Uploaded September 2018 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Can the Snake Lake Trail be done in a Ram Power Wagon? Subscribe to find out. Snake Lake Trail goes from Gold Lake, CA to Snake Lake to Little Deer Lake and back to Gold Lake.
Can the Snake Lake Trail be done in a Ram Power Wagon? Subscribe to find out. Snake Lake Trail goes from Gold Lake, CA to Snake Lake to Little Deer Lake and back to Gold Lake.




![Custom Overland Trailer Build
0:00: Introduction
The Parlor: 1:50
Trailer Stabilizers: 3:13
Solar Panel: 5:11
About the Trailer: 8:57
Campsite Setup: 9:24
ARB Awning: 10:08
FrontRunner Water Jerry Can: 12:04
Camp Kitchen: 14:24
Dometic CFX55 IM Fridge: 15:25
Tuff Stuff Overland Elite Roof Top Tent: 17:33
Craft Autoworks OES: 21:31
Trailer Power Connections: 23:51
Hitching the trailer: 25:23
Conclusion: 25:53
Products listed in this video:
SAND MINE Mat: https://amzn.to/3TyzCwK [PAID LINK]
ARB Awning: https://amzn.to/3FeawyP [PAID LINK]
FrontRunner Expander Chair: https://amzn.to/3gx0PBg [PAID LINK]
RAM Stabilizer: https://amzn.to/3VV5g9g [PAID LINK]
RecPro RV Table Support: https://amzn.to/3D72KEf [PAID LINK]
Dometic CFX3 55IM: https://amzn.to/3SAdj8D [PAID LINK]
FrontRunner Water Jerry Can: https://amzn.to/3D59HG5 [PAID LINK]
ReBel 50Ah LiFePo4 Basttery: https://amzn.to/3TEyKqm [PAID LINK]
Noco Genius Charger: https://amzn.to/3TVsIkX [PAID LINK]
DC8 Extension: https://amzn.to/3VZvM1k [PAID LINK]
DC8 to SA adaptor: https://amzn.to/3swo4ye [PAID LINK]
Goal Zero Nomad 100: https://amzn.to/3gFMvqf [PAID LINK]
REI Chairs: https://www.rei.com/product/847136/rei-co-op-camp-x-chair
Craft Autoworks OES Compact: https://craftautoworks.com/portfolio-items/overland-electrical-systems/
When you travel in the overland style, camping, driving, seeing the sights of the west, moving across the landscape like an explorer venturing into unknown lands, you need to bring enough with you that you can survive between resupplies be more or less comfortable doing it, without taking so much that you are encumbered by your burden of provisions and accessories. For everyone that line between prepared, and anchored, is a little different. Some travel light with slim shelter and minimal convenience, others travel in comparative luxury with full size expedition vehicles. Needs, and expectations are what they are. Weve found a system that works well for us and it involves a minimally modified mid-size 4x4 and a small custom off-road trailer with a roof top tent.
The Trailer
This trailer has been around for a while. If you want to know more about where it came from and how it got here, you can see the full list of posts and videos here. But heres the elevator pitch. The trailer is a small steel cargo trailer that was sold under the name Aerotow in the 80s and 90s throughout the west. My parents bought it in about 1988 and it served as a family camping cargo carrier for our family for more than a decade. I acquired it in the early 2000s and it served as a utility trailer. Then we started to need it it for taking our growing family camping and so I added a bigger axle with brakes and tires. Off-Road duty quickly surpassed the structural integrity of the trailer so Bradd Davidson and Dave Wiggins built a new frame for it with Tacoma Springs and shocks from Harry Wagner and some of my new design concepts. At that point it became a truly capable off road trailer. Finally I added a Compact Camping Concepts No-Weld trailer rack for a roof top tent and awning and the structure of the trailer was complete.
Today, our little off road trailer can go anywhere the Tacoma can go and cary everything we need to get there and back. This is not just hyperbole. It has done that and I have the video to prove it.
