Camping Solutions

Hey all,

I'm running the Thule xsporter pro on my truck, mainly to transport kayaks and 12 foot fishing poles. However, I often camp in the bed of the truck, and would like a more refined/bugproof tent situation. In the past, I've thrown a blue tarp over the racks and called it a day.

Anyone have any advice? I would love a soft topper, but they can't handle the weight of the kayaks or the mounts for my fishing rods. Not looking for a camper shell

 

I had the same rack and ended up selling it. I wanted more secure/dry storage, but we also wanted to sleep in the back of the truck on camp trips. If you don't mind spending the money, go with a cap and don't look back. I was never a fan for hard shells on trucks, but now I'm sold. Best truck "mod" ever.

 

Yep that's the best solution whether he wants to hear it or not.

 

This thread has a bunch of rack options that fit over a soft topper.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/bedrack-with-soft-topper.681186/#post-24000471

 

No, it is the easiest solution but not what I'm looking for. What's the point of a website about customizing Tacomas if you're gonna criticize someone going for a very specific look? Yeesh....

 

That's def the best looking topper out there, and will be the one I get if I go that route. Still looking at other options, might even custom make a tent that secures to the xsporter with velcro straps. Shouldn't be too difficult

 

Don’t get sleep in the bed if your truck. Get a tent of any kind.

 

I too am a fan of the good ole ground tent.

 

Criticize? Really?

You asked for solutions and someone commented on a solution.

And what exact “specific” look are you trying to achieve?

It’s a forum for truck people, it works best with thick skin, a sense of humor and giving as much information as possible to requests for information imo.

Cheers.

 

This might not be a cheap solution, but depending on where you live you might be able to get a sail or tarp shop to custom make a snap over tarp.

 

or a good hammock system. To hell with sleeping in the bed of the truck.

 

I specifically said I didn't want a camper shell, and he's saying I should get a camper shell. The reality is I have given this much thought and don't want to go that route. So what solution did he offer that made you so quick to get offended and chime in? Kinda think if you had thick skin this wouldn't have bothered you enough to get your panties in a wad and chime in. Anyway, thanks for somehow being even less helpful.

I have a hammock I sleep in during the summer, I prefer not to use it in the cold due to the extra exposure that allows heat to escape, even in my sleeping bag rated to 30F.

This is my fishing rig, I often sleep in places I'm not really supposed to sleep that are close to my fishing spots, so pitching a tent is out of the question

 

You’re welcome...

 

Put this in the bed?

 

Softopper with a rack over it sounds like what you need, a few companies make compatible racks nowadays - soft or hard shell is a good way to stealth camp. Not sure if there's a solution if you kept your current rack though. With how long your kayak is it might be a PITA to get any sort of RTT, looks like you'd have to move it before deploying.

I fish/hunt/camp weekly and have a hard shell to solve the same problems you have, but you've already ruled it out by the sound of it so I would look into the above.

 

Solution to the sleeping problem is don’t sleep where you aren’t supposed to. Trespassing is a crime and sleeping with in a certain distance from a body of water is also a crime in a National Forest or National Park

 

Get a hobie and sleep on the water? Hobies are great for fishing, hands free...

 

It's not a website about customizing Tacomas. It's a forum where people discuss.
I apparently made a mistake answering you with the most practical complete solution to your problem. I didn't realize your vanity would be offended as you are worried about looks.

 

You paid how much money for a TRDPro grille that you advertise in your signature....? Please tell me the function of that mod other than looks?
I want form and I want function.

 

Now that is damn cool. The blue kayak in the picture of my ghetto camp is a Hobie Revolution 13. She's a beast