Homeless in a 02 Silverado with a topper. I stretch a 9 x 12 foot tarp over the back end length wise securing with bunjis to the wheel well support rods and stake down the other end. In side a twin mattress and milk crates full of equipment. a folding chair and a camp stove, I'm good to go.
Really interesting video. Great seeing the comparisons of the different styles. When l used to go tenting with my daughter we used lidded plastic bins that were permanently filled and stored in the garage so they were also available as grab and go evacuation "pods". The tent was separate but all other gear went in bins. One was filled with cooking gear and all other camping "hardware", lanterns, plates, dishcloths, soap, games.....(l kept a list of what went in there taped to the lid so anything that came into the house to be washed was sure to go back out again), one with my clothes and toiletries and one with hers. All the gear had been purchased cheaply second hand and was left in the bins and only updated with a change in clothing size or season. The advantage of that was minimal handling and they were all waterproof. The last bin was all our canned and dried food and, as money was VERY tight l used to refill the food tote by buying an extra can or packet or three everytime l shopped. (I also had a tried and true list of what we'd need taped to the lid on this one.) Usually by the time we were ready to go away the tote was full again and the only expenses were extra fuel and fresh food. It made a HUGE difference in our ability to go away as, the extra food cost topping up the tote was barely noticed and it was quick and easy to grab 4 bins and a tent and leave, knowing nothing had been forgotten. It was also really reassuring knowing how quick and easy evacuating in an emergency would have been. Hope this helps someone else.
Donald! You knocked it out of the park with this video. So incredibly thorough and well thought out. You really pulled out all the stops and put in a ton of work. So many options out there right now in terms of how you can get out and explore, it’s almost overwhelming!
Awesome video. Most RU-vidrs spend the 1st 5 minutes talking about their channel and why you should subscribe, without creating an outline. You told us exactly what was happening, how it was going to be explained, and even separated it into segments for us. Thank you!
i have been hunting in the mountains for over 15 years now and we all (6 families) have settled on the idea a slide in camper seems to fit the need the best. We can get out of the snow and dry out quickly with the heater. Inside camp equipment is at the ready and the ability to be outside is always there while also enjoying a harder shell package if weather is bad. Some newer shells are all aluminum frame and weigh in around the 650-800 lb range, making them very versatile and light for what we do.
Great breakdown as always! Some additional considerations: - Tents and other soft-sided campers (yes rooftops too) aren't allowed in some campgrounds that have bear issues. Not sure about the 4wd Camper style pop-up. Rooftops only provide perceived bear safety, and less if you are cooking right under your rooftop tent with that sweet slide out stove "flavoring" your sleeping area with bacon smells... - Payload - It's more than just suspension sag (brakes, cooling, handling) and can ruin your day if you get in an accident. If your insurance company realizes you were over payload with a camper, they may not pay out and don't have to. (ie, just about any mid-size + slide-in). How we love to modify our off-roaders ruin our payload, even though weight is the enemy of performance. - Mileage = range, also mileage = $ - Ground tents have the advantage of still being usable if you roll your vehicle, it catches fire, need to hike out after too much fun, etc. - Truck caps have almost 0 setup/breakdown time. You can also do lazy dust sealing by placing any soft-sided storage next to the tailgate while driving. Even with the massive gaps of my Tacoma tailgate I get near zero dust just by placing my duffle against it after driving all day in the dirt. - Slide-ins are probably going to be warmer/cooler, even pop-up style. The construction just naturally creates more dead-air space.
I stopped the dust issue by using weather stripping that has one side sticky. I put it around the tail gate and where the door of my camper shell closes. Dust free after that. Cheers
My wife & I have a small Intech aluminum utility trailer, weighs 1500 lbs., fits in home garage. Pulled by Chevy Colorado. Trailer provides AC/Heat, Fantastic Fan, TV/Stereo, Pull-Out Kitchen, portable solar power, and secure Indoor Protected Sleeping. We also set-up a Gazelle tent next to the trailer. We use this as our base camp so that we have full use of the truck to explore nearby areas, whether off-road or not.
