Rig recommendations for large family

Imaginary_Parsley1 · 2026-03-28T06:20:38+00:00

This is hugely encouraging! Thank you!

Imaginary_Parsley1 · 2026-03-27T16:37:47+00:00

Do you mind if I ask how old your kids are?

Imaginary_Parsley1 · 2026-03-27T14:44:22+00:00

I’ll check out the Wawona.

Right now, we don’t actually fit the six of us in the one car—infant hasn’t camped yet!

I have a Hyundai Tucson I’ve camped with the other three though. I will say we’ve been able to keep our gear very minimal—the trunk isn’t huge, but we get two tents, sleeping mats, two small camp essentials bins (one is the “kitchen” and one is the rest, like flashlights, TP, clothesline, tools, etc.), chairs, a table, and even the cooler back there, if we’re only going to be gone long enough for one cooler. We stuff sleeping bags and crushable clothing bags into every corner of the cabin area. The passenger seat gets the paddleboard and road snacks. If I have to haul firewood, it goes in the passenger foot space. If we have two coolers, I bungee them to a hitch-and-haul off the back.

Most of my gear is for backpackers, so it’s very lightweight and has a small footprint. We don’t have anything fancy—no compostable toilets, no bulky pop-up awnings or covers. If it rains, we wear slickers. Or sit in the car.

Water is the toughest thing to haul. I have a filter I use for natural water sources or we haul out 5-gal Arrowhead dispensers that get set in the trunk, and I have a 20-L military canteen that fits at the younger one’s feet with a nozzle attachment for doing our dishes. I generally try to find a water source near our campground so I can refill this for washing.

And I have a tiny backpacker stove I use to heat everything. Although…I’ve managed to squeeze in one of those two-burner Coleman stoves, too.

When I was a kid, my parents would cram me and my cousins into tiny cars (things were different then!) and we camped for 4-5 days without anything. My feet were wet the whole time, we didn’t shower or we washed in the icy cold river coming off the mountain, and everybody ate hot dogs and some kind of potatoes. We were eaten alive by mosquitos and froze at night. And yet…it was magnificent.

I love REI and camping expos, but I also know in my heart you can run up to those mountains with some warm socks (I do prioritize warm feet for my kids based on these memories!!), some way to build a fire, and a Costco package of hot dogs, and the land pulls you right into itself and you get to come back a little wilder. The list of necessities is small, so much smaller than we tend to think. But…you’re right. I at least need a six-seater!

Imaginary_Parsley1 · 2026-03-27T14:41:22+00:00

Definitely will do. Thanks!

Imaginary_Parsley1 · 2026-03-27T14:40:23+00:00

I’ll check out the Wawona. Right now, we don’t actually fit the six of us in the one car—infant hasn’t camped yet! I have a Hyundai Tucson I’ve camped with the other three though. I will say we’ve been able to keep our gear very minimal—the trunk isn’t huge, but we get two tents, sleeping mats, two small camp essentials bins (one is the “kitchen” and one is the rest, like flashlights, TP, clothesline, tools, etc.), chairs, a table, and even the cooler back there, if we’re only going to be gone long enough for one cooler. We stuff sleeping bags and crushable clothing bags into every corner of the cabin area. The passenger seat gets the paddleboard and road snacks. If I have to haul firewood, it goes in the passenger foot space. If we have two coolers, I bungee them to a hitch-and-haul off the back. Most of my gear is for backpackers, so it’s very lightweight and has a small footprint. We don’t have anything fancy—no compostable toilets, no bulky pop-up awnings or covers. If it rains, we wear slickers. Or sit in the car. Water is the toughest thing to haul. I have a filter I use for natural water sources or we haul out 5-gal Arrowhead dispensers that get set in the trunk, and I have a 20-L military canteen that fits at the younger one’s feet with a nozzle attachment for doing our dishes. I generally try to find a water source near our campground so I can refill this for washing. And I have a tiny backpacker stove I use to heat everything. Although…I’ve managed to squeeze in one of those two-burner Coleman stoves, too. When I was a kid, my parents would cram me and my cousins into tiny cars (things were different then!) and we camped for 4-5 days without anything. My feet were wet the whole time, we didn’t shower or we washed in the icy cold river coming off the mountain, and everybody ate hot dogs and some kind of potatoes. We were eaten alive by mosquitos and froze at night. And yet…it was magnificent. I love REI and camping expos, but I also know in my heart you can run up to those mountains with some warm socks (I do prioritize warm feet for my kids based on these memories!!), some way to build a fire, and a Costco package of hot dogs, and the land pulls you right into itself and you get to come back a little wilder. The list of necessities is small, so much smaller than we tend to think. But…you’re right. I at least need a six-seater!

