Truck Camping Photo Thread

Trying yet another hammock camping option: MClean trailer hitch hammock stand. Packs down nicely. Adventure Hammock Systems


On the back of my Taco.


With Dream Hammock Sparrow hammock mounted. Dream Hammock - Home Page They'll build anything you want: Dream Hammock - Past Projects Click on the blue number under the picture for specs on each hammock. (If I did it again I'd spec out a 12-foot model. The longer the hammock the more comfortable.) These aren't your ENO hammock or "festival" hammock you buy in Walmart or Academy/Dick's. Whole 'nother level of ALL NIGHT comfort. In the winter the hammock's top cover makes it about 15 degrees warmer inside than outside. And it keeps the wind off you. Switch the cover out and install a zip-in mosquito net in its place during warmer months. I've been down to 12 degrees and was toasty. My cousin in TN has been even colder and he too was warm. To do so you need the underquilt shown in the bottom picture. Anything under 70 degrees and sometime around 2am you are going to get cold on the bottom side if you don't have an underquilt. P.S. They make a suspension device so you can hang your AR from the ridge line above you.


With JacksRBetter 10' x 12' Universal Tarp up top. Just mocking it up now, making sure the width on the tarp poles mounted in the ends of the arms are the right width. This tarp is ultralight for backpacking, and has way more tie-out options than any of my other tarps. Also has a segmented 11' fiberglass tensioning rod (think small-diameter tent pole) that bows the tarp up and out. Has places to mount up to three 11' rods to really make it roomy under there. 12' x 10' Universal Tarp - Jacks R Better




I'm thinking an 18-inch hitch extension to get it back a little bit so I can have easier access to all the other crap in the truck bed.

Here is the tarp when it has the rod in it and staked out in such a way as to shed a heavy rain.



Hammocks: No slope, ALWAYS level. No rocks underneath you. Most comfortable sleep you will have in the outdoors.

 

Meanwhile in Oregon...

 

Nice first weekend of the season in CO.

 

four mile area?

 

Baja, MX

Reminds me of driving in Alaska. Just wild, and big vistas. Better tacos though.

 

Hey @DetroitDarin , is that the topper EZ lift you have there? How do you like it? Any issues with wind noise or water getting in? Nice set up all around!

 

I love camping there when the white bass run happens. Had some luck this past season and met some great folks who've been coming there for the past 30 years.

 

Hows the Firemapple kettle? Been looking at their Jetboil knockoffs. Review seem mixed on their quality.

 

Needles Highway South Dakota if I'm not mistaken? Very memorable drive.

 

Great quality, cant complain about it.

 

It IS! I was parked behind friends who own the trailer. I couldn't be happier with it - though I have not had it out in the rain. Wind? Meh - it's fine. Since the side panels are smaller than something like a RTT I'd guess the wind noise would be less. I use it for other things too - couple weeks ago I raised the topper about 8" so I could fit everything from an awards banquet into the truck without making two trips. While I wouldn't do much/any freeway driving with the top raised, city and neighborhood streets were just fine.

 

Yeah, north side.

 

@DetroitDarin Thank you! I appreciate the response. I purchased one and it should arrive in a few weeks. I am stoked for it - I still use the truck as a truck a fair bit, though I have a basic platform built in the back for campling/long term trips - I still need to haul stuff for work, house etc. I think this is going to be my best solution though I worry about the wind noise from the tent. In theory if it gets bad, I can just lower the topper back down. Happy Trails!

 

Well good luck to you! A word of warning - they have the shittiest customer service i've encountered in recent memory. They tend to reply in fewer than like 10 words no matter how long the question is. The tent pole (long, horizontal pole) for my weekender cracked at the second use. $45 replacement from them.

My latest email: "Good morning - the pole that goes across the top edge of the weekender is broken - it's cracked the length of its shaft, and the crack is maybe 8" long. Is there a replacement option? Have you seen that happen before?

Thanks!"

Their reply: "Rebuildables cut to order at Walmart we have them on our site as well."


I guess I expected something like "So sorry you're having trouble. The pole is "x" inches long and you might find them even at walmart. Though we can't warranty them because useage is so variable - we sell them online for $45 (gets you the entire replacement pole kit)."

 

Thanks, Darin...I've read about this from others - they seem to have terrible follow up customer service - I mean, there's brief but then there's shitty - and what you are describing is indeed pretty shitty. And-it's not hard to create a reply such as you expected. Did you go to Walmart for the broken pole? That's odd.

 

Just broke a couple days ago - am in the middle of a move so I'll have to tend to the thing in a couple months. Still, it's my favourite type of rustic-ish, overlanding-type shelter solution

 

Is that the Leer 180? If so, is there enough room for a sleeping platform and still have the ability to sit up? Thanks, just can't decide what to get. I'm 6' but want a sleeping platform the height of the wheel wells but still want to be able to sit up.

 

In the end...
I decided not to camp in the abandoned children's petting zoo lot that night.
Super creepy!

 

Yes it is a Leer 180.

I've been going ultra light and use a cot to sleep on. I use most of my backpacking ultra light equipment in the back of the truck. No wood build out for my truck. I need to use the back for multiple purposes besides camping and the ability to remove everything quickly.

Early this year I cut the legs of the cot down to lower it a bit closer to the wheel wells. It now works better for me but I'm 5' 9.5" tall.


This is a photo prior to cutting the legs down on the cot. I cut them off right below the cross bars.




As for whether you can sit up.. that I can't answer however the height measurement from the wheel wells to the top is 32.5". From bottom of bed to top is 42".

Sitting on my cot now, I'm about 10" from the bottom of the bed since it sags from weight when sitting on it (it is not firm like 3/4" plywood).