Camping/Fishing Rigs and Routines

Northern

Northern

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For my usual 2-4 day, solo summer trips I'm a minimalist: An AWD Sienna with custom DIY window bug screens, towing a double kayak trailer with my Hobie Compass on one side and a Yakima box on the other. In the 4x8' back, I have a small cot, sleeping bag and pillow, a cooler, headlamp and lantern, power bank, bin of kayak accessories. Under the cot are rods & gear. Front seat has duffle of clothes, 2L jugs of water, boots. Cooler has beverages, easy to prepare food (if it's buggy - I'm looking at you, Basin - I'm not even getting out of the van!)
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Yakima box has camp chair, luggable loo, and if I'm somewhere without bloodsuckers, campstove and cooking gear. And usually spinning gear, just in case.
Typically, I roll into the CG just before dusk, use the facilities on my way in, pull into my site, pop the screens in for ventilation, eat, call/text my hubby to check in & update the itinerary, listen to serial killer podcasts till I fall asleep, roll out at dawn to get back on the water! Repeat till it's time to get home
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I have a small RV (that I bought to take my mom) but mostly use my car for fishing/camping trips. I built a bed platform that goes over the reclined front passenger seat, with lots of storage underneath. There’s also room for a fridge or cooler and most importantly, a potty so I don’t have to get out at night or in the wee hours of the morning.

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On a trip to ID this summer, I played with sleeping in a hammock - inside my rig! I didn’t have my Thule box on that trip so I needed more room for gear. The hammock could be easily taken down or pushed out of the way to cook breakfast. The hammock was way shorter than I normally use but it was super comfortable.

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Fishing gear, including my WaterMaster, usually gets stored on top in a Thule Box, although strung-up rods get stored inside on my fancy paracord and shock cord rod rack. Thanks to Ive, I have a really cool chuck box that I can use as a cook surface inside when it’s really cold (with proper precautions), or used outside or on the tailgate.


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When it is hot and I am somewhere safe, I have an OEM tent that encloses the back or unzips to make an awning.



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My latest addition is a real kitchen unit - ok, a kid’s play kitchen, but it has lots of storage and fits perfectly. It will still leave an isle and give me a sink with running water (after modifications) and cook surface. Here it is inside the rig, with the fake plastic components removed and my vision realized (via Photoshop).


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Freestone said:
I have a small RV (that I bought to take my mom) but mostly use my car for fishing/camping trips. I built a bed platform that goes over the reclined front passenger seat, with lots of storage underneath. There’s also room for a fridge or cooler and most importantly, a potty so I don’t have to get out at night or in the wee hours of the morning.

View attachment 1164

On a trip to ID this summer, I played with sleeping in a hammock - inside my rig! I didn’t have my Thule box on that trip so I needed more room for gear. The hammock could be easily taken down or pushed out of the way to cook breakfast.The hammock was way shorter than I normally use but it was super comfortable.

View attachment 1173


Fishing gear, including my WaterMaster, usually gets stored on top in a Thule Box, although strung-up rods get stored inside on my fancy paracord and shock cord rod rack. Thanks to Ive, I have a really cool chuck box that I can use as a cook surface inside when it’s really cold (with proper precautions), outside or on the tailgate.


View attachment 1166

When it is hot and I am somewhere safe, I have an OEM tent that encloses the back or unzips to make an awning.



View attachment 1168



My latest addition is a real kitchen unit - ok, a kid’s play kitchen, but it has lots of storage and fits perfectly. It will still leave an isle and give me a sink with running water (after modifications) and cook surface. Here it is inside the rig, with the fake plastic components removed and my vision realized (via Photoshop).


View attachment 1179
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With shiplap - fancy!
 
