First tent camping trip with Maverick and went to Land Between the Lakes (LBL).

[MrFletch]

I haven't been tent camping since 2024 and last year I bought my 2025 Maverick XLT. Going to meet some friends on the Kentucky side of Land Between the Lakes (LBL). One of the reasons I bought the Maverick was so I could have the truck loaded up the night before, keep the tonneau cover closed, and just roll out early in the morning. Unfortunately the weekend before I was on another trip and didn't have that weekend to pack some stuff up and solve some problems ahead of time. I'll just say with a new vehicle I'll need to rethink how I pack some things and what containers to use for packing. Some gear went into the cab, which I didn't want to do.

Probably 85% of the trip would be on the interstate so I kept the cruise control on 70-75 mph. About a half-hour from camp I refilled my gas tank. Still had a 1/4 tank but I didn't want to drive around LBL with a low tank as gas stations wouldn't be nearby. Campground was over a mile on a gravel road, but the road was in good condition and didn't test the all-wheel drive or FX4 package at all.

Had a great few days out. Nice scenery and history of the area. Enjoyed the elk and bison reserve. Whatever you do, don't pet the fluffy cows.

Started back home with 3/4 of a tank and arrived home with 40 miles of fuel left. Ended up with 26.050 mpg. For a turbocharged, all-wheel drive truck I can accept 26 mpg. Some of my grey plastic totes will stay. My kitchen kit is many small pieces and putting them in plastic crates I can stack may give me more room in the bed. I figured the first trip out would have a learning curve on how to pack, so I'm not faulting the Maverick. Had some friends admire the Maverick. One guy has a modified Wrangler Unlimited he's taken off road in the Pacific Northwest. He was jealous of my mileage and the fact my tow rating was 500 lbs more than his. That's what I love about my Maverick, it isn't the best at anything, but it is good enough at many things. It is a good all rounder.

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[LukeB2.0l]

I haven't been tent camping since 2024 and last year I bought my 2025 Maverick XLT. Going to meet some friends on the Kentucky side of Land Between the Lakes (LBL). One of the reasons I bought the Maverick was so I could have the truck loaded up the night before, keep the tonneau cover closed, and just roll out early in the morning. Unfortunately the weekend before I was on another trip and didn't have that weekend to pack some stuff up and solve some problems ahead of time. I'll just say with a new vehicle I'll need to rethink how I pack some things and what containers to use for packing. Some gear went into the cab, which I didn't want to do.

Probably 85% of the trip would be on the interstate so I kept the cruise control on 70-75 mph. About a half-hour from camp I refilled my gas tank. Still had a 1/4 tank but I didn't want to drive around LBL with a low tank as gas stations wouldn't be nearby. Campground was over a mile on a gravel road, but the road was in good condition and didn't test the all-wheel drive or FX4 package at all.

Had a great few days out. Nice scenery and history of the area. Enjoyed the elk and bison reserve. Whatever you do, don't pet the fluffy cows.

Started back home with 3/4 of a tank and arrived home with 40 miles of fuel left. Ended up with 26.050 mpg. For a turbocharged, all-wheel drive truck I can accept 26 mpg. Some of my grey plastic totes will stay. My kitchen kit is many small pieces and putting them in plastic crates I can stack may give me more room in the bed. I figured the first trip out would have a learning curve on how to pack, so I'm not faulting the Maverick. Had some friends admire the Maverick. One guy has a modified Wrangler Unlimited he's taken off road in the Pacific Northwest. He was jealous of my mileage and the fact my tow rating was 500 lbs more than his. That's what I love about my Maverick, it isn't the best at anything, but it is good enough at many things. It is a good all rounder.

