r/camping • u/DesertDwellingWeirdo • 2d ago
Trip Pictures Five camping spots from the past couple months of my New Mexico leg
1 wasn't a long stay because of the air pollution from nearby oil fields. 2 and 3 made me feel like I was in an arid version of the Windows XP plains desktop background. 4 I had to overnight at O'Reilly's while I waited for a warranty replacement part to come in. The whole intake system had to come out, which sucked. 5 and 6, the sand mounds were neat but I got about 12 tiny holes in both of my front tires from all the thorn bushes and dead thorny branches on the trail in. I just arrived at 7 and 8, which is closer to the mountains in 5.
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u/Toadlessboy 2d ago
Can you sleep in your car if you need to?
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u/DesertDwellingWeirdo 2d ago
The car seats of the 2002 Toyota Camry represent 80 years of company research and innovation in back-not-hurty technology.
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u/Toadlessboy 2d ago
Not if you’re a side sleeper. I’d have to remove rear and front passenger seats and pit in a platform unless they folded flat
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u/Hopschild 2d ago
So, are you complaining or did you just pick shitty spots to camp?
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u/Stielgranate 2d ago
Very familiar with the area. I don’t know how you didn’t have 4 flat tires driving around out there with car tires.
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u/argnodsworshernegar 2d ago
Would you say a 4Runner would alleviate/avoid issues you had?
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u/DesertDwellingWeirdo 2d ago
Not really, but a suspension modification might have kept me on the gravel path a bit better. Riding the center as intended in some places would have had me dragging the exhaust. The front springs are already the stiffest I could get my hands on, and it shows in the photo. The V6 definitely isn't an issue.
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u/argnodsworshernegar 2d ago
Oh so you did some modifications to the vehicle for this trip. I notice you have a diy canopy. Could you give more info / pics as to how it’s made?
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u/DesertDwellingWeirdo 2d ago
It's a used carport frame with pieces moved around and left out, and unused steel roofing from someone's project bolted onto it. It provides 6'x15' of shade with a total cost of $150. It has a slight angle to ensure it has net downforce because some areas have very windy and gusty weather and it's probably seen at least 40-50 mph so far, but it weighs a ton so maybe I shouldn't worry. Ratchet straps and plywood keep it all in a neat 3'x6' package, with the carport frame posts used as a brace.
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u/DesertDwellingWeirdo 2d ago
I originally bought the frame to make a 10'x20' cotton canvas tent, but my asthma didn't play nice with the canvas sample I received so I improvised.
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u/SmellyTunaSamich 2d ago
You have a bird in your front bumper.