Living with Khaya: Part Two

I was onto week two in OK4WD’s 2017 Toyota Tacoma, equipped with a host of components and accessories from ARB, and a rugged, extremely-functional Khaya Camper by Alu-Cab. Unlike the previous week, where I toured some of Colorado’s most scenic landscapes for the sake of adventure, this week I had a very specific objective: to drive the truck from Colorado to my home turf in Pennsylvania. When traveling such great distances over a relatively short span of time in an overland vehicle, less emphasis is placed on campsite selection and settling into that camp. Instead, emphasis is placed on convenience and being as portable as possible while still enjoying a safe and comfortable night of sleep.  

Eastward and Onward

I departed the Colorado Springs area on Friday night, with the intention of arriving in Lancaster, Pennsylvania by the end of the following Thursday. Google Maps reported that it was approximately a 24 hour drive. I had six days to reach my destination, so I opted to log at least four hours of driving per day. Four hours of driving, on-pavement, is my own comfortable limit. I am certainly capable of much longer stretches, but after four hours, fatigue starts to set in and I’m prone to becoming cranky!  

Day One: Eastern Colorado

The very first night, I rolled into a free campsite at Flagler Recreation Area, in eastern Colorado. It had been the first time that I had traveled in the Tacoma at night, and this presented the opportunity to test out the ARB Intensity driving lights as I approached camp. After hitting a button on the truck’s sPod control panel, the road ahead was illuminated for what seemed like a thousand feet, allowing me to see deviations and potential obstacles well in advance. At the campsite, the ARB Intensity driving lights enabled me to get a good feel for the perimeter in the dark. Know your surroundings! That should be the very first rule for safe mobile-living!  

Day Two: Kansas

In Kansas, I spent the evening at Geary State Fishing Lake and Wildlife Area, south of Junction City. It was the weekend, so the lake was bustling with boaters and picnickers. It was a very public setting - more public than I prefer - but the sign at the entrance indicated that camping was permitted, and Kansas, as a whole, has relatively few boondocking opportunities. The biggest challenge that I had in Kansas was leveling the truck, as I could find few rocks or logs with which to prop up a tire. In my YouTube videos, I can often be seen placing objects under my tires when I park at a campsite, and I’m occasionally asked why. If your vehicle is equipped with a camper or a roof-mounted tent, then it is also your bed. While sleeping on an incline might be tolerable for an evening or two, I find that I experience the soundest sleep when my bed is perfectly level. After getting the Tacoma positioned to my satisfaction, I popped the camper next to the water, and enjoyed a pleasant night of sleep to the sound of crickets and croaking frogs!  

Day Three: Missouri

When you live on the road, there are two safe bets for finding free, dispersed camping areas in the continental United States. The first is national forest land, which often consist of primitive road networks that are dotted with small clearings and potential campsites. The second is BLM land, which is, quite simply “public land” in the most generic sense. BLM land is commonplace west of the Rocky Mountains, and is non-existent to the east. Needless to say, I was going to have to target national forests to find places to spend the night. In central Missouri, I found myself in Mark Twain National Forest. There, I discovered a very nice, equestrian campground with water, vault toilets, hitching posts, picnic tables, and fire rings. It was a private, fairly secluded, and peaceful place to spend the night. While I was there, I took advantage of the Khaya Camper’s on-board, pressurized water system, and took an extremely refreshing, open-air shower!  

Day Four: Indiana

The next logical destination was Hoosier National Forest, located on the eastern border of Indiana. There, I found a small, well-maintained campground called Buzzard Roost. It was located at the top of a wooded hill overlooking the Ohio River, and I had the place all to myself. Unfortunately, the dense treeline made it difficult to see down to the river, save for a small observation deck located a short distance down a hiking trail. It was here that I really took notice of the change in climate and geography. The woods were lush and green, and the air was considerably more humid than it had been the day before. I woke up to a heavy mist, and to the sound of river barges blowing their horns, making their presence known on the water below.  

