BASIC Wagon Set Up for Adventure (CAMPING GEAR WALKTHROUGH)

Simple wagon camping setup - No drawers - Kids seats installed
Just got back from a camping trip.
Here's how the mummy-mobile Prado gets packed and converts to a formidable 4WD/touring vehicle.
Filmed on a lunch break!
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MENTIONED or SHOWN IN VIDEO
Toyota Landcruiser Prado 90 Series 2002 TX 1KZ-TE Automatic
Ask me in the comments about specifics on any of the gear!
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#OTWD

[@aaronpank]

Thats how I started out with my LR Disco 2. The Prado and Discovery 2s are very very similar size and layout. Because I daily drive mine, and do have tools, and various stuff i throw in and out of it, I did end up designing and building my own fit out in the back. which is modular with a top part that comes out when I don't need it, boxes that go in the fridge space when I don't have the fridge in. We did 4 weeks living out of the car in 2019 doing the red centre, and figured we needed some organisation to not send ourselves mad trying to find stuff. I am envious of your collection of canvas bags haha. I need more to help organise the back, but I haven't been away in quite a while so have forgotten what I need them to organise. The Boab roof nets are awesome. I actually use mine as a half cargo barrier/net above my fit out in the back up to the roof. Keep up the good work

[@OTWD]

Hi Aaron, apologies for the delay mate. Thanks heaps for watching and taking the time to share. Love the LR Disco 2 - sounds like you've made it into your own. I reckon you're right the boot space would be about the same as the Prado. Glad we got the roof net too, its handy to throw stuff. Be careful buying canvas bags....once you start it's hard to stop .....use responsibly😅

[@rossholmes178]

Hey Dan...thanks for your work on this vid mate - much appreciated. Totally agree with your thoughts on weight distribution - every kilo DOES count! The basis of your packing (I call it "modular") is just what I have used for backpacking / climbing / hunting for decades - a bag for everything instead of one big mess. You know what you're looking for, you know where it is and then it's easy to find. Cheers mate...

[@Philipk65]

Yes, very good idea to have your weight down low between the wheels. That way it doesn't upset your centre of gravity.

[@Mr.XRED1976]

The only way to get away from it all and leave real normal life behind is to camp like Dan. Well done mate you got a grate setup and you are like me keep it simple and keep the traditional way of camping. Most people have lost the way of what camping is all about these days, they bring the house with them lol the whole point of going camping is to get away from normal life. Keep up the grate work Dan all the best to your lovely family.

[@OTWD]

Thanks heaps. Such kind words. Agree with every one.🍻😬

[@lucamancini3147]

Nice to see you sharing great ideas for your situation, everyday family car and the tricked out camping vehicle, storage solution. Keeping it simple is my mantra.

[@TheLukaszpg]

It is real camping to me too mate. I could spend a lot to have all the drawers, RTTs and crap that YT wants you to have but guess what? There is a beauty in simplicity. Plastic boxes, canvas bags and a swag. 14 days on the road without any issues.

[@OTWD]

Sounds like you are living the life there! Totally agree. What an awesome comment.

[@OTWD]

Sounds like you are living the life there! Totally agree. What an awesome comment.

[@owen4491]

Impressive list of gear and amazing how it all goes in. Myself I have gone for plastic containers mostly, instead of bags. It took a lot of thinking and trial/error to get all the right size containers to ensure there was as little unused space as possible. Compared to a drawer system much lighter and more usable space

[@OTWD]

Do you have an assortment of repurposed tubs in your garage that didn't quite fit in the vehicle?😬 After trips I reckon tubs make it easy to take out select parts, clean gear, sort through stuff, repack, etc. It's so much more modular and easy to manage than drawers. Thanks heaps for watching Owen. Cheers👍

[@owen4491]

@@OTWD haha yes I sure do. You can always find a use for plastic containers fortunately. Thanks for the video!

[@OffTheBeatenPathAus]

Great run down mate. You're one of the most organised campers I know! You also have more canvas bags than anyone else I know but when they work, they just work!

[@OTWD]

Thanks heaps Jason. Is there a trophy for most canvas bags😆?

[@OffTheBeatenPathAus]

@@OTWD there should be!!

