There's fewer better ways to offset the workweek grind than escaping outdoors, but sometimes just getting there can be half the battle. Mark and Teresa Jurus, the brains behind Out of Office Camping, have nipped that problem in the bud, constructing the ultimate Purpose Built Adventure Rig. with careful thought on a balanced and functional mobile basecamp. Take a trip with the latest in the HEST Rigs We Dig series, a thoughtful, thorough approach to adventuring off the grid.
Your Name: Mark Jurus and Teresa Perrera
Location: Hampstead, Maryland
Make & Model: 2019 Ford RangerFX4 XLT with GFC Go Fast Camper #1919
Nickname: Purpose Built Adventure Rig
Bed Dimensions: 90" long, 50" wide
HEST products: Dually Platform 50 (GFC Trans-Form-A-Floor)
Is this your daily driver or getaway car?
What do you like most about your rig?
On your average weekend adventure, what is the gear set up you bring with you? How did you integrate gear storage needs into your rig set up?
The truck is built ready to go, just pack the cooler, add any specifics for locations, campfires, heating, water and install winch and traction boards, The HEST Sleep System never leaves the truck. The truck is fully outfitted with a Bluetti AC200 MAX + B230 battery with a total of 4096 watts of on board power, 300 watts of solar with BougeRV CIGS panels, IceCo Cooler, two Devos LightRanger 1200s, Blue Ridge Overland Gear and Step22 storage systems, plus four MaxTrax Xtreme traction boards,
Additionally, we have a 12,000-pound winch wired for front or back placement, SeaSucker RotopaXmounts for our water or gas or diesel cans , monitor holder, shovel mount, and universal tie downs, Bulletpoint and BuiltRight dash mounts, Method Bead Grip wheels with Apex fast deflators tire stems and the Falken Wildpeak A/T3W tires. This thing has a Suspension Old Man Emu (Ford Kit), RTR Fender Flares, ARBportable tire inflation system, Yankum recovery gear and groove fairlead, Baja Designs ditch and front fender lights wide lens as well.
A more detailed list (including camping gear) can be found on our website with the build and products.
Any custom details?
YES and YES. the full build was completed with the idea that everything on the truck should have a purpose with weight in mind. I see one too many builds which don't consider this when making choices.
I spent a lot of time thinking about the truck build layout, similar to a kitchen layout. The flow which you move around the truck is important. For example, the passenger side has the cooler in the cab of the truck with the 270 awning to protect you as you walk to the cooler. The rear was built out with placement of the counters and the Milwaukee Packout kitchen box.
My custom builds with 1/8th bent aluminum are: 1) The roof air spoiler which sits on top of the Thule Roof rack and holds two Milwaukee Packouts. 2) The rear seat delete platform built for the IceCo cooler passenger side and Bluetti power station drivers side, plus installing cargo track to the back wall for added safety and to avoid flying projectiles. 3) The MaxTrax Boomerang mounts onto the drivers side panel of GFC camper where I custom made the mounting plate to attach all components to each other. 4) Last but not least, the rear truck bed is built out of one piece including two counters—trunk and storage. The driver's side was built around the Milwaukee two draw slide with an added internal shelf above specifically built to hold the two Devos LightRanger 1200 lens and motion sensors. The camp chair and awning hardware are packed right next to the Packout plus one Blue Ridge Overland storage bag with two bug lights attached to the inside wall. The larger center bulkhead storage was built around the 7 gallon Reliance water jug and Coleman two burner classic stove. This space also holds the Reliance Fold-To-Go toilet, (two) 18" step stools, stadium cushion, cooking devices, two sets of leveling blocks, one The North Face sleeping bag, two outdoor rug runners and a Coleman oven—everything to keep the space tidy and avoid flying all around the back.
Coolest place you’ve taken your rig to?
West Virginia for adventure travel and Overlanding. Such amazing scenery with all the rolling mountains and streams and rivers. We also love Pennsylvania state forests to just get away off grid while being in the mountains camping.Any projects in the pipeline to get your rig even more adventure ready?
Finish up the last part of the electric system connecting the Bluetti power station and running it to the back of the truck bed. That will help run two DC power points for diesel heater, electric blanket or any cooking plus USB plugs for charging devices.Biggest challenge in your build out?
Tips for others looking to do the same to their vehicle?
Take your time, make smart choices and remember to pay attention to your GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating). Each item you remove or add has a weight, pay attention to this.
Everything should have a purpose or multiple purposes. You don't need the best. I don't subscribe to the "Cry Once, Buy Once." Buy what fits your budget and needs without being influenced by others. For example, the GFC Go Fast Camper was equipped with a 2-inch mattress—absolutely awful to sleep on. Our friend Brian from Toyota Overlanders who got us hooked on Overlanding had us try his HEST Foamy he uses in his GFC V1 over a year ago! This was so comfortable. I was so ready to jump all in, but the Foamy wouldn't allow me to use the GFC Trans-Form-A-Floor which is multiple sleep cubes you can move around like Tetris based on what configuration you're setting up. GFC introduced an updated mattress system which is the current standard but only 3 inches. When I found out HEST introduced the Dually Platform 50 just like the Trans-Form-A-Floor, I knew that 4 inches of a good night sleep was worth every dollar. So the moral of the story? Use what you have to understand what works for you. A good night's sleep is truly priceless and worth the investment.
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