My Rebel Overlander

[Lewbrown]

Hi all. My name is Lew, I’m in SE PA. Bought my first ever truck a month ago, a 2022 Ram Rebel 5.7l. Since then I’ve put a cold air intake in her, and installed a Putco rack, a Bushveld rtt, and a 270 deg canopy.

My build strategy has been all over the map. I’m currently regretting not just buying a TRX, and so I’ve paused the actual truck mods. I do have an AWE catback ordered though.

I’m currently focused on a canopy camper from alu-cab. I added a pic of a trx with one. I’m in love.

My long term objective is vagabonding through the desert. I love Utah, and I’ve spent a lot of time in Baja, but never in my own vehicle.

So yeah, that’s me and my truck. Thanks for having us!

 

[4xdad]

Welcome buddy from Edmonton Alberta Canada good luck with your build make it what you want and have lots of fun

 

[Docwagon1776]

Howdy. Not sure this will help your buyer's remorse or not, but why would you want a TRX for overlanding? It's a high speed toy, and IMO not as good in that role as the Raptor. How fast are you going to go with a tent on the rack, etc? Baja racing vs overlanding have pretty different needs. How much extra fuel do you want to carry to actually explore, because with the mpg of the TRX and the lack of availability of the larger fuel tank fuel range will be a limiting capacity. (You did spec the bigger gas tank on your rebel, right?) The Rebel is a much more practical blank slate for overlanding, IMO.

 

[4xdad]

Docwagon makes a good point a Tex might not be the best choice for an over lander but if that’s what you want giver I got a pw for over landing (why not just call it camping) because it has a lot of the things I would have added to a lesser equipped truck there’s still things i would do to it but time and money are limiting factors build for what you need and have fun

 

[NCFireGuy]

Howdy. Not sure this will help your buyer's remorse or not, but why would you want a TRX for overlanding? It's a high speed toy, and IMO not as good in that role as the Raptor. How fast are you going to go with a tent on the rack, etc? Baja racing vs overlanding have pretty different needs. How much extra fuel do you want to carry to actually explore, because with the mpg of the TRX and the lack of availability of the larger fuel tank fuel range will be a limiting capacity. (You did spec the bigger gas tank on your rebel, right?) The Rebel is a much more practical blank slate for overlanding, IMO.

It looks great. I started my overland Ram Express. All the Rams are very capable for overlanding

 

[4xdad]

Camping too

 

[Travelin Ram]

I had the same thoughts as @Docwagon1776 , the requirement for premium fuel plus the fuel consumption would make the TRX less than ideal.

I would put the intake back to stock for desert off-road driving. CAI will be in dirty air (and hot, too).

There are some YouTube vids out there of people doing truck camping with RAMs which may provide some inspiration.

 

[392DevilDog]

I thought he was in love with the canopy camper.

Guess being a off pavement travel/dispersed camping fanatic...I just was interested in the canopy...haha.

I was gonna give lots of info about "overlanding" in PA...We just spent the weekend doing it...but I see your sites are in Utah. Never really been interested in the west or the desert.

Camping with RAM trucks is what we live for...

 

[Docwagon1776]

Never really been interested in the west or the desert.

Honestly, you're missing out. I love the woods but I love the desert as well. Variety being the spice of life and all that. I'm hoping to take the Power Wagon out west this coming spring. We did Death Valley (again) and a lot of the Mojave Preserve in a rental Ram 1500 this past November.

 

[Docwagon1776]

Docwagon makes a good point a Tex might not be the best choice for an over lander but if that’s what you want giver I got a pw for over landing (why not just call it camping)

I think for me, "overlanding" is a subset of camping. Camping includes backpacking, canoe camping, RV camping, etc. Overlanding is backpacking in a truck, going further off the beaten path than most go and staying for longer.

 

[4xdad]

Call it what you want it’s still a lot of fun we also like to go where most people can’t go if I can see or hear other people their to close

 

[Lewbrown]

I appreciate all the input!

I think my desire for the TRX stems from the fact that by the time I'm done with the Rebel I'll have spent the difference in upgrades anyway. But I am very hot and cold about doubling my car payment, and I can't stop spending money on the Rebel in the meantime, so I'm probably getting farther and farther away from that option. The practicality of the choice is extremely questionable with this vehicle also being my daily driver.

I did NOT get the 33-gallon tank unfortunately. I found the truck used with 6000 miles and had everything I wanted but the larger fuel tank. I didn't want to order my own and wait and it was a good deal. It's gonna have to be rotopax I fear.

 

[Lewbrown]

I think for me, "overlanding" is a subset of camping. Camping includes backpacking, canoe camping, RV camping, etc. Overlanding is backpacking in a truck, going further off the beaten path than most go and staying for longer.

This is exactly what it is for me. I want to drive closer to the 'trailhead' and then maybe turn it into a basecamp for a few days.

 

[Lewbrown]

I thought he was in love with the canopy camper.

Guess being a off pavement travel/dispersed camping fanatic...I just was interested in the canopy...haha.

I was gonna give lots of info about "overlanding" in PA...We just spent the weekend doing it...but I see your sites are in Utah. Never really been interested in the west or the desert.

Camping with RAM trucks is what we live for...

Please do! The desert is my dream, but I live in PA and there's no desert a weekend away. I've backpacked everywhere and know Rickett's Glen, and Old Logger's Path, the PA Grand Canyon, and many others. What I don't know, is how to find trails and adventures for the truck on the way there.

 

[392DevilDog]

Please do! The desert is my dream, but I live in PA and there's no desert a weekend away. I've backpacked everywhere and know Rickett's Glen, and Old Logger's Path, the PA Grand Canyon, and many others. What I don't know, is how to find trails and adventures for the truck on the way there.

Purplelizard.com. Get their maps(which you may already have Loyalsock and Pine Creek if you backpack)

They have all the roads and campsites on them.

If you do Facebook... Look up CentralPAOverland. https://www.facebook.com/groups/centralpaoverland/?ref=share

We just spent the weekend out in Rothrock, Bald Eagle and Tiadaghton State Forest.

We went up to a hang glider site...but the snow brought fog...could not really enjoy the view.

Another Vista gave a bit of clearing

Right now in PA a there are even more roads open for travel right now for hunting season...we checked out a couple we had never been on. Love seeing the open gates. And got to love PA weather...

This route here covers all the forests in Central PA....sorry, not much on the east or west sides of the state.

Here is the interactive map to our forest sites. Over 650 of them.

PA State Forest Camp Sites

maps.dcnr.pa.gov

You can go to ReserveAmerica.com to reserve and get more information.

Any specific questions ask away...I love talking about backpacking, car camping, travel trailer camping, tent camping, hammock camping, fishing hunting, maps, just all things outdoors...especially when the audience uses RAM trucks.

 

[4xdad]

Living in Alberta there’s not a lot of desert but there is a lot of places to explore and bc is only 3hrs away

 

[4xdad]

Lots of places to camp where you don’t need a site reservation

 

[4xdad]

And my pw is perfect for getting there

 

[392DevilDog]

We do have the Allegheny National Forest were no site reservation is needed.

This hobby is so popular right now, I much rather have a reservation for a site than to show up and not have one.

Our state forests have very specific rules to protect nature from people. Unfortunately, people still do not understand, leave it better than you found it, or pack out what you pack in, and very few pack out more than they pack in.

We can still backpack camp almost anywhere we want on public land...just have to be so far from water, roads, established campgrounds...there always has to be rules...hahaha

 

[4xdad]

In Alberta we have pluz public land use zone’s camping hunting 4x4ing allowed and there’s lots of land