Took me here and home. Cant say the same for this jeep
Where Has Your 80 Taken You?: 80 Series Camping/Overland/Adventure Thread
- Thread starter atomicshawn
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.
Almost 40,000 miles since I bought it with just oil changes and a fuel filter change for regular maintenance and a few bigger fixes up front. California to Maine and back several times on various routes. I still like my 60 better though. Ive been dragging a heavy trailer most of those miles too.
RFB
97 FZJ80 LIFTED SC DUAL BATTERIES,37s
So far in 2019 I have managed to spend 62 days on the road and out west, I have a reason for this other than dumping large amounts of cash into my fuel tank. at any rate heres some recent pics and many videos are to g=follow on my youtube channel JAILBREAK OVERLANDER Including a 100K corbeau leather sport seat review., land cruiser phil quik connect review, autohome maggionlina grand tour review, as well as all the vids that are already up.
Good thread that badly needed a bump for summertime adventurers to post up. It's been a long time since I've had a vacation. Dissertations will do that to you, then work was hard to find, but finally family finances permitted a return to Michigan's Upper Peninsula with another local 80 owner/MUD member. I'll let him chip in if he gets a hankering to post up. We all had a great time...despite the mosquitoes.
Our itinerary alternated camping nights with nights at an intervening motel. I could have packed lighter by leaving the water heater and 15 gallons of water behind, but I was testing things in terms of what I hauled in vs what I'm likely to actually use. It was a bit crowded at times, but we had most everything we needed and knew what could safely be left behind in the future by the time we returned home.
The two parties and their vehicles took somewhat different approaches to their builds. Our truck is pretty stockish on 33" KM2. Theirs ran 35s on a 6" lift. For Michigan trails, either was adequate.
Camping gear presented a similar contrast. We have a M101 CDN trailer and pack most stuff in there. We have a Tailgate Tent that supplements the sleeper/drawer conversion inside the truck. This is surrounded by an awning that serves as the kitchen/living room. Putting the sides on was a little troublesome, but we usually set-up to stay 2 or 3 days when we camp. We have a chuck box we unload with a small crane, a Camp Chef stove/oven combo, and the bathroom tent complete with toilet (used) and hot shower (not used this time).
Our companions' truck sported a RTT, plus a fairly complete and far more compact kitchen. This set-up worked better for camping and moving on after one night. They had a very nice anteroom, but only deployed it the 3rd night of camping. Without the anteroom, the RTT was a much quicker way to make camp. With the anteroom, it took just about as long as our more complex set-up.
It's rare that you camp next to a submarine, but the first night out on our way to the UP, that's what we did in Muskegon, taking the tour of the USS Silverside the next morning. I forgot to get camp pics the first night, but how about a pic of 80s and a sub?
OK, that camp was easy at the state park campsite there. The only real threat were the raccoons, who turned out would follow you home and raid your stash of yuppie potato chips after midnight.
After a night in Traverse City (surprisingly hard to find a room in) we heaed out and across the Mackinaw Bridge and into the wilder part of Michigan. We tried to pick a route north of Tahquamenon Falls State Park in a effort to reach the Crisp Lighthouse. However, the rains that have flooded the Midwest frustrated us as we repeatedly ran into high water. We turned around and camped in Superior State Forest at the dreaded "mosquito camp." And it was raining, which only briefly suppressed the bloodsuckers when it got heavy. We had the sides on the awning as quickly as possible, then lit the mosquito coils. They worked great inside the walls, but outside required long sleeves, a mesh hat and lots of DEET. Here's the camp.
From left to right is first the bathroom tent, then the 80 with its RTT deployed, then our M101 CDN tarped to keep the rain out, then the awning covering the back of our 80.
The next night we stayed in Munising and took the twilight boat ride to see the cliffs of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Then we headed south for our last camp near Escanaba, where the two trucks were caught together along the old RR garde that was the trail through here.
The height difference in the two rigs was considerable, since we lacked a rack and RTT, but it was only a minor problem that required caution in a few tree-lined locations. On the interstate, the low profile of our rig certainly got better MPG.
We arrived at "pine camp" relatively early in the evening, so had a chance to finally kick back and enjoy the camping experience.
The anteroom came out at the neighbors, more for practice setting it up than anything, because the weather was fine and the mosquitoes chewing on someone elsewhere.
Our itinerary alternated camping nights with nights at an intervening motel. I could have packed lighter by leaving the water heater and 15 gallons of water behind, but I was testing things in terms of what I hauled in vs what I'm likely to actually use. It was a bit crowded at times, but we had most everything we needed and knew what could safely be left behind in the future by the time we returned home.
The two parties and their vehicles took somewhat different approaches to their builds. Our truck is pretty stockish on 33" KM2. Theirs ran 35s on a 6" lift. For Michigan trails, either was adequate.
Camping gear presented a similar contrast. We have a M101 CDN trailer and pack most stuff in there. We have a Tailgate Tent that supplements the sleeper/drawer conversion inside the truck. This is surrounded by an awning that serves as the kitchen/living room. Putting the sides on was a little troublesome, but we usually set-up to stay 2 or 3 days when we camp. We have a chuck box we unload with a small crane, a Camp Chef stove/oven combo, and the bathroom tent complete with toilet (used) and hot shower (not used this time).