I lucked out into a Napier truck tent for $100. Bought the companion add on tent for it for $150. Doubled my space which is a hell of a lot cheaper than your other alternatives. With that saved money I bought a Jackery and solar panels for off grid fun. I also have a tow behind camper for the wife....gotta have that bathroom. : - )
Definitely way more affordable. Personally I just feel that if I'm going to deal with setting up a tent or hassle with wet tent fabric, it might as well just be a ground tent that sets up easier and doesn't require pulling everything out of the truck to use. Clearly though, these truck tents have some kind of appeal...there seem to be a lot of people using them. That's the beauty of a pickup as a camp rig...everyone can find a way to camp that makes sense to them.
The way handy Dan set up the bed under his shell would also work really well for people making DIY campers. You could have a bed over your cab and stuff up high but still have wide doors and one or both sides able to pull out to carry along tools, spare camping/hunting/fishing gear, the ability to set portapot on slide and then slide it out to make it easier to remove to empty or use outside, or leave slide empty until needed/wanted…. I may be utilizing that idea in my future build. Wish me luck!
For the family, we have a large travel trailer with slides and a bunkhouse. It's a great way to get out of the house and on the road. We have a one ton diesel that works great. It's large so boondocking in remote locations is not possible and it needs lots of room with all the slides. When I go out on hunting for fishing trips, I use a Kodiak Canvas truck bed tent. I have a comfortable cot and bedroll and can fit a lot of my gear inside with me. I stay warm and dry for two to four day trips. My next purchases down the road will be a Jackery and a fridge for solo camping, but coolers fit the bill for now with limited time out in the woods. Great video!!
I love the idea of a slide in. I really like the pop up ones for offroad use. As long as it is durable I dont think having small trails would be much of an issue. It doesnt stick up further than your topper and it is only a bit wider. If you run wide tires you are going to be able to offset that or you could get some rock rails that stick out past it a bit.
Excellent video, thanks so much. I just bought a Ford F-150 Supercrew and my plan is to build a solo sleeping setup in the rear seat area. After extensive research and measurements it is very doable and I have found a few very intriguing examples on RU-vid. I will use the bed for gear and secure it with a tonneau cover. My goal is a minimal setup that does not compromise my truck's ability to negotiate the trail. Thanks again!
This is a great compilation video, - well done! One thing which I think needs attention: The possibility to heat yout sleeping space when you are north of sub tropic areas. After trying several or your greatly rendered options, we are now with a separate fire tent from Tschum, combined with canopy truck and an optional large tarp in between with ampy space for dining and sitting in the evening close to the firepit
I like my truck bed camper set up in my Tundra with a 6'6" bed and an extended 4" high canopy. I built a 10" high x 24" wide 6'6" long bed. For me, I like to go to a fishing location, and fish, If I can stay in that spot good, if not I go to a spot nearby. I also like that I can stealth camp when I travel, go in town, hit a bar or store, crawl in back and disappear, I can park almost anywhere in town. I also like that I can go to a friends and if I have too much to drink, I can crash in back and drive out in the morning without disturbing my friends. When I camp, I set up a cheap tent and camp chair to hold my camp site when I'm out fishing.
Just found both this video/channel/vlog (whatever), and the author. And I can honestly say, not disappointed at all. I'm starting to build a bed-topper style. And got a tonnage of ideas. Thank you sir, and the other fellers as well. If you are ever in my neck of the woods, next round on me
I have truck bed tent, and yes they’re a pain to set up, but after adding a slide out floor like your first interview and a soft-topper, we just drop the tent into the bed and pull the soft top over it for the day. This avoids about 90% of the daily setup when we’re camping… Why not just use the soft-topper? The tent has more headroom and extends out onto the tailgate, so it has a lot more usable space. In the end 90% what it’s adding is a flat floor up off the ground… You did nail the need for a separate kitchen setup… I have been looking at an ~easy-up tent (easy-up style top with a “tent” that hangs underneath and has a floor). I’ve see one where you can back your truck up to it and bridge the gap with a built in extension so that you can access all your gear from inside the tent, and to go exploring you just detach the extension to the truck. Lots of room, relatively low cost and your truck remains a truck (but I haven’t tried it yet)
Camper shells were called camper shells for decades! I guess that didn’t sound glamorous enough. Great vid! I no longer camp out of a truck but I really enjoy presentations like this.
