Gladiator Welcome Camping Spots -- For and From Site Members

[BearDog]

The RV4/6 were on my Dad's short list, especially since they are less than 2 hours away. He ended up doing a dual control Kit Fox, but he's lost interest in flying and got rid of it before I could get my license. Definitely was fun though.
If I ever hit Texas in the Gladdy, I might have to look you up.


While I live in a beautiful area, Columbia River Gorge, unfortunately I also live in town with not much of a driveway.
But I could probably steer anybody towards a few nice places in the southern portion of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

Your place is beautiful. Years ago I lived very near the mountains and went camping/hiking/hunting all the time. I miss it.

The RV's are the best all around kits on the market. I love my -4. That being said, a lot of my buddies have super cubs and hit the river banks and back woods. Super cub is way out of my price range, so I'm going to get a Kitfox 4 that needs a little work. It'll do just fine keeping up with them, and at almost a tenth of the price.

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[HooliganActual]

Not a bad idea but my bet is that a lot of people will likely live in town (like me) or may not have a place big enough to accommodate a guest (or multiple guests). This will also be limited by where the people who have the ability to accommodate are located VS the route of the traveler.

Not trying to be Debbie Downer

but have you tried the iOverlander App. I'm not spnsored by them and have no affiliation; it just came preloaded on my Garmin Tread Overland XL and we use the heck out of it.

You'll gets screens like this that show campsites with write-ups that people like you and me have uploaded to the app:

We really don't even plan too much in advance on our adventures anymore. We just drive to our destination and look for iOverlander recommendations along the way and upon arrival. Really quite a game changer.

 

[Summitsearcher]

Not a bad idea but my bet is that a lot of people will likely live in town (like me) or may not have a place big enough to accommodate a guest (or multiple guests). This will also be limited by where the people who have the ability to accommodate are located VS the route of the traveler.

Not trying to be Debbie Downer

but have you tried the iOverlander App. I'm not spnsored by them and have no affiliation; it just came preloaded on my Garmin Tread Overland XL and we use the heck out of it.

You'll gets screens like this that show campsites with write-ups that people like you and me have uploaded to the app:

We really don't even plan too much in advance on our adventures anymore. We just drive to our destination and look for iOverlander recommendations along the way and upon arrival. Really quite a game changer.

No Debbie Downer taken. That’s a great option! Just a thought because we share the Gladiator hobby in common. When I go to Drummond us Jeepers can talk for hours about adventures and rigs. I agree some of us have property that can accommodate. My High School classmates always make room for traveling alumni. Great discussion and options by all.

Much appreciated.

 

[HooliganActual]

but have you tried the iOverlander App

I should have also pointed out that another app called Ultimate Public Campgrounds does something similar related to public lands:

It's also preloaded on the Garmin Tread XL - Overland.

Gosh...come to think of it, just go buy yourself a Garmin Tread XL - Overland....again not affiliated with Garmin either. The Garmin is expensive but man it just does everything an overlander needs including Satellite texting....oh yeah and it has maps for navigation too. LOL

 

[Summitsearcher]

I should have also pointed out that another app called Ultimate Public Campgrounds does something similar related to public lands:

It's also preloaded on the Garmin Tread XL - Overland.

Gosh...come to think of it, just go buy yourself a Garmin Tread XL - Overland....again not affiliated with Garmin either. The Garmin is expensive but man it just does everything an overlander needs including Satellite texting....oh yeah and it has maps for navigation too. LOL

Wow! $1499 10” screen? That’s an investment. I’m sure it could be found cheaper.

https://www.thegpsstore.com/GPS-Uni...L-Overland-wiht-inReach-All-Terrain-Navigator

 

[Artsifrtsi]

Typical sunrise from my driveway...

 

[John in the Woods]

@Summitsearcher I'm in. I have a few acres in NY's Finger Lakes, although I'm only there a few months a year. I also know lots of free camping areas in Upstate NY (yup, we have a lot of them, we just try not to tell the NYC people) so I'm happy to point anyone in then right direction. This could get unwieldy, but it's definitely a fun idea.

@HooliganActual -- thanks for the info on the apps. I have a Garmin InReach and a Garmin account, but I use Gaia for mapping. I'll see what kind of info I can access and import.

 

[HooliganActual]

Wow! $1499 10” screen? That’s an investment. I’m sure it could be found cheaper.

https://www.thegpsstore.com/GPS-Uni...L-Overland-wiht-inReach-All-Terrain-Navigator

Yeah, I won't downplay the investment; it was a big pill to swallow. Don't forget there's a monthly subscription fee too.

