For the first overnight with our new-to-us 2013 Land Cruiser, Campbell, we stayed at Bootleggers Campground in Jennings State Forest. We used it as a mule for our backpacking gear and a steel tent. We wanted to experience how capable it is to sleep and cook from the factory before planning modifications for Overlanding.
The advantage of cruiser backpacking is that you don’t have the cost of modifications. It remains an able driver after you return home. The gear is light, small to store, and simple to load. It also makes it quick and easy to clear the deck for sleeping.
When you reach a new trailhead to explore, you are good to go. If you backpack a lot, this can be a stealthy way to use a cruiser between trails.
We brought a small USB fan to circulate the air at night when we were sleeping. It will run for nights when connected to a high-capacity USB battery pack.
The folded third-row takes up a lot of deck width space, and removing it is an easy decision since we never plan to use it. We are removing it before our next outing.