designing a setup that can go from work mode to weekend camper is a challenge and i have a lot of respect for those who don’t have a dedicated overlanding rig
I've experimented with lots of different set ups, from tents and gear in the back of the truck to owning a 25 foot motor home. I'm really happy with my current set up. 4 door full size truck with a camper shell and a pop-up camper. When I travel solo I sleep in the back of the truck and use a camper shell tent door with the tailgate down and shell window flipped up. I need that extra space since I'm 6'4" and my truck bed is only 5.5 feet. I found the shell on offer up for $500. When I'm camping with the family our 2002 Coleman Bayside is incredible. I found it used in great condition for $3500 in 2020. When its popped open there's more room than we had in our 25' motor home. The trailer is reasonably light weight around 2500 pounds without gear. We use a luggable lue for bathroom and have a portable solar panel that we can top off the battery with. All our gear lives in the trailer except for the tail gating type stuff, chairs, tables etc. This set up gives us so much flexibility to go from basic roughing it to glamping and we can decide just how luxurious we want to get depending on our destination and duration of the trip. All this for less than $5k invested and we can likely sell the pop-up for more than we paid down the road.
I'm a toss and go camper. Got 3 tents, 4 grills, 2 cook stoves, like the fact that camp stays at camp while we look around. It's good low initial investment beyond the truck and goes as far off road as the truck
2:47 mid-height toppers provide a surprising amount of headroom and still look pretty good. I have a white FS pickup with a white mid-height topper and to me it looks good. The wedge kind of topper provides even more headroom, but is not cool or sleek looking.
Great video! I use a small 18' travel trailer because I don't go offroad. It's self-contained, small enough to tow and is a quick set-up/pack up and rain is not an issue. I do like the idea of a camper shell, though I'd miss indoor plumbing!
I previously camped in my S-10 with a 6' bed and a cab height shell. I changed to a Wildernest, but had trouble opening it solo. I loved the sleeping loft and floor space. I've upgraded to a 4x4 Silverado with an 8' bed and a flippac that I can open solo. Stoked to take it out for the first time this coming week....
These different ways of camping are each great to different people . I'm disabled and so I choose a cab high truck canopy and then I have built out the back of the covered truck bed to the camping preferences that work for me. Safe travels and happy camping, see you out there camping 🏕🏞🌄😊👍🙏🏽☝🏽🕊
Nice vid, but one solution is missing. I've got a universal rear tent for my truck. It's like a pavillion with walls and two doors. One for entry/exit and one for the truck. Connects the truckbed with the tent. You can leave the tent, drive around an come back. I still use the truck to sleep in, but the tent for kitchen. Greetz from Germany 🖖🙂👍
Nice review. I simply open any door of my station wagon and lay down. Plenty long enough for two and a couple of bags for short trips. After watching this, anything on a trailer is the next step up.
I just got my first cap. Wasn't made for my truck, but it fits fine. Just a little lower than the cab. I made a van into a camper years ago. I'm excited to have a 8ft bed to work with! This channel helped me decide to just get the truck bed cap!
Great breakdown on the pros and cons of the various ways to use a truck for camping. Right now I don't have any kind of cover on my truck bed and I either sleep in a hammock or in a ground tent with a cot. Most my trips are over the weekend for paintball events, but occasionally I head into the Manistee National Forest for an overnight trip. Eventually I want to get something with less set up than a hammock or ground tent for my paintball trips.
