This November and December I plan on hunting my way across and around the country. I’m going to leave MA in early Nov, and will head west. I plan on spending a majority of time in the mountain states. From there I might hop over to CA, then down to AZ/TX and head back home through the South.

My rig is a 07 4dr, 3” lift on 35” Duratracs, with 4.56’s. I am getting my BJs replaced, and having my gussets welded up soon. I also just ordered a new rear bumper and tire carrier. I plan on running a hitch basket for a cooler, gas, and animals.

I am also going to take my rear seats out, and build a sleeping platform with a space underneath for guns and a bow. I will use the foot well of the back seats, under the platform, for some storage. I’m 6’4”, but I am going to sleep in the back as often as possible, even though it is going to be a tight fit.

Aside from all my hunting gear, I plan on bringing a small gas stove with small pots and pans. I have some recovery gear, but no winch.

I think will it will be 10,000+ mile trip, so other than a lot of gas money, what do I need? Any tips you guys who have done expo type trips can provide would be much appreciated. I am especially interested in creative storage solutions, as I think I will be light on room given the amount of stuff I would like to bring.

Thanks in advance.

 

Especially being 6'4" u might want to consider a roof top tent. This will also give you a ton more internal storage area. Other items to consider are food storage, are u going to run an electric fridge freezer? Like an ARB setup, or are u going to buy food every day, or ice everyday or so to keep your food cold prior to cooking. Along those lines an inverter for plug in power is always nice. Not that you haven't already but check gun laws in every state you're going to be in and going thru. How's the tread on your tires?

 

I don't have any ideas for you right now but would love to see some pictures as you get the rig built

 

These are all very good points, I would also look into getting a winch and front bumper if you don't have one as well. You might not use it a lot but the time you do use it will be worth its weight in gold.

 

Keep a tread going on the fourm and let us know your progress and location. You might get into a situation where you need some local help. Your doing something the majority of us wished we were doing so I'm sure it will get read.

 

6'-4" will be a bit tight i'm 5'-9" and i sleep in mine all the time the only way i can stretch out is if i put my legs between the two seats. I been cross country since last June and when its raining i shack up in the jeep, i have a single futon mattress i can kind of taco shell myself with.
I pulled my two back seats out and installed the Kilby Floor Kit, it was a bit pricey but i didn't have to build anything and now the rear foot wells are all storage for tools, fluids, etc... i opted to leave my rear basket home because i didn't want the extra weight back there. I eat alot of dried goods and food that doesn't need to be kept cold. I do however use a small cooler, but don't carry much meat if i want a steak i'll go to a steak house when in town somewhere; block ice works best and can be found everywhere once u leave the northeast. I use 2 rubbermaid bins one for a grill/stove/pot and pans/cookware and the other bin as a pantry bin for those grains/nuts and canned goods i mentioned earlier. I also carry a 7gal water jug, during the summer months it will last me about 4days, cooler months about 6. I was going to make plans to carry jerry jugs but realized how close gas stations are and knowing that I'm by myself wouldn't get that far off the beaten path to need it. You will realize how little you actually need to get by and still be well fed and clothed.
Sounds like your going to be carrying guns and hunting equipment, would be kool to build something that you could store stuff under and sleep on top of, almost like a 1'-2'platform in the back, your going to be carrying around alot of extra weight at that point....something for the roof might be a good idea. The jeeps are goofy weight distribution as we know is important, too much weight back aft and it feels like your stuffing the rear into the pavement and will probably reek havock on ur track bar but if you put stuff on top now u have more sail area to deal with; this is why i left all of my racks out of my trip. I have stuff bungied all over the roll cage inside, from my snowboard/tent/foldup chair/and to secure stuff.
You will be sucking down the gas... I don't have the lift and tires u do only leveled at this point and running 33's with 5.13's (auto) and if I'm patient and run 2200rpms I have been known to get 20mph but most of the time I avg 17-18(still good).
Enjoy the trip and take pictures this country is quite the sight.

 

Maybe some provisions for light repairs along the way (tools, plug kit, etc...) Not a full blown snap-on tool kit, just the stuff you are likely to use. Also, a good first aid kit would be nice. Not a junker with crappy bandaids that fall off in 30min, but piece it together with quality items.

Like others said, I would like a roof-top tent, freeing up inside for storage. Maybe look into securing the firearms, not just hide them. If you had the roof top then, then you could get some type of security drawer, tuffy box, etc...

 

Lots of cold weather gear. Good snow shovel. If you are planning on hitting Wyoming, Montana, Utah, Colorado, etc it will be freaking cold! Check the out of state hunting regs for each state. Out of state hunters typically have to pay a large premium. You may also have to apply for tags in advance and for a specific area within the state. A locking hard case for firearms can save you some grief from the po-po. Unloaded and locked up would go a long ways should you get stopped.

A basic small parts repair kit would be a big plus. Serpentine belt, hose repair, antifreeze (your water source will likely be frozen), forest service maps, if no winch at the very least a come-a-long with as much strap as you can carry. If it's 0-deg F outside the inside of the Jeep will be about the same.

 

To expand on what Silverbolt said. Do some research on the gun laws in the areas you will be traveling through. You run drive through certain areas you could face criminal charges for having a firearm even if its a longarm, unloaded and locked. Just do your homework your spending a lot of money on your trip so you dont want it to end early. Good luck sounds like a cool excursion.

 

Not sure about sleeping inside.

A) It will take up a lot of your storage space.

B) It will be awfully cold, worse than outside. Thing about it, a bridge freezes before a roadway. This is because of the air under the bridge... same concept with a jeep.

It does provide a certain level of protection from the elements though. I think a roof rack would make sense here. You could store a lot up there, including fuel and water. All while being low profile.

Exciting idea!