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101 Things to do with a Dutch Oven

My Lodge Cast Iron Skillet Cookbook: 101 Popular & Delicious Cast Iron Skillet Recipes

This same author did a bunch for "scouts." I like them because they are pretty simple and easy to follow:

• Scout's Dutch Oven Cookbook
  
• Scout's Outdoor Cookbook
  
• Scout's Backpacking Cookbook
  
  Official Boy Scout Outdoor Cooking Guide
  
  Sunset The Great Outdoors Cookbook: Adventures in Cooking Under the Open Sky
  
  But pretty much any cookbook with a good recipe can be adapted to cook outdoors. The only thing that changes is the view and the heat.

Ridgeline! Ignore any haters, I "overlanded" in my Honda Element and love the hell out of the Ridgeline. You'll get a lot of unnecessary hate in a Ridgeline, including from pavement princess Tacomas, Jeeps, etc. Remember, if you're having fun, that's all that counts. Plus, your ride is way more comfortable than theirs to daily drive.

I had General Grabber AT2s on my Element, they were awesome. I have BFG KO2s on my Tacoma now, they're just as awesome. Discount Tire runs good promos, I highly recommend waiting and going with them. Definitely don't go anywhere before tires though, you'll regret it.

If you can, fit 1" larger diameter tires and upgrade from there. I did a spacer lift on my Element and it was enough, just take it easy.

Above all else, don't get caught up in all the gear and hype, go out there with your standard camping gear and enjoy the journey. If it's for you and you like it, upgrade over time to better gear. I went on dozens of trips with my V-Strom or PCX, had a kid, then went on 4 trips with my Element. I had so much fun and sometimes miss that freedom, but it's hard now that kid #2 is here. I've since upgraded from the Element to a Tacoma and bought a ton of crap... But that crap is just that. I could fit everything I needed to "overland" in a backpack on my motorcycles, and that's all you really need.

Get out there, have fun, and let the gear and expenses come if you enjoy it. If you've got a hole burning in your wallet, based on your rig, I'd recommend some basic recovery gear. I have a set of these: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AV2HONS/ and they'll get you out of most trouble without a winch. Start easy with forest service roads, and go up from there.

I bought 2 sets of these: https://www.amazon.com/Green-Elephant-Telescoping-Tarp-Poles/dp/B072K1B91Q

And also this: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004W3JAVQ?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_image

Along with these: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B075CMSMQY?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

I feel like strapping it to my roof rack and using the adjustable poles, one set halfway along the length and the other 2 at the end will give me many configurations. I can raise it high and then low for shade when sleeping inside the vehicle. A 20' long tarp should also allow me to stake it to the ground and run the tarp up and over my vehicle like a cacoon and still extend 10' or so. My roof rack should allow airflow between the tarp and vehicle kinda like a palapa works. Haven't used it yet, but seems like the most flexible way of having many configurations while storing very easily.

It’s one of these:
Kamp-Rite Tent Cot Original Size Tent Cot (Green) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BH46MU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_JHhADbY1HNT8H

$150. No mount it just sits on the ground. Takes about 2 minutes to setup and is pretty comfortable. I keep it around to use when I bring a friend camping and they don’t have a tent or sometimes if I don’t have my RTT mounted I’ll use it for a quick one or two nighter.

Everyone that uses it loves it. However if given the choice I’ll still take my Autohome.

I'd just put the biggest marine deep cycle battery I can fit as my starting battery, (probably group 31) and get a $100 lithium jump pack in case I ran it down.

Or

You can build your own goal zero type portable battery setup for$200-400. The Yeti 400 is a 33ah 12v AGM deep cycle battery with 300w sine wave inverter and a 12v plug in. It also has features like low battery alarm, displays power usage, and comes with an AC charger. You won't save much $ making it smaller/less powerful, but it will weigh less if you'd like to use a smaller than 33ah battery.

$50-150 for an AGM deep cycle 12v battery, 33ah

$75-150 for a 300w pure sine wave inveter, you can save more money if you don't need pure sine wave or 300w, or don't mind an always on fan

$25-50 for a 12v trickle charger to charge the battery up at home, if you don't have a charger already

$15 for a male to male 12v adapter to charge it from your car, or use your jumper cables.

$10-20 for a 12v socket or two, or a USB charger socket

$10-50 for a battery case to hold the battery and mount the inverter and sockets on

$30 on misc parts like voltage display, wire, and fuses

Terrain isnt bad at all, couple slightly steep spots, think I only needed to even use 4wd twice. Pretty much any stock 4x4 with decent ground clearance should be fine, you just might have to be careful about your lines.

