Anyone use their Expedition for camping?

[trailblazr81]

Hey guys Im looking at getting a first gen Expedition for a camping rig. Probly just go with a 4.6L 2 wheel drive, add some A/Ts and if it doesnt have it a limited slip. Only off road it will see are gravel or dirt roads/trails. Nothing serious. Im thinking of adding a roof basket, some aux lighting, a optima deep cycle or 2 battery system, some kind of window covering for sleeping. The plan is to fold down the rear seats for sleeping on a air mattress. Maybe build a storage compartment and sleep on it. Any ideas? Anyone do this? My gear consists of a folding table, camp stove, an ice chest tho may get a 12 volt cooler, small propane heater, a couple chairs, maybe some astro turf, a shade canopy, as well as the sleeping bags, mattress, pillows, etc. I'm just looking for ideas on how to make it a better camping rig, and to keep my gear stored securely. Im done using a tent.

 

[Madmaxwell87]

I don't have an expy yet but when I do that's exactly what I want to do with mine, granted with more 4wheeling so Ill go 4x4. Sorry I don't have an answer but a free bump so you can get some answers.

 

[The Sod Father]

Have you given thought to a pop up camper? Much more confortable and tows easily behind a monster like the Expedtion. Granted, you still have canvas to deal with, but if you want to go exploring, you leave the camper at the campground, hop in your vehicle and explore. Pop up campers can be as simple as a tent on wheels or as elaborate and having full on board facilities like heat, hot water, air conditioning, a potty and a shower. We had one for 4 years and loved it. We now use a much larger travel trailer, but still camp quite a bit.

Food for thought.

 

[trailblazr81]

Ive thought of this, and pulling it behind my little Ranger. But they have like 3" of ground clearance. And its still like a tent in that light easily shines through and so does noise. I also camp at a race track that I work at, so while the crazies party all night I need to get up at 6AM so some shielding from light and sound is helpful. Years ago I had a Grand Cherokee and slept in it, only problem was it was short so I had to sleep diagonal in it, and it left little room for all my gear.

 

[Glxy500]

Just gonna be you or do you have kids? You should have everything you need to good camp out. Windows should give you sufficient privacy for sleeping. 12v Cooler is ok. I use ice chests. I load mine up and when I get where I am going I sit mine out beside the truck, chairs also. If you are not going serious offroad, I used my lawnmower trailer and had a big truck tool box. ( one that sits down in the bed of the truck). I put my Lanterns, Cookstove, extra tents, ( 2 man). Camp stools, Supplies, etc. If it rains, it keeps it out of the weather and dry and everything is together. Plus all your coolers and supplies easily accessible.

 

[Shadetree]

Roof box is a must. I modified a ladder so it attaches to the roof rack and easily stores next to the roof box...I have a folding 3X6 aluminum table with adjustable legs that I modified to hook to the back with the lift gate up. I built a stabilizer bar that hooks to the trailer hitch that helps support the table. I have six 6 foot poles that extend out to 14 feet. Two I attach to the roof rack that extends 10 feet passed the back of the Expy and two that attach to the ends of the roof poles to the ground for support, and a 5 foot pole with clamps that attach to the two roof poles that keep them parallel when I throw over an old flat sided tent and tie it down. That leaves two poles I also attach to the roof rack to extend over the side of the Expy for an awning.....I put this rig together as a temporary set-up two days after I bought the Expy in '97 for a prospecting trip..and was going to buy a tent trailer later...I never bought the tent trailer, but I did get a little 8 foot trailer for a hundred bucks to haul my dredge and any other equipment..If I can get by without it, I don't like to pull a trailer because I go to some pretty rugged places..but I've used my "temp" set-up more times than I can count..I went from a Cherokee to the Expy and it seems that I have twice the room for camp stove, porta-potty, water, fuel, tent, tarps, sleeping, etc, etc...Just use the roof box for your least used items and make sure it is packed solid....don't forget the air mattress..Walmart sells one that fits like it was made for the Expy...and you can never take too many moving blankets....

Don't forget..never drive faster than your guardian angel can fly....