Grat job, this compilation must of taken many many hours to put together. I subscribed not because of the content, for I know how I want to camp, but to just suport the fine work you do. Yes as a bonus, I learned a few things here and there too. Thanks, again great job on the video, top knotch.
I think truck tents are great for those people that like going out, but only do so a couple times a year. Also a good entry level for those not comfortable being outdoors.
I am a trailer guy for sure. it is a pain in some situations, .like really tight roads if you ever need to back up but since I pull a trailer every day all day for work it really ISN'T much trouble for me. I would imagine people who trailer less often would struggle more with that. all in all it is the best way to go for me. I love to set up camp then be able to leave in my truck. I also love keeping all my gear in the trailer so it is all ready to go at any time. you get home and there is nothing to do but bring your personal items in and food.
Never had a Subaru, don't have a pickup. But when I see Donald's vids pop up in my feed, I always have a great video to watch! Hope you make your way down to Socal in the Fronty one day!
Nice video. Mine is a 1990 VW Campervan with pop top. PROs Ease/speed of setup, sturdy, comfy, built in sink/stove/frig and with swivel front seats, super roomy. CONs Leveling, poor MPG, hippie magnet, not best off road, driving in wind is not for the faint of heart, can’t drive away from camp.
This is a fantastic video, genuinely great production and I really enjoy your presentation. I’m not currently in the market, but exploring for future consideration and this was just great to watch!
Wow, if I'd only known 40 yrs. ago when I built a 'dog house' on the bed of my 1953 f-150 outta wood that this kinda stuff would become a 'thing'...mine was nice and tight and shingled, didn't leak in southern California rains and the 'door'' was a blanket hung over a rope. Everyone knew I slept back there and only one person ever bothered me. Pretty open, kept my drums and stuff back there....try do'n that nowadays....
When I lived in British Columbia I enjoyed spending my days off exploring hiking trails. Living was expensive but I had a mid-size car and a very primitive tent trailer (very light) It had a rigid top that you crank. It had queen size bed on each side and in the middle a table for four, water tank, propane heater. On the outside it had a roll out canape on the right side of the trailer you had a pull slide drawer that included a sink with tap a two burners and a under the sink cabinet with sliding doors. You could have it in or out. I had it mostly out.
Budget and frequency of use will drive my setup. I have a truck with a bedcover. I have a ground tent and misc camping gear. The few odds and ends of additional gear won’t cost much. I haven’t truck camped much, so what I have, while older, has a lot of life left in in. I don’t go out specifically to camp. It’s part of something else for me, like hunting or overlanding. If I need to occasionally be out overnight or a few days, my existing gear will get me through. The truck bed tents are interesting, but I run a smaller truck, so it’d be a bit cramped. Haven’t ruled out a truck bed tent, but finances and use level will most likely keep me using my current gear.
Great video! I'm a trailer camper myself, but want a secondary camping style for times when I want to get more off the beaten path. Our trailer is perfect for most situations but maneuverability in trails can be tricky because of our size.
Makes sense. There is much that is appealing about having a trailer, but each time I find myself turning around on some little road that unexpectedly came to an end, I'm grateful not to be pulling one, haha. Having the option to go with or without is an awesome solution!
I travel most winters out to AZ, where I rockhound in the Quartzsite/Parker area. I took a 26' travel trailer out there several years ago and stayed in a RV campground, while traversing thru the desert in my truck and 4 wheeler. I told myself I would never travel over the Rocky Mountains again, pulling a large trailer and sold it as soon as I returned home. Lol. Now I just rough it, sleeping in the backseat of my truck and also spend nights at a motel. I have a shortbed F-150 with a Baja set-up for my spare tire, so bed space is very limited. I am looking at the Four Wheel Camper Project M type of set-up, as it would allow for a sleeping area above and give me room to load my Trailmaster MB-200 dirt bike in the truck bed below. I'm looking for a shell model, as I don't need all the amenities as the pricier set-ups. As a solo camper, I cook over an open fire, pack a porta potty and I'm set. Getting out in nature and exploring all of God's wonderful creations is my only goal when camping.
