Truck Camping

[Erebor]

I like trucks myself more versatility. But a van you would be completely enclosed, and wouldn't have a camper in your bed all the time. But fir long term I would take a van. My longest stay in my truck was 2 weeks. Before I had enough.

 

[Seeknelk]

Keep in mind the nights are VERY long in January so maybe you won't mind cooking something and doing some camp chores. However ,that is certainly more pleasant in a larger shelter out of the wind at least. If you get back to the truck only a couple hours after dark, that's only like 7:30-8.
I know me and a couple of my kids were packed in last year in Nov, and we camped near our vantage points. I remember wondering why I couldn't sleep then checking the time. It was like 7:30

 

[Boarmaster]

I cook as much as is practical and freeze. That way Im not cooking that much in camp. Things like steaks I freeze as well. If I’m with my truck and coolers I don't use dehydrated meals. Produce I buy when
I get to where I am going. Frozen food serves as ice in the cooler. I pull the next few days meals out of my main food cooler and place in my smaller cooler to thaw with produce and condiments. I only open the frozen food cooler every other day if possible. I usually have a separate cooler as well for cold drinks.
This system has worked for me even before we had our fancy rotomolded coolers. Anything I can freeze that can be used later like water jugs or blocks helps on ice.

 

[EdP]

Taperpin's point about using fresh for the early part of the hunt is great advice. Frozen meat will stay frozen in a cooler with ice for several days especially in cool temps, and will keep just fine for a couple of more days just like it would in your fridge at home if you can keep it cool. After that use canned products, freeze dried meat, dried vegetables, nuts, rice, and pasta to make meals of choice. Walmart sells a number of soup mixes that make excellent backcountry meals with freeze dried meat added and 1/2 the recommended water. Also, a bad weather day may give you an opportunity for a grocery run and extend your fresh food period. The freeze dried, canned, and dried stuff isn't going to spoil if you don't use it. There is nothing wrong with the other recommendations for solar or other options to maintain refridgeration, but I would not depend on them and have food that would not spoil available as backup.

 

[Nco4]

The bottom line up front is what are some tips, tricks or hell even recipes for truck camping and staying sustained? Water storage? Cooking? Food storage?

Have a late season hunt that I plan on hunting from the truck. It’s a two week season and I really am planning on being there for around 10 days depending on if I can get it done or not. I don’t want to just buy 10 days or more of peak meals cause that can add up quickly.

I’d prefer not to head back into town and the nearest one on substance is probable an hour or so away from where I’m hunting, but it is available to a degree.

Appreciate any help.

Precooking some meals before hand that you can heat up in a pot or cup on camp stove always helped my family and me. Beef stroganoff or beef stew were our favorite and easy to make and store in the bottom of the ice chest frozen. You can find 5gal pails for cooking, cleaning and drinking. 20gals for 4 or us for 3 days was the a

The bottom line up front is what are some tips, tricks or hell even recipes for truck camping and staying sustained? Water storage? Cooking? Food storage?

Have a late season hunt that I plan on hunting from the truck. It’s a two week season and I really am planning on being there for around 10 days depending on if I can get it done or not. I don’t want to just buy 10 days or more of peak meals cause that can add up quickly.

I’d prefer not to head back into town and the nearest one on substance is probable an hour or so away from where I’m hunting, but it is available to a degree.

Appreciate any help.

 

[dtrkyman]

I have a lot of pre cooked stuff, as stated earlier it's dark early in the late season so cooking a little is usually a non issue. I use a portable propane grill.

While I am a big fan of thick steaks and pork chops I buy really thin ones, they cook really quick so I can have fresh meat! Big fan of Brat's on hunts, I actually never eat them other than truck camping, but those greasy salty things hit the spot on a hard hunt, don't forget the spicy mustard!

 

[ScreamingPotato]

I age my venison and elk 7-10 days in a cooler before freezing anyway so I wouldn't even worry about keeping stuff frozen really. If you planned carefully don't age some of your meat from the season prior and you can just age it after defrosting, probably be good thawed for a couple weeks honestly.

 

[travism38]

What about water storage, other than freezing jugs of water? We seem to go through a lot of water over 4-6 days and the more i think about it the more riduculous it is. Last year had an early November NM hunt and we went through around 10 gallons between two of us somehow. It was very dry. This year made the switch from tent to truck camping.
Got myself a softopper and a datinfab rack and was thinking of fashioning a water tank made up of two 5ft pieces of 6" PVC pipe.
i can get the pipe for free and wil onlyhave to buy the end caps and other fittings and will give me around 14gal capacity.

 

[Erict]

^^^ Sounds interesting, but hard to beat the simplicity and cost of using the square 7 gallon or taller rectangular 6 gallon jugs that are easy to move around and could be put in the vehicle if freezing was a possibility. I top them off when I treat myself to a motel room.

 

[travism38]

^^^ Sounds interesting, but hard to beat the simplicity and cost of using the square 7 gallon or taller rectangular 6 gallon jugs that are easy to move around and could be put in the vehicle if freezing was a possibility. I top them off when I treat myself to a motel room.

ah i thought about those, i think i could only have one due to space limitations
I was also thinking that with the exterior pvc tank, the spout could be done with a 3/4MHT fitting and a hose could be outfitted for shower and cleanup.
I even seen one company puts a Valve stem on it so you could pressurize the water. Interesting idea.
Freezing is my concern.

 

[bigunit]

I bought a costco cooked pizza this year. Was 4 nights worth of food at least but I like cold pizza. Frito pie with canned Chilli is a nice treat and easy. Just have to keep the sour cream cold. I don't eat breakfast so that helps a lot. Cliff bars and Salami and cheese usually gets me through the day. I started taking the prime hydration packs and don't mind them but you have to use about 1.5 liters water otherwise it's too sweet. Hard boiled eggs are good for a snack.

 

[johnnytheboy]

Basically anything that stores in your cupboards rather than fridge/freezer will store in your truck! Some bevy stores well, onions potatoes etc!

 

[COJoe]

I just imagined a pan fried ribeye and onions vs Mountain house chicken and dumplings.

Thanks, when I'm eating my chicken and dumplings (which I like) next month I'm going to be tasting a juicy steak.....

 

[AZ_Hunter]

I have truck camped a ton. Like everyone else said, pre made meals that can be heated up quick on the camp stove. Then canned meals as backup or when the ice melts.

 

[GoBirds]

I always premake things like lunch meat sandwiches with flat bread and breakfast burritos. sandwiches travel well in the pack because they are flat bread. Can heat up burritos on fire. I'll also usually take a ziplock of premixed hamburger, for making burgers on the fire or portable stove.

 

[CMF]

precooked in ziplocs and heat in boiling water.
Chili
chicken and dumplings
taco meat(tortilla)
spaghetti
Pulled pork(throw on a tortilla or bread)

 

[Wrench]

Take a lesson from the pioneers.... dutch oven. A couple pieces of bacon in a Dutch for 5 minutes to grease the pan and then throw in a potato and seasoning....cover for 10 minutes....stir and throw the bacon back in. Toss it on a plate and cook your eggs....bam! Solid chow and easy.

Don't worry about cleaning it. I last washed mine in 1997.

 

[Wrench]

In the Dutch....a bit of flour, yeast some honey or maple syrup and salt....you have bread.

Cw's dutch oven cookbook is great for late season when the nighta are long.