There is always a sense of uncertainty when posting something new, so most sincere apologies if this topic has been covered. I have not seen all of the information that i am looking to gather/put together in one place, if it exists that is fantastic, hopefully someone here can help me find it.

That being said....
I am looking at an overland trip on the great divide, splitting it between north and south, spending 14 days for each trip. one in summer 2013 and one in summer 2014. We live in Southern California (Camarillo) and are looking to start our trip from Montana and head south. We are hoping to have enough time to sightsee, photo-ops, hit some trails, fishing, shooting, hiking and all the other fun stuff there is to do outdoors. The idea is to alternate camping and hotel/motel.

Since this is a completely new adventure and we don't even camp in tents as a family, we have our work cut out for us, but to be honest sleeping in a tent is the least of our concerns. I am hoping to find input on rooftop tents, camping gear, recovery gear, checklists, modifications, etc...

Over the next few months we will be borrowing at least one Eezi_awn roof top tent from friend and using that on multiple occasions. we plan to try to eat out of a small cooler that is from our boat to see what we really need and don't need. But since neither of our families grew up camping and our current friends like to camp in campsites in their comfy trailers, we really don't know where to start.

We have done similar trips on road and off road, but always stayed at a hotel at the end of teh night and packed lunches. Car travel and point to point on the road trips are nothing new to us, it is when you add the factor of camping and surival for 5 people for a minimum of a 48 period, in the event something goes awry.

Adventure trailers are awesome and maybe something we look at down the road, but for the next two years, it looks to be too much of a costs to just start there. We haven't decided on whether or not to get a fridge or chuckbox, our friend who is going with us has both, so for the time being i can't see a need for them. I like the fridge idea, but if we do that i need to look at the pros and cons of adding a second battery and an outlet in the rear of the LR3.

It might sound a little backwards, but we have decided to do this trip for us and our kids (currently 11,9,6). for us that is the hard part, now all we have to do is figure how we are going to do it. SO if you have any input for us, please let me know.


2008 LR3
Bone Stock with a Roof Rack and Ladder