Cowboy Denny

Not going with Hest mattress for a few reasons.. Hest is probably the most expensive mattress on the internet The more affordable Hest Foamy breaks down from several reviews Hest Foamy mattress does not hold up well to larger people (+200lbs) The Hest mattresses take up the most room of any mattress rolled up So what options am I looking at that... not going to kill me on price lasts me awhile can comfortably hold a large tall guy stores in a decent amount of room Many many reviews point to Therma-Rest as a potential solution. Only hesitation is out of over 800 reviews.. 9% of them state these have leaks from the day they got the mattress and trying to get the manufacture to make it right isn't possible. Still leaning on this due to all the positive reviews.

Today ordered by Rigid Ultraswing which includes Ultratable. Need to order a Rear Camera Relocation Kit and Rigid doesn't have any for the 4Runner so looking at possibly doing the C4 Fab kit

So its been a bit since my last update. Some stuff I don't care for and others I love so let me update you since I've been across country and to several offroad events. First major change was adding the Dobinson Suspension Kit. Honestly I feel this was the best purchase I made. The ride is incredible and I love the stance and my 4Runner performs awesome on or off pavement. Without a doubt I would go back to Dobinson for this exact same kit. Cooper Tires would I buy them again? Not sure. They haven't been as bad as the Goodyear Tires I had that started cupping for no good reason which Goodyear did not stand behind on there warranty so they are dead to me. I love BF Goodrich KO2's but they aren't the same with newer models. I don't have an answer but I feel as though I would not go back to Cooper Tires but can not give an exact reason why. I think its they are not naturally balanced like other tires I've had so there is a vibration when driving my 4Runner at or above 80mph. Next was the CaliRaised Roof Rack which includes the lightbar across the front and cube lights on either side. Quality of Cali Raised roof rack seems to be there so nothing against Cali Raised. I originally purchased the roof rack to accomplish two goals which is 1. give me a light bar for that night driving and 2. plan was to add a roof top tent. Well plans change. The lightbar is so dang bright that if I'm offroading with anyone, I can not turn it on. Its just too bright and same goes for the cube lights on the side. Figured I'd use them when camping but its too bright. Easier to just carry a portable light. Also downfall of having all these lights on your roof is you have this wire that runs up the edge of your windshield from engine compartment to the roof rack. Doesn't look horrible but not exactly sexy either. If I did this again I would not get a roof rack. I just don't use it. Front Bumper with winch, lightbar and AuxBeam. Absolutely would do this again. Its awesome and love the look of my 4Runner with the bumper upgrade. I have used the winch to test but never needed it since I do have a 4Runner. I run the amber Driving Light on the bumper all the time since it just makes my 4Runner look more bad ass. AuxBeam its super easy to turn any of my lights on and off with a push of a button. So what about the MorrFlate 4 tire air compressor. I have used this alot and very happy with it. When I need it, the thing just works. I have nothing negative to say about it since it just works as you want it to and yes I would recommend. Element Fire Extinquisher I would get again and again and again. They take up less space than a traditional Fire Extinguisher and they work a ton better. They don't expire as quick as a traditional and so you are more likely to have a working method of putting out fires with you by just carrying an Element with you. Easy to carry. BuiltRight HitchHolder seemed like a good idea. Its heavy duty but nothing keeps the hitch from rattling or working itself loose. I would not purchase this again and honestly I took it out and put it on my shelf to collect dust until my next Garage Sale.