You forgot to mention just sitting and "watching" camping videos on youtube....... no set up, no tear down, no added costs, and the sleeping arrangements are just like HOME!!!
Great video as usual! Great subject and you did an awesome job of being super thorough. You aren’t the least bit OCD lol. I can say that because I can be a bit OCD myself at times lol. I currently have the best of 3 worlds lol. I have a short bed truck crew cab with a leer shell on it. I DIY built drawers that slide out for gear and totes and DIY containers for more gear. I have a quick setup tent with a cot and small table with room for an extra person. I also have a Hennessy Hammock with the extra winter stuff and sleeping bag good to -35 Fahrenheit and 10x12 rainfly lol. Then I have an Arctic Fox trailer that is true 4 season capable for when I’m camping in one spot for extended periods in fall and winter like 2-6 weeks at a time (hunting). My son and grandson join me when I’m using any of those options and we always enjoy ourselves. I have to admit though when there’s snow on the ground and more falling its nice to have a hot shower, set the thermostat, make some popcorn and watch a DVD about camping with my grandson lol He’s only 8 but he loves your channel and primal outdoors so we are raising him right lol. Cheers mate
I have the topper and worked well in the past. The only one I would consider now is the GFC or possibly just a nice canvas tent but I"m sure I would get tired of always setting a Springbar up all the time.
my solution is a truck cap and a ground tent. If I plan on a one night camp. I can sleep in the truck. Longer stays, set up a ground tent. I built a drawer system in the bed. Also I did a rear seat delete to add tons of storage space.
Great informative video! Trying to figure out what's going to be the best option for myself and the family going forward. Love the idea and options provided with rooftop tents, but we have dogs, and more importantly, I'm an amputee, so getting up into a rooftop isn't long term feasible 😂
Tent-camped out of my truck for many years. Tried building a little platform under a canopy for a few years. Didn't like having to climb in and out as I got older. Getting a teardrop camper, hopefully next month. Really basic one, because it's relatively cheap, and I already have all my truck-camping gear. No climbing involved and I added another half-ton of cargo capacity, without making my truck work very hard at all. The advantage of a truck camper is you've got everything on board. That's also its disadvantage. I like to have an unloaded vehicle to run around in once I set up. But I like to stay in one place for a while and spread out. I still have my tents, and now I've added a nice 10x10 screened canopy that I can take along with the extra cargo room. Anyway, the teardrop/squaredrop camper is really nice if you're on a budget and aren't as spry as you once were. You can set up the kids in a rooftop tent or rig something up for them in the pickup bed. I've seen guys with squaredrops make a little bunk bed for the little one(s), but that's pretty claustrophobic, and your kids would out-grow it pretty quickly.
I use the bed tent, they are basically just a step up from gear in the bed. Just like gear in bed, you can quickly and easily revert back to normal truck for work after the weekend. If you're camping rather than over landing, and intend to park the truck, maybe use an atv etc, they make a lot of sense. The issue of not having a table/cooking surface on the tailgate doesn't make much difference as a small table can be packed pretty easily. If I was sleeping in a different spot ever night then yes, I agree a camper/rooftop makes much more sense
I have a 2013 f-150 with a 20 ft jayco feather light trailer. I have a son with medical needs. So we had to have a bathroom. It works for us. We can park the trailer in a camp ground or boon dock. Then go explore plus I have a rack that holds 3 Kayaks. I live close to Eugene or. So we go to the coast and the cascades.
I'm at this point at the moment with my truck. For now Im just throwing all my stuff in the back, buying a truck bed bag and a cargo net and happy with that. I still want to be able to use my truck as a truck that's capable of moving furniture, appliances, equipment, etc. One thing I love about trucks is the amount of large items you can haul around in the bed and don't want to give that up.
