After the embers are extinguished and the smoke clears, LA firefighter Ryan Brown hits the road in his Supertramp Flagship LT to pursue his true passions: overland travel and nature photography. This one is sure to ignite your off-grid wanderlust.
From dusty desert pullouts to snow-covered forest roads across the western United States, Ryan’s map keeps expanding. His meticulously upfitted F-250 gives him access to places most people never see. In that tranquility, Ryan’s stress melts, and his landscape photography comes to life.
Time alone on the road is Ryan’s version of therapy, but his favorite trips are shared. That realization ultimately led him to a Supertramp pop-up truck camper. The added space and comfort of the Flagship LT made room for loved ones to tag along when they’re able. Of course, life doesn’t always allow for free time. Schedules fill up. Responsibilities are real. However, when the timing works, Ryan is ready to roll.
When he travels solo, photography bridges the gap. Ryan considers himself a hobbyist, but his images suggest a richer story. Through his creative outlet, he captures early morning sunrises and late-night astrophotography—moments anyone would be eager to bring home and share.
Truck camping gives Ryan distance from the weight of his career and the noise of the world. Photography lets him share his experience with the people he loves most. While his family isn’t always in the passenger seat, they’re never far from his mind.
Tell us about your relationship with photography and how it has impacted your truck camping lifestyle.
Photography is something I do purely for fun. It’s a creative outlet for me. My full-time career is as a firefighter with the Los Angeles Fire Department.
This hobby has certainly grown alongside my travels. I actually got into drones well before I started camping or overlanding. I didn’t even know what “overlanding” was until I got my truck.
Once I did, I found myself wanting to get farther off the beaten path so I could fly my drone, explore new places, and capture more photos and videos along the way.
Ryan Brown and his wife, Sabrina
What is your work-life balance like as a firefighter?
Firefighting is a stressful career, but overall, I feel very blessed to be in the profession. I have a lot of flexibility in my schedule and get solid stretches of time off between shifts. I typically work a rotation of 24 hours on and 24 hours off over five days, followed by four full days off. That’s usually when I head out on trips.
If I want more time off, I can trade shifts and create longer breaks when needed. It’s a great opportunity, and I think I do a good job at balancing everything.
“Getting outside is my mental decompression from the demands of being a firefighter. Camping puts into perspective just how big the world really is.”
How does your wife fit into your camping lifestyle?
Sabrina is a dispatcher for the Los Angeles Police Department. She understands that after long shifts as a firefighter, camping is how I decompress. I usually take one trip a month and reserve the rest of my time for her.
I’d love for her to come on every trip with me, but her work schedule isn’t as flexible as mine. She comes along whenever she can. Before the truck camper, I had a rooftop tent. Sabrina is the main reason I upgraded to a pop-up slide-in truck camper.
We also have two eighty-pound dogs. They played a big role in my most recent upgrade: a Bowen truck bed. Before adding the Bowen bed, most of my gear lived in the backseat of the truck.
Now that gear can be stored in the exterior compartments, there’s more room in the cab for the dogs to ride along, too. They absolutely love being outside and having a ton of open space to run around.
What was it about a pop-up truck camper that was a better fit than the rooftop tent?
Ultimately, Sabrina and I wanted a simple, yet comfortable space and a dedicated place to go to the bathroom.
Getting in and out of the rooftop tent to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night was a hassle. The pop-up maintains a low center of gravity for driving off-road, and performs really well in different conditions, even in the wind. The Supertramp Flagship LT made a lot of sense for our needs.
There wasn’t one specific trip or moment that pushed me to switch. The main goal was simply to make sure Sabrina was comfortable so we could take more trips together. If she had enjoyed the tent as much as I did, we would probably still be using it. I enjoy solo trips, but being out in the wild feels more grounding and meaningful when you can reset and experience it with your person.
What specifically drew you to the Supertramp Flagship LT?
I was drawn to my truck camper by a combination of things. I wanted a pop-up camper, and I really enjoy the open-concept layout. The L-shape sectional works well for us and is good for our dogs, Saint and Duke. I’ve been able to have friends crash on the seating area inside the camper when it was too cold for them to stay in their rooftop tents.
We wanted the L-shaped seating over a traditional dinette because we spend most of our time sitting outside.
The Flagship LT doesn’t have an enclosed bathroom but has a handful of toilet options. Which option did you choose for your camper, and why?
We went with the dry flush solution. It’s the Wrappon WT-4 Trekker. There’s no mess or anything to dump. You can easily just throw everything away. It’s expensive, but it’s been worth every penny.
My dad has a black tank in his RV. After camping with me, he was surprised by how well the dry flush toilet works.
Ryan and his dad
What were you storing in the truck cab that was taking up so much space?
When I’m heading into winter conditions, I carry the basics: a combination axe-shovel tool, camp chairs, a table, solar panels, and snow chains. I could store a lot of that gear inside the camper, but I don’t like treating the camper like the bed of a truck. I try to keep the interior clear.
That way, when I roll into camp, setup is quick and easy. I usually don’t stay in one spot for more than a night. Being able to set up and break down in just a few minutes makes a big difference, especially when I’m pulling into a spot after dark. After days of responding to emergencies, the simplicity of camp is a reward.
Tell us about the upgrades you’ve made to your truck and how they’ve impacted your rig and experience.
Most of the modifications were done about two months before my pop-up truck camper was installed. My Ford F-250 received a Carli Backcountry suspension kit and full-travel airbags.
The tires were upgraded from 35 to 37-inch Method Bead Grip wheels. I skipped true beadlocks so that any tire shop would still be willing to work on my tires while traveling. I’ve heard that many shops won’t work on true beadlocks, and I don’t want to get stranded. I’ve aired down as low as 10 PSI so far with no issues.