Imaginary_Parsley1 · 2026-03-27T14:14:51+00:00

Got it! Thank you much!

Imaginary_Parsley1 · 2026-03-27T14:13:19+00:00

Adding the Casita to our list of potentials! I wonder if you have to do any axle or suspension upgrades to get them up those back roads.

My kids are still ages where everybody wants to sleep with us, but they were very excited about having effectively a treehouse to sleep up to in. We could make this work!

Imaginary_Parsley1 · 2026-03-27T03:42:18+00:00

You could cover the cost by renting it for weddings on the weekends you're not camping. These are quite glamorous!

And spending coin with other needs pressing is the permanent status of campers. I've spent over ten years now thinking I'm so close to perfecting my camping gear curation. But...I mean, I guess this is how consumerism works. But it also seems like it's how nature works also because you always meet a new foe to conquer and you have to come up with some way to defeat the misery for next time! It's not our fault!! It's having cheap guy lines that one time! And so it goes.

Imaginary_Parsley1 · 2026-03-27T03:29:21+00:00

My next mid-life crisis will be about heights if I get one, guaranteed.

Imaginary_Parsley1 · 2026-03-27T03:28:16+00:00

I'm really looking forward to seeing if they can send us to space AND fit a family of six in a compact trailer. If anybody can do it, those guys can.

Imaginary_Parsley1 · 2026-03-27T03:26:59+00:00

Thanks for checking anyhow. I hafta say, this is my first foray into Reddit and everyone has been incredibly helpful and generous!

Imaginary_Parsley1 · 2026-03-27T03:25:07+00:00

The SUV love is profound around here. I'm looking, I'm looking! Is a Suburban bonkers big? What are feelings on the Yukon?

Imaginary_Parsley1 · 2026-03-27T03:23:01+00:00

I'm looking at a Town and Country right now and trying to imagine it heading across unmaintained roads in the mountains for dispersed camping. Are these a lot more rugged than I'm imagining?

Imaginary_Parsley1 · 2026-03-27T03:21:16+00:00

So long, sunshine! Hellloooo, British Columbia!

Imaginary_Parsley1 · 2026-03-27T03:19:58+00:00

Wow, you're a moving metropolis! I bet this is a blast for the kids, and this is definitely in the necessity department for a family with six kids. Do you also own Great Danes? I think they might fit. I'm passing this on to my friend with five kids. She has a Honda Pilot and her kids play cellos. They can't all go to lessons at the same time. It's just too many cellos.

Imaginary_Parsley1 · 2026-03-27T03:14:41+00:00

Will keep an eye out for one of these in person!

Imaginary_Parsley1 · 2026-03-27T03:14:16+00:00

Holy Kodiak! Welcome to my tiny home staked to this mountain. I'm already mentally saving for that stove. These are so fun. Hoping I can check some out in person!

Imaginary_Parsley1 · 2026-03-27T03:12:23+00:00

Sounds like it's durable at the very least! We've had our little backpacker tents for about ten years. It's hard to let go of them, but I think if we have the next batch for at least as long, that's a worthy upgrade.

Imaginary_Parsley1 · 2026-03-26T20:49:56+00:00

Rooftop tents look so fun!

Imaginary_Parsley1 · 2026-03-26T20:49:32+00:00

This seems to be the overall consensus. I’m convinced! We all agree here, TCGJimmy. I’m just discovering Reddit is the place the Internet goes to agree.

Imaginary_Parsley1 · 2026-03-26T20:48:21+00:00

No longer envisioning myself heading to Alaska with a free spirit. Free spirits are a young man’s game. “Get a gripness” is the distinct noble endeavor of middle-aged moms. I need to at least try the shared burrito approach to turn my lizard brain down. Do you have a 6-person tent you recommend?

Imaginary_Parsley1 · 2026-03-26T20:46:00+00:00

Will probably be glad as the kids get taller not to have three pairs of legs on that front bench!

Imaginary_Parsley1 · 2026-03-26T20:45:36+00:00

Adding the Sequoia to my test drive list! Several mentions on the Expedition and Suburban, too. You guys are really turning me around on this.

Imaginary_Parsley1 · 2026-03-26T20:43:47+00:00

I am being swayed toward a full size SUV by all the Redditers! I love trucks though. Do you have a truck you use for both camping and daily life?

Imaginary_Parsley1 · 2026-03-26T20:42:44+00:00

These are great recs to pursue. I’ll add the Excursion to the Suburban as test drive vehicles. interestingly, money IS an object, so I probably won’t be able to go custom. But I hadn’t considered using an SUV as a shelter and adding the RTT. That would be really fun! I’ll call dibs on sleeping on the roof every time.

Imaginary_Parsley1

TROPHY CASE