Hello!
Steve here, Baltimore Metro. Most of my off-roading has been the old Green Ridge State Forest, fire roads, and whatnot. There may have some light shenanigans in a rental Wrangler in a western desert state a long time ago.
I've been camping since I was a teen. Much of our traveling has been road-based camp site to camp site in New England, Glacier NP, Shenandoah, Assateague and tons of state parks. Usually just about every year I hit Assateague for a few days and drive my truck down the ORV area and fish. Pic is below.
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The Porkchop Express: 2004 Tacoma TRD that is going to be parted out. Bought an OME suspension and found out the mount points on the frame were toast. RIP. I was always more rigged for campsite/heavy truck camping and now want to go the other direction. Overlanding has always intrigued me. I have had an M416 I've been sitting on to make a camping trailer out of for years but I'm going to sell that soon.
Planning on doing my first true overland trip over my birthday in March next year. I've found a couple rental setups in CA that might be able to make a Joshua Tree > Mojave Road > Death Valley > with maybe a trip to the Grand Canyon over 7 days. Thinking about a couple friends that are more aggressive campers than me to rent rigs as well.
Last thing: I have to replace my beloved Porkchop Express. Seriously considering after we get back from out west buying a Gladiator based on how it handles the terrain and making more and more overland trips on weekends and extended. I'm not into crawling and thinking about doing a Mojave. Coincidentally the rentals are Gladiators.
Cheers and safe travels.