Camp Rocky Road is an independent mechanical and electrical testing publication based in Boulder, Colorado. We reject sponsored marketing puffery to deliver empirical bench test data, thermodynamic calculations, and real-world failure analyses for off-grid travelers.
System Architecture
Every category features deep bench-testing data, empirical specification matrices, and physics-based guidelines.
Off-grid electrical engineering, lithium iron phosphate battery architecture, DC refrigeration, and thermal camp cooking physics.
Vehicle dynamics, roof rack dynamic and static load calculations, 4x4 recovery kinetics, and dual-battery alternator charging systems.
Four-season canvas and technical shelter engineering, stove jack clearances, ASTM F3340-18 R-value thermodynamics, and gale-force anchoring geometry.
Sub-micron water filtration, LEO satellite communications, backcountry bear canisters, and physiological thermal layering systems.
Peer-level teardowns addressing the most prevalent misconceptions in mobile power, vehicle load ratings, and alpine survivability.
Complete engineering guide to sizing LiFePO4 power stations. Watt-hour formulas, inverter parasitic draw, low-temp BMS cutoffs, and cold-weather MPPT sizing.
Marcus Vance
Overland roof rack load ratings explained. Dynamic vs. static weight limits, vehicle center of gravity roll moments, and T-slot extrusion shear math.
Marcus Vance
Winter hot tenting wood stove safety guide. High-temp silicone jack clearances, spark arrestor wire mesh specs, damper drafting, and dual CO sensor setups.
Marcus Vance
Backcountry water filtration guide: 0.1-micron hollow fiber vs. 254nm UV purifiers. Viral pore ratings, freeze damage failure modes, and chemical tablets.
Marcus VanceComplete engineering guide to sizing LiFePO4 power stations. Watt-hour formulas, inverter parasitic draw, low-temp BMS cutoffs, and cold-weather MPPT sizing.
Secop BD35F vs. LG 12V camp fridge compressor comparison. Thermal duty cycles at 90°F ambient, polyurethane foam insulation, and battery protection voltage.
Thermodynamic analysis of LPG camp stove fuels in freezing weather. Saturated vapor pressure curves, boiling points, and inverted canister liquid-feed ops.
Camp Dutch oven briquette temperature guide. Exact coal count charts for 325°F to 450°F, top/bottom ring distribution math, and thermal seasoning physics.
ETFE folding solar blankets vs. rigid glass panels for overlanding. Bypass diode shade tolerance, monocrystalline efficiency, and Anderson SB50 voltage drop.
Overland roof rack load ratings explained. Dynamic vs. static weight limits, vehicle center of gravity roll moments, and T-slot extrusion shear math.
Off-road tire deflation PSI chart for sand, rock, and washboards. Load Range C vs. E sidewall flex, contact patch elongation, and bead unseating limits.
Installing 40A to 50A DC-to-DC battery chargers. Complete AWG wire sizing tables, 3% voltage drop math, smart alternator D+ wiring, and ANL fuse specs.
270-degree freestanding awnings vs. standard roll-out awnings. Extruded aluminum hinge torque, 280gsm fabric hydrostatic head, and guyline storm angles.
Kinetic recovery ropes vs. static tow straps. Nylon 6,6 30% stretch physics, Working Load Limits (WLL), GVWR sizing formulas, and Dyneema soft shackles.
Winter hot tenting wood stove safety guide. High-temp silicone jack clearances, spark arrestor wire mesh specs, damper drafting, and dual CO sensor setups.
How to season, waterproof, and maintain cotton canvas bell tents. Cotton fiber swelling cycles, fluorocarbon-free wax emulsions, and mold prevention tips.
Sleeping pad R-value chart and winter insulation math. ASTM F3340-18 thermal ratings, conductive ground heat loss, and stacking foam with inflatable air pads.
Pitching tents in 50 MPH gale gusts. Guyline vector geometry, 45-degree stake holding power, buried deadman snow/sand anchors, and trucker hitch tensioning.
7 essential tarp shelter configurations for severe storms. Silnylon vs. silpoly sag, Dyneema tie-out stress reinforcement, and wind-shedding pitch geometry.
Backcountry water filtration guide: 0.1-micron hollow fiber vs. 254nm UV purifiers. Viral pore ratings, freeze damage failure modes, and chemical tablets.
How to find legal dispersed campsites on BLM and USFS lands. Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUM), 14-day stay limits, riparian buffer rules, and GPS polygon tools.
Iridium vs. Globalstar satellite communicator performance. 66-satellite LEO mesh coverage, tree canopy penetration, battery life, and SOS response testing.
Bear canister vs. Ursack Kevlar bags. IGBC certification impact testing, national park food storage regulations, PCT hang methods, and weight trade-offs.
Backcountry cold-weather layering physics: 200gsm merino wool wicking, 800-fill hydrophobic down insulation, and 3-layer breathable ePTFE storm hardshells.
The modern outdoor and automotive review ecosystem is overwhelmed by affiliate-driven listicles and sponsored "influencer builds" that ignore mechanical safety limits. When an overland roof rack fails on a remote pass, or an unmanaged LiFePO4 battery drops charge in sub-zero weather, the consequences are life-threatening.
We purchase our own test equipment and publish raw oscillograms, tensile breaking tests, and environmental chamber data. Every guide is authored by Senior Overland Systems Engineer Marcus Vance, backed by 14+ years of telemetry in the Colorado Rockies.