Trip report, part three: 2013 Overland Expo
Even though we are on the road right now, (in San Jose) I thought it wise to get the last part of the OX trip report down before even more of the details, especially names, slip away.
One thing that strikes me is how truck camping has divided even more into specific areas or nitches. I call this trend toward, off-the-grid, off-your-rocker, off-roading your truck camper, class XTC: kind of a crossover. Is the defining factor how much your rig weighs and how tall and wide it is when traveling? At OX2013 there were a variety of heavy/tall, medium/not-so-tall, and collapsable/lighter/short-in-the-saddle rigs. So, size/weight cannot be the only criteria for the Overland style of truck camping. The objective is to run lighter; run narrower; run shorter; run lower; but in the end it must be the adventurous spirit of the owners, and the ability and reliability of the rig they have set up to successfully tackle some pretty whacky roads and trails: to 'take it' over the fabled 'road less travelled'. These owners don't just put up with off-road XTC-ing, they look forward to it; they pursue it as a means to get away from the madding crowds.
The following pix define the wide splay of approaches to XTC-ing:Most of these rigs were in our group.
First as we got into camp on Thursday is Brian's Chevy; arguably the most famed rig of this bunch as it has been all over Central and South America:
To give you a sense of scale, Brian is in the front row with sunglasses and the wide brim hat, and Whazoo is that little spec on the roof of Brian's Big Lance/GM combo. seated, from l. to r.: Lisa, Eric, Brian, Steve.
DJ's superbly outfitted Ford with lightweight pop-up can take a beating (and does):
Bryan's mongo touring TC: full timing at it's best.
Mike and Karen Wolfe's well prepared Dodge/outfitter combo:
Mark's heavily laden short bed/hard side with stuff:
Mike (The Mellow) and Karen's Wolf creek on a shortbed:
The invisible winch on JPnAZ's Power Wagon/Lance hardside:
On the left are DJ's, Whazoo's, and jefe's offerings:
Our newest XTC-ers, Lisa and Eric. This was their first trip.
The following I can't or don't have name recognition of: This one was his grandfather's and he remembers camping in it when he was 9 yrs. old.
Virgil and Maria's big Lance with bridge across to the jeep hauling flatbed.
Jack Wright's wind-powered Dodge:
If you recognize your rig and it is unnamed, speak up and identify yourself.
regards, as always, jefe
One thing that strikes me is how truck camping has divided even more into specific areas or nitches. I call this trend toward, off-the-grid, off-your-rocker, off-roading your truck camper, class XTC: kind of a crossover. Is the defining factor how much your rig weighs and how tall and wide it is when traveling? At OX2013 there were a variety of heavy/tall, medium/not-so-tall, and collapsable/lighter/short-in-the-saddle rigs. So, size/weight cannot be the only criteria for the Overland style of truck camping. The objective is to run lighter; run narrower; run shorter; run lower; but in the end it must be the adventurous spirit of the owners, and the ability and reliability of the rig they have set up to successfully tackle some pretty whacky roads and trails: to 'take it' over the fabled 'road less travelled'. These owners don't just put up with off-road XTC-ing, they look forward to it; they pursue it as a means to get away from the madding crowds.
The following pix define the wide splay of approaches to XTC-ing:Most of these rigs were in our group.
First as we got into camp on Thursday is Brian's Chevy; arguably the most famed rig of this bunch as it has been all over Central and South America:
To give you a sense of scale, Brian is in the front row with sunglasses and the wide brim hat, and Whazoo is that little spec on the roof of Brian's Big Lance/GM combo. seated, from l. to r.: Lisa, Eric, Brian, Steve.
DJ's superbly outfitted Ford with lightweight pop-up can take a beating (and does):
Bryan's mongo touring TC: full timing at it's best.
Mike and Karen Wolfe's well prepared Dodge/outfitter combo:
Mark's heavily laden short bed/hard side with stuff:
Mike (The Mellow) and Karen's Wolf creek on a shortbed:
The invisible winch on JPnAZ's Power Wagon/Lance hardside:
On the left are DJ's, Whazoo's, and jefe's offerings:
Our newest XTC-ers, Lisa and Eric. This was their first trip.
The following I can't or don't have name recognition of: This one was his grandfather's and he remembers camping in it when he was 9 yrs. old.
Virgil and Maria's big Lance with bridge across to the jeep hauling flatbed.
Jack Wright's wind-powered Dodge:
If you recognize your rig and it is unnamed, speak up and identify yourself.
regards, as always, jefe
