Off-Road With Our Vega XT Off-Road Camper

Our experiences with the Cedar Ridge Vega XT on our epic trip from Maine to the West Coast. From Moab Utah to Death Valley and beyond.
Cedar Ridge Campers -
cedarridgecamp...

[@diegoforest]

Guess what? You're a really great KZbin content creator. I knew when you said in your first video it was going to be one and done that you were going to do more. Looking forward to more. Wow, $4000 in gas. I am planning a trip like yours in a jK and trailer and this was really informative with no bs and fluff. You and your wife make a great team for vids.

[@mainebumpkin1795]

Thank you Diego! My wife and I are pulling up our roots and relocating to Southwest Utah next week. We will be spending much more time exploring soon :) Good luck on your trip with JK!

[@billleland957]

Wow, what a trip. And all the off-roading too. A few years ago my son & I were camping. Had the windows closed because of the temperature drop. We both woke up gasping for air. Short story I'm totally convinced that we were short of oxygen. I agree that road trips are great, but after a while you do want to get back home.

[@KuyaJones]

Thanks for the review, I am currently considering this platform.

[@mainebumpkin1795]

Glad I could help

[@jesusalbertobf]

Saw the entire video, amazing places you've been

[@ShawnBox]

Fun seeing a Mainer channel. Just went from a family Highlander to a couples Bronco Sport Badlands. After living in Western and Eastern Maine in the 80s and 90s, frustrating finding Southern Maine sOFFt-Roader locations...

[@mainebumpkin1795]

@@ShawnBox It’s a whole new world out here in Utah.

[@Cz2676]

You do a really great job with your videos. Let’s not stop making them, what do ya say?

[@mainebumpkin1795]

Thank you, I'll do my best to add additional content people may find interesting. Thinking of the following 2 topics for upcoming content: -Summary of our epic trip West (not focused on camper). -Planning an epic trip West, lessons learned, etc. I'm open to suggestions!

[@livinginutah]

Enjoyed the video. Some breathtaking shots.

[@mainebumpkin1795]

Thanks Mike and thank you for the tips about the Utah market. We should be headed that way soon!

[@DinoEvangelista]

These videos have been extremely helpful. We did Moab last month and only tent camped, but we had some serious challenges with the wind. We are considering a tear drop or roof top and these videos have help with our considerations. Keep the videos coming! I just subscribed hoping for more.

[@mainebumpkin1795]

Glad it was helpful Dino! We never tested a rooftop tent but I’ve seen some rocking in the wind ;) We also saw a guy fall off his truck while setting up his RTT when we were in Utah. He was ok but he did admit it wasn’t the first time. I’m a bit to old and hefty to partake in that sport. We have been slacking on the adventures and content because our trip inspired us to make a major life change. Our house in Maine just went under contract and we are moving to Southwest Utah! By this fall we should be enjoying and sharing many more adventures.

[@DinoEvangelista]

@@mainebumpkin1795 Oh wow! Congratulations! That’s fantastic! This last trip to UT wasn’t out last. Bought my Power Wagon for these types of adventures, but my wife made it clear that our home base stays in Tennessee! 😬 Looking forward to seeing more stuff from you guys. Best of luck to you both!

[@gregdaniels7479]

Like everyone else here I'n enjoying living vicariously through your westbound travels. Great job on the comments pertaining to just about all the aspects of your trip. They really help! Like @Russell Johnson, we hope to pick ours up in the last part of July/August timeframe and will use the fall to get accustomed to the set-up having transitioned out of a pop-up camper. Then off to planning some trips out west ourselves. Cheers.

[@mainebumpkin1795]

Glad you enjoyed the content! I was going to do a whole series on planning long-haul trips like we took but I just haven’t found the time. Good luck with your adventures!

[@plantingseedsproductions4195]

Enjoyed your video. Sounds like you guys had a great time.

[@ashtonellis]

Amazing

[@shannonswyatt]

Sounds like a cool vacation, but also a little bit like the Bataan death march! 🙂

[@dalekarraker6851]

Hey Henry, your videos are great and very helpful. FYI I'm taking delivery of a Cedar Ridge at the end of September and I've been gathering the various pieces of gear that I'll need. I LOVE the storage tray you put on your trailer - do you mind sharing what brand your tray is, and how you attached it to your toof rack? THANKS in advance and I hope to see you on the road!! ~dale

[@mainebumpkin1795]

Hello Dale, thank you and congratulations! The rack on top is a Curt Roof Basket from eTrailer. It’s a good value (compared to other brands) but the rack is getting pretty rusty after only 6 months. I use the u-bolt brackets it came with but the design isn’t great so I always ratchet strap anything up there around the camper’s rack. Enjoy your new camper!

