The full sized mid-size, my 2014 F150 "Fiddy"

[Grassland]

Froze in the bed of my truck this Easter weekend. -2°C first night and -10°C the second night.
Again using my summer/fall backpacking bag rated for "-10°C".

Ordered a -29°C sleeping bag Wednesday this week from a local supplier only to get a call today saying it's actually out of stock. (The model is discontinued and I knew that going in)

Truck is in getting rust repair now. Hopefully will be driving it to Newfoundland this August of this Government Wet Dream of citizen control ever ends.
Literally my local municipal government is getting wet knowing they can stop taxpayers from using taxpayer funded amenities and services.

 

[Grassland]

Managed a few nights out on the long weekend before the first wave of AC calls brought me back to the city early.
The truck was just transport for the bicycles this time.

Saw an otter, beavers, pelicans, herrons, personally killed over 40 wood ticks. The beavers have made a few damns along the trail and I had to carry my bike for a few hundred yards through some neon green slime and mud. I didn't bother taking pictures of that unfortunately. Was a neat colour.

Bought this fancy tent off a buddy last fall. Forgot it's swamp or granite where we were going so tent stakes were useless. Improvised this in the setting sun Friday night.

 

[ITTOG]

In my experience when it gets that cold a different bag is not going to help unless you were using a $50 bag. For me once it starts getting into single digits or below zero I just add a flannel liner. I've slept in -15 degrees f in my 15-degree bag with a flannel liner and was comfortable.

Sent from my Pixel 3a XL using Tapatalk

 

[Grassland]

Well, my "Hot Core" bag was like $99 CAD when I bought it so basically that's $50 USD.
It works for the weather I backpack in, which is why I bought it.
Friday night was 6 Celsius I think and with my thin fleece blanket and mid weight base layer for sleeping I was fine. Bag is rated for "-10 Celsius" which is obviously a survival rating and not comfort.

 

[KWJohnston]

@Grasslands you have such a nice clean, no nonsense , and capable looking truck. I always liked a truck that had just enough mods to be more capable than stock, and nothing tacked on just for looks.
Beautiful picture of the lake/sky.

 

[Grassland]

@Grasslands you have such a nice clean, no nonsense , and capable looking truck. I always liked a truck that had just enough mods to be more capable than stock, and nothing tacked on just for looks.
Beautiful picture of the lake/sky.

Thanks.
Sounds like you have a SCAB of your own now.
All you need is 1.5-2" up front and 1" rear and some larger tires, and armor, and your ahead of the game as.you have factory locker, more gears, and more power.

With stock wheels you could probably run 285/75R17 and it would look better and have more clearance.

 

[Grassland]

For the 3rd time ever since I purchased the truck brand new, I have exceed 19 US MPG.
300 km of 110 kph not towing, and then 50km in town with light traffic.

Generally the only long highway trips I take involve towing, so this is one of few occasions where several hundred highway only km were logged. Flat prairie land as well.

 

[Grassland]

A better shot of the RCI skids

What our current trailer is. In all its staple and glue glory. What a heap.


The awning is handy and they tow not bad, plus in what is hot weather around here you can get a great breeze through them and thus don't require AC. (If it's 90 and humid that's the worst it gets in Manitoba) and we've been in it in BC in the 90s for a week without issue.

Still looking forward to a trailer not built like garbage

 

[badm0t0rfinger]

@Grassland its looking great! The gas tank skid is the last piece I need to get for mine.

 

[Grassland]

@Grassland its looking great! The gas tank skid is the last piece I need to get for mine.

It was the first skid plate installed.
Honestly having that five foot long plastic tank hanging in the breeze is like leaving your balls hanging out of your fly.

 

[badm0t0rfinger]

It was the first skid plate installed.
Honestly having that five foot long plastic tank hanging in the breeze is like leaving your balls hanging out of your fly.

I feel that, I prioritized the transfer case and transmission skid because at least I have a skid on the gas tank already, even if its just reinforced plastic. I was honestly a bit taken aback by how flimsy the transfer case skid was.

 

[Grassland]

Since Newfoundland won't even let us in and it's 14 day quarantine on arrival to Nova Scotia and again on return to Manitoba, our East Coast holiday is cancelled this year.
Going to use some of that time to take the wife's 2019 Jeep GC on a road trip to Chilliwack BC and hopefully order an Escape fiberglass trailer. Either a 17a or a 19.

This year has literally been the worst

 

[Grassland]

Went out last weekend to get assaulted by a few hundred thousand mosquitos.

Thinking I'd like an awning for the back of the truck.
Not a big fan of the lightweight tent I have, set up is fussy and it suffers from condensation, and being so tight it's guaranteed you are brushing against the wall.
Got some pinstriping, but no difficult terrain. Tired stayed at street pressure.
Got to try out my Alaskan Take down rifle again, first time since May I've had the chance and the second time period I've shot it. Lots of failure to eject and double feeds when using .38 special but works fairly reliable when using .357.
Which is good to know as I passed a big fresh pile of berry filled bear crap and a bunch of bear prints on my day hike.

 

[phsycle]

Looks like a big paw print. I’d rather have my shotgun with buckshots than a 357.

Tents. I used an REI tent for years. Then got a canvas tent several years ago. No flapping in the wind. Super sturdy. Can stand up in it. Weighs more and takes up a little more space but well worth it.

It was cheaper than Springbar tents but pricing is closer now. Either would work well.

Canvas Camping Tents

Kodiak Canvas manufactures and sells the highest quality canvas camping tents

www.kodiakcanvas.com

 

[Grassland]

Looks like a big paw print. I’d rather have my shotgun with buckshots than a 357.

Tents. I used an REI tent for years. Then got a canvas tent several years ago. No flapping in the wind. Super sturdy. Can stand up in it. Weighs more and takes up a little more space but well worth it.

It was cheaper than Springbar tents but pricing is closer now. Either would work well.

Canvas Camping Tents

Kodiak Canvas manufactures and sells the highest quality canvas camping tents

www.kodiakcanvas.com

This is a backpacking tent, it weights 1.2 lbs.
We are doing a 60km hike in a month and a half so did some hiking with pack and gear etc. As a dry run sort of thing.
Would also prefer a shotgun if expecting bear encounters but this rifle is far lighter and when in a group the expectation of bear encounter is far lower. The planned Mantario hike appears to have bear vaults at the designated camp sites, so as long as we are smart the risks are fairly mitigated.

We have a canvass surveyor tent for fall and winter camping.