Best truck camping setup for the traveling hunter(s).

[Half Nocked]

I would echo the Kodiak Canvas flexbow tent, it's super easy to setup, even for one person. I use that as base camp and then have some stuff with me to spike camp when I find critters.

I also dirt bag camp in the bed of my truck with a topper. I just did this turkey hunting and I used a cot that fit inside the bed and that was a solid setup, especially since I didn't really need much

 

[Harvey_NW]

Easy lower budget solution is a decent canvas wall tent with a stove setup.

Simple, more versatile, early season-ish option is an enclosed trailer, could be used later if you installed a heat source and some insulation.

Investment minded option that can be used for general camping, and will keep a wife happy, is a decent used travel trailer. A couple years ago for less than $15k I picked up a 2015 21' double axle trailer with a single slide, & arctic package, and couldn't imagine an actual camp without it. It's just so easy and convenient to have everything contained, flip a switch for heat, and take a game changing mid-season shower.

 

[coya]

I'm a solo hunter and live out of my 4runner on hunting trips. Sleeping in a vehicle is as mobile as it gets with zero set up and tear down

 

[Brian Fahs]

I just returned from a 5 state spring turkey hunt. Spent over 30 nights in the truck. I average over 50 nights a year which will increase this year since i retired from my job. Very spartan but comfortable living in my opinion. A good matress makes a big difference. Bed rug and lined topper eliminate condensation.

 

[Sccritterkiller]

Wall tent...if this would have been a camper we wouldn't have got out till spring...It was sunny and almost 60 2 days before this photo when we set it up. Plus you don't have to drag a trailer across the country.

Davis 14x16 with the biggest stove the offer. Windows are nice option for warmer weather.

 

[S.Clancy]

I like being super mobile.

For the last 10 years I alternated between sleeping under the truck topper on a cot or bed platform. This year I scrounged Facebook/Craigslist and bought an older FWC and tore a bunch of shit out and got a power system wired in. The setup and takedown time is virtually the same, the storage is actually more in the camper, and the comfort is noticeably increased. Only downside is a slight drop in fuel economy, 18-19 mpg before vs 15-16 mpg now.

A trailer increases the bullshit factor significantly over a slide-in, more room = more stuff you bring = more time needed to break camp, etc. No thanks.

 

[Whitty]

Traveling (as it seems you would do WV -> Co), I would try to avoid towing anything with wheels. When basically truck camping, I have three options for my traveling setup. 1st is a carpet lined topper with a setup basically like the one in this thread but would only recommend for solo...two people would be too much. 2nd option is I also pack a cheap floored 6 man tent for the "nicer" camping areas like campgrounds or good weather/protected areas. Paint can heaters work remarkably well for this setup and my down bag used like a quilt inside a super cheap twin sized bag from Amazon makes for super comfy sleep that isn't constricting. Plenty of space is nice. 3rd options is a S.O. Cimmaron with titanium stove. Super bomber and warm although the stove needs tending too more than I like. I honestly use the paint can heaters way more than setting up the stove. Option 3 allows spiking out as well. Having those three options give a lot of flexibility based on conditions and locations. My .02...

 

[Undrgrndprdcts]

Traveling (as it seems you would do WV -> Co), I would try to avoid towing anything with wheels. When basically truck camping, I have three options for my traveling setup. 1st is a carpet lined topper with a setup basically like the one in this thread but would only recommend for solo...two people would be too much. 2nd option is I also pack a cheap floored 6 man tent for the "nicer" camping areas like campgrounds or good weather/protected areas. Paint can heaters work remarkably well for this setup and my down bag used like a quilt inside a super cheap twin sized bag from Amazon makes for super comfy sleep that isn't constricting. Plenty of space is nice. 3rd options is a S.O. Cimmaron with titanium stove. Super bomber and warm although the stove needs tending too more than I like. I honestly use the paint can heaters way more than setting up the stove. Option 3 allows spiking out as well. Having those three options give a lot of flexibility based on conditions and locations. My .02...

What is a paint can heater?

 

[jmsdad]

What is a paint can heater?