Bahahahahaha exactly my point. No tent is worth more than 1k max. Truck folks are a strange breed that I don't understand yet.
Most of it is simply status and hype. There is merit to the more expensive shit, but that’s for the individual to figure out. We’ve upgraded our kit over the years as we see fit. The most “useless” addition so far is the Prinsu rack I paid $200 for. Mostly got it to be an air dam so I can stop collecting bugs on the front of the hab. It’s funny when I hear the instaqueens in the town talking shit, but I never see them in the back country. I can’t wait for the trendy people to move onto the next cool thing. We were so close to seeing them go, then COVID happened and more decided to be totes lifestyle.
There are tents worth more than $1k, just not worth it to you… yet. That first week of sub 5min setup and not sleeping on the ground changes a lot of minds.
The most important thing is to take what you have and get out there. You’ll quickly figure out what works and what doesn’t. I can guarantee your rear springs will need attention before anything…. The leafs in Tacomas are total shit.
I longed for the simpler times, which is why I have my little Honda, that’s my “alone time” rig in the north woods now. Slow, easy, simple.