Our companions' truck sported a RTT, plus a fairly complete and far more compact kitchen. This set-up worked better for camping and moving on after one night. They had a very nice anteroom, but only deployed it the 3rd night of camping. Without the anteroom, the RTT was a much quicker way to make camp. With the anteroom, it took just about as long as our more complex set-up.
It's rare that you camp next to a submarine, but the first night out on our way to the UP, that's what we did in Muskegon, taking the tour of the USS Silverside the next morning. I forgot to get camp pics the first night, but how about a pic of 80s and a sub?
OK, that camp was easy at the state park campsite there. The only real threat were the raccoons, who turned out would follow you home and raid your stash of yuppie potato chips after midnight.
After a night in Traverse City (surprisingly hard to find a room in) we heaed out and across the Mackinaw Bridge and into the wilder part of Michigan. We tried to pick a route north of Tahquamenon Falls State Park in a effort to reach the Crisp Lighthouse. However, the rains that have flooded the Midwest frustrated us as we repeatedly ran into high water. We turned around and camped in Superior State Forest at the dreaded "mosquito camp." And it was raining, which only briefly suppressed the bloodsuckers when it got heavy. We had the sides on the awning as quickly as possible, then lit the mosquito coils. They worked great inside the walls, but outside required long sleeves, a mesh hat and lots of DEET. Here's the camp.
From left to right is first the bathroom tent, then the 80 with its RTT deployed, then our M101 CDN tarped to keep the rain out, then the awning covering the back of our 80.
The next night we stayed in Munising and took the twilight boat ride to see the cliffs of Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore. Then we headed south for our last camp near Escanaba, where the two trucks were caught together along the old RR garde that was the trail through here.
The height difference in the two rigs was considerable, since we lacked a rack and RTT, but it was only a minor problem that required caution in a few tree-lined locations. On the interstate, the low profile of our rig certainly got better MPG.
We arrived at "pine camp" relatively early in the evening, so had a chance to finally kick back and enjoy the camping experience.
The anteroom came out at the neighbors, more for practice setting it up than anything, because the weather was fine and the mosquitoes chewing on someone elsewhere.
Whipsaw Canada day long weekend.
RFB
97 FZJ80 LIFTED SC DUAL BATTERIES,37s
I find you bio location interesting, is it sarcasm or what you think, (talking about where you say you live)
A little of both. It's just flat around here (Central Illinois) and thoroughly uninspiring if you like mountains as much as I do. And there are lots of people who have trouble with basic facts, preferring comfortable mythology to the threat of learning something new.
RFB
97 FZJ80 LIFTED SC DUAL BATTERIES,37s
That Midnight Blue truck looks like one that used to be here in Utah, owned by Tim Elwood. Do you happen to know if it's the same truck?
I suspect it may be. I think the new owner said it was a Utah truck, although he flew east to pick it up.
My brother and I headed into the Chattahoochee National Forest over the July 4th holiday, spent a couple nights in the woods and got in some real mountain trout fishing. Not the tourist stuff where they stock the streams, but finding remote water and native brookies with only dry flies. It was a fantastic three days in the woods.
My brother Steve tying flies. This first campsite was right off the forest service road on Friday evening. There were so many people in the mountains, all of the regular campsites were taken. We'd make up for it the next night. I hadn't deployed the tent yet, but did right after I took this pic. Good thing because a big storm hit about 20 minute later. Steve never got a chance to get his tent up, so he slept in the truck with his dog while I was up on the roof.
Toccoa River, day one. Steve caught a couple nice rainbows and a couple good brooks. I struck out on day one, but made up for it on day two with 4 native brooks. Day two we hit the much smaller streams higher up the mountains.
Saturday night campsite was just epic. I marked this one in my Gaia folder, incredible view and a perfect place to set up a couple chairs, drink beer, and bs about the ones that got away.
My brother Steve tying flies. This first campsite was right off the forest service road on Friday evening. There were so many people in the mountains, all of the regular campsites were taken. We'd make up for it the next night. I hadn't deployed the tent yet, but did right after I took this pic. Good thing because a big storm hit about 20 minute later. Steve never got a chance to get his tent up, so he slept in the truck with his dog while I was up on the roof.
Toccoa River, day one. Steve caught a couple nice rainbows and a couple good brooks. I struck out on day one, but made up for it on day two with 4 native brooks. Day two we hit the much smaller streams higher up the mountains.
Saturday night campsite was just epic. I marked this one in my Gaia folder, incredible view and a perfect place to set up a couple chairs, drink beer, and bs about the ones that got away.
Care to share the coordinates of that spot?
Johnny Cash: "Ive Been Everywhere" might as well be the theme song for me.
We saved two that day, and I just had to go back to the map and confirm. This should be the right one. I sure don't mind posting because lots of people drive this road, and there are several good spots. But this one is definitely the best.
34°45'17.3"N 83°46'38.6"W
34.754800, -83.777390
Mine took me to the Junkyard to get more parts for it.
And the Monster Energy decal says "I've been to Glamis."
Good to hear from you, how've you been?
Wow, that looks like Mars.
This is Mars! 
