Anyone Else Sleep in Their Truck?

[Colo4x4XJ]

I was just curious if anyone else has a truck topper that they use as a base camp/ car camp setup. Ive got a raised topper on my Tundra and have been thinking of new ideas for this year. Last year I used floor joists and plywood to make the standard issue bed platform but soon found out my Pelican cooler wouldnt fit. Have any of you done anything cool? Solar lights? Built In Stove? Disco Ball?
Thanks

 

[TEmbry]

I have my Leer XL cap on order for my long bed Tacoma. I plan to do exactly this. I'll build a platform level with the railing to function as a cot that only goes halfway across the bed. I'll stack gear to the ceiling on the other half of the bed. I am doing a 7 week hunting road trip this fall and will be truck camping for right at half of it. Will be nice to pull over and slide in to sleep vs having to set up camp daily.

I may weld mine up out of aluminum scraps to save weight/space. Haven't decided yet.

As for the other ideas, I haven't come up with much as I don't plan to spend much time in there lol. I did pick up a small coleman heater that screws onto the smaller propane bottles for nights it gets really chilly...

 

[Colo4x4XJ]

Nice! A hunting road trip sounds like a lot of fun.

I forgot to share some of the stuff Ive done aside from the bed platform. Typically I sleep on a Mad Rock Triple Crash pad which is just smaller than a twin bed. Its burly as hell and converts to a couch for time around the campfire and also can be fallen on (like its original intention) when climbing on rocks.
Bungee cord strung between the two hatch latches makes a great paper towel holder/tongs holder and gear dryer, tailgate, griddle and a coleman stove are a staple (soo much bacon cooked on my tailgate). You can also hang a lantern off the bungee for cooking/activities after dark.

This past summer my bedding platform was 12" off the truck bed which allowed just enough room for firewood, action packer, chainsaw, stove and other goodies. But no room for cooler!

Also a daisy chain on the inside ceiling at the back hatch is pretty handy too. Hang clothing, gear, lanterns or whatever else doesnt fit on the bungee cord

 

[JJHACK]

I did this 30 nights a year with my pickup canopy for at least a decade. When My little boy was born I decided to move up. He has no mom, just me. So I decided to spring for a pickup camper. It's tiny, like a space capsule. However this investment has proven to be priceless. Cant even put into words the enjoyment this little thing has given us after being gone ten hours hiking hunting and climbing all day. Then finally get back to the parking area and have a nice warm place with a little kitchen to crash in and relax.

I'll have memories the rest of my life in this little box on wheels we have shared. This does not even count the many nights in summer fishing as well. With our mountain bikes on the receiver hitch hauler, we have ridden into great little fishing locations too.

 

[weaver]

10+ nights a year. I just sleep on the back seat

 

[Bonedalien]

im stilll under the topper on the tundra on a slab of carpet. as much as im in there,i should upgrade too.

 

[Sam Millard]

Roll A Cot fits perfectly in Tundra or Dodge. Spend a bunch of nights a year on it like that. Usually have one of the kids on the bed of the truck next to me.

Super simple and instant sleep

 

[fillthefreezer]

i have a canvas canopy that we sleep in if rolling up to the TH at night or if were only in a spot for a day.
i can run a queen size cot and air mattress back there or just throw our qcore's with zlites underneath.

 

[desertcj]

I've spent a lot of nights on the bench seat of a pickup truck. It sucks IMO but, I'll do what I have to. I used to have a flatbed and I'd rather sleep on that if it wasn't raining.

 

[kodiakfly]

I have a canopy and the plywood sleep platform and sleep back there quite a bit. I had a Yeti 40 and a 65 cut into the platform, but just redid it with just the 40, as the 65 was too high and stuck up above the platform too much to be comfortable. 125 stays in the boat, but it's too dang heavy to lift out over the platform. I have the carpet liner in the canopy, so I use Velcro to hang an ipod, speakers, Kindle and lights and I've got music, movies and light to do anything...and it keeps my wife comfy on long trips. On the tailgate, I've got a couple heat shields for MSR stoves to cook on. I love truck camping and doing it in comfort.

 

[Brandon Pattison]

I made a rack on an angle on top of the rails. Load essentials and frame accordingly.

 

[Colbyqueso]

Love camping in the bed of my Tacoma. The shell has a bright dome light built in. My bed set up is amazingly comfortable. Have to set an alarm to get up every morning its so good. I move around in my unit. And find it Very convenient to be able to just crash out near my first light spot each day. If I dont like where I'm at. Boom, im somewhere else. The next day. No muss. No fuss. Will be looking at for some new ideas. I am actually thinking of drilling holes thru the shell into the cab. So I can put fly rod holder on the roof of the shell. So I dont have to tear down my rods on camp/fishing trips. PVC pipe and some grommets should do the trick. Will pay a professional to do it of course.

 

[Forks]

All the time in my 08 Dodge 2500 4dr long bed. Full size cot with a Buddy heater under a ARE canopy works for me. Only problem during upland season is my pointer thinks the cot is for him.

 

[Hardstalk]

Yall are fancy! I usually throw the driver seat back pull the sleeping bag out of the pack and crash out if I end up not making it to where I planned, or dont have far to hike into my hunting spot.

Just about every antelope hunt has been camped out in the driver seat of the truck.

 

[Brock A]

I crawl into the backseat and crash out. Have a radio & heater! Works out good.

 

[Colo4x4XJ]

Thanks for sharing everyone! The carpet lined topper and velcro are awesome. Ive glued velcro to a few Dot-It lights and stuck them up in different places. I also kept the bed mat as a layer of insulation. Thinking of maybe using reflective bubble foam to insulate the sides of the bed, tailgate and windows for below freezing temps. It would be nice to setup some kind of solar system for stand alone lighting and music. It seems my Tundra becomes the center of many whitewater trips and music is always good post paddling.

In case anyone was wondering you can string a hammock off of a Thule rack as long as its mounted on the roof of the cab.
Dammit now all i can think about is hot summer days, icy cold beer, big whitewater and good friends.

Also- id be lying if I said Ive never thought of putting a wood stove in the back like a shepards trailer. Anyone ever tried/seen this?

 

[desertcj]

Thanks for sharing everyone! The carpet lined topper and velcro are awesome. Ive glued velcro to a few Dot-It lights and stuck them up in different places. I also kept the bed mat as a layer of insulation. Thinking of maybe using reflective bubble foam to insulate the sides of the bed, tailgate and windows for below freezing temps. It would be nice to setup some kind of solar system for stand alone lighting and music. It seems my Tundra becomes the center of many whitewater trips and music is always good post paddling.

In case anyone was wondering you can string a hammock off of a Thule rack as long as its mounted on the roof of the cab.
Dammit now all i can think about is hot summer days, icy cold beer, big whitewater and good friends.

Also- id be lying if I said Ive never thought of putting a wood stove in the back like a shepards trailer. Anyone ever tried/seen this?

Be carefull not to put it over your gas tank....lol.

 

[brewer427]

I received a DECKED setup as a gift last year and camped out in the back of my truck on several fishing expeditions and it worked great. I have a ARE topper on my F250 short bed, and I just slept on my pad with my Kifaru bag. It's not the cheapest option but if anyone's interested here's a link.

http://decked.com

 

[gwl79902]

When I got married my wife and I did a 3 week trip to Alaska and slept all but three night in the truck bed.

 

[handwerk]

Yep we do it all the time either solo, with kid (s) or my wife. Nothing fancy, sleeping pads, bag, pocket rocket, coffee press and we're set to go inthe tundra or suburban.