In a Jeep Gladiator and Capri Retreat Jr, Ashley Emery and her four-legged sidekick, Birdie, explore the backroads of America. Their budget is small, but their positive outlook is huge. Hang on, Birdie! These roads are a little ruff!

As an adult, you can’t just decide to become an off-road enthusiast—can you? You have to grow up in a family that off-roads and continue that sand, dirt, and rock lovin’ pursuit as a teenager and young adult years. Otherwise, you’ll get hopelessly sunk in mud miles from a cell signal, or wedge yourself sideways on a switchback, or end up upside down at the bottom of a ravine hanging by your seatbelt and underpants—right? Off-road is for experienced pros. Too bad if your family stayed indoors.

Nonsense! While having a healthy respect for the potential dangers of traveling beyond asphalt, there are paths to off-roading that can keep you in the safe and sane lane.

One brilliant example is the adventures of Ashley Emery and her off-road adventure-ready pooch, Birdie. With a suitable four-wheel drive Jeep Gladiator, Capri Retreat Jr, and Backcountry Discovery Maps in hand (or paw), they head for places few even know about. No highways. No Walmarts. No rush hour traffic. Just rural America, historical trails, deserts, forests, and mountain passes.

Now these two aren’t rock crawling, fording rivers, or making their own roads. They’re using common sense, sticking to easy labeled paths, driving slower than a sleeping turtle, walking before driving anything they’re unsure of, and turning around if they reach their limits. Ashley also carries an inReach, should they need to call for help. This is off-roading for relaxed fun, adventure, and sightseeing—not three-wheel hanging.

We were inspired by Askley and Birdie’s story, and may even get a BDR map or two to follow in their Jeep tracks. There’s a whole other America to see out there, and these two are going to show us how to get there.

Above: Ashley’s Capri Retreat Jr in Leslie Gulch, Oregon

When were you introduced to camping and truck campers?

Honestly, I never camped in my life until my adult years. It started with tents and car camping in SUVs. As I got older, more comforts seemed appealing.

I knew I wanted a hard sided camper and followed a few camper brands during my research. A few of those brands were beyond my budget.

I chose Capri with its rich history in the rodeo world. I rode horses until my late teens in 4-H and local rodeos. Capri also fit my budget the best. I loved how simple you could make a Capri, if that’s what you chose to do.

What made you choose a Jeep Gladiator for your truck camper?

I went to the Capri factory in Texas and I was set on a Cowboy for a full-sized pickup. As soon as I saw the Retreat Jr, I immediately loved it the most! That’s when Tyson said, “Time to go home and pick a mid-sized truck”. I chose the Gladiator for the features and possible modifications.

On my Gladiator, I’ve added a lift, all-terrain tires, and an auxiliary fuel tank. I knew I wanted a little more clearance and better tires for backcountry routes. I also knew my miles per gallon would suffer, so the auxiliary fuel tank was a must. I am able to carry 39 gallons of fuel now.

There are just so many choices on the market for the Gladiator. It made the most sense for me.

Above: Picking up her camper at the Capri factory in Bluff Dale, Texas

What features in the Capri Retreat Jr appealed to you?

The size is what sold me the most. And being able to stand up fully. I wasn’t sure I’d like the Cowboy not being able to stand up fully. After having a truck camper for a while now, we would have gotten along well with a Cowboy, too.

Above: Birdie on the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah

What do you primarily use your truck camper for?

I do a lot of camping and take backcountry routes. I would like to start adding music festivals to our travels. I usually shoot for two big trips a year out west. I also go camping in places around the National Forest where I live.

I call my camper the GladyShack. My friend Milton was helping me with a logo for my social media pages and came up with the name.

Above: Birdie in Swing Arm City, Utah

Where have you been with your truck camper that you would recommend to other truck campers?

We’ve been to Texas, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, Oregon, Idaho, and Wyoming. We focus mostly on backcountry travel. These days, a lot of my trips are based on Backcountry Discovery Route (BDR) maps.

I love BDR maps! There are BDR paper maps and mapping apps, but I prefer the paper maps. They also tell you the mileage, gas station locations, places to camp, and where the RV campgrounds are. With BDR maps, you can see a lot of the country, plus some of the small towns in each state.

Above: In Gunnison, Colorado

Are you using the BDR maps to find your campsites?

I use BDR maps for making loose plans. Then I research the areas around them. If there’s more BLM land around or other sights to see, I’ll stay. Pinterest has always been another starting point to plan trips. I have pins of each state and things I want to see. I just pick a state and piece things together.

I bought the BDR maps on their website when they had a deal where you could buy all the maps in a bundle. I have all the Western states. They have since expanded to more states, and even have trails on the East Coast and Midwest.

Above: Beef Basin Road in Utah

Could full-size hard side truck campers go on the BDR map roads?