 

[walnuts4x4]

Shadetree.... got any pics of that set up? sounds cool

 

[tallsville]

I've used mine to sleep in out of town and i believe a coleman queen size mattress fits perfectly in the back with the seats down. I have windows with the titanium limo tint. so highly reflective and cant see inside of truck during day if you have front window shade.

and shadetree please add photos of temp set up would like to see that

 

[panda24619]

I've used mine to sleep in out of town and i believe a coleman queen size mattress fits perfectly in the back with the seats down. I have windows with the titanium limo tint. so highly reflective and cant see inside of truck during day if you have front window shade.

and shadetree please add photos of temp set up would like to see that

privacy huh? getting down with your bad self now huh?? haha gross! haha but ive slept in my truck FULL of crap! it had a tent, 3 big boxes ol crap, my 3rd row, spare fuel, tools, my huge ass amp, a few ********* trash bags full of clothes, blankets, and sleeping bags. all this to go to the desert for one night! haha i slept in the back at an angle, my buddy slept in the pass seat. not that bad of a sleep for 4 hours. went to bed at 4 woke up at 8 do to the trucks hauling ass since we went there for a race. haha i would do it a bit different. this trip im planning im going to NOT take a tent and camping crap. everything else for camping, just not the tent and sleeping stuff. and im going to leave my 3rd row at home. less weight for the rock crawling parts.

 

[countrygirl6]

Yes, I use my expeiditon for camping and I pulled a 25 foot Coleman Popup. My husband and I have 6 kids amd felt the popup was the better way to go than an upright big camper. Saves on gas. I get about 20 mpg pulling my camper (4000 lbs) on the highway with all seats filled and the icechest full of beer, and oh yeah, food, HA. I do have the towing package installed on my Ford which has the transmission cooler, also. Love it love it love it.

 

[Shadetree]

Yes, I use my expeiditon for camping and I pulled a 25 foot Coleman Popup. My husband and I have 6 kids amd felt the popup was the better way to go than an upright big camper. Saves on gas. I get about 20 mpg pulling my camper (4000 lbs) on the highway with all seats filled and the icechest full of beer, and oh yeah, food, HA. I do have the towing package installed on my Ford which has the transmission cooler, also. Love it love it love it.

Wow...I haven't seen 20 MPG since my VW camper days back in the 70's...I didn't think an Expy could get 20....I've been thinking seriously about a pop-up...My rig has worked great, but it is a PITB when I want to leave my camp set up and drive the Expy...It's real easy to put a lift on the pop-up...

I'm not the best at remembering to take pics on my trips..My son says he has some of the Expy he will send me..I gave him my old Cherokee and it is rigged just like my Expy...6 kids?...and I thought I had all I could handle with just one...

Never drive faster than your guardian angel can fly...

 

[Bigfoot Girl]

Expedition Camping

I have used my 1997 Expedition for several years to camp across the US. I have been from WA to GA. I set it up in different ways depending on the camping trip. I have a Bull Mastiff that travels with me and we sleep on a 4" memory foam that is placed right behind the front seats on top of the back seats in the down position.

 

[metaldrgn]

I have used my 1997 Expedition for several years to camp across the US. I have been from WA to GA. I set it up in different ways depending on the camping trip. I have a Bull Mastiff that travels with me and we sleep on a 4" memory foam that is placed right behind the front seats on top of the back seats in the down position.

I personally don't like memory foam because it's so slow to change shape. I like just regular foam or better yet the polyfil mattress toppers. Definitely need 4"+ for foam though. The second gen lays more flat than the first gen. I don't know about the 3rd gen.

 

[TactialMonkey]

Get the 4wd at least, I have used my expy to camp with a tent and inside hahah. I’d say roof top tent but that’s just me, on the norm the whole rear is full with wood and coolers and chairs then a tent and i took the rear plastic panels out and am able to hand a few gallons of water on the area under the window with bungee cords and put a first aid kit and axe and tow chain some motor oil and other necessities in the hollow area on the left side as the right has my sub and amp. I have thick rubber in the trunk area so I can just pull it out and wash it as well. Also the second row fold with foam pads or a air mattress is the best if you dont have anything in the truck.

 

[Plati]

Expy Camping

I modified my 03 for camping years ago and now customizing a 2014 EL. I only use it for travel. All the seats except for jump seat removed from rear area replaced by a platform along one side front to back (L around rear seat) to sleep on with storage space underneath ... multiple removable covers. In the new Expy I raised the platform up 4 inches for additional storage space and replaced the stock panels above tire changing tool section - to maximize space. Got durable rubber sheets from the Depot to cover any exposed floor and carpet matching stock colors to cover the 3/4" plywood platform so it almost looks like it was built that way. Also makes it handier to clean. Just yank carpet out and shake. Can store a lot of stuff under platform, not everything. Built in a couple "secure" compartments for valuables. Use removable suction cups on back windows with fabric to block am sun. Custom built cedarwood screens for 2 back door windows, use blue painters tape to bug seal when camping since there are small gaps. I just built a tarp addition for the side ... for sun shade/rain protection.

 

[Plati]

Since Photobucket went offline (now requires a lot of money for third party hosting), I'm posting the pic of my tarp addition (in action in Glacier National Park at Bowman Lake) and a picture of the inside platform ... with nothing in it (like my bed, etc).