For sure, that is an important consideration. Since I make a big chunk of my living doing this, I bought the Frontier specifically to build an always-ready adventure rig that I can just hop in, swing by the grocery store on my way out of town, and go film some adventures. But I went through a period of time last year with nothing on the back of the truck and, I tell you what, I LOVED having an actual truck to haul stuff around. I think that's the beauty of a 4x4 pickup, it's capable of getting you to amazing places but is so so versatile in how you set it up and use it compared to an SUV or a van. If you're getting out there and enjoying it, that's all that matters!
I am on a budget so my set up is a home made tub rack and a lightweight Dune 4x4 rooftop tent, I use a waterproof dustproof box and a cheep fridge, my tailgate is the kitchen but the dust is a problem, so everything goes in the box like stove gas bottles all cookware plates cups etc, only things like water and fuel containers a table and a chair cop the dust. I have an awning on the left and a shower awning on the right, that way I have shade and a shower to keep clean. Because my pickup is a duel cab I pack things that need to be kept dry in the back of the cab and a console fridge in the middle of the back seat. I find this works well for me. I also have an old slide on camper out of the 70ies that I slide on my father's old Mazda bravo int like staying in a hotel but I wouldn't ever slip it on my pickup because it's a duel cab and it's only a Hilux, side winds suck though, just slow down, as for fuel I hardly notice the difference even though my slide on has a very high 70ies camper style. Hope this helps
this is priceless content ive been bingeing and i feel like ive hit the goldmine! Thank you for an impeccable guide i am beyond impressed. couldnt subscribe fast enough!
I have an Avalanche. The mid-gate function as well as the locking tonneau cover allows you to sleep halfway into the cab while still leaving plenty of space for gear storage in the bed.
I have both a lifted T@G teardrop trailer and a Snap TREEHOUSE clamshell topper on my truck. Why both? The T@G is great for moderate overlanding on reasonable 2 track trails. But there are times that it's better left at home and just camp out of the back of my truck, and after camping with the typical mid-rise topper. Last year I upgraded my truck topper to the TREEHOUSE and love it!! All things considered tho and with the ease of use (and the attached awnings) the T@G is my first option.
I didn’t see anything like my setup 🤷🏻♂️ I own a Ram megacab so I took off the back seat, built a platform for a mattress behind the passenger seat. I used a swivel under the passenger seat which I swivel around when it’s time to sleep and put the other half of the 6” memory mattress over it. I sleep like at home on a full twin size mattress and I have around 5 feet behind the driver seat where I’ve placed a stainless sink/ vanity with running water and a couple of drawers. (The sink is against the rear and I still have around 3 ft of room to seat on the bed, change and else. There’s many reasons why I choose to build the bed in the cab but some of are ... I have an 8ft Fiberglass enclosure in the back (it’s a fiberglass utility bed with a fiberglass topper which comes joint as one from factory). In the back I have my Dog which has a side compartment door and more space than in any standard cage, I have an air conditioner, my big kitchen drawer( with a military grade diesel burner) a refrigerator and a freezer on sliders, a 50 gallon water tank, my dirt bike, my maintain bike, an 8ft kayak, huge toolbox, diesel water heater, 2 spare tires and and all sorts of camping gear. All of it it’s concealed inside the fiberglass bed.i have awnings from the front of the cab to the end of the bed. It’s a very simple pickup and go at anytime setup, yet very sturdy and comfortable for my dog and I.
Lots of good info here. I’m leaning toward ls the diy, but the struggle is real. Everyone one of them has something I like. My biggest challenge is finding one that is made for a 8’ bed 😬
Very INTERISTING, i have A Lear 8' canopy WITH 6" RASIED factory ROOF, AND AM NOW BUILDING A bed FOR THE INSIDE (ON TRIP last YEAR SLEEPING on bed FLOOR WAS THE pits.. good Video.
Nice job I’m running ATOVERLAND atlas pop up on my tundra fully self-contained with the trailer I live on the road full-time bless thanks for the video
Just want to say thanks, very informative and the practical demonstrations and B roll really helped me decide that a trailer is probably the best for me. Thank you again.
camping by myself, I flip the back seats up and sleep there, I keep my cooler and gear in the bed of the truck with a tonneau cover. small cooler in front seat for drinks and food.
