Truck Camper/Topper for Hunting

What is the truck bed option for hunting?

  • Fiberglass Topper Sleep Inside Diagonally (Leer, Are, etc)

    Votes: 17 68.0%
  • Aluminum Topper with Rooftop Tent

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Aluminum Topper Camper Combo (Gfc, SP, M1,Uru, etc)

    Votes: 4 16.0%
  • Full Truck Bed Camper (Palomino, etc)

    Votes: 2 8.0%
  • Other

    Votes: 2 8.0%

  • Total voters
    25

HNTR918

WKR
Joined
Dec 7, 2018
Messages
546
Location
Colorado
I have a Toyota Tundra short bed.
I want an option for sleeping when run and gun hunting and not in the back country.
I’m staying away from tow behinds due to their lack of flexibility in travel and reaching the places I like to hunt.
I’m looking for those with experience with the following options.
If you have a picture of your setup, please share it.IMG_5496.jpeg
 
I just got a GFC in September and so far I love it. It’s expensive though. Drove from Virginia to Nebraska to hunt deer. One night winds were around 40 mph and it was too loud for me to sleep. No issues with it otherwise.
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I wouldn’t say it’s the best by any stretch, but make do with a fiberglass ARE with Front Runne Mr load bars. It works ok, but I’d really like a Lone Peak, Super Pacific, GFC, etc. IMG_8463.jpeg
 

 
Had a ton of luck with ARE and Leer toppers. Lots of good DIY setups. I just usually threw an air mattress back there. Quick setup easy to run and gun.
 
I love my soft topper. Even though I have a short bed F150, I just close the top flap and leave the tailgate open and get the inside warm with a Mr. Buddy when it’s really cold.
 
I hunt and camp with the wife/dogs out of my truck bed. I love it, no setting up or taking down tents in the rain. Warmer, sleeping off the ground. I'd love one of those flip top shells. But, way out of my budget. I've been using a fiberglass shell for years. I would recommend buying a high rise model. With a cab high, unless your fairly short you can't situp in the back. The high rise model, lets you sit up and be pretty comfortable back there.20241003_143503.jpg
 
Color matched Leer topper for me on my 6.5’ bed Tundra. Gear is in totes so it is easily reconfigured.

Best purchase was a BedRug mat (not with the sides) and tailgate cover. Saves the knees!
 
I really thought I wanted to get a rooftop tent or Gofast camper type setup until I realized I would have to take it down every morning if I'm driving the truck for hunting.

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I ended up going with RSI Smartcap and it's been awesome.

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I also have Decked drawers, a tote on the tailgate to lengthen the "deck", and a tent that I throw over the open canopy and tailgate which makes the bed long enough to sleep in.

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I like this for road trips. It takes me about five minutes to setup at a rest stop and I don't have a tent on top of my truck all the time.
 
I’m a truck topper user too. Have solid doors with inside of topper lined with carpet and leds. Really nice. Open the door on the woods/creek side of the road for fresh air. But one real thing to consider is dust. Not easy to keep all that dust out of the back when driving wash boards.
 
I’m a truck topper user too. Have solid doors with inside of topper lined with carpet and leds. Really nice. Open the door on the woods/creek side of the road for fresh air. But one real thing to consider is dust. Not easy to keep all that dust out of the back when driving wash boards.
Dust is where the RSI Smartcap excels. The positive pressure vent in the roof keeps almost all of the dust out of the canopy/bed area. It works surprisingly well.
 
Dust is where the RSI Smartcap excels. The positive pressure vent in the roof keeps almost all of the dust out of the canopy/bed area. It works surprisingly well.
Interesting…. I’ll have to read up on that. Wonder if it helps with the after effects of my chili too? Or the dog… 🤣
 
I have two setups on the same truck. One is camper shell with platform/bed and drawer. I can remove top decking leaving drawer which is carpeted and makes it easier to get dressed, cook etc. while sitting in camper. Really like the side opening windows for warmer weather. My truck is 6 1/2' bed however I have built the same setup in friends 5 1/2' camper shells.

The second one is a Hallmark pop up camper for general hunting and camping with my wife.
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I’ve thought about this a fair chunk. I currently have an ARE canopy on my tundra 5’6” bed. I can’t sleep in it. I set up a tent and can do in less than 20 min I’d guess. A wedge style pop up canopy is on my list. The gfc looks good but the topo can have windows on the sides so that’s the one. I can have my pad/bag up there, pop it up and go to bed. Smash it all in in the morning and go. Shouldn’t take 5 min. Price is a bit more than double that of a fiberglass canopy. Have fun searching, nice truck!
 
10 min up. 10 min down.

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and run a diesel heater like:
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