I had been using a Garmin Mini and it's partner Earthmate app for backpacking for the last 10 years or so and really liked the features that the Garmin system provided:
- The obvious mapping/navigation capability
- Satellite texting
- Garmin's website allows you to pre-build routes and then download them to the device to then track against in the field. This made it nice to ensure I was always on my planned route when hiking and trail markings weren't reliable.
- Another great feature is MapShare. I could send a link to my wife via the Garmin device and she could watch my movements real time on Garmin's website. So I've literally had her text me (through the device) on a multi-day hike and say "You haven't moved in 30 minutes. Are you okay?"..."Yeah just stopped for lunch and foot maintenance". So we can stay in touch with our adult children and family/friends and lord our travels over them by sending them the MapShare links.

I then used an iPad and the Garmin Mini for overlanding and it was okay but you lose some of the iPad's functionality when you finally get out of cell range.

I've had my Garmin Tread XL - Overland for about a year now and while I will admit that the entry price is steep, in real terms it is less than 2% of the investment of my rig as it is built right now. The device may not be for everyone but I would definitely spend the money again for the value it has provided.

 

[HooliganActual]

@HooliganActual -- thanks for the info on the apps. I have a Garmin InReach and a Garmin account, but I use Gaia for mapping. I'll see what kind of info I can access and import.

We had been using Gaia prior to getting the Garmin Tread and used it after as a cross check of sorts; but I've gained the confidence that the Garmin maps, etc. are just as good (and in some cases have been better) Gaia. While we are in the field, my wife will run Gaia on her phone and track at the same time. Redundancy never hurts.

 

[Summitsearcher]

Yeah, I won't downplay the investment; it was a big pill to swallow. Don't forget there's a monthly subscription fee too.

I had been using a Garmin Mini and it's partner Earthmate app for backpacking for the last 10 years or so and really liked the features that the Garmin system provided:
- The obvious mapping/navigation capability
- Satellite texting
- Garmin's website allows you to pre-build routes and then download them to the device to then track against in the field. This made it nice to ensure I was always on my planned route when hiking and trail markings weren't reliable.
- Another great feature is MapShare. I could send a link to my wife via the Garmin device and she could watch my movements real time on Garmin's website. So I've literally had her text me (through the device) on a multi-day hike and say "You haven't moved in 30 minutes. Are you okay?"..."Yeah just stopped for lunch and foot maintenance". So we can stay in touch with our adult children and family/friends and lord our travels over them by sending them the MapShare links.

I then used an iPad and the Garmin Mini for overlanding and it was okay but you lose some of the iPad's functionality when you finally get out of cell range.

I've had my Garmin Tread XL - Overland for about a year now and while I will admit that the entry price is steep, in real terms it is less than 2% of the investment of my rig as it is built right now. The device may not be for everyone but I would definitely spend the money again for the value it has provided.

That’s a great review! I think many will find useful. I hike as well, mostly alone. Grand Canyon, AP Trail, Northern and Upper Michigan. I love being out there but my family hates it not knowing where I am.

 

[HooliganActual]

@Summitsearcher

I do want to apologize for the Thread Hijack. I don't see/hear many people talking about these resources on this site (because it's not really a travel/overlanding dedicated site) and your thread shows there's a need within this Gladiator community for some networking about things other than "What tires should I get?".

Cheers!

 

[Summitsearcher]

@Summitsearcher

I do want to apologize for the Thread Hijack. I don't see/hear many people talking about these resources on this site (because it's not really a travel/overlanding dedicated site) and your thread shows there's a need within this Gladiator community for some networking about thinks other than "What tires should I get?".

Cheers!

Awe heck! I don’t care if it’s hijacked, wasn’t getting any traction (pun) anyway. You offered great value to it! I appreciate it anyway. ? Just a guy an his Jeep. ?

 

[HooliganActual]

Just a guy an his Jeep.

I like that...

Just a guy and his....3 Jeeps...LOL

 

[Summitsearcher]

I like that...

Just a guy and his....3 Jeeps...LOL

You must have more pockets to empty than I do.

 

[staying_tuned]

This is a great idea. The family and I heavily leverage Hipcamp as a cost effective way to RTT camp on private land. We've visited some beautiful land, nights usually run about $20. From fresh milk at a dairy farm to scenarios where were getting fresh eggs from the owner's coop, it has added a level in fun & safety for the little one's that we usually don't get when primitive camping on public forest.

That said, it's a mixed bag. We regretted only 2 places of the few dozen or so but the suck ones are pretty bad, one we bailed on for a hotel in the middle of the night. Fully paid of course but couldn't stay any longer.

I like that this sounds more curated and not driven by monetization which would allow a level of quality control unavailable elsewhere. I'm a software architect and would certainly be game for developing a mobile app like this. Nothing groundbreaking needed here, something like:

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