Can A Family Of 5 Camp & Overland Out Of A Jeep Wrangler?

How we camp and overland out of our Jeep Wrangler with our family of 5 and our Dog. Overlanding and camping often requires a decent amount of gear. It is really easy to get carried away with how much gear you bring but with a Family of 5 and a labrador we have to be pretty strategic when it comes to what we bring and how we pack it. Watch as we go over our three primary systems for clothing/personal gear, cooking and camping. Have a tip or hack you use for packing? Please share them with the group.
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Our Gear:
Gear We Recommend:
Gaia GPS:
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Vehicle Gear:
Falken WildPeak AT3W: amzn.to/3sppYyr​
Audew Portable Jump Starter
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Plano Storage Boxes
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Rechargeable Camping Lantern
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AEV 2.5 Lift Kit: www.aev-conversions.com/produ...
VIAIR 300P Portable Compressor
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Falken Wildpeak AT3W Tires
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Nitto Trail Grappler M/T
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XRC 8 Winch:
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Trasharoo Spare Tire Trash Bag BLACK
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TeraFlex 4807200 Air Deflator
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TeraFlex D-Ring Shackles
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Camping Gear:
Coleman Instant Setup Tent:
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Camp Chef Everest High-Output 2-Burner Stove
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Coleman Big Basin Sleeping Bag:
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DeWalt Tough System Large Case
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Reliance Aqua-Tainer Water Container 7 Gallon
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Solar Charger, X-DRAGON 10000mAh Portable Charger
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Big Agnes
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Lightspeed Outdoors Self-Inflating Sleep Pad
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Goal Zero Light-a-Life 350
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Portable LED Camping Lantern 6 LED Emergency Lantern
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Lifetime Folding Table:
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Camera Gear:
GoPro Hero7 Black
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Joby GorillaPod Tripod
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BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2
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Book About The San Rafael Swell:
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[@BackroadExploration]

Have a tip for how you like to pack your rig? Share it with us in the comments so we can benefit from your experience! Our setup is always evolving and I love learning from this community!

[@moabwheeling1305]

Great video again sir. You seem to have your organization down pat . Oh, please don't forget Molly is family too ! Until next time take care and be safe . Looking forward to your next adventure .

[@alexweir215]

Thanks for the great video. The new intro was awesome. Keep up the great work.

[@BackroadExploration]

Thanks! Really working on a few production elements to elevate the level of content.

[@denaye7224]

Yes

[@grn9209]

Good organization 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@BackroadExploration]

Thanks for watching!

[@byronbrasher8118]

That was by far the most entertaining video y’all have done in a while! And they’re all good! More great editing Tara. Good shots on the bike. Liked the ones of you, Chad, and Daisy. Got to see some of Chad’s patches. Maybe one day he can describe them all. The mangroves were like an episode of “I Love Lucy.” You are too dang funny Tara and I don’t know if you even know it. I can see you on a new version of the emergency alert button commercial - getting caught in your kayak- “help, I’m stuck and I can’t get up!” 😜 You needed a couple of more hands to get outta that situation easier but you handled it like a pro 😉. Gotta say tho, Chad was a tad more graceful limboing that branch- but you get the highest score with the dog and camera difficulty. But, like I said, y’all are so entertaining just paddling around in a kayak, I don’t even think you realize it. That’s saying a lot 😉.

[@TUNTALKS]

Great video, thank you

[@BackroadExploration]

Thanks for watching!!

[@GrizzlyPath]

Packing for a family is tricky and you can tell you’ve put a lot of thought into your smart setup. Always refining! Do you have any details on the pillows you have? I’m packing house pillows which obviously isn’t a space saver 🙃

[@BackroadExploration]

Thanks! Jury is still out for me on pillows. I like the plaid one. It is just a simple stuff cotton pillow. I think from REI. I would give it a 7 out of 10 on comfort. 10 being my home pillow. Then we actually use some stadium heating pads. They are super flat and pretty but kind of loud the bottom is made of a plastic vinyl combo. I just bought two blow up pillows that are more backpacking style but have a soft padded top, I will let you know how I feel about them.