[@leanneprice33]

We committed to a custom draw installation in the back of our pickup, with a sliding floor on one side and a cargo divide for the dog on the other. It’s just about the perfect balance for day to day life and adventure, but definitely times when having the whole bed free would have been useful. That said, for how often we try to get out, even on just day adventures, it was the right choice for us. Especially as the kit will transfer to our next pickup, so an investment piece I guess. Wish we had more producers of heavy duty canvas bags in the UK, like you seem to have over there. It is so much easier to organise kit and makes better use of available space than exclusively using boxes. Great vid as always Dan. M, L, R, W & F xx

[@ChrisW-pq5nd]

I’m embarking on this mission right now so great timing. I’ve only got a single 60l fridge but it’s dual zone so I end up only running a single side and other food goes in the off side. The bladders are great. I’ve gone with a couple of 10s but can see a 4 coming up soon. That milk crate bag looks great as well

[@Stephen.Dawson]

You have more bags than a bag shop, I love it 😝. Awesome video, thanks for sharing 🍻

[@James_James01]

Great video Dan, love the basic lighter weight style load out. I do very similar with basic kit, with two young kiddies and mine also being a daily it’s the best way to tick all boxes! A video on the bugout bag would be great too! Well done mate James

[@OTWD]

Once I had all the stuff laying outside the car it didn't seem that light weight anymore!! - but if comparing heavy drawers, rooftop tent, etc - it certainly comes under that. Bare wagon gives the most flexibility - sounds like we are on the same wavelength. Planning a video about the bugout bag, there's a few good videos to spin off this one. Hope you had a good time with the littlies on fathers day. Cheers mate.

[@James_James01]

@@OTWD hahah yes there’s lots there but over time you may simplify that!! Be interesting to put it on the weigh-bridge fully loaded for a trip to see what it adds up to over your stock 2t when you purchased it! My GU wagon ultimately is a compromise, and having 95% of it removable is the only way with two young ones! I also use net above kids heads for jackets and pillows, and another one above cargo area for sleeping gear - it leaves my cases accessible when loaded. As a side note it keeps the weight down compared to so many Glampers these days! Keep up the great work Dan 😊

[@davidlovell4390]

Man , that’s not a Prado it’s a Tardis ! Another very enjoyable and education production. Thanks for sharing and for all your hard work. I thought I took a lot of kit , but you win 😂😂

[@OTWD]

Now now...it's not a competition ....💪..... That is a Doctor Who reference isn't it?! Classic.. However ..it doesn't feel like it gets bigger when on the inside though😆 I've been following your travels on FB. Hope you are doing well. I will message you one of these days. Cheers Dave!

[@davidlovell4390]

Yes Dr Who !! Must catch up 😊

[@OTWD]

Don’t get me wrong, I love a well thought out custom vehicle setup- the convenience is real. But you really are committing the vehicle to a specific purpose. Instead we want a do-all family wagon, this is how we do it to keep overall versatility to a maximum. A day to day family wagon converts to a highly capable off-road exploration vehicle - with maximum flexibility with its cargo space.

[@michaeldallimore8590]

Wow I thought I took a lot of stuff camping. You should try packing a Jimny! You certainly have a lot of bags but its the best way to organise your stuff. The MaxTrax bag is a good idea it sort of hides them if they are orange. I have mine padlocked to the roof using a set of holders but otherwise the bag is a good idea. Think I might get one of those firewood bags for the caravan trips then I can throw it in the back of the car which is otherwise empty. Thanks for the video. Looking forward to the No. 2s video but you can leave out the action shots.

[@Luke_Ainsworth]

I've been waiting for this video! Thanks heaps mate :) Great vid as always!

[@OTWD]

Glad it was useful - you're welcome! Cheers Luke, appreciate the encouragement.

[@southerngentleman5321]

Great stuff Dan. Love the low COG, can imagine the mental tipping vs sliding calculations in the head as you go.. (Drifta car seat organisers, only ones thus far standing up to my 7yr old, which is a big endorsement! )

[@OTWD]

Thanks heaps Sir! The low and central COG is so important. Everything we bolt on or add to a vehicle needs to have a clear return on investment.. The drifta seat organiser has zips right? I've heard good reviews from others too. Give it time though, 7-years olds have a way of breaking things don't they 😬 Hope you had an enjoyable Fathers day. Cheers

[@southerngentleman5321]

@@OTWD yes zips! so yeah can see why may not want.. but its tonka tough

[@HLsab]

No Chainsaw ? An essential item in the Vic High Country .

[@MattWeddis]

Lots of great tips there Dan. Thanks mate.

