Need help with a camping and mountain activities focused short bed build?

I’ve been researching for a while on the best camp build set up for my short bed Tacoma. I’ve been reviewing all the options and still feel that I’m not getting any closer to making a decision. I originally had the diamondback cover and intended to mount an RTT on top however, I did not like the gear management with this.

This has led me to consider two options:

option 1: Smartcap with solid sidedoors. grape for gear storage and taking shelter in bad weather, however, concerned with the overall weight if I eventually add an RTT on top.

Option 2:The new deck drawer system with a rack and an RTT. Great organization of camping gear in the drawer and potential to add coolers under rack for camping trips.

Weight is primary concern and want to keep the build as light as possible. GFC camper was considered and probably the best solution overall but general use would be an issue with parking in lots o4 garage and living in the rainy PNW.

 

I pack a tent

 

Do you have a garage in which a sImple hoist could be installed? If not, options severely limited.

 

Decked is a huge waste of space in a Tacoma bed. You lose a good half of your bed space with where the drawers aren’t and there’s so little depth left between the top of the decked and the top of the bed sides you can’t put anything big in there.

Get a simple rack that a RTT can sit on and be easily removed from and some plastic storage totes to keep stuff dry/clean in the bed.

 

Some people like bed-tents, using the opened tailgate: https://www.sportsmans.com/camping-...ping&msclkid=27f32a937d221489bd1e4fefe7174512

 

I looked at the decked route and ultimately got a Smartcap EvoA and have zero complaints. I also use a ground tent, but a lightweight RTT up top such as the Inspired Overland might be an option.

Hunting, camping, outdoors stuff.. Perfect for my uses. Lightweight for what it is, keeps my gear secure, and easy to remove if needed.

 

ARE cap with solid windoors and prinsu universal rack. A Tacoma is designed to stay light so you are on the right track. A 5ft bed is fine for 3-4 days for me with a ground tent. For longer trips and a basecamp, I pull a trailer. If you go RTT, as recommended already, I would run a bed rack. Otherwise, your cap should be rated for the RTT and its occupants.

 

I have a smartcap and a decked system and I really like it for organization and mountain bike/outdoor activities. Was trying to stay away from the RTT route but 4 trips in a row were ruined by rain and setting up and tearing down soaking wet gear got really old really fast so I bit the bullet and put a RTT up there now and will not be looking back.

 

Just a condo parkade unfortunately.

 

I still need secure storage. Have you seen the new drawer releases? Appears less space is wasted now.

 

This is the one with solid sides right?

 

With the decked it’s not the drawer releases but all the space along the sides and middle of the bed that can’t be used. Almost half the surface area of the bed is gone and you’re just left with two drawers.

How secure do you need? With a locked tailgate and a tent on a mid-height bed rack you can’t get anything out of the bed if it’s in hard side containers.

 

Bed bars and an RTT allow you to set up the tent w/o unloading and continue general use of the truck. If you can’t dry it out mold will become an issue but given your parking situation that might be unsolvable. A Topperlift system might suit your needs if you can add a vestibule.

 

You could go with the retrax pro tonneau cover which has slots for the racks to go into if your dead set on a rtt. I thought about that along with the cap options. I went the tonneau cover route and stuck with the good old tent and tent cot for when my daughter comes along. Tent cots are a good option if you just looking to get off the ground.

 

Some like these ... off-ground single tents, but pricey though: https://www.bcf.com.au/p/wanderer-s...r-bundle/PS-BCF033.html?cgid=BCF0215#start=28

 

The design has changed and is just one drawer now, but it’s a little shallow.

 

I have a short bed and went with GFC + 1 drawer year round. I wanted some camper comforts that fit in my garage and I need a secure space on trips for my bike when I’m not biking. 1 drawer keeps the rest of the bed usable for the bike or whatever. I have a slight lift + a roof rack on the GFC and I have a few inches of clearance to spare in the garage.

The GFC bed panel sits across the drawer + an action packer for seating indoors when needed.

For me it’s a decent compromise of cost vs convenience vs utility for me+wife+dog. We use it about 30 nights across 10 trips per year and rarely more than 1 night in the same place. The ability to pack up quickly, hang out indoors, stand up inside and have a collapsible toilet “downstairs” are all really nice to haves. It’s tiny though, esp with a short bed. if you need to be out of the rain/wind for more than a few hours, a big tent might be much more comfortable.

some photos in case it helps in your decision making.

 

Thanks, no denying these are awesome. Just feeling like I might not get to use is as much as I’d like living in rainy PNW. Plus I was paying attention to height restrictions on parkades recently and realized even with the stock Tacoma I wouldn’t fit. Most parkades here are 6’7 to 6’10. If I am not mistaken I would need about 7’ to clear.

 

I’ve since redone the drawers, but I put a mattress on top of this and sleep diagonally. Fridge in the cab. I took a 6 day solo trip and it worked great. The plus side of sleeping on the platform is there’s literally no setup or teardown involved. Pull up to camp, open bed, get in.

 

I just measured floor to the top of my roof rack is 80”. w/o the rack it’s 77”.