[@woolengrappler]

Nice set up! My wife and I are looking to get a vehicle in the next few years and plan to spend a couple months each year on the road with our son and hopefully future kids. I’m debating going with a lightweight minimal set up like yours using lightweight backpacking style gear and a ground tent, then staying at a hotel or Airbnb once and a while to take showers, do laundry and explore an area longer term, or towing an off road camper trailer and boon-docking. I’m really drawn to minimal set ups, but I worry that long term comfort may affect long term travel.

[@BackroadExploration]

Thanks! I totally understand that dilemma. I think if it was just Lauren and I would get a rtt, fridge and shower setup. That would allow us to do very long term travel. We may have another kid at that point I think I’ll need a full-size truck or off-road trailer.

[@woolengrappler]

@@BackroadExploration yeah I think a hard shell pop up roof top tent with some nice bedding inside would be a very comfortable set up for 2 people.

[@kyleloper6921]

I've found that backpacking gear is great for minimizing space consumption, although it does come at a hefty premium which may be harder to do with a family setup.

[@BackroadExploration]

100% a couple of our bags and sleeping pads are backpacking gear. There are a few bags similar to the large one that I have that are more compact that I’d like to upgrade to at some point. But like you mentioned it comes with a price. We just picked up some backpacking pillows (since this video) that I’ve liked and I’m hopeful they will make good space savings for a few of our other larger ones.

[@JimmyDevere]

First off thanks for the video. With a large family and wrangler I have got some nice sleeping bags at a good price from Paria so check them out. Also, I am debating getting a roof rack system vs the Yakima cargo bin (and possibly a side basket) with their new support structure for the hard top. Not sure I would like having to strap individual boxes on the roof vs just chucking them in the cargo box. Any thoughts on that or are you pretty satisfied with strapping to the roof rack, in terms of convenience, security etc.?@@BackroadExploration

[@JimmyDevere]

P.S. thanks for the tips on the roof net and clothes storage system.

[@coach_paul_t]

Question: knowing what you know now… would you stick with the wrangler or would you go with a gladiator? Family of four that likes to get out there and currently have a frontier with a camper shell that hauls a lot but tempted to go wrangler vs another pickup.

[@BackroadExploration]

If you plan to hit really difficult trails the Wrangler is the way to go. Otherwise I don’t think you will ever regret the space a truck offers.

[@CovertOutdoors]

Thank you for the video. Thinking about the weight. What springs and bump stops are you running. With my full load out and family we are riding on the bump stops all the time. I am thinking I need to work toward a heavier spring that would be better for the load out. (Running 3.5 inch metalcloak springs) So curious what you are running thanks.

[@BackroadExploration]

We are running the AEV 2.5 inch lift. It handles the weight decently. But I am worried that over time as the springs get softer (it is brand new) that we will be on the bump stops a lot. I imagine in a year or two I am going to need to upgrade a stiffer spring. I have heard good things about the OME HD spring. They have one for a 2.5inch lift as well as a 3.5inch lift I believe.

[@ForgottenWaypoints]

I just installed my roof rack and am looking forward to packing "smarter". Problem is, is that I freeze, so I can't get away with the compact sleeping bags, even in the summer. It's no joke that the sleeping gear takes up the bulk of the space.

[@BackroadExploration]

I am looking forward to seeing how you like your new bag. So far the weather is still too cold for the liner/puffy blanket combo. Tried again last weekend and made it through the night but did not sleep great.

[@ForgottenWaypoints]

@@BackroadExploration, I'm hoping to test it out sometime the first part of May. Sad part is, if it works out well, I'll have to buy more. And that means even more room lost!

[@kamikazekunze]

This may be a noob question…..what brand of fenders are those? Our Gladiator gets gravel and crap stuck between the stock fenders and the body. 😡 thanks for the vid, very informative. Sub’d

[@BackroadExploration]

Im running the Bushwhacker fenders. I have had mud try to build up there but it’s usually not bad. I’ve read some guys have had issues with theirs cracking when hitting rocks. But I’ve never pinned mine hard against a rock. So far for me they have been great.

[@kamikazekunze]

@@BackroadExploration Nice, thanks a bunch!