I can agree with your last statement, wholeheartedly. Not the best at anything, but sure as hell qualifies in all categories. Once you figure out how to lighten your load and fit it all in the maverick, it becomes just as utilitarian as a 1/2ton. Perfect state park hopper imo

 

[Cancunbadlands]

#outdoors

 

[Lone Ridr]

I used to stay with my grandparents on their farm in that area. The government used eminent domain to seize all the farms in the area, forcing them to leave their homes. I still visit graves in the area, traveling through with sadness from memories past. The 1850 homestead depicts life in the area from the 1950s as well as the 1850s. It infuriates me that the government seized the land then lies to the visitors about the history. I lived those ways into the 1960s. I never thought of my grandparents as poor until reading the government's description of the area at the time of the seizure. IMO they weren't poor. They were happy living off their land, always cheerful. I'm glad you enjoyed your trip.

 

[Ecorydr]

Brings back memories...... Used to do some cookouts back in the '80s while stationed at Ft Campbell at the Land Between The Lakes. Would rent some boats from the rec center on post and head out there. Bunch of us soldiers would get together and cooked a few pigs on spits while camping near the bank... was a great time.

 

[Cherokee]

People are different these days.
A weekend tent camp out,

One big duffle holding the tent, ground pads and sleeping bags, two zipped together so you and your honey can play footsies, :’P.

One tote for the Colman lantern and stove and utensils.

One cooler of food,

One cooler of ice and beer, no water, we had silver ion filters, we drank lake water.
Sack o skeefer in the glove box~~~~
It would all fit in my 1970 Cuda.

With room for two girls If I played my cards right ! :XD

We always thought turtle people were funny.
Us boomers were just better at camping no doubt.
Not once did we ever want a camper, we could dig our own privy and bathe in the rivers and lakes.
Country folks can survive.

 

[tiktokbrainrot]

I used to stay with my grandparents on their farm in that area. The government used eminent domain to seize all the farms in the area, forcing them to leave their homes. I still visit graves in the area, traveling through with sadness from memories past. The 1850 homestead depicts life in the area from the 1950s as well as the 1850s. It infuriates me that the government seized the land then lies to the visitors about the history. I lived those ways into the 1960s. I never thought of my grandparents as poor until reading the government's description of the area at the time of the seizure. IMO they weren't poor. They were happy living off their land, always cheerful. I'm glad you enjoyed your trip.

Wait hang on, the government came in and took people's land, and they.....let it happen? In Kentucky of all places?

I figured that region would be the second most willing to come up with a very American answer to government land grabs, right behind Texas.

 

[MrFletch]

I used to stay with my grandparents on their farm in that area. The government used eminent domain to seize all the farms in the area, forcing them to leave their homes. I still visit graves in the area, traveling through with sadness from memories past. The 1850 homestead depicts life in the area from the 1950s as well as the 1850s. It infuriates me that the government seized the land then lies to the visitors about the history. I lived those ways into the 1960s. I never thought of my grandparents as poor until reading the government's description of the area at the time of the seizure. IMO they weren't poor. They were happy living off their land, always cheerful. I'm glad you enjoyed your trip.

Yeah I've know the history of LBL for a few years now. A friend was with me in the visitor's center and as we went through the exhibits I told her, "LBL is a land of constant sorrows. So much tragedy here, but many people lived their lives here well."

 

[Lone Ridr]

Wait hang on, the government came in and took people's land, and they.....let it happen? In Kentucky of all places?

I figured that region would be the second most willing to come up with a very American answer to government land grabs, right behind Texas.

Some of them were forcibly removed. You can't win against the government. There is plenty of info online about this, including the veteran who was in a nursing home who kept going back to his home and the TVA CEO who said that ordering the eviction was the greatest regret of his life.

I butted heads with the US Forest Service, who now has responsibility for maintenance and upkeep through an act of congress, 3 years ago over land plats and grave access. They apologized and gave me a free pass to the 1850 Homestead. I didn't bother to tell them that was putting salt in an open wound. I threw the pass away.

 

[Lone Ridr]

Yeah I've know the history of LBL for a few years now. A friend was with me in the visitor's center and as we went through the exhibits I told her, "LBL is a land of constant sorrows. So much tragedy here, but many people lived their lives here well."

I met a lot of them Doc, Jack, Pat, Kay... all good people with a ready smile. My brother and I couldn't wait to get down there in the summer.

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