Ground tents are often overlooked in the overlanding world, where rooftop systems get most of the attention. But for many adventurers, a well-designed ground tent is not just a viable option—it’s the perfect one. Below is a complete article-style breakdown (with visuals and product comparisons) explaining why. Ground tents are often overlooked in the overlanding world, where rooftop systems get most of the attention. But for many adventurers, a well-designed ground tent is not just a viable option—it’s the perfect one. Below is a complete article-style breakdown (with visuals and product comparisons) explaining why. Overlanding is about freedom, mobility, and self-reliance. While rooftop tents (RTTs) have become popular, ground tents remain a foundational choice—and for good reason. 1. Freedom From Your VehicleOne of the biggest advantages of ground tents is independence. With a rooftop tent, your sleeping setup is tied to your vehicle. If you want to explore trails, grab supplies, or scout terrain, you must pack everything down first. Ground tents allow you to: Set up a basecamp Leave your gear behind securely Freely explore with your vehicle This flexibility is a major advantage for longer trips or multi-day stays. 2. Cost-Effective Without Sacrificing PerformanceCompared to rooftop tents (often $1,000–$4,000+), ground tents are significantly more affordable while still offering durability and weather resistance. Even high-end overland ground tents typically cost: $300–$1,200 vs. thousands for RTTs That cost difference allows you to invest in: Better sleep systems Cooking gear Recovery equipment 3. No Impact on Vehicle PerformanceRoof tents add weight, wind drag, and raise your center of gravity. Ground tents eliminate those issues entirely. Benefits include: Better fuel economy Safer off-road handling No height clearance issues (garages, trails) 4. More Space and ComfortGround tents often provide: Larger floor space Higher ceilings Room for cots, storage, and even standing For families or longer trips, this added livability is a major advantage. 5. Setup Is No Longer a HassleModern overland ground tents—especially hub-style designs—can be deployed in seconds. For example:  Gazelle T4 Hub Tent uses a pop-up hub system for near-instant setup  Overlandish Basecamp Hub Tent offers quick deployment with rugged materials This eliminates one of the traditional downsides of ground tents. Ground Tent Drawbacks (Honest Perspective)Ground tents aren’t perfect. Key limitations include: Exposure to mud, water, and uneven terrain More interaction with bugs and wildlife Requires finding a suitable campsite surface However, many overlanders mitigate these with: Ground tarps or mats Elevated cots Smart site selection Overlandish vs Gazelle Tents (Head-to-Head Comparison)To understand how ground tents vary, let’s compare two popular overlanding brands: Overlandish (premium rugged builds) and Gazelle (fast-deploy hub tents). Featured ModelsOverlandish Basecamp TentGazelle T4 Overland Hub Tent Product Comparison TableAttribute  Overlandish Basecamp V2 Tent  Gazelle T4 Overland Edition Hub Tent Setup Speed Moderate (traditional or semi-rigid setup) Extremely fast (hub pop-up design) Durability Heavy-duty, expedition-grade materials Durable but lighter-weight Weather Resistance Excellent (built for harsh environments) Very good (3-season capable) Weight & Portability Heavier, bulkier (weighs roughly 62 lbs) Lighter, easier to transport (weighs roughly 34 lbs) Packed Dimensions 15" x 15" x 59" long 8" x 8" x 66.5" to 68" Interior Space Spacious, basecamp-oriented Spacious with vertical walls Best Use Case Long-term camps, rugged expeditions Quick stops, frequent moves Price Range Premium (~$1,000+) Mid-range (~$400–$600) Pros and Cons SummaryOverlandish TentsPros Built for extreme durability Ideal for long-term basecamp setups Premium materials and construction Cons Heavier and less portable Slower setup Higher price point Gazelle TentsPros Lightning-fast setup (hub design) Easy to transport and store Great balance of durability and cost Cons Not as rugged as expedition-grade tents Bulkier when folded compared to backpacking tents Slightly less weather resistance in extreme conditions Final Verdict: Which Should You Choose?Choose Overlandish if your trips involve: Extended stays Harsh environments A dedicated basecamp setup Choose Gazelle if you prioritize: Speed and convenience Frequent movement between camps Simplicity and reliability Bottom LineGround tents remain one of the smartest choices in overlanding because they offer freedom, affordability, and versatility. While rooftop tents look appealing, many experienced overlanders still rely on ground setups for their practicality and adaptability. If your goal is to explore without limits, a high-quality ground tent might not just be the better option—it could be the best one.

So what started off as a "good deal" turned out to be a money pit like everything I purchase. The vehicle is a 2009 Toyota Rav4 with only a 131k miles which is far less than anyone else had for less than $5000 It appeared pretty clean car with some imperfections like minor scratches and some small dents in body but no rust anywhere. Tires are an offbrand with decent tread. Not licensed so only able to drive around subdivision and not get it up to speed which is where it all fell apart. First stop was the dealership to have them do an inspection and opened pandoras box. Quote to fix found issues was over $8000 (most expensive fix is probably the rear differential seals leaking like crazy) Paid a little of $5300 for other stuff and not everything.... Brought it home and ordered a driveshaft from 1aauto which was $1000 cheaper than dealership was charging (not including labor). Installed driveshaft and the manual and every website said torque the front bolts to 26ftlbs which snapped the bolts off.. stopped after two. Could not extract the snapped bolts so had to pay $80 to have it towed to Muffler Man which charged me $600 to fix that and install a muffler. Now the check engine light comes on if car sits for more than a day and so I decided to purchase a OBDII scanner from Autozone (on sale for $128) and found its the O2 sensor even though I paid Toyota to replace it last time (which was stupid because they are so easy to change). In an effort to see if its just stuck in the ECU I took the negative battery cable off for 30minutes and put it back on to see if that fixes the reoccuring O2 P1058 error message. TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitor Sensors).. all 4 are not connected to the ECU (issue existed before I unhooked battery). I verified tire pressure is 44psi on all four tires and yet stupid light is on. Need to figure out where the reset/relearn button is. They say its down by the OBDII port or on the dash or in the glove box.. so far haven't found it yet but thats for another day. I did check into some name brand tires and found a set of 4 balanced and installed for $300 which is a steal but his tires are fine for now.. maybe before winter. We purchased the vehicle with one broken key with a bunch of tape to hold it together. Ordered a new cut key from Toms Key $100 and then realized its a smart key so you need the programmer otherwise the vehicle won't start. So thats another $154 with a $70 deposit... now we wait. What's left to do... program a new primary and spare key fix leaking rear differential clean or replace headlights (very cloudy) replace headunit with carplay compatible (GPS, Spotify, etc)