Very cool info, thanks for the comparison. I'm doing my homework on the topic now; but I'm leaning heavily towards a shell/cap setup. Reasons: the usage I have in mind is heavy off roading as well as 'urban' camping (long haul road trips) so being as inconspicuous as possible is a primary safety concern, as well as the hard surface for safety; from ne'er-do-well's in an urban environment. In an off road environment, having the same profile as the truck cab means I'm not unnecessarily prohibited by additional size concerns, the limited additional weight shouldn't impact my suspension longevity that much, and having most of the campsite self contained makes set up and break down times very quick. If I could make one criticism, it would be that this video doesn't consider the first point I brought up and that is considerations for urban camping.
Really cool vid. I have a really lightweight pickup so always looking for the 'best way' to make desert trips comfortable. Like the idea of your Leer utility shell and have been looking at other options like awning rooms too.
I'll have to ask Google what a kul is. Mom said she didn't know whether you found the ice cave. I'll tell her that you wrote on the screen that you didn't find the ice cave. This is just ridiculously pretty. Glad you enjoyed the toughness of the area. Thanks for the video.
So I've been taking camping trips with my 2021 Chevy Silverado Crew Cab Trail Boss and I use a backseat air mattress that has supports to fill the gap from floor to the bottom of the rear seat and it spans the distance from the back of the rear seat to the back of the front seat, used it a few times and its actually quite comfy. I use my pickup bed to haul my totes that hold my cooking equipment and extra tools. So far its been a good set up
Growing up, my family had to slide in truck camper. We were able to pull it off and set it up at camp, lower it and use it like a regular camper trailer. Then when we were done, we would lift it back up and slide it back into the truck.
Another hybird, cheap, get a truck tent and mount it to a utility trailer. All the straps can be fixed, poles put in but collapsed to allow quick set up. You can set up the tent on top of a large storage area so things slide out. Just cover the tent and storage box with a tarp tied down, remove tarp, lift tent and secure poles in bottom pockets, done!
Over 40 years with hard sided TC. Bought the first one brand new and had it for 38 years. The newer ones with electric jacks are easy to take off and leave in a campsite just like you would a trailer although having atvs/bikes for exploring we never bothered.
Biggest problem for me, is also having to tow, and launch a boat, with the truck. I currently have a truck bed tent, but I'm probably going to just bite the bullet and get a used Class C motorhome. Makes a lot more sense, than packing up your gear, driving to the ramp, loading the boat back up when you're done, driving back to the camp site, and setting things back up.
I built my own 4 x 8 camper for Off-roading didn’t notice a huge gas difference compared to the back of the truck fully loaded.... it was about the same price as a good rooftop tent....so many Advantages Solar, shower, Power, heat, thick mattress,Inside washroom, and the list goes on.....I love the fact I don’t have to pack up anything just Go... it’s worth the two extra miles I lose ....
Excellent! Very comprehensive, Thanks. You touched a little on what I've found interesting, the regionality of set-ups. Those that adventure mainly in the desert, or more established trails, e.g. forest service roads, tend to have trailers, and/or slide-ins. Those that explore more dense or rugged terrain (rock crawling, or just about) tend toward more compact solutions (caps, RTTs, ground tents). Of course, that's just my observation. But, it's probably worth consideration in the decision process.
That's an excellent point and I wish I had expanded on that a bit, because that IS an important factor. What makes sense to me here in Oregon would possibly be different if I lived in Utah.
Good video, one growing problem in the back country is theft. I'm in BC and have had stuff stolen from my site twice. Leaving stuff unattended is inviting trouble, it'll happen in the bush or even in a campground. Trouble doesn't necessarily get left behind when you leave the city, it's potentially worse. No cameras and no cops. It'll never stop me though.