I also added an Expedition One front bumper with a 13,000-pound winch and a Factor 55 UltraHook. Ford offers a winch that fits behind the factory bumper, but I wanted a more cost-effective option. After doing some research and hearing plenty of stories about deer strikes, I chose an aftermarket bumper with a full bull bar for added protection.
Lastly, I am having a Bowen bed installed as we speak.
You’ve taken your truck camper from Moab to Big Sur to the Sierras, experiencing everything from snow to desert, forest, and coastal environments. How has the Flagship LT performed across such a wide range of conditions?
It’s performed perfectly so far. The hottest conditions I’ve experienced were around 103°F. I didn’t opt for air conditioning, but I do have two MaxxAir fans. They move air really well. When I was camping in Big Sur, the average daily temperatures were between 95°F and 98°F. Even then, the interior of the camper stayed around 83°F and I slept comfortably with the fans running and the windows open.
“There’s so much out there, I doubt I’ll see it all in my lifetime, but I’m certainly going to try.”
On the cold end of the spectrum, a few days ago in Fruita, it was about 10°F outside. The Truma heater easily kept the inside of the camper at 71°F. I’ve also been through some significant wind, with gusts in the 40-50 mph range. The truck was definitely getting pushed around, but inside the camper, it was still comfortable.
Your truck camper is clearly a tool for getting away and pursuing photography. Where else do you draw inspiration?
During the majority of the trips I go on, I’m watching overlanding videos on YouTube. My wife laughs at me, but now she’s gotten into it and watches with me too. I’m always searching for new cool places with good views to take the truck and explore.
Does waking up right where you’re shooting change your mindset or workflow?
For day-to-day travel, I usually wake up earlier to catch the sunrise and stay up later for astrophotography. I use the SkyGuide app to point my phone at the sky and see the constellations in real time, as well as where they’ll be later in the night. I use the same approach for tracking sunrises, which helps me plan my mornings on the road.
Big Sur was a favorite camping spot because it had very little light pollution. The dark sky makes the Milky Way especially visible.
What do you hope people feel when they see your images?
I’d say the biggest reason I take these photos is to share them with my family. A lot of them aren’t able to explore these places with me, so being able to capture those moments lets me bring them along on my adventures in a meaningful way.
I started sharing on Instagram organically. It became a way to share the places I’m going and the experiences I’m having with other people. Starlink makes it easy to stay connected and let loved ones know where I am. I’ll even have camp coffee over FaceTime with my mom while she’s in her office at work.
It’s awesome that you share your travels with your loved ones. Where do you most enjoy camping? Do different environments affect how you feel or create?
I love it all—mountains, ocean, desert. Every environment has its own uniqueness and beauty. That’s what keeps it exciting. Every photo and video I take is different from the last, because every place offers something new.
Getting outside is my mental decompression from the demands of being a firefighter. Camping puts into perspective just how big the world really is. At home, it’s easy to get caught up in small problems, but getting away helps me disconnect and mentally reset.
How do you balance chasing a shot with simply experiencing the moment?
I’m getting better at balancing the two. Most of the time, I’m actually so caught up in enjoying the experience that I forget to document it. I enjoy the moment first and don’t let the camera pull me out of it. I know I’ve missed a few opportunities along the way, but being present is more important to me.
Have you experienced a trip that didn’t go as planned?
Yes, definitely. I once made the mistake of trying to go camping during the opening weekend of the fishing season in the Sierras. Every spot was taken. I ended up finding a spot for the night, but it was clear that I hadn’t planned well.
Most of the lakes in the Sierras are only open for fishing for part of the year so the fish can be restocked and recovered. When opening weekend hits, everyone and their family shows up at once to get a spot near the water. That experience taught me to pay more attention to seasonal openings and local calendars, not just the destination. Timing matters just as much as location.
What’s next on your horizon? Any trips or places you’re hoping to visit?
Colorado is the farthest I’ve traveled from my home base in Southern California, but I’m really just getting started. I’ve spent most of my time in Colorado in mid- to late winter, when snow limits how far I can explore. I’m looking forward to returning in the spring to experience more of the area.
I’m also planning a group trip up to the Arctic Circle within the next year or two. We will explore parts of Canada and Alaska, with the goal of reaching Tuktoyaktuk. I’d like to get as many people involved as possible. The more people, the more fun it is.
Beyond that, the list just keeps growing: Utah, Montana, Wyoming, Arkansas, the Midwest, and the Pacific Northwest. I’ve looked at the East Coast, too, though dispersed camping options seem more limited there.
There’s so much out there that I doubt I’ll be able to see it all in my lifetime, but I’m certainly going to try.
What’s on your essentials packing list, and what does your current camera gear setup look like?
I keep pretty much everything packed in the camper so it’s ready to go at all times. On the essentials side, I love cooking on my Skottle. It’s basically a cast-iron disc that sits on top of a tripod and is heated by a burner underneath. It’s easily one of the best things I’ve ever bought, and it comes with me on every trip.
As for camera gear, I use a mix of simple and more advanced tools. My phone is my most-used camera. I have a Sony A7S III, a mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera. Most of the time, though, I grab my phone. For action and 360-degree shots, I use an Insta360 X5.
For aerial footage, I fly my DJI Air 3S drone. I really like the second 70mm telephoto lens for its compression, and it has noticeably improved the overall quality of my footage.
Where can people follow along with your adventures and view some of your photography and videos?
People can follow along with my adventures and see my photography on Instagram at @phoenix.overland.
Ryan’s Rig:
Truck: Ford F-250
Camper: Supertramp Flagship LT pop-up truck camper