[@nzoliver]

Hi, Looks good!! I'd want some long range radio gear (HAM is the ideal)- even CB with a good high gain antenna would be advantageous. Just my 10c! PS, what do you do for extra fuel?

[@BackroadExploration]

I forgot to mention we also have a HAM. I’m fairly new to it but used it a ton on my White Rim trail trip this summer as everyone else on the trip had HAMs as well. I have rotopax for fuel but honestly rarely use them. Even in the most remote places in Utah it’s hard to travel more than 200 miles without running into a town. With 300 miles of range in the Jeep it’s sufficient for 90% of my adventures.

[@nzoliver]

@@BackroadExploration Excellent! An antenna up on that rack for 2m or 70cm (or HF if you can!) would be just the trick! I'd love Rotopax but the JK doesn't have the rain gutters all the way to the back so... ANyway, thank you! Oliver. ZL3OOC

[@djg093]

Three carseats in the back or are yours old enough to only need 1 or 2? I didn't catch that part. Thinking about a Gladiator but I don't know if our family will expand at some point...

[@BackroadExploration]

Booster, one car seat and one not in one at the time. I’d love a gladiator but we had our 4th so we had to move to a three row vehicle.

[@LeadHander]

Well done! Now I just need to convince my family to sleep in a tent.

[@BackroadExploration]

Thanks! Getting the family to sleep in a tent can be a bit of an adventure. We started small quick overnight trip somewhere close to home and then worked up to multiple night trips.

[@LeadHander]

@@BackroadExploration We’ve slept in a tent before and had a few unpleasant experiences. Now we have a hard sided camper so it’s tough to get my wife to go back.

[@BackroadExploration]

Totally understand! A night in the rain or wind in a tent can really be a pain. I’m a big advocate of doing what works for your family to get them out.

[@Wrongwayadventures]

What springs and shocks are you running in the rear? I need to beef mine up I noticed I have a sag in the rear end when I load my 2009 jk. Shot me your email I have a diy project you might be interested in.

[@BackroadExploration]

I’m running the 2.5 inch lift from AEV. I like it but think a stiffer rear spring would be even better. [e-mail]

[@ep6026]

What size tires are you running?

[@BackroadExploration]

35s

[@czechnolike]

Do you ever wish you just got a 4x4 pickup with a topper instead?

[@BackroadExploration]

Short answer yes. Before I bought the Jeep I looked at several other vehicles. I looked very hard at the Tacoma. I liked it a lot but was not happy with the rear seat. A rear facing carseat just does not really work. You can make it work but not comfortably. At the time the Gladiator did not exist and I wasn’t super impressed with the American branded midsize trucks. Also to outfit a truck with rock sliders, front and rear bumpers and a moderate lift is very expensive. Jeeps were designed to be easy to modify and the aftermarket support makes it pretty inexpensive. Full-size is also an option. I actually own 2 full-size trucks and have highly considered making one my off-road rig. It would work well for 90% of my adventures. However there are a few where it would just be too big. So far I haven’t been willing to sacrifice that aspect but imagine in time I will as my family grows. No doubt a truck bed with a topper offers by far the most storage space possible and it’s something I think about a lot. The only time I dislike the Jeep is when packing.

[@czechnolike]

@@BackroadExploration yep, thats my quandary too. You should do a video on that decision. I think I'm going to rent both next year and decide. Hope the used car market settled down

[@JimmyDevere]

I have built up Tundra and topper and a Wrangler. The truck is more practical but I pick the Jeep every time any way just because it's so much fun. The kids love it too. After transitioning to the Wrangler I just prefer the steering and nimbleness of the Jeep off road over a truck although before we got the Wrangler we went every where we wanted to with the truck. @@BackroadExploration

[@joshuahedger80]

What is the process of taking off your freedom top with that roof rack? Same question with the whole top?

[@BackroadExploration]

Freedom panels work the same. You simply take them off and slide them out the side. Pretty easy. To take the full hard top off you do have to take the rack off. Which is a few bolts. Then you take the top off and slide it back until out from under the Jeep. It’s not a quick easy option but very doable.