Car Camping Setup for Landscape Photographers | 4Runner

[@DarrenJSpoonley]

Great setup ! There really is nothing that can beat having the flexibility for landscape photography

[@JeffreyTadlockPhotography]

Thanks Darren! Flexibility is really the key thing - no matter which route someone goes!

[@TC_Conner]

You’ve got a mighty fine car camping set up Jeff! 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@JeffreyTadlockPhotography]

It works out pretty well!

[@BoiseG]

I have a similar roof rack setup as you. I have the same Sherpa rack, but I went budget elsewhere. For my awning, I have an OVS 180, and I have an Apache rifle case from Harbor Freight. I go through the carwash with all mounted on the roof with no problems, but be certain that your carwash can disable the top rollers.

[@JeffreyTadlockPhotography]

I love the Sherpa Rack! I was looking for a no-drill option when I picked mine out. I think if I did it over again, I would have done a 180 awning. They seem easier to deploy than the one I have. Putting the one I have up and away with one person is tricky, though I've watched a few videos to help make it a little easier. Still, much easier with two people! I considered the Apache cases when I was looking for cases. I've heard good things about them, certainly a good option - and a great deal if you catch them on sale. Thanks for watching!

[@ShandaAkin]

Looks great!

[@JeffreyTadlockPhotography]

Thank you! I love my 4Runner and the setup has come a long way - quite comfy and convenient these days! And way better than that Ford Edge I made my home in in Death Valley! :D

[@bukcity9790]

Thanks for the setup video! Gave me some ideas for things I’d like to add to mine.

[@JeffreyTadlockPhotography]

Glad it was helpful! I must say, the last trip out was pretty comfortable - felt like I had everything I needed and was quite comfortable!

[@maureenmarshall1070]

Really interesting. I used to love camping. Just wish I was a lot younger and braver.

[@JeffreyTadlockPhotography]

My camping setup in my younger days was *way* more simple! It is almost embarrassing how much stuff I have with me now! Starting to sleep in the car was a big difference, pretty predictable environment there which helps a lot. And that Exped MegaMat as a sleeping pad is very comfortable. It is too big to hike with, but great for car camping - either in the car or in a tent at a car camping site.

[@jaredboazphoto]

Awesome video, Jeff! I’ve been thinking about doing a video on my truck camping setup and you definitely gave me some inspiration here. Looks like a pretty comfortable setup, you just need one of the magnetic widdle wadders to compliment your big ladder lol. Awesome work dude.

[@JeffreyTadlockPhotography]

Thanks Jared! There always seems to be lots of questions on setups and always a lot to learn from other folks to see how they do things! The setup works out pretty well! Ha! I have a magnetic ladder in the glove box! I should have put it on for this video!

[@russellyeley2561]

Nice video. Have thought about car camping for Photography, but never tried it. My Subaru forester might be a little short for sleeping.

[@JeffreyTadlockPhotography]

Thanks! Yeah - some vehicles are easier than others to sleep in. The 4Runner for me is more comfy with that one seat bottom removed, though even with it in, I can sort of fit in there. If the vehicle is a little short, a good tent can go a long way as well!

[@kenharnish5778]

I glad you made this video., great information. So the roof holds your weight? I’ve been thinking about a roof set setup for my car but I weigh more than you do. How do stay warm in fall and winter temperatures?

[@JeffreyTadlockPhotography]

Glad it was helpful! All my weight goes on the roof back, which puts the weight on the more structural part of the car roof. If I stand on just one of the cross rails of the roof rack, they are just a little flexy - I think they are only rated to 150lbs. But with the adapt plate I have up there at the rear cornder, my thought is that distributes the weight across two rails, helping me feel more safe up there. So anytime I go up their to stand, I always go from the ladder to the adapt plate - the setup seems pretty solid so far.

[@JeffreyTadlockPhotography]

Ooops - Almost forgot the temperature question. For fall and winter the window shades help keep things a little warmer by adding some insulating properties to the windows. And then I switch to a sleeping bag for colder weather, and still bring the sleeping quilt with me for extra warmth. It never gets too bad in there - though the coldest temps I've been in there were probably in the mid to upper 20's?

[@fseb233]

Awesome vid! -- Been building my own setup similar to yours and even got the bison gear molle -- question I had was -- can you still fit the weathertech black out window panels under that back window with the bison molle ... I see there is a small hole to fit your hand and maybe you can slide the weathertechs thru that to block out those back windows but wanted to ask you since you already have both.

[@JeffreyTadlockPhotography]

Thanks - glad you liked it! I love the bison gear molle panels and shelf. So much better than the soft attic I had before! You can slide the weathertech panel in behind the panel. I find it easiest to just slide it in from the very back, then just push it into place through the small opening in the center of the molle panel. Hope that helps!

[@fseb233]

@@JeffreyTadlockPhotography thanks that does help - just wanted to make sure it was doable before I bought the weather techs - do you ever find that you hit your head on that roof shelf ...I was afraid if I slept in the back like you...I would constantly be hitting or bumping my head on that either sleeping or getting in and out of the back.

[@JeffreyTadlockPhotography]

@@fseb233 I do occasionally bump my head, but not too often - really I bump it most often getting stuff in and out of the back! LOL I tend to sleep with my head towards the front of the vehicle and then get in and out from the passenger side rear door - so for the most part, my head is away from the shelf. The shelf could be moved up a notch as well. I kept it a touch lower because I keep a sleeping bag up there and actually a small 2-person tent (really only room for 1 person though) up on the shelf, and they fit better with the shelf in the lower position I have it in.

[@judyshorrock7368]

I also have the Sherpa roof rack and wondering how you mounted Pelican cases to it. Also, did you say you put 2 adapt plates together for your platform? If so, were you still able to use the bolts that came with it from Sherpa Thanks.

[@JeffreyTadlockPhotography]

For the Pelican Case install, I drilled through the cases (4 holes per case, 2 to the front, 2 to the back). I used Sherpa bolts and nuts and also used a 1.5" fender washer and rubber washer (this was more for preventing water from getting in). It has worked out really well, the cases stay dry even in long drives in the rain and everything has stayed tight. I did use 2 of the Mini (12") adapt plates, but they aren't stacked, they are next to each other. So the platform for me to stand on is 12" from front to back and 24" wide. Just enough to get my feet on them, without feeling like I'm "balancing" up there. SInce I didn't stack them, I was still able to use the Sherpa bolts to attach the plates as well. Happy to answer any questions!

[@judyshorrock7368]

Thank you for clarifying. Super helpful!

[@datousean]

how do we mount these storage if I only have two cross bars? Thanks.

[@JeffreyTadlockPhotography]

You could mount one of the cases with only 2 cross-bars. Mine are only attached at 2 cross bars, though the extra bars can support the weight - but I don't have anything super heavy up there. The challenge is, if it is an OEM roof rack is that the OEM bars have a slight curve to them which could make mounting a flat case to them more difficult. In that case, I think there are two options. You could see if a Thule or Yakima roof top box would work - they usually have special mounting hardware, which would work with the curved bar. Or - you could look at a company like LFD Offroad who makes flat crossbars that fit on the OEM roof rails. With them, you remove the OEM cross bars and replace with the LFD flat crossbars. Hope that helps!