Question for snowmobilers and 4-wheelers. (Leadore: fit in, college, camping)

[countryboy73]

How high are the NF roads trimmed up in NID? I am looking into setting up a truck camper for boondocking and exploring, and height matters. My wife and I like taking off up every road or track we can find, and camping in places out of the way. That used to mean backpacking and using a tent- at most. As we get older, and things like sleeping on the ground tend to make one more stiff than they used to, we have decided a truck camper is the way to go. In most places the rig will not be too big, but NID being so heavily forested has me wondering. I remember Upper Pack River Rd. being pretty grown over when we have been up it, but can't remember how low the overhanging branches were. Our rig will be no more than 7.5 ft. wide, and about 9 ft. tall. Just wondering if that will pose a problem?

[elousv]

I don't think you have a problem with height. Most of the FS roads are unlimited height. I have not seen many "tunnels" in growth. There are places that get overgrown with bushes and you might have to plow through, so make sure you don't have a pristine, waxed, show quality paint job that you need to worry about.

[countryboy73]

No worries. We are going to be doing a lot of boondocking with this thing, all over the west, so it will get some dings and scratches as time goes on. Probably be so dirty most of the time, nobody would notice a scratch anyway. Not going to trash the rig, I am generally pretty careful, but I won't weep over a little evidence that we actually USED our rig. The first time we went up Upper Pack River, we did it in a 2012 Impala.

[f5fstop]

Up 8-mile canyon road outside of Leadore, pulling my trailer. Some overhead clearance problems at times. Side clearances were more common and some large rocks/ruts on the side set the vehicle off camber.


But well worth the slow drive...

[countryboy73]

Looks like a pretty low "ceiling". So, am I all wet thinking truck camper? With a height of 9 to 10 feet, how limited are we going to be? Width will be no more than7.5 feet, likely more like 7. My wife and I love northern ID and NW MT, and will likely spend quite a bit of time there in the coming years, maybe even live there. Of course, we intend to explore all of ID, MT, WY, UT, and NV and AZ are not off limits. Much of the area is more open, but not all, and we want the best setup we can get for reaching the more remote corners and staying a few days in relative comfort.

We are looking at putting a custom built camper(by me) on a heavy duty pickup(no big lift or giant tires), totally self-contained for a week, more in a pinch. I worry that a trailer is more limiting than we care for, as I do not relish the thought of backing one down a mountain because the road is washed out and there is no place to turn around. In addition, a truck camper allows a night's stay in places a trailer would not be allowed. But I don't want to lock us out of places we want to go because the rig is too big. Any suggestions on sizing the perfect backcountry camping rig? I like a hard side camper, for those times you want to park and sleep while remaining inconspicuous, as well as being more amenable to cold weather use. Ideas?

[aiden_is]

CB, take a look at this...

iKamper | Expandable Hard-Shell Roof Top Tent | Skycamp

I have never used one of these, but I have several of their Room-in-Room products for my kids and my son in college. The company is small, but ethical and honest. If they made a one of these a bit bigger, I might seriously consider one for quick trips. It would also get you up higher off the ground, which is a good thing in bear country.

Just an alternative idea.

[elousv]

CB73, you can look at the map I posted in the snowmobiling thread. All the roads that have been groomed have had an 8'H groomer on top of at least 6' of snow. This is in the CDA National Forest I am talking about. I would worry more about ground clearance, tough tires and a chainsaw to cut through downed trees that completely block the road. Now there are some grown out trails, but that is mostly reserved for ATV (50") only so you would not be on them.

[countryboy73]

aiden_is, that is a cool idea, but we are looking for a more...ahhh... luxurious mobile residence. Mama(and Papa) likes a shower and good bed, no excuses.

elousv, that snowmobile thread is interesting. And I plan to have a chainsaw and other tools with us at all times. Self rescue is cheapest and least embarrassing. Been a prepared-for-everything kind of guy since I was a kid. Rig will sport heavy lug 10 ply tires and 2 spares, with a plugging kit and onboard air compressor, a winch sized 20% over the heaviest expected weight, a hi-lift jack, chains, come-alongs and other items aimed at making sure we get out of where we get into. As long as it will fit in, it will come out of anywhere my increasingly less adventurous self decides to take it. We may just need to accept the limitations of a taller rig, and roll with it. As far as ground clearance, we may be limited a bit by that, too. I do plan to use a 35" tire, and lift the truck only as necessary to allow wheel travel with that tire, but I have to take into consideration the road handling characteristics and center of gravity issues. Places like Livingston, MT and most of WY will test the rig's ability to handle high winds. Don't want a dually, and don't want to be on our side, either. Gotta keep to some middle ground...

[oregonwoodsmoke]

OP and anyone else who wants to go camping in the back woods, my theory of back country camping is to not take the rig where it doesn't fit. If you follow that rule, you won't get stuck.

The height of a truck mounted camper can limit where you can go. My family has a nice camper, but for out in the woods, we use a travel trailer with an off-road suspension.

Get yourself a US Forest Service map and if they show it as a road, you can probably go there, barring road wash-outs. If it is a snow mobile trail stay off of it, unless you are on horse back or on foot. Your truck most likely will not go there.

The elk hunters around here all use "hunting trailers". That's a very old travel trailer that is one step above completely trashed. That is so when they get caught in a high mountain snow storm, they can unhitch the trailer and leave it there, getting themselves and their truck out. By spring when the snow melts, that trailer is unusable, but it hasn't cost them much and they have been able to get themselves out.

We go snow camping, but only to places where we know the road will be passable to get out, maybe with a little digging. We've seen enough of people in the same area who are stuck and need help to get out because they were too confident about their vehicle's ability.

4WD is very useful, but it will not get you out of absolutely anything. It has its limitations.

Please, if you are going off-road, make sure someone knows exactly where you are going to be and when you will be back. That is so Search and Rescue knows where to look for you and doesn't waste time if you are not back at the arranged day.