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

Thanks for watching!!

Thanks for watching!

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.

@@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!

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.

@@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.

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.

@@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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

@@BackroadExploration Nice, thanks a bunch!

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.

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.

@@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

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.

35s

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.

@@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

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

I’m running the 2.5 inch lift from AEV. I like it but think a stiffer rear spring would be even better. Backroadexploration@gmail.com

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.