All About Our Truck

Back at our house in West Chester, just outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is the most comfortable California King-sized bed, bought from a local mattress shop when we lived in Charlottesville, Virginia. It’s a great bed, but I don’t even miss it because the second most comfortable bed sits on the rooftop of our Toyota Hilux.
It’s about time I do a write up on the vehicle we have already spent 6 months living out of. (In total we will spend 9 months in this home on wheels!)

They don’t sell Toyota Hiluxes in the USA, but the Hilux is an extremely popular truck in other parts of the world. (In fact, if you exclude America, it is the world’s #1 best-selling truck.) Known for its durability and off-road capabilities, I’m not sure I would want to take any other vehicle up or down many of the treacherous roads Africa is known for. We’ve certainly put this truck to the test and I can say first hand this is one powerful vehicle. Toyota is also the maker of most of the vehicles on the roads in Africa and therefore obtaining parts and finding a mechanic who knows how to fix them is actually possible even in small towns. (It’s not a matter of if the truck will break, it’s a question of when.)
Our four wheel drive Toyota Hilux has a 2.4 GD engine, 160L long-range fuel tank, a 60L water tank including spigot to retrieve flowing water, an on board refrigerator/freezer operated with a second battery for charging, a pull out pantry, kitchen storage fully equipped with kitchen gear, two gas propane tanks for cooking, a pull out awning to sit under, a metal table to cook on, and plenty of space for storage. Our truck is outfitted so we can be fully self-sufficient while travelling. We packed our clothes away in heavy duty plastic bins and had more than enough room inside for 2 camp chairs, another full set of travel camping gear for when we go up the mountains, road recovery gear (tire treads, high lift jack, shovel, etc), an air compressor for tire emergencies, and various tools for various repairs. But most importantly of all, a tent on the roof so we can sleep just about anywhere we want.

Here’s a photo tour of our home on four wheels:

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I know it’s not a lifestyle for everyone, but having the ability to cook my own food and sleep just about anywhere is liberating. I feel like I am experiencing Africa the way it was meant to be experienced — as primitively as possible and closely connected with nature. We already spend all day outside while looking for birds, might as well spend all night outside too!
On occasion we do snag a hotel room for a shower or a break from outside life, but more often than not, every time we do, we find ourselves longing for the mattress and bedding inside of our rooftop tent. I wasn’t joking when I said it was the second most comfortable bed I’ve ever slept on! (Maybe it’s because the mosquito netting provided in these hotel rooms does little to keep mozzies out. Or maybe it’s because we often get the cheapest rooms possible and the whole night I’m wondering what critters are lurking beneath the mattress. Or maybe it’s simply because your own space is just that, yours.)

We currently have the Easy Awn Blade mounted on top of our truck. Inside is a foam mattress, two sleeping bags, and two pillows. We we have found this tent to be super convenient since we need to unpack and repack our tent every single day. A pop-up tent such as this one makes doing that extremely easy. Hydraulic arms on either side of the tent means a gentle push up from the bottom and the tent essentially sets itself up. Going back down is equally smooth and in approximately two minutes we can be on the road.
For the first three months of our trip in 2020 we had an Easy Awn Jazz, a fold over tent with a little more space inside but not nearly as easy to set up and put away, and not quite as waterproof. I could make an entire pro/con list between the two RTTs, but I’ll save that for another day.

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Some nights we sleep in very random spots such as gas stations and random parking lots. (Tip the security guard just about anywhere and they are fine with parking a truck in the corner.) Sometimes we just do our best to find a quiet and secluded area for the night, known among Overlanders as “wild camping.” Most nights we at least try to find a decent campground and therefore have access to a safe location and facilities.

Watching a full moon rise through the window of my tent and falling asleep as it climbs higher into the sky is not possible unless sleeping outside directly under it. Believe me, I definitely appreciate sleeping outside under it, even if I’m required to climb up and down a ladder any time I want to go out to pee. Yes, toilet facilities can be whatever you make them (a nice patch of dirt will suffice!)
If I’m being honest, the nights spent in the bush or at a campground inside of a park being serenaded by the sounds of wildebeest, elephants, hippos or any other animal are my absolute favorite. (Except maybe Tree Hyraxes — they are just loud and annoying.) These moments where wildlife is literally right outside my door are worth their weight in gold. Maybe I’m a bit biased, but a rooftop tent parked under the stars and cuddled inside of a sleeping bag is the best way to pass a night on this amazing continent. Overlanding Africa in the best way.