[@dalekarraker6851]

Thanks Henry! Great info, and I agree about the double security when putting stuff up there: belt and suspenders!! I read farther down that you're headed back to Utah.. that's a big move but I know you'll love it. I'm from Southern Colorado myself, currently living in Texas, but I'll be fixing that soon enough. I think you and will the First CR trailers that far west! Hope to see you on the road.

[@dalekarraker6851]

Hey Henry, I hope you are settling into your new home out west. I picked my Cedar Ridge AT yesterday in Kentucky and drove almost 700 miles back to Texas today. I remembered your issue with headwinds going across Nebraska...... I have a Gladiator Willys with the 3.6 and 8 spd auto and 3.73 running 33" BFG AT and managed about 15 mpg maintaining 68-72 mph. Of course my AT is lighter than your XT and I wasn't loaded heavy. The only time I regretted not having the 4.10 was uphill accelerating to merge on the interstate but other than that it pulled pretty easy. Home to meet you on the road one day... ~dale

[@markmeasner6272]

Hi I have the same bought doors and the screws that hold the window in the door frame leak so it might not be your mattress pushing on the door I found that weep holes work fine at the bottom of the window when you're parked but when you're driving in a heavy rain it backs up and comes through the screws

[@mainebumpkin1795]

Thanks Mark, I’m going to dig a bit deeper but I think you are right, heavy rain overwhelms the weep holes. I guess we will have to follow the sun from now on!

[@wattylanglois6101]

Shit are you not pissed off? A trailer at this price and it leaks when drivin in the rain! Enough for me to back off buying this brand.

[@alfredorodriguez9818]

Very good video the Rubicon manual its not the best option for tow the sport auto with 3.50 axels tow so much smoth

[@mainebumpkin1795]

I found two typos post production (slap to forehead). It’s Thompson Springs (I said it correctly) and it’s re-gear, not re-grear. No time to update it tonight.

[@newkey1106]

How,would it do for me 380lbs knee replacement retirement is soon not buying a travel trailer untill thay are better built , trip videos looks nice.thk for your time an letting us see your trip.

[@mainebumpkin1795]

I've never had an issue where it bothers my bad knee but getting in and out of the camper can prove to be interesting at times. I consider it inspiration to get in better shape but so far.. it hasn't inspired me enough.

[@davidcarrico3385]

Great video, thank you for publishing. How much extra fuel did you carry, and was it all on the trailer’s roof rack?

[@mainebumpkin1795]

Thanks, we had 3 five gallon cans on the roof rack but only one was full. Since we didn’t go into the Maze District we never needed it. I emptied the one can into the Jeep while we were in Death Valley since their gas was so expensive.

[@LetsG0Champ]

light grey color or dark? Lastly, any issues with the construction of the teardrop? Im buying one of these in a few months

[@mainebumpkin1795]

@@LetsG0Champ We prefer the light grey but not for any particular reason besides the looks. No issues with the construction but the new design is much different than ours because it’s a fiberglass / composite body now.

[@LetsG0Champ]

@mainebumpkin1795 ahh, I see. I didn't realize they started out differently. That's one of the big reasons I want one.

[@Jenny70789]

I’d consider the gas issue & grade down to lighter weighted stuff & not as much if you can? If you can afford to reconfigure your camper, do so, from wood or anything else heavy to alloy aluminum shelves/cabinets or plastic bins or drawer-like containers like you’d find at the home organization section in Walmart, just to have your camper a bit lighter weight for better gas mileage & probably pace your vehicle on the paved roads & use your cruise control when you can! Have a rota pack or 2 of extra gas when you get way out off road just to save a little $$ on gas, cause out west, it gets almost crazy expensive!!

[@russell1833]

Hey bud, I’d love to chat with you about your rig. I pick mine up from Cedar Ridge in late June and would love to pick your brain a little. Let me know how to get ahold of you. Thanks

[@mainebumpkin1795]

Congrats Russell, I'm sure you are excited! Feel free to drop me a line using [e-mail]

[@PeDaSiToTS]

Hey Russel, I put an order in. Would like to hear your new owner thoughts. Are you available for a chat?