Tent recommendations

[qmalone64]

Just got back from my first hunt out west. Learned alot of things to do differently next year. First is sleeping arrangements.

Like the idea of staying moblie and sleeping in the truck but didn’t anticipate the knee pain i would deal with sleeping curled up in the back seat.

A Topper I think would be great with a cot in the bed but that setup would be a large investment at the moment.

Curious about a quick setup / tear down tent with a buddy heater? Wondered what every one else is using. Looking at something like a stone glacier skyscraper?

Like just looking for a flat spot to stop at the end of the day. Just need something more comfortable for next year.

Would be solo

Thanks!

 

[*zap*]

Try to find a topper on Facebook for less

 

[qmalone64]

Try to find a topper on Facebook for less

Yea been sleuthing there looking. Still about $1500-$2k though (2017 f-250)

 

[*zap*]

I got a nice one for $100 or so.


Needed to make a few modifications for a good fit

 

[qmalone64]

I got a nice one for $100 or so.
View attachment 785277

Needed to make a few modifications for a good fit

I got a nice one for $100 or so.
View attachment 785277

Needed to make a few modifications for a good fit

Very nice. Pretty comfortable in it? Hows the dust when i comes time to sleep in it?

 

[*zap*]

I have the maid take care of the dust.

 

[neil.hansford]

If you're just looking for a tent to pitch quickly by the truck for a night, just get a cheaper one from Amazon or some place. Or even a pop up ice fishing house. No need to spend a lot if you're not backpacking it or setting it up for a big camp.

Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

 

[*zap*]

When I am traveling and camping for a few nights as I travel I use a passage 2 rei.

 

[Felton]

The topper worked great for us. Last September my dad and I stayed in the bed of his truck. We put a couple pieces of plywood down with supports so we could keep coolers and Rubbermaid boxes under the plywood and we could sleep on top. We used this https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0C3QNP11F?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title memory foam topper to sleep on. I got amazing sleep and my back never hurt. It got down into the teens a couple nights I used my 30 degree bag and was plenty warm. Most nights I used my sleeping bag just thrown on top of me. It was a bit of a pain getting in and out but such is life. We were hunting with several other guys so the back looks over loaded in the picture. It really wasn’t bad.

Another vote for waiting for a shell topper.


Our topper wasn’t a perfect fit either it was a little too long. We planned on using a 1x4 and some visqueen to help seal it up, the mattress ended up filling the gap quite well. So the end of the mattress got dirty but the rest of our stuff stayed clean.

 

[qmalone64]

Like that alot. Hopefully i can find me one before next year. Topper seems to be the move im looking for.

Anyone use the “softopper” brand?

 

[Felton]

The one thing I would change for next time is either bring a non down sleeping bag or enough bedding to keep warm in place of anything down. We created a good bit of condensation inside the topper. When it wasn’t too cold we cracked a window and it helped but at its coldest we were concerned about staying warm so no cracked windows. It would dry up well before lunch each day. I was constantly concerned about getting my bag wet.

 

[*zap*]

My understanding is that a wood stove works well in a topper....

 

[Felton]

Like that alot. Hopefully i can find me one before next year. Topper seems to be the move im looking for.

Anyone use the “softopper” brand?

I saw a soft topper today and it sat a little lower than hard top plus the ribs seemed lower to eat up room as well.

I know when we were in the hard top we wanted every inch of room we could get and another inch or two lower and we probably wouldn’t be able to make it work… at least with the memory foam it wouldn’t.

 

[3Esski]

I have a softtopper and think it's great. I don't need a canopy all the time and it's nice I can put it on or take it off in less than 10 minutes. There are times when I would prefer my old hard top but the flexibility is just great. I've had mine for maybe 4 years now and am surprised how durable it has been. Not sure on prices now but I think I paid around 800 to my door, where I live a hard shell was quoted around 3k new and almost a 2 month wait.

 

[qmalone64]

I have a softtopper and think it's great. I don't need a canopy all the time and it's nice I can put it on or take it off in less than 10 minutes. There are times when I would prefer my old hard top but the flexibility is just great. I've had mine for maybe 4 years now and am surprised how durable it has been. Not sure on prices now but I think I paid around 800 to my door, where I live a hard shell was quoted around 3k new and almost a 2 month wait.

I have been very tempted to go this route.

Hold up well at highway speeds? Pretty water proof/protected enough to sleep under?

 

[ScreamingPotato]

There's lighter less bulky options but when I'm camping alone and want quick I have a Kodiak 2 man Flexbow, dang thing is so cute lmao. Topper won't work for me because I always have too much crap and don't want to have to unload the truck bed to sleep. The little Kodiak I can sprawl out nicely and it's just big enough to put a cot in there if I wanna.

 

[3Esski]

I have been very tempted to go this route.

Hold up well at highway speeds? Pretty water proof/protected enough to sleep under?

I've had no complaints. you can only go to touchless car washes, and in the winter it will get ice that forms and has to be knocked off when the wetness from melting snow freezes, but otherwise no issues.

 

[orangeblu]

Big Agnes, rei brand, tarptent, kuiu, marmot, msr. Tons of good stuff out there. I've run a tarptent double rainbow for about 5 years.

 

[GunsAreFun]

I have camped in my Softopper with a buddy heater to warm up the mornings. It works just fine. You absolutely need to get a rok book tailgate seal kit otherwise everything in the back will be covered in dust. This goes for any camper shell.

Another option would be a Gazelle pop up tent.