Bronco and camping......space

[72-Madisyn]

So I have been waiting about three camping seasons for my bronco to be ready to take the journey. Typically will go camping about 10-15 times in the summer/spring time. The 72 can finally take the journey with the fam, (I hope), and i was starting to look at the tight space inside for all the needed junk. To put it into perspective i have a daughter who is 16 months,(car seat), a black lab, and a wife who like to take the entire house with us when we go anywhere. Add that all in with camping stuff, beer, and well beer.....it is camping, there is not quite the needed space in a Bronco. I am sure that i am not the first one to run into this problem so just looking for everyones solution to this.

 

[Scoop]

Small trailer. Receiver hitch rack. Roof rack. Mail a box of stuff to the campground ahead of time.

As you said you're limited on inside space so you need to look outside!

 

[Dan's73]

camping trailer or roof rack....wife's "essentials" go there and everything else that's actually needed (like beer) goes into the EB's limited storage space....or have her follow you in the minivan (or 2WD Explorer in our case) with all the extras.....

 

[77broncoguy]

I used to do a lot of camping in my Bronco when I was single w/ 2 dogs. Now that I am married.....well, my wife and I have a different definition of what camping is.... at first did the pop up thing, now looking for a motor home that I can tow the Bronco behind. I know this doesn't help you, but eventually, you'll likely get to the same point. You could try a roof carrier or one of the carriers that go into your hitch. Just my thoughts

 

[Dan's73]

I've also found that dropping the wife & kids off at a nearby resort & then heading out to a "real" camping spot for myself has worked out well.....~

 

[bptommy]

This always seems to be the issue... My wife and I camp alot and we can never seem to find the right setup. Either your vehicle is to small and you you need a trailer, roof rack, or your towing your offroad rig with your big truck. While wrangling a tow bar or trailer which means you have three things with tires and stuff to break down. Or maybe you have deep pockets and a motorhome which means you limited on which camp sites you can get so what was the point in the first place. Oh yeah I love camping i really do ;D but it was much easier as kid when i didnt have to do all the pack in and out. You just got in the car they piled stuff on top of you and you went down the road no seat belt happy as can be ;D

As we dont have motorhome deep pockets were looking at the trailer route, maybe a pop up maybe a custom job like

http://www.tentrax.com/

or

http://www.adventuretrailers.com/

im not ready for the motorhome yet ;D

 

[jdcone]

Rent a cabin. All you'll need are clothes, food and beer.

 

[TN1776]

Get back to basics. When I used to be an avid backpacker, I could easily carry everything I needed for a 4-5 day trip on my back. As I got older (read, of legal drinking age) the volume of camping crap I carted along with me grew. It got even worse when I bought a full-size 4x4 truck.

Now I'm in my mid-30s and at least half the reason I bought my Bronco was to force myself back into the "minimalist" mentality. I plan to carry the bare essentials, considerably less beer (enough to enjoy without getting totally hammered every night), and some critical spare parts and tools. I know I will find ways to fill the rig up, but I am seriously re-evaluating what "essentials" are.

I am also considering building some kind of "shelf" to make better use of the available space in the rig.

 

[Pa PITT]

Skip the wife and kids ahead to set up camp ...You bring the Beer so most of it will arrive with damage...Baby the Bronco along the way so it doesn't overheat....Take the camera and side trips to show the wife what she missed not coming in the long way ..Take plenty of pictures over the edge so she doesn't miss anything ..Turn your cell phone on about 6pm or one mile from her camp ...ENJOY....

 

[Socal Tom]

Tear Drop Trailer. Light, small can carry everything and better to sleep in that a tent.
Tom

 

[72-Madisyn]

Love it. i was thinking small trailer, have either soft top on or family bikini top on at all times for my daughters sake,( sun and babies dont really get along), so the roof rack thing is kinda out. thanks for the imput though, was just wondering if there were any great ideas.

 

[bigjhoov]

m416

 

[StnePny]

Your married, with a kid & a dog.....

Your camping ing the front yard

 

[72Quarterhorse]

I use a roof rack. A trailer is good but a lot of times it's difficult to maneuver in the trails and if you do not succeed at first attempt up a steep rocky or muddy hill ' well good luck reversing back down. I think the best solution is two broncs the wife loads hers and you load yours.

 

[Madgyver]

Load'em up!

 

[72_EB]

10-15 times?! Lucky dog. ;D
Yeah, camping with the Bronco rules. Wife have I have been doing it since we got the '72. Great times. We've grown to the same size now (1 kid and 1 dog now) and you've got to be creative. Just getting the cooler on a basket in back helped a lot. You can do it without a pop-up, extra trailer, or teardrop (my dream eventually), but you have to plan what you bring a little more. Like the other poster said, get back to the "basics". A weekend adventure can be done very simply and comfortably with just a good rear bumper basket and some good planned packing. Enjoy. Camping season is here. ;D

 

[blubuckaroo]

I wish I had photos of some of the rigs I've used on the Bronco to go camping with the wife and three boys. I actually made a rear carrier once before they were marketed. I also used a roof rack. The best rig was a Chevy Luv bed trailer (which I still have) with a bike rack built onto the front. The real trick is to analyze what you bring and eliminate what isn't really needed. After a few trips everything will have it's own special spot where it fits just right. Those were really good times for me. You're a lucky guy!

 

[Socal Tom]

If you don't want the trailer route, a reciever basket can carry a lot of stuff. I have a really big plastic box that carries most of my camping stuff. Get something like that and strap it onto a reciever basket and your good for most dirt road type campgrounds.
Tom

 

[deltarat]

x2 on the receiver basket. I built one 25 years ago for the bronco and it has seen a lot of use. We have used it on the Suburban,Armada and Navigator. Besides, it is fun to build and carries tons of stuff.

 

[Mac2Night]

Okay, I don't have a photo of how we carried our gear, but since we are talking Broncos and camping, here is a shot of our camp sight at this year's Super Celebration in the Smokies. Sort of looks like a good REI catalog cover doesn't it? ;D