Day Five: Kentucky

Thus far, as I hopped from one state to the next, every camping experience had been positive. It might’ve been good luck, or it might be attributed to practice. Whatever the case may be, you don’t always hit a home run. In the northern tip of Daniel Boone National Forest, I found a road next to a lake that was lined with free, dispersed campsites - most of which were burgeoning with people who were out enjoying the water. This was clearly an extremely popular, lakeside destination! After following the road for a bit, I did eventually find a campsite to call my own, right next to the water. However, it was spoiled with trash and someone’s collapsed abandoned tent. The bugs were out in force and the muddy water wasn’t remotely inviting. Under normal circumstances, I would’ve kept exploring, as the Kentucky wilderness is vast and beautiful, and I’m sure it’s filled with pristine, secret campsites. However, time was of the essence, and I needed to recharge for the next leg of my journey, so I opted to settle in for the night. While at camp, I noticed that the Khaya Camper was equipped with a rear-facing flood light on its roof. I had seen it before, but I couldn’t figure out how to turn it on. I gave up searching for a switch and decided to message Rin at OK4WD to inquire about the light... Apparently, there is a small remote control for the light that you can carry around camp in your pocket. After some rummaging, I found it! So cool! It ended up being a quick and easy way to illuminate the area behind the truck, and provided some welcome peace of mind.    

Day Six: West Virginia

As I passed through West Virginia, I found myself back in familiar territory and made my way to the small town of Davis, where I enjoyed lunch at Hellbender Burrito. Following lunch, I set off to the popular Canaan Loop Road, near Blackwater Falls State Park. This is a scenic primitive road through densely wooded mountains. The trail crosses two creeks, and consists of some deteriorated rocky sections that might give a driver pause. At one spot, the road descended sharply over some precarious rocks. In addition to careful line-picking, I would have to keep my speed to a minimum. I engaged the Tacoma’s “Crawl Control” feature, a traction-aid from the factory, and the speed-control mechanism chattered to life as the truck tip-toed down the formidable slope. Having successfully negotiated the terrain, I returned to a familiar campsite in a grove of pines, surrounded by rock formations and mountain laurel. It was a serene setting, and a phenomenal place to spend one last night before completing my journey to Pennsylvania!  

On Home Turf

The next day I made it safely to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, just as I had planned. I was still a little bit fatigued, despite giving myself ample time for the drive. Nevertheless, I maintain that short, daily hops are the best approach to long road-trips! I have one more week planned with the Khaya Camper, and I expect that experience to be a little bit more subdued, as I’ll be spending time with family in Pennsylvania, and then transitioning out of the truck to prepare it for its return to OK4WD in New Jersey... [gallery size="large" columns="5" ids="https://ok4wd.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/lwk2-3-1.jpg|,https://ok4wd.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/lwk2-20-1.jpg|,https://ok4wd.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/lwk2-1-1.jpg|,https://ok4wd.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/lwk2-2-1.jpg|,https://ok4wd.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/lwk2-4-1.jpg|,https://ok4wd.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/lwk2-5-1.jpg|,https://ok4wd.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/lwk2-6-1.jpg|,https://ok4wd.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/lwk2-7-1.jpg|,https://ok4wd.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/lwk2-8-1.jpg|,https://ok4wd.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/lwk2-9-1.jpg|,https://ok4wd.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/lwk2-10-1.jpg|,https://ok4wd.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/lwk2-11-1.jpg|,https://ok4wd.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/lwk2-12-1.jpg|,https://ok4wd.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/lwk2-13-1.jpg|,https://ok4wd.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/lwk2-14-1.jpg|,https://ok4wd.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/lwk2-15-1.jpg|,https://ok4wd.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/lwk2-16-1.jpg|,https://ok4wd.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/lwk2-17-1.jpg|,https://ok4wd.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/lwk2-18-1.jpg|,https://ok4wd.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/lwk2-19-1.jpg|,https://ok4wd.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/lwk2-21-1.jpg|,https://ok4wd.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/lwk2-22-1.jpg|,https://ok4wd.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/lwk2-23-1.jpg|,https://ok4wd.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/lwk2-24-1.jpg|,https://ok4wd.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/lwk2-25-1.jpg|"]