Wow, that's awful! I am always a little nervous leaving stuff in camp. I mean, I've done it many times and never had an issue, but I'm always a little on edge until I get back. I would never leave anything of significant value like my Jackery. Tent, cot, sleeping bag, chair...bulky low value stuff that seems like more trouble than its worth to steal and ultimately isn't catastrophic if it does walk away.
Best for doomsday use and not wasting money is slide-in campers with 2 75-90 gallon tanks on a diesel giving you 4,000 mile range. I don't know why people don't think of this. Also having 5,000 rounds and a few ar's on board and you can have a generator along with a couple gas rotopax's. Don't wast your money unless its full proof multiple scenarios. Nice vid. I spent months researching everything out there. Also ac and heat is nice. Remember philosophy of use. Planning on mating it with my Honda Forza 300 scooter with a 80mpg range on the front. I don't care about weight when you can haul 36,000 lbs. DirtyMax 2500HD 😎
I'd just like to clarify on thing about truck bed tents, unless they have a built in floor pan (most don't) there's no need to empty your gear out of the truck bed. You simply pull the tent out of the sack, throw it over the bed (whether empty or full), attach the clips all around, insert support poles and tighten clips. You're done!
Great video! I was recently obligated to part with my much beloved RD1 CR-V adventure vehicle and buy a pickup, and I've been really unsure of how to build it out for overlanding. This definitely gives much food for thought. Many thanks!
Interesting video. I actually use a truck bed tent and love it :) I have a back seat in my truck and it's easy enough to keep my gear back there. Takes about 15 minutes to put up. I put an air mattress back there with many blankets and generally love it. Slept in thunderstorms :D
Great video. Very informative. I have a tacoma long bed and used my Weatherguard tool to store my equipment. I also flip the back seats but I will remove them next trip and place a platform to store water and cooler.
I can't wait for the new ones to be available. Although, I really like the current styling--always have. My dad still drives his 1987 Nissan Pickup (before the Frontier name). Still going strong.
Pulled a highly modified military M101 Canadian version, with extended tongue, aluminum lid, and modified suspension on 33 x12.5. Tube steel fenders. Aluminum bars on lid to keep CVT roof top Tent with Annex same hight as highly modified 2 door Jeep JK. Had Max Coupler hitch. We did this style of "overlanding" starting 9 years ago. All over the East Kootenay's in BC. Max. Weight fully loaded was 1000 pounds. Trailer was 400 pounds. Took that trailer places most rigs could only dream of. The 4.88's pulled it well down the highway. Sold Trailer this past spring to go with Teardrop style, after trying a buddies for a trip. The wife was sold! Changed mind again as $25k to 30k for a Trailer that after 4 seasons of off road trails, knew was going to leak. All Trailers leak at some point and just could not Justify that kind of Money for something I knew would leak at some point after thousands of kms of washboard logging roads and trails. There is a brand that makes a 1 piece Trailer just to combat this very problem the "Topo" it even comes with a very durable axeless suspension set up with trailing arms. Yet this Trailer is $40k usd. Just cannot justify that Cost when it's all said and done. Most likely am going to buy a new full size Truck and go the slid in route. Buddy already has done this with the Australian style aluminum flat bed and then a pop up 4x4 camper. That as well is now in the $40k rang. If you go with a smaller pop up 4x4 slid in, looking at about $20k usd for a top of the line model that is great for 2 people and the dog!
This is an extremely well done video! I just put together an overland setup on my Silverado Trail Boss, and I am waiting on the new Nissan Frontier's release. I'll be picking that Frontier up when it arrives in dealerships and I'm trying to figure out what direction I am going to go with that one. Thanks for the ideas.
I just got a palomino truck camper for my 2019 tundra and will be doing a 5 week road trip from KC to the PNW and back! Follow along to see how it goes! lol great video Donald I appreciate how much effort you put into your content!
I had a cap on my truck that I would use in my lawn mowing service.To use as a camper I would clean out the back and out the raised platform with a drawer under the platform.Later I put a suv tent off the back. But the tent wore out and the truck rusted out then I got a van,and that is another story.