Northern said:
For my usual 2-4 day, solo summer trips I'm a minimalist: An AWD Sienna with custom DIY window bug screens, towing a double kayak trailer with my Hobie Compass on one side and a Yakima box on the other. In the 4x8' back, I have a small cot, sleeping bag and pillow, a cooler, headlamp and lantern, power bank, bin of kayak accessories. Under the cot are rods & gear. Front seat has duffle of clothes, 2L jugs of water, boots. Cooler has beverages, easy to prepare food (if it's buggy - I'm looking at you, Basin - I'm not even getting out of the van!)
View attachment 1132
Yakima box has camp chair, luggable loo, and if I'm somewhere without bloodsuckers, campstove and cooking gear. And usually spinning gear, just in case.
Typically, I roll into the CG just before dusk, use the facilities on my way in, pull into my site, pop the screens in for ventilation, eat, call/text my hubby to check in & update the itinerary, listen to serial killer podcasts till I fall asleep, roll out at dawn to get back on the water! Repeat till it's time to get home
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Great setup with everything on the trailer for easy on/off with no struggling to get things back on top of the van, can become a nightmare sometimes get things back on top single handed..
 
Freestone said:
I think I am going to install a hidden tracking device on your truck! That way, I can just ‘happen’ to show up in the same campground at dinner time and act all surprised by the coincidence! 😂
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This camp only had 4 guys and this was gone. Mind you one of the guys is my friend's son. A starting lineman in the NFL. Boy could polish off a griddle fast!
 
Brute said:
I totally get it...I've camped many times with some big Hawaiians...
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So have I. This would've been an appetizer with my best friend from school and his family. I remember going on a camping trip with them and they had several coolers for a weekend trip. They were empty by the weekend.
 
Jerry Daschofsky said:
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I'll usually have my truck/camper with my boat behind. Then I carry my cook gear that I'll set up usually under a pop up.
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Jerry, how are you liking your new truck camper..? Any issues or complaints..? Is it at all possible that when you get to your campsite that you can remove the camper from the truck and use it on it's own or are the posts to flimsy to support the weight once you get inside..?
 
Cdnred said:
Jerry, how are you liking your new truck camper..? Any issues or complaints..? Is it at all possible that when you get to your campsite that you can remove the camper from the truck and use it on it's own or are the posts to flimsy to support the weight once you get inside..?
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I love it. Have had it a couple years now. I can actually take it off, but I would bring something to put under it for more support.

It only weighs #700. So don't even notice it in my new truck. So I take off the Jack's so I don't have that extra weight and something to snag in the brush.

Plus it sets up in seconds, literally. And literally takes seconds to put away. I really love it. Wish they still made them. Went out of business a decade ago.
 
Jerry Daschofsky said:
I love it. Have had it a couple years now. I can actually take it off, but I would bring something to put under it for more support.

It only weighs #700. So don't even notice it in my new truck. So I take off the Jack's so I don't have that extra weight and something to snag in the brush.

Plus it sets up in seconds, literally. And literally takes seconds to put away. I really love it. Wish they still made them. Went out of business a decade ago.
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We used to own an A-Frame camper which was real nice for towing but I got tired of having to set it up. We just bought a full size camper that allows us to pull over someplace and get inside for a break or have a coffee along the way. It's lite enough so I can still pull it behind my car. We bought it just prior to the COVID outbreak so we haven't had a chance to take it out yet. I had a pair of Honda EU2000i generators that I could piggy back for 4000 watts but I sold them so now I'm looking to pickup another single EU2200i for power should we boondock someplace. I'm also looking for a used Colorado XT that's in great shape at a good price for fishing..

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This is a fun topic!

When I retired, I told myself I was going to get myself some new toys. So I did.

This one (1985 VW Adventurewagen) is shared with our grownup kids when they want to take it out. It has a furnace, sink, fridge, gray water holding tank, upper and lower beds, shower enclosure, and a ton of storage (compared to most VW campers… I've had four of them). We installed a brand new Passat engine and all new systems and running gear for reliability, which these vans were not originally known for. It runs and drives great, and can navigate some surprisingly difficult roads.

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This one’s for extended fishing/camping/hunting trips. It’s perfect for me and my wife and gets into and through some tight spots.


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