How do you camp with a 5ft shortbed?

Yeah, it was @LostHusker and another fellow named Matt. I forget his username.

Good dudes.

 

That was @Phoosa

Got myself an RTT few months back, went out last weekend first trip.

 

Hey, duuudes! Hope y'all doing good.

Did you get the RTT off TW? I'm jelly.

 

What’s up man?

Ya got it from a local member, oh and I need to go you a vote for your pic in the calendar submissions, I put a couple in the third gen section.

 

Badass, looks great. Been considering a CVT or smittybilt myself, but holding out for deals or local sales.

I'll take a look for your pics.

 

Thanks man, page 3

 

I've got a DCLB with a Snugtop Rebel shell. I've slept in the back a couple times when it was just me and was cozy and comfortable. In a week the gf and I will be camping in the back when we go to Arizona, so that'll be a fun thing to test out. Usually we just use a tent for all of our camping.
Oh and I have Windoors on my shell, i think those are the ones a lot people like, I know I do.

 

In a tent on the ground.

 

just saw this

looks like he made a wooden box that can extend out onto the tailgate, with the use of a flip-up rear glass camper shell

 

I was just going to post that...

Also JimBob, who isn’t on TW anymore is selling his latest camper, way better than a Flippac, but same functionality made with modern materials.

https://www.instagram.com/p/B4tQKcuAl3b/

This is my solution (fits 1st & 2nd gen trucks with no modifications other than different clamps holding it onto the bed). Vagabond Outdoors Drifter.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B3kPTLCF4wU/

 

I sleep in the cap if it's cold and ground tent if it's warm, I'm 5'11"-ish so I can fit diagonal in the short bed and sleep well.

 

I second a hard shell rtt. It takes like a minute to set up or take down, no matter how intoxicated you may be, and handles wet weather better than the fold out variety. The only real drawback is stealth camping is impossible in urban environments. I’m actually selling mine as (1) I have a six foot bed, (2) it’s only me and the dog sleeping in the truck, if the gf is onboard we are probably hotelling it. On the Yakima landing pads, I can mount/dismount it from the canopy in under five minutes. It weighs maybe 125 pounds and has no noticeable effect on mpg or making the truck feel top heavy

 

just curious if anyone here sleeps under their truck?

 

If you drove into your campsite you're not roughing it, its not like backpacking. You should be comfortable, whatever you like, RTT, Tent, canopy.
I get a way better sleep in the back under my canopy, 6 foot bed with an Exped mat. Gets windy close the side windows, nice and quiet.

 

He's a great resource. As I mentioned, he sells his plans to this build on his website for $5. The cool thing about his setup, is it provides security and weather protection.

Aside from his build, has anyone experienced any issues with sleeping with the tailgate open, namely security? I'll mostly be in state parks/forests, so considering using a draped tart with cheap-o stakes and bungees to give shelter over the back and possibly doing an extension if I go the platform setup.

I just haven't decided if I want to do a platform or have the head room by sleeping down at bed level.

What kind of canopy are you talking about?

 

Do you have the "blueprints" for this? I like the idea of the extension out to the tailgate. Do you have drawers in there?

 

I don't have the slideout extension setup. The one mentioned is a youtuber by the name, Off-Grid Adventures. Click for his plans

I will say, I've since seen his design undergo a bit of remodeling, but I've never heard him complain about the initial concept. I think the stick-on diamond grip had been getting weathered was all.

I don't use drawers because the idea I had was for everything to be easily removable. I did find that mixing tubs for mortar slid and fit perfectly. Here's a picture of my setup:

 

I can't tell if you're trolling or serious. That sounds like a terrible idea. Why would you put the tent in the bed vs on the ground?

 

Is a bed even wide enough to accept a tent? Maybe a single person tent, but even still, you'd have to pad the shit out of it to get rid of the ridges of the bed liner, no? I guess you won't have to walk me through this. I'd never do it haha