Focus: Maximum power and efficiency using the TNGA-F global truck platform. Engines: 2.4L turbocharged 4-cylinder (i-Force) or a 2.4L hybrid (i-Force Max). Features: Rear coil spring suspension for improved ride comfort, available 14-inch touchscreen, and new Trailhunter off-road trim. Changes: Increased torque and towing capacity, but early models may have limited availability and potential first-year software issues.

Focus: Modernization, comfort, and advanced off-road technology. Engines: 2.7L 4-cylinder or a 3.5L Atkinson-cycle V6. Tech: Added Android Auto, Apple CarPlay, and improved safety tech (standard on newer models). Updates: 2020 facelift, standardizing more features across trims.

You have limited space to store stuff and when you going offroad you need to make sure everything is secure. Here are some great options to help you get secure and organized.. but you better have some deep pockets or high limit on credit card cause they aren't cheap Air Down Gear Up (ADGU) I love this system and I like it becauses it doesn't use thick wood panels for the drawer system. So not adding a lot of weight but you can clearly see its high quality. When I price it out for my 4Runner its as low as $4000 and easily up to near $8000. Interior Dimensions of drawers: 33" L x 15.25" W x 9" H (this allows for storage of 7.5" tall items in the drawers) Solid Wood Worx A more affordable solution that may work. Looks like quality and less than half the cost of ADGU. DFG Offroad This is even more affordable and appears to be a solid product from reading.

Somehow, everything needs to fit in the back of the 5th Gen 4Runner and leave some room for the dog in the back. SleepingOverlandish Tent - Stowed Dimensions: 59" x 15" x 15" Weight: 70 lbs - purchased but not sure how I'm packing it in the 4Runner with the dog but I'll figure it out — ordered HEST Mattress x2 Bundle (includes fitted sheet, pillow, mattress) storage per is 12”x 30” and 13lbs $1100 Hover Quilt x 2 (his and hers) $700 Jackery — we have Portable Fan — we have Cell Phone chargers — we have BathroomToilet Paper (wet wipes) — Garbage Bags — we have Hand Santizer — Shovel — we have Toothbrush/Toothpaste — we have Body Wipes — Deodorant — we have ClothingSweatshirt — we have T-shirts — we have Pants — we have Shorts — we have Underwear — we have Socks — we have Sleepwear — we have Raincoat — we have EatingFridge - old Norcold Fridge but its big (POSSIBLY use smaller Yeti cooler) Lifesaver Jerrycan $405 -- FUTURE Scepter Military Water Jerry Can 5gal — ordered Jetboil Genesis 2 burner $450 and propone (Meal Ideas) Silverware Cups Food Drinks Paper Towels Dish Wipes (clean dishes without water) Got Pets?? Pet Food, Water Dish, Leash, Toys WASTEGarbage Bags (Tall Kitchen) Doggie Bags for Dog or for Dude Wipes Relaxingchair(s) Thermacell Rechargeable — ordered Recovery Bagcrawler offroad bag (got too much in it for it to close, may need to look for something else) tool bag/roll (I need a way to carry some tools and I really like these rolls) - $1300 Customized, heavy-duty nylon tool bag 7 in. Wire Stripper 5 in. Adjustable Wrench 47 oz Ball Peen Dead Blow Hammer 12-3/4 in. Groove Joint Pliers (2-5/8 in. Jaw) 9-pc. Solid Punch Set (1/16 - 3/8 in.) 6-pc Ph/Sl 4 in Screwdriver Set [HH Chrome] (#0-2, 3/16, 1/8, 1/4) 12 in. Angled Tip Handled Pry Bar 17 in. Angled Tip Handled Pry Bar 7 in. Straight Jaw Locking Pliers 6 in. Long Nose Locking Pliers 7 in. Diagonal Cutting Pliers 9-1/2 in. Lineman's Pliers 8 in. Long Nose Pliers 1/2 in. Drive x 18 in. Breaker Bar 3-pc 3/8 in Drive Extension Set (3, 6, 10 in) 10-pc 3/8 in Drive Hex Bit Socket Set (3-10 mm) Rail 12-pc 3/8 in Drive Torx Bit Socket Set (T10-T60) Rail 3/8 in. Drive x 5/8 in. Spark Plug Socket 12-pc 3/8 in Drive Socket Set (8-19 mm) 6p Rail 19-pc 3/8 in Drive Deep Socket Set (6-24 mm) 6p Rail 1/2 in. Drive x17 mm Deep Impact Socket (6-point) 1/2 in. Drive x 19 mm Deep Impact Socket (6-point) 1/2 in. Drive x 21 mm Deep Impact Socket (6-point) 1/2 in. Drive x 22 mm Deep Impact Socket (6-point) 1/2 in. Drive x 24 mm Deep Impact Socket (6-point) 1/2 in. Drive x 35 mm Deep Impact Socket (6-point) 3/8 in. Drive x 4.5 in. Ratchet 1/2 in. Drive x 10.5 in. Ratchet 3/8 in. Drive x 8 in. Flex Ratchet 19-pc. Combination Wrench Set (6-24 mm) StorageStore each category in a case (zarges, pelican, roam) and will all those boxes fit in the 4runner. Ideally the drawer system would help a ton to include a slide for fridge, slideouts for kitchen counter, etc..

