Minimalist camping setup - pics wanted

Since he’s only 7, I’d go with this. It’s affordable. Bought one last summer and camped for 5days a t different parks. It poured one night and I was nice and dry. My buddy got soaked in his tent and ended up sleeping in the cab. Spring in the mid-Atlantic it often rains. You’ll be nice and dry with the bed tent. Not sure about the parks in VA, but we have some great state parks in PA for camping.

Just get out there and enjoy the time together.

Edit: Get a medium sized cast iron pan can. It can be used to cook anything on a fire and cleans up easy.

 

If I'm solo and don't have a bunch of gear I'll crash out in the bed on a backpacking mat with a sleeping bag but the DCSB makes for a tight fit.


If the wife is with me or I have too much gear in the bed I use a little 2 person tent with an air mattress (my setup is on the right)


When the wife and kids are with me we are far from minimalists

 

Go tentless and Hang. One of the Best sleeps I've had in the wild is in a Hammock. That and they pack to the size of less then a new thing of tube socks.

 

What do you do about bugs? I had at least half a dozen nights this year where mosquitoes forced me into the tent/camper by sunset. Buying a hammock soon anyway.

 

Get a Hammock with a Bug net. Quite a few of them come with bug nets & tarps.

 

I just scored one of these on clearance at academy sports for 100$!!! It’s camo but it will be fine!

 

Have you tried putting it on? It’s meant for full size trucks with 5’8” bed.

 

No not yet... probably won’t till it gets warmer. But if it don’t fit I’ve got a buddy with a f150 during to have it

 

I spend almost 30 nights a year in my hammock. Sometimes in my backyard.....


This year I'm going to fab an emergency post for my hitch receiver.

 

Bestop Supertop, air matress, and sleeping bag. I think I spent every other weekend this spring/summer/fall sleeping back there.

 

I built a platform just above the wheel wells and slide a foam mattress in there. It just as comfortable as my bed at home.

 

My bare necessity camping setup. Picked her up for $500 and put about another $500 into remodeling it.

 

The Sven Saw is a must have. So much better than a hatchet. I take this backpacking all the time. Lightweight, stays sharp and cuts like butter.

http://www.svensaw.com/

I've never camped out of my truck, for me it's either pulling the camper with the wife and kids, or backpacking. When backpacking, I much prefer hammocks over tents. Too old to be sleeping on the ground and then hiking 10-15 miles the next day. This was my setup last time I was out - This was at 27 degrees Fahrenheit in October:

 

For this one did you just lay 2 cross pieces in the indents in the side of the bed and then use 1/2" pieces to lay over those cross pieces? Looks great! Do you have any troubles reaching gear in the back of the bed?

 

Started taking my kiddo camping at 4.5. We use a Coleman 4 person tent and two sprung Coleman cots. I can’t sleep on the ground anymore. I pack a plastic container in the bed with all the necessities for fire, bathroom, and cleanup. Two sleeping bags, camping chairs, pillows, spare blankets. Ice chest with food for the weekend. We keep it simple and pack light.

 

I used 4 2x4's (each slot holds 2 perfectly) and 5/8" plywood for the platform covered with indoor/outdoor carpet. I posted my build on this somewhere, but I can't find it. So here's the progression (pic heavy). No issues with reaching anything. I put all the bigger/longer items up towards the front and I can easily reach them. Smaller items simply go in totes that fit underneath and those go toward the back for quicker/easier access.

I can install/remove it in about a minute. And when not in use I just store it down in my basement.

 

$200 utility topper I got off Craigslist. Added some lighting, cut up a piece of carpet left over from building my house for a nice bed mat, Coleman cot, and a real old mummy bag that my parents past down to me.

 

dig the rims

 

Short bed problems

 

There are lots and lots of threads in TW about experiencing the outdoors. So many great ideas and budgets.

This thread is now long being around 3 years old but the info in it about gear, selecting gear and reviews after using gear are great:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/diet-taco-trying-to-keep-things-light.409330/

Next to the OVTune thread, it’s my favorite on TW!!!

@DVexile