READ MORE: https://allterrainfam.com/?p=3824&preview=true Custom Overland Trailer Build](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/UscqviQvObs/mqdefault.jpg)



![9 Things Every #Vanlifer Boondocker Needs
#vanlife #boondocking #overlanding
Products mentioned:
MaxTrax: https://amzn.to/3LzkUkz [PAID LINK]
X-Bull Traction Board: https://amzn.to/3qQWA5U. [PAID LINK]
Bully Tools Shovel: https://amzn.to/3u52UZP. [PAID LINK]
DMOS Delta Shovel: https://amzn.to/3x1boTg [PAID LINK]
Mechanix Wear Glove: https://amzn.to/3Ka9Z0o [PAID LINK]
Troy Lee Designs glove: https://amzn.to/3J3G2y4 [PAID LINK]
ARB Recovery Strap: https://amzn.to/3uJyf37 [PAID LINK]
Bubba Rope: https://amzn.to/3iZaAWN [PAID LINK]
Bubba Rope Gator Jaw: https://amzn.to/36P7KRM [PAID LINK]
ARB Tire deflator kit: https://amzn.to/38jK2xF [PAID LINK]
Boulder Tools auto deflator: https://amzn.to/36FLRoe [PAID LINK]
Terra Flex Deflator kit: https://www.4wheelparts.com/p/teraflex-air-deflator-zinc-4807200/_/R-FNNT-4807200
ARB Compressor Kit: https://amzn.to/3LvgDPb [PAID LINK]
Ironman 4x4 compressor kit: https://ironman4x4america.com/air-champ-3-2cfm-12v-portable-air-compressor/
ARB Tire Repair Kit: https://amzn.to/3uQJmrg [PAID LINK]
Basic Tire Repair Kit: https://amzn.to/3LtRWCO [PAID LINK]
If youre in Reno Nevada, check out Rack2Roam: https://www.rack2roam.com
We recently rented a 2 wheel drive van and went on a 10 day adventure over spring break. On that adventure we logged a lot of miles on dirt roads. Not just short dirt roads to get to the camp ground, we did miles and miles of dirt roads through remote terrain all by ourselves. Its OK to take chances, just be prepared. Even if you dont consider yourself an off roader, if youre logging a lot of miles on dirt roads in any vehicle, you need to think about this.
On the last night of our trip we woke up and realized we were parked in sand and had to use our recovery gear to get out. But we were prepared, had the equipment we needed and the experience to get ourselves out.
Fortunately, Mark at Rack 2 Roam here in Reno has your back. Hes started carrying some basic recovery gear, in addition to anything you need to cary all your overlanding and adventure gear on your vehicle. Even if you arent doing gnarly off roading, any adventurous soul will eventually find themselves in need of this gear.
Lets head down there and check some out the three levels of recovery gear that I recommend every vanlifer, boondocker or adventurer should carry.
Level 1: The basics, if you only get three things, get these.
Max Trax (at least one set)
MaxTrax is a brand of traction board that you can place in front of or behind the drive tires of your vehicle if you are bogged down in a loose surface. You can also use them to bridge a gap or make a step up or down less harsh.
Shovel
The shovel and the traction board go hand in hand.
Gloves
If you protect your hands itll make all of this work a lot easier.
Level 2:
Level up for those times when youve really made a bad decision. With this stuff all you need is another vehicle and you can get out. Its easy to find another vehicle, but if neither of you has this stuff youre hosed.
Snatch Strap / kinetic rope
A snatch strap or kinetic rope is a stretchy length of webbing or rope with fixed loops at both ends. With a little momentum, a smaller vehicle can pull out a larger vehicle with the magic of physics. Dont attach it to a trailer ball.
Soft Shackle
A soft shackle is a light weight and incredibly strong way to connect a recovery strap to a hart point on a vehicle. Its flexible and can go around tubes and through eyelets. Do not connect this to the trailer ball either.
Bubba Rope Gator Jaw:
Receiver Pin x2
The one kind of hard point that is most reliably on most if not all vans, campers, RVs and random vehicles you may encounter is a trailer hitch. The best way to connect to a trailer hitch is with a receiver pin which is rated for a high load and easy to cary. I recommend carrying two of these with your snatch strap. You can insert the loop into the receiver and secure it directly with the pin.
Level 3:
Arguably, this should be level 2, but its less likely to work, so I put it in third place. A lot of times, lowering the air pressure in your tires will give you enough traction to get out of trouble. Plus, tire punctures can ruin your day if you arent prepared.
Tire Deflators
Tire deflators are a tool that lets you lower the air pressure in a controlled way. They run the gambit from super nice ARB Deflator kit to the basic and useful kit from TeraFlex
Air Compressor / Inflator
If you deflate your tires, its smart to have a way to re-inflate them. Rack2Roam carries a compressor kit from Ironman 4x4 that includes everything you need to air up the tires.
Tire Repair Kit
If you have the compressor, you might as well have a way to repair a punctured tire. A tire repair kit is simple and easy to use and you can recover from most, not all, punctures quickly.
If you want to see any of this gear, or ask Mark or myself about any of these things, come down to Rack 2 Roam on Saturday April 9th from 2 to 6 for an overlander meetup.
Ok, Happy Trails. 9 Things Every #Vanlifer Boondocker Needs](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/VuA0XpqeTuY/mqdefault.jpg)