With proper planning, yes. You just have to make sure the routes are wide enough. A few places I found in Colorado were not wide enough for even mid-sized vehicles.

Where do you camp for the night?

I do a mixture of free, low cost, and RV campgrounds and resorts.  I like to be able to take a shower at the campgrounds. I only have an outdoor shower, which works for most cases, but sometimes it’s nice to have a shower house and a general store to restock supplies.

Being that you are going out into the backcountry, have you ever gotten really lost or had a trip not go as planned?

I’ve had moments when I thought I was lost, which made me nervous. Then I found I was in the spot I needed to be. I’ve never had a trip not go as planned. I’ve had a few instances where places in the backcountry had full campgrounds mid-week. Luckily, there’s usually BLM land near where we can find secluded spots.

Above: Fisher Towers in Utah

Have you ever gotten stuck on a back road?

Luckily, no. That’s one thing I’m diligent about, even if I need to stop and walk a road. If I know I can’t make it, or think I can’t, I’ll turn around. I’d rather be safe than sorry.

How do you prepare for remote travel in terms of safety, navigation, or emergencies?

For navigation, I’ve got a Garmin for Overlanding. That’s been one of the best things. I also keep an inReach locater as well. I’ve been thinking of getting T-Mobile now that they’re partnered with Starlink. A few friends have done the beta testing and have really liked it. I also make sure to take extra water.

Above: Monument Rocks in Kansas

What do you love most about waking up in new places?

Anytime I can see a place I’ve never laid my eyes on, it’s special. That’s one reason I strive to get to the backcountry areas.

Above: Highway 95, Hite, Glen Canyon National Recreational Area, Utah

What else do you enjoy doing while truck camping?

I love to hike and what I call soft-roading in my Ford Bronco. I would love one day to have a truck camper that I could flat tow the Bronco. There are so many more places I can take the Bronco over my truck camper. It would be lovely to park the Capri as a basecamp and take the Bronco out for day trips.

Since I off-road alone, I soft-road both vehicles. That means I stick to dirt, gravel, and sand. With the Bronco, I will do trails rated up to 3/4, depending on the state I’m in. In my opinion, the 3/4 difficulty levels are different for each state. Colorado and Utah fours can be pretty intimidating by myself with lots of rocks and ledges where a spotter would be handy.

Years ago, I fell in love with traveling to the National Parks. I bought a book that described everything about particular parks. Then it would outline things to see and hikes to do. It also gives things to see and do if you only have so many hours in the park. I was traveling in my Jeep Wrangler at that time. I knew when I built out the truck camper, I wanted to do the same, plus the free boondocking spots.

What book are you referring to?

Moon USA National Parks by Becky Lomax is my best guide. I used it a lot when I was hiking more. Now that I have Birdie, dogs, and National Parks don’t always go together.

Capitol Reef is one of my favorite National Parks, and it is very dog-friendly, along with the state park near it. Goblin Valley is also dog-friendly.

I now do a lot more State Park traveling, as they are also more dog-friendly.

That’s another reason I like the backcountry. As long as we are animal aware, it’s great to get out and enjoy the openness!

Above: Birdie at Beartooth Pass Summit

Have there been any funny or unexpected moments with Birdie while camping?

Birdie is a ham. She just enjoys being with me and outside. Plus, she enjoys sniffing new things, especially dead things. So those are always the funniest moments; like finding something stinky to roll in!

How do you keep Birdie safe and comfortable on long road trips?

I pack lots of her toys, her big dog bed, her life jacket, and her hiking booties. Normally, I pack two dog beds as well. She gets the passenger’s seat all to herself. I put a cooler in the floorboard so that she is propped up to see everything.

I have a lot of treats for her to chew on. We usually stop long enough for both of us to stretch our legs. I like to take her places where she can run off-leash. Safety-wise, I also have a doggy first aid kit.

Above: Lake Owyhee State Park, Oregon

Have there been any moments on the road where you felt, “Yes, this is exactly what I’m meant to be doing”?

I’m not full-time, but there have been so many times I come home and think that I’m ready to do this full-time, or I find jobs where I can be a campground host. I plan to do that in the future when I get my house sold.

I love it. It’s amazing to sleep under the stars or wake up to the sun rising. Also, the air just seems different when you travel. It’s nice to just breathe and relax by a fire along a river.

What would you say to someone who dreams of traveling like you but feels unsure of where to start?

I would tell them just to start. They can sleep in their car or buy a cheap tent. That’s how I got started in my travels.

Always do lots of research, especially when going to any backcountry or BLM areas. Always make sure you have a vehicle capable of getting to the remote places, and be prepared for anything.

Ashley’s Rig
Truck: 2024 Gladiator Sport S 4×4
Camper: 2025 Capri Retreat Jr
Tie-Downs and Turnbuckles: The tie-downs Capri provides
Suspension: 2.5 Teraflex paired with HD Dobinson springs