[@OTWD]

G'Day Matt, most welcome! Cheers

[@243WW]

Mate can't agree with you more! Always changing the perfect setup!🤣 LOVE the Blacksmith bags. I also run Expedition 134 tubs. Works well and the car isn't fixed with draws. Just got the Blacksmith Utility Roll, not tool roll. Don't like the spanners on the back...

[@OTWD]

Thanks for watching! Like minds I think...I usually make mental lists the night I get back from trips. What worked? What didn't work? What do I need to change for next time? It's an iterative process, and sometimes I think something is working and then I change my mind.. I've been meaning to try the Expedition 134 tubs, thanks for the tip. The Blacksmith utility roll is the slightly smaller one isn't it?

[@243WW]

@@OTWD Yea the smaller one with no spanner pockets. Just ordered it today!! I only pack the basics for tools and spares, any major repairs mean I'm walking anyway... 134 are fantastic. I use the Blacksmith pipsqueak for my thunder bag. I change the kitchen setup almost after every trip, not drastic, but what I didn't use comes out... more crap goes in. I have it in a 134 box.

[@PapadumGeek]

Love it. Im in the same bought. Love the break down. Is the car lifted?

[@OTWD]

Thanks for watching mate! Glad the concepts resonate. The Prado has a 2" lift from a Pedders suspension kit.

[@oldbloke204]

You manage to cram in a lot of gear. I roll my rear seats forward and have the cargo barrier where you do which gives me a bit of extra space. If there weren't legalities around removing rear seats and I had somewhere to store them I would likely take them out. I don't really have any soft storage but I use Wolf Pack boxes which can also double as a table or steps if needed. Do you have any issues with air circulation around the battery and fridge on hot days? Kids got me a fire pit for my birthday so that's another item ticked off the list and our next trip is only a few weeks away.

[@OTWD]

Hey Old Bloke! Yep, lots of stuff. Its hard to strike the balance of being prepared and not overloading the vehicle. When my wife and I did a big trip in 2017 we took out the rear row of seats (middle row) in our old prado, and that gave us a stack more room. Although, I think we brought too much stuff! I've heard good things about those Wolf Pack boxes - might look into them to carry my spares. I do like that setup too, boxes neatly stacked....good and relatively cheap way to go about it. Another cool setup I like which strikes a good balance in weght-convenience is a 1-high drawer, and drawer fridge next to each other- that gives a good space for boxes and bags above (flat false floor at a low-ish height to still work with), and is quite neat. No issues with air circulation. The vents on the power station are on the short sides, so they usually breathe fine. I am more aware of the fridge on hot days and just monitor when I can. When driving a lot it's air conditioned back there. If I'm at camp I'll atleast try to stay in the shade - probably doing that anyway! Good luck with fire pit and hope you were made to feel special today for Fathers day. Cheers.

[@oldbloke204]

@@OTWD Cheers mate and hope that you had a great day as well. Thanks for the video.

[@Caml80]

Hi Dan. how do you find the water bladders in regards to storage when not in use, do you have any issues with them not drying out and becoming mouldy? do you store them with the lids off etc, do they give the water a plastic taste etc. I am looking at getting some and was just worried about these things! great video!

[@OTWD]

Hi Cam, Thanks heaps for watching mate. Water in the bladders initially tasted slightly plastic-like but it became negligible after about 5 cycles of filling up and emptying on trips. I barely noticed it, my wife pointed it out. The instructions I recall said not to mess around with chemicals - I was reluctant to use vinegar/bicarb/cordial/ other hacks up front incase it reduced the life of them or some other side effect. For storage, within a few days of getting home (usually not urgently) I empty them, sit them upside down and let them dry out. On occasion I have forgotten to empty after a trip and had part filled ones sit a while. Still no problems with mould at all. They are a great bit of kit and clearly a lot of R+D has gone into them. There's two versions I recall - the Watercell X is the more durable one better suited to vehicle travel. Cheers mate.

[@PapadumGeek]

Did you have a drawer system or do you feel like it takes too much space?

[@OTWD]

I had previously used a large system (DIY made it myself). It was two deep drawers on one side, 65L fridge on the other. We could fit camp chairs above it but that's about it. It was way too heavy. If you like the convenience of drawers, then my suggestion would be have a single drawer one side, with a drawer-style fridge on the other side (height of the drawer dictated by the fridge). That way the top will create a false floor that is flat and still at a good height (and leaves plenty of space for more bags/tubs above.