I didnt even take my gps when I went, get a paper map if you can. The forest service map is better than the delorme for this area. And
this book lists the trail as well, would recommend getting it if you dont have it already.

http://www.amazon.com/Guide-California-Backroads-4-Wheel-Trails/dp/1934838071/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1464888447&sr=8-1&keywords=guide+to+california+backroads+%26+4-wheel+drive+trails

I guess they're actually $120 a pair, but free shipping with Prime. Maxsa is the brand. I've had mine for almost a year and have used them a few times with good results. Totally worth the $120.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AV2HONS?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s01

I recommend that you get a copy of Tony Huegel’s Utah Byways .

Also, I bet you will enjoy the White Rim Trail in Canyonlands NP.

FWIW I have the knock off maxxtraxx and they never have failed me. Technically I've never used them for me but they worked perfectly for the people I helped recover, including a weekender RV out of a soft sand and gravel patch in the high desert.

the amazon ones worked great for me!

here they are.

>Colorado sometime in early August, but I can't find any published routes.

Wut.

Here's a hardcopy book:

You can get GPX tracks for 4x4 roads here:

As well as here if you join the site:

And of course, there's the Bible of what's accessible, updated annually straight from the USFS:

And you can download free GeoPDFs of those MVUMs here:

Now then. Let's answer your main question. Weeklong route in the Four Corners area? There are literally tens of thousands of combinations of tracks to take. I've started in Carson NF in the dead of the sand off of 285 on a whim one time. Just pulled off the highway straight onto an NF-designated road and threw my plans to power through to the Sand Dunes out the window. Doing some quick scouting, I think it was NF 558 from the bend in the road I remember passing and approximate location. I digress.

You could start there and spend a whole day pretending you're in a Baja truck hitting those sandy whoops. I finally gave up on seeing how far back the road ran when sundown was on my back. Then you could snake all the way to the border adjacent to the highway and burn another two days easily. Or you could just hop on 285, run up to the Dunes, camp and hike there, then roll over Medano Pass and start heading towards Buena Vista. Or swing west and go hit up Telly/Ouray.

You need to remember the large swath of res land in NE AZ and NW NM, but other than that, the Four Corners states are absolute spiderwebs of 4x4 roads that will take you to hiking, biking, camping, crawling, fishing, hunting, and anything else you can imagine.

I have these quick fists for my shovel. They can be bolted on to the two flat panels on the side of your roof rack to hold a shovel. I can take a picture in the morning if you're interested. You can do 70+ and it won't budge.

My buddy uses U bolts for pretty much everything else, including hi-lift jack.

If you have a wifi only iPad model then I can recommend the Dual XGPS150A. I've used it with both my iPad and Android devices and it's terrific. EDIT: if you have an iPad with cellular data then it should already have a very accurate GPS and you won't benefit from getting an external one.

https://www.amazon.com/Dual-Electronics-XGPS150A-Universal-Bluetooth/dp/B006M49G80/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1468216199&sr=8-1&keywords=dual+xgps

As for comms, what issues have you run into? I have both ham and CB and the CB gets WAY more use. Have you tuned your antenna / checked your SWR?

Just got sent this link by a friend. I just bought a house with an 8' door so I can drive inside with the tent on (that was a requirement for any house I got). I was planning on building something to store the tent, but this is practically exactly what I was looking for anyway!

Figured a few people here might want the same thing.

*edit, and for those who can't see the facebook post, here is the amazon link!
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0009I8AO6/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apap_WMUcd1BDsfqBC

If you're looking for a cheap lightweight option, I picked up one of these and it's great: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07WG73GGY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_OthRDb0BX8WK7

Used my maxsa to pull myself 60 yds out of rim deep mud. Awesome kit
MAXSA Escaper Buddy Traction Mat (Set of 2) for Off-Road Mud, Sand, & Snow Vehicle Extraction Orange 20333 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AV2HONS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_0OlTzbV0RKMNP

I only mount it when going on trips. Pully is a great idea. Here is one I'm looking at getting: https://www.amazon.com/Racor-PHL-1R-HeavyLift-4-Foot-Cable-Lifted/dp/B0009I8AO6/ref=s9_psimh_gw_g469_i1_r?_encoding=UTF8&fpl=fresh&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=&pf_rd_r=3NF3WKD5SFQTJVCSBVX7&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=a6aaf593-1ba4-4f4e-bdcc-0febe090b8ed&pf_rd_i=desktop

This is the receiver I’ve used. A friend has it paired with his tablet and uses it and an iPad in his Cessna for navigating. Nothing jailbroken, works fine. I use a USB receiver with my laptop, but plan to switch over to a tablet soon now that I’ve played around with that setup. Lots less cords to deal with.

https://www.amazon.com/X-BULL-Recovery-Traction-Tracks-Ladder/dp/B01MS1SKIW

I bought those. Never needed to use them yet.

They seem pretty solid though.

