Gladiator Expedition Rigs

[Mules]

Not a JetBoil here but definitely THE camp stove. To paraphrase Charlton Heston. they'll have to pry my Partner Steel "from my cold, dead hands". LOL

Sweet kitchen!! When’s lunch?

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[Mules]

Spring is finally here. I’m getting excited to go camping without freezing! My ideas about running the truck’s heater at night or bringing my gas generator to power my electric heater were a pain in the keister.


I’ll have to find a better solution before next winter. For now I’ll enjoy some nice weather, before it gets to 100 degrees!

 

[RudeJeepin]

On a different subject, I've been thinking about taking a dirt bike along instead of my mountain bike on camping trips. I would mount it on a trailer hitch mount on my Gladiator similar to my mountain bike. Ideally it would be street legal, light weight with enough power to do some short highway trips.

Here are four bikes I found at my local big motorcycle dealer. Some Dual Sports and Adventure Bikes.

The Kawasaki KLR Adventure is definitely a great deal for a bigger touring bike, all rigged out for $7-$8K. Definitely big enough for me at 6'2" and 210 lb. Just too heavy and big for my trail riding and trailer hitch.

The KTM390 Adventure is the coolest bike in this price range around $6K. Feels a lot more like a street bike than for trails. Too short on the suspension for my trails, and a bit heavy.

The Kawasaki KLX300 is my winner for best value, street legal trail bike for your trailer hitch rack. Light enough for me to pick up (300lb), water cooled, fuel injected, low maintenance and runs around $6K. Tall enough for me, with plenty of suspension to hit the trails, and just enough power for highways. There's also a cheaper KLX230 that is air cooled.

But....

Here's the one that wins over my heart. How can a 500cc Dual Sport KTM weight less than the Kawasaki KLX300 at only 250lbs?! The KTM 500 EXC is hands down the best performing street legal dual sport there is. The only problem is the price tag at $12.5K! Ouch...

I'm keeping my eye out for a used KTM. Don't tell my wife I looking for another toy.

The KTM 500 EXC prowess as the best DS is subjective...

Have you looked at the Beta or Husky in the 350 or 390 size? If you go Beta, get the Race Edition, the suspension is so much nicer than the regular setup.
I love my Honda CRF450RL, but it gets a bit big, motor wise, on the tight trails.

 

[Mules]

The KTM 500 EXC prowess as the best DS is subjective...

Have you looked at the Beta or Husky in the 350 or 390 size? If you go Beta, get the Race Edition, the suspension is so much nicer than the regular setup.
I love my Honda CRF450RL, but it gets a bit big, motor wise, on the tight trails.

I rode a small Husky many decades ago. KTM bought Husky and GasGas. Husky supposedly uses KTM engines, but I don't know much about GasGas.

There's a local Beta dealer nearby. I've heard good things about them. I'll check it out.

 

[RudeJeepin]

I rode a small Husky many decades ago. KTM bought Husky and GasGas. Husky supposedly uses KTM engines, but I don't know much about GasGas.

There's a local Beta dealer nearby. I've heard good things about them. I'll check it out.

Yes, KTM owns Husky and Gas Gas. But there are small differences between each. I'd prefer Husky of the 3, so would my boy, who worked at a dealer for a few years. No real big reason, just little things, like a linked rear suspension. And yes, some of the KTMs have linked rear suspension and not the PDS, but that's just personal opinion.
The new Yamaha WR450/250Fs are pretty sweet as well. But those don't come plated, so it depends on your state if they can be.

350 is a little more of a race/revving motor than the Beta 390. As in the 350s like to be ran in higher RPM range to make their power, where the 390 motor likes to run in the lower RPM range, not really lug, but kinda. Beta has "demo days" going on this spring, not sure if one is close to you.
https://betausa.com/demo-events/

 

[RudeJeepin]

@Mules also, keep in mind not all the manufacturers weigh their motorcycles the same way. Some are with absolutely no fluids, some have the crankcase full and no fuel, and some are full of fluids including fuel.
My last 2 Hondas have been 3 to 5 pounds lighter than they stated, and that includes a full tank of fuel.
KTMs are almost always heavier than stated.
Just an FYI.
But there are a lot of good bikes out there.

 

[Mules]

It's finally nice camping weather here in Missouri, and I'm out of commission for a month or so. Just had an operation, and I'm restricted to sitting around the house.

I'd love to see any pictures of other Gladiator camping rigs, while I sit on my couch. Keep me entertained and post some pictures!!

 

[RubiNewbCB]

You need to recover with a quickness...

So you can get to work building V2.0 for me! ?

 

[Mules]

Hope you recover quickly!

Thanks, I should be back at it soon.

 

[RudeJeepin]

Here’s a short video from last weekend

Nice video, area looks pretty nice also. Looks like loads of fun.
But that trailer looks like it could use some rub rails.

 

[Mules]

Here’s a short video from last weekend

Love the video and keep them coming! Damn, I though I had some tight squeezes with my truck, but I wasn't pulling a camper. Nice job.

 

[Mules]

Here's a nice looking rig from another forum. Alucab with a dirt bike. I love it.

 

[Mules]

Too bad this is only a 3D printed toy. Looks great.

 

[Mules]

I’m glad I kept my camper light. Now there’s no way I am going to overload it.

 

[Kajo]

It's finally nice camping weather here in Missouri, and I'm out of commission for a month or so. Just had an operation, and I'm restricted to sitting around the house.

I'd love to see any pictures of other Gladiator camping rigs, while I sit on my couch. Keep me entertained and post some pictures!!

Hope you get better soon.

I am definitely in the light weight camping mindset when my family doesn't go with me. Here is my setup from this past weekend in Virginia at Caldwell Fields near Pott's Mountain Jeep Trail. I just sleep in the bed under the SofTopper.

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