Check out this guy

I'm preparing for my overland trip and wanting to make sure I can stay on the trails for 7 days. SLEEPwhere are you sleeping? Overlandish Basecamp Standard - currently own (never used) Rooftop Tent (pro: easy setup, comfortable con: always on vehicle, difficult to remove, extra weight when offroading) what are you sleeping on? (cot, mattress, ground) Luno Mattress (pro: custom fit for inside 4runner or can use in tent, can unzip to split into 2 separate mattresses and safe for dogs con: small and for 6’2) - $349 DeepSleep Mattress Hest mattress (pro: super comfy con: lots of space and expensive) Blankets/Pillows/Sleeping Bags sleeping bag (pro: comfy, built in pillow most of the time con: takes up ALOT of space) blankets (pro: not restrictive, doesn't take alot of room con: may not keep warm enough, requires separate pillow Hover Quilt (preferred) - $349 for a solo Horizon Overland Blanket EATwhat are you going to eat? ?? how are you storing the food? Fridge (12v) - we have one we use to use for RV, just need to find it otherwise an ICECO 37qt is $600 how are you cooking the food? (grill, burner) camptime Roll-a-Table® With Adjustable Legs ($124) jetboil - genesis base camp 2 burner ($450) or TrailCook 2.0 - ($199) how are you drinking coffee? BruTech ($58) RELAXdo you have somewhere to sit? Helinox Chair ($249) Compact Camping Chair ($49) Cliq chair POWERJackary Inverter - currently own PETShow are you transporting pet food? ?? how are you transporting water for pet? ?? don't forget bags to clean up after pet (when in camp) ?? NOTES pulled from multiple channelsSleep Bag - clothes, pillows, blankets, extra gloves, hat, mattresses, fan (hest or exped??) Shelter - Overlandish Ground Tent Kitchen Bag - Jetboil, instant coffee, hand sanitizer, seasoning, granola bar, utensils Fridge Kitchen box Extra fuel Mountain house Mashed potatoes cups Plates and bowels Cutting board Jetboil 2 burner (uses small propane) Recovery Bag - tow strap, tree saver, soft shackles, gloves, First Aid - Vehicle - in back on molly Mobile for hiking (found in center console) Fire Extinguisher - Element Tool Bag ESSENTIAL (not food related) Flat spade Shovel (iron man 4x4 shovel) Bottle Jack Tow Strap (extend winch line, tree saver) Soft Shackle Hitch receiver Lighting (rechargeable solar?) Pass through Rachets (open ended wrench) iPad mini with OnX Offroad Battery booster pack Tire repair kit (Air Compressor, glue tread kits, valve stems) — possibly Colby 35Q fridge (ICECO, Devos Lightranger Exped Mattress Electric Thermocell Mosquito & Catridges jackery & way to charge (solar panels or plug) Alu-Cab Awning with lights Pelican locking cases (pad locks) zarges cases (roof top) Lifesaver water purification container Fast dry clothes (no cotton, no jeans) MEALS Green belly (Meal2Go) Tippen Foods Mountain House Aspen Farms