Maybe a tent cot? You'd have to measure to make sure it would fit, since the legs aren't at the ends.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BH46MU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_XKDUAb2BDWG9W

https://www.amazon.com/Viair-00088-88P-Portable-Compressor/dp/B005ASY23I

Here you go! It hooks up directly to your battery with jumper leads. It's pretty quick. Filled up my Jeep and my friend's Jeep, probably a little over 10 minutes for both together. Now he bought his own so we can do both Jeep in about 5 minutes with two compressors

Pooping in the woods tho is so liberating! There are some portable toilet options and they make little pop up tent style bathrooms that you can also use to shower in.

Tent - WolfWise Pop-up Shower Tent Green https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01AT3T0GC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_5WXmDbGHCSTYH

Toilet - Reliance Products Luggable Loo Portable 5 Gallon Toilet https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000FIAPXO/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_aYXmDbGPG18AJ

While trailer might be super comfy, you might end up limited in exploring back roads while you are out.

Perhaps something like this?
link

Its advertised as emitting CO2 and has an auto shutoff sensor for if/wehn it is tipped over or detects high levels of CO2

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00AV2HONS/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1492108117&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=maxsa+escaper+buddy&dpPl=1&dpID=41r0N2OOheL&ref=plSrch

Available at walmart according to google as well!

I'm a big fan of the high powered walkie talkie method of communication when far beyond cell service. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B007H4VT7A/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1495912428&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&dpPl=1&dpID=41iDhyl0i%2BL&ref=plSrch

I've got one of these. Throw a bit of kitty litter in the bag before use and it's really not bad at all as the kitty litter absorbs liquid/smells and helps keep things clean in the unfortunate event that a bag tears.

Investigate getting your ham license (seriously, the tech license is simple, sub $15, and you might learn something new). That'll allow you to use much more powerful equipment. Talkies are limited to 500mw and often have trouble getting out of the vehicle. With ham, you can pick up something even as low as ~$25 that'll do 4w, and it only gets better from there.

The book Guide to California Backroads & 4-Wheel Drive Trails is a great beginner book. You will want to get a GPS and input the coordinates from their website. It has Anza Borrego, Death Valley, the Mojave Road and tons of others. It organizes by location and difficulty. I have a modestly upgraded FJ cruiser and my brother has a stock Xterra both with 4low and rear lockers with smart driving can do anything but difficult rock crawling.

Once you get good at route finding you must do the Mojave Road it the the quintessential socal overland trip and can be done in a stock Jeep.

https://www.amazon.com/Guide-California-Backroads-4-Wheel-Trails/dp/1934838071/ref=dp_ob_title_bk

one of these will keep you warm and keep the condensation off the windows

https://www.amazon.com/Mr-Heater-F215100-3800-BTU-Propane/dp/B001CFRF7I/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1511091556&sr=8-1&keywords=little+buddy+heater

https://www.amazon.com/Escaper-Traction-Off-Road-Extraction-20333/dp/B00AV2HONS/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1538490518&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=recovery+boards&psc=1

Traction mats
https://www.amazon.com/Innovations-20333-Escaper-Orange-Traction/dp/B00AV2HONS

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005ASY23I

That's really cheap right now ($45).

Any difference between the OP's booster and something like this?

Booster, directional or omni antenna, and cable. Install is situational.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00RHMFPEU/ref=twister_B06XZ2WBXQ?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

+1 for paper maps.

We also use the Guide to Colorado Backroads and 4-Wheel-Drive Trails when riding the included trails.

Something else to consider is getting a tarp and a couple of extendable poles. I got these when they were on sale for $25 (Amazon Link). Setup is fairly easy and just have to use guy ropes on each corner to hold it down, but takes up significantly less space than the 10x10 folding one. I usually attach one side to my roof rack, but I have 4 poles so I can move it around and make it stand alone. All-in was just under $100 so about the same cost as a bigger canopy.

Some folks also use a product called "Quick Fist"; caveat emptor I've never used them myself so do some research first. They may have the same rotting problem as the bungie cords but I've not heard of that so far:

https://www.amazon.ca/Quick-Fist-Original-Mounting-Equipment/dp/B000CQPANY

Desert Solitaire

Leaves of Grass

One Man's Wilderness

Into the Wild

Wilderness Essays

Call of the Wild

Walden Shocking huh?

Blue Sea Systems 12 Volt Dash Socket - $8.99

Blue Sea Systems m-Series Battery Switch - $34.62

Smartlive LED String lights DC 12V 10m 33feet 100 LEDS,Warm White - $9.99

DROK Digital Multimeter DC 6.5-100V 100A Voltage Amperage Power Energy Meter - $17.89

ISWEES Dual USB Car Cigarette Lighter Socket Splitter 12V Car Charger - $11.89

Blue Sea Systems ST Blade Fuse Block - 12 Circuits with Negative Bus & Cover - $37.24

BEP Digital Voltage Sensing Relay (DVSR) 12/24V - $78.46

BESTEK 400W Power Inverter DC 12V to AC 110V Car Adapter with 5A 4 USB Charging Ports -$35.99

UB121000 12V AGM Battery 100AH - $125.21 + $34.69 Shipping = $159.90