Pacific NW Exploring and Camping: 27 days and 4700 miles

CBone

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Had some time this summer and a tremendous itch for a real road trip, so we decided a month long jaunt through the Pacific NW would be a nice way to spend July.

Having reluctantly sold my trusty LC steed to Martin awhile ago, I re-outfitted at the Toyota stable with a 2013 4-door, short bed Tacoma and a Finch camper by FourWheel Camper--a temendous piece of gear and perfect for our camping needs, whether at a state park or in the middle of the desert, including two days of non-stop rain on Orcas Island. Of course, Slee took care of me in terms of proper suspension and sliders.

We spent a few days with friends in Livington, MT, and Sausalito, CA, hoteled it in Seattle and Portland, but camped the rest of the time. A lot of our camping was planned and reserved in advance at state parks, as many of our destinations are heavily traveled this time of year, but without a doubt some of the best camping and most fun days were spent boondocking in various locations.

Our trip took us north to Livington, MT, then on to Glacier National Park. We went west, spend some time in western MT, then into Idaho--loved Lake Pend Oreille, and Sandpoint, found Spokane and eastern WA to be way too hot, brown and in our case, on fire right where we were scheduled to camp. Hit Seattle, the WA coast and Olympic Peninsula, then up to the San Juan islands for a few days, south down the OR coast, northern CA, the Redwoods, Sausalito, east on the loneliest highway in America (Rt. 50 through NV--a great suggestion by NattyBumpo) through the deserts of NV, UT and reluctantly home.

All in all, a fantastic trip that left us eager to hit the road again and the realization that we do live in America the Beautiful.
 

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CBone

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And a few more pics...
 

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FJCDan

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Nice to see your back on the trails again Carlton.
 

CBone

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Here are a few pics of the interior. Fourwheel Camper, a great company to work with, here locally as Rocky Mountain Fourwheel Camper, has a Finch model with all kinds of accessories. I've attached their factory floor plan. However, in designing my interior space, I wanted enough room on the inside that we could comfortably cook, eat, play Go Fish, etc. as the Taco and camper are a great platform for winter camping and a warm and dry bed to return to after a day of cross-country skiing, snowshoeing etc. In the summertime, we only sleep inside.

My set-up has a 2 burner stove, furnace that cranks out the heat, a queen-sized bed "upstairs" and a twin bed downstairs when the table has been put away. Room to sit 4 adults comfortably inside, when the beds are "put away" and 6'4" of headroom when popped up. I also added what they call an Arctic Pack to mine, which is an additional layer in the popped up section to insulate for winter camping.
 

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Jacket

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Very cool! I've wanted to do a trip like this for years.
 

MountainGoat

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That thing is awesome Carlton! :thumb:
 

Blindranger

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I like how you optimized the space with your layout. I always felt the smaller 4WC models got a little claustrophobic with the full length counter top on the driver side and the tables/benches on the passenger side.

In the last picture, does the twin bed foldout at the foot of the upper queen?
 

baileyfj40

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Was the Tacoma new when you got?
 

CBone

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responses:
Blindranger: the twin bed is located underneath the queen bed, thus the "upstairs-downstairs" notion. It's sort of like a bunk arrangement in the cab of an 18 wheeler. With the set-up the way I have it, there's still room for two adults to sit downstairs, even with the twin bed set up. Hope it all makes sense? see pic below
Mike: Yep, purchased the Tacoma new
 

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Crash

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What do you know about the bunk arrangement in an 18 wheeler? :lmao:
 

LXBRADY

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That's awesome Carlton....great memories with your daughter. Is she still wearng the safety glasses you won in the raffle a couple if years back?
 

CBone

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Hey Steve Brady, as a matter of fact those glasses reside in the garage and my little girl had 'em on this weekend when I was weed whacking. Unfortunately, the batteries have died, so we can't turn off all the lights in the garage and find our way around with our safety glasses on :thumb:
 

Woodsman

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Nice set up. Really makes the best of that small truck's bed space.

I'd like a bigger version for my F350.
 
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