Pine forest just outside Sisters, Oregon. The 60 drove so stable on the snow, I was really impressed how it handled.

Sisters, Oregon

The Three Sisters mountains, each is rises over 10,000’.

Snowball parked outside CVT.

 

[Hojack]

Cascade Vehicle Tents- CVT
Bend, Oregon

Mt. Baker ABS Hardshell.

The interior space was actually bigger than it looks. My wife and I sleep on a full so it seemed roomy for me.

Mt. Baker Hardshell Tent
The ABS seemed flimsy so I went with the fiberglass. They were sold out of black and this white was sold. Grey was the only one left. I’ve been talking to Jon for a month on emails and he said he did have another white at the warehouse across town.

 

[Hojack]

The snow just added to the fun. It was such a great time to drive Snowball around.

Once on I couldn’t help but open it up. The guys at CVT thought Snowball was awesome.

 

[Hojack]

The view from Central Oregon of the Cascades is amazing.

Mt. Jefferson 10,495’

Filling up in Madras. 278 miles with 13.2 gallons. 21.06 mpg.

Descending into the Deschutes canyon.

Deschutes River near Warm Springs

 

[Hojack]

The sun was setting and really wanted to soak it in.

Looking north to Mt. Hood

Snowball and Mt. Jefferson

 

[Hojack]

Mt. Hood Ski Bowl and a crescent moon. Was a very fun trip. The 60 performed excellent. Never used 4WD or even needed to lock in the hubs. This was my longest drive and most varied road conditions. Before I headed out I was wondering how Snowball would do. I drove it on fresh snow earlier in late September but not hard packed choppy highways. It performed above and beyond I could ever imagine. The sheer power of the 4BT is awesome. can’t wait now to get out and explore.

 

[FJACS]

Great photos and a nice looking tent. I’m jealous that your snowy roads aren’t coated in a brine of ice melting chemicals.

It looks like the truck runs really cool.

 

[Hojack]

Oregon Department of Transportation snowplows and gravels the roads. So thankful we don’t use salt. They do spray de-icer on the west side of the mountains but mostly close to town.

 

[Hojack]

Great photos and a nice looking tent. I’m jealous that your snowy roads aren’t coated in a brine of ice melting chemicals.

It looks like the truck runs really cool.

It was really cold outside teens and 20s. Peak temp was about 140F but as soon as I descended a hill water temp and EGT just dropped. I think I’ll start blocking off the radiator as I’ve read about when it’s cold.

 

[Andrew Bluemel]

Nice rig! I ordered a large baker yesterday. Is that what you got? I am throwing it on my 80 and I’m sorta worried its gonna be to big

 

[Hojack]

Nice rig! I ordered a large baker yesterday. Is that what you got? I am throwing it on my 80 and I’m sorta worried its gonna be to big

I bought the Baker RTT in fiberglass.i didn’t like the ABS.

 

[MACFJ60]

Great story and post. Enjoy the new tent.

 

[80t0ylc]

Looks like the new Mt. Bakers are still a great hard shell. Got mine in 2012 and it's been a good tent. You might find my review thread interesting. I like your ladder swingout. I thought about that with mine, but the rear window on mine is not a door. Plus I've moved my tent to an overlanding trailer. Looks like you paid less for yours, than I did for mine 8 years later, thanks to BF sale. Hell of a deal!

 

[s0me0ldt0ys]

Some beautiful scenery!! Looked like an awesome trip!!

 

[PortFJ62]

Looks like we almost have twins. I'm in Portland if you ever want to grab a coffee.

 

[Hojack]

Hard to believe it’s been 2 years since I went to CVT in Bend, Oregon to get my Mt. Baker rooftop tent. The Black Friday deal was too good to pass up. If you’ve been on the fence about one of these this may be your time to check the deals. I have absolutely enjoyed mine.

Last year meeting up with my friends from Pennsylvania who took a COVID road trip out west to check out National Parks and my Crater Lake vacation property.

Camping out at Stub Stewart State Park.

Another campout at my property.

Just finding a spot in the woods for our weekend anniversary.
The rooftop tent has enough room inside to store soft goods like bedding and clothes so it does offer storage space as well. I have enjoyed mine and don’t regret making my Black Friday purchase.

Here’s to your adventures ahead, cheers
Happy Thanksgiving MuD family.

 

[pigneguy]

Cascade Vehicle Tents- CVT
Bend, Oregon
View attachment 2145649
Mt. Baker ABS Hardshell.
View attachment 2145651
View attachment 2145652
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The interior space was actually bigger than it looks. My wife and I sleep on a full so it seemed roomy for me.
View attachment 2145650
Mt. Baker Hardshell Tent
The ABS seemed flimsy so I went with the fiberglass. They were sold out of black and this white was sold. Grey was the only one left. I’ve been talking to Jon for a month on emails and he said he did have another white at the warehouse across town.

Hi,
How much does the fibreglass CVT Mt Baker tent weigh

 

[Hojack]

~150 pounds