Living in the Bed

So this summer I'm planning on road tripping around a bit with my girlfriend and I decided it would be a bit more cost effective and plain old awesome to live in my lovely ol' Taco than go for hotels. Figured I'd make a thread for it and show you guys the updates!

Going to be basing my build off http://www.desktodirtbag.com/pickup-truck-camping/ but I need to make a bit more room for sleeping since it'll be the two of us. I'll work up the designs and post them here for your guys' advice!

Doing this will also make me accountable to actually doing it...

Also, if anybody wants to meet up for the road trip, I've got leave from about the 18th of July and going until we don't feel like it anymore.

EDIT: This will now also just be whatever I feel like doing to my truck.

And my buddy is going to go rather than my girlfriend because she has a "job." Loser.

13APR2014
Debadged the back a bit, need to get rid of the rest still


To Do List
Softopper Cap
http://www.softopper.com/ShoppingCart.aspx
Tires
https://www.treadwright.com/tw/select-tire/size/265/75/R16
Devil Horn Emblem
http://www.diazfabrication.com/tacoma-2011/
Custom Script Daphne Emblem
Chrome Craps
http://www.truckchamp.com/chrome-ac.../tacoma/year/2013/subcategory/fuel-tank-cover
Chrome Handles
http://www.truckchamp.com/chrome-ac...year/2013/subcategory/door-handles-and-covers

 

http://www.cascadiatents.com/

 

That would be a bit more conspicuous in urban areas than I'd like though.

 

July 18th huh. Come to Wyo! We will be running trails around then. I also suggest getting a cap before an RTT. If you could get a cap and a trailer for the RTT it would be a nice set up. That's what I plan on hopefully doing.

 

My Taco only has 2WD but if you guys have a tow I'll be sure to stop by. I'm debating between habitats for humanity and just exploring right now too. Definitely going to try for a cap rather than an RTT especially after reading through your thread. I like the idea of being able to drop shop wherever you need to, be it city or country

 

Yeah, probably will have 2 winches at a minimum and then plenty of tow straps. Some of the trails get pretty rough but you and the lady friend can always park and ride along too. Plenty of 2wd safe trails out here though. Everything around me is probably 2wd safe except a few muddy sections after the snow melt.

 

I'm going to be doing this with my sons this summer. I haven't decided if we are going to do the South East coast line, or the New England coast line. Only difference would be I have family I could visit along the New England coast. Also more designated camping areas along the South East.

 

Yeah, yeah, it's a first gen, but here's my low-key sleeping setup in use:



And during construction:



Sides fold up for easy access through side windoors and also for bike storage. They rest on the wheel wells when down. There's a storage cubby all the way forward for lesser used stuff. I made curtains and screens for the side windows that velcro to the carpet on the shell. Back window curtain is held on by snaps. Nothing for the front, but you can't really see in when the other curtains are up. There's not a whole lot of room for getting dressed but it's doable. Works just fine for sleeping, but I wouldn't want to try to spend a couple of days weatherbound in there.

 

We'll definitely look into coming by you then, mate. Sounds like it'd be a damn good time. I'll bring the beer.

 

Subbed

 

Sounds like an awesome trip either way. Have you decided how you're setting up the back yet? I feel like I'd rather a hard shell than an RTT if I'm going up higher on the New England coast.

Sweet setup! Clearly works well enough for what you need. I'm thinking of building up the sides a bit more and having that center part be able to drop down to work on that dressing area issue and so I hopefully don't hit my head as much. I'm going to bring a tarp that I set up off the back so we can hang outside a bit too and live a bit more comfortably in weatherbound weeks. Thanks for sharing that though, definitely giving me more ideas.

 

I've got a bestop soft top for the bed that I've camped in already, and plan on storing cargo on the roof.

 

How does is it do in the rain and/or snow?

 

Rain, snow, and wind it does great. Bed is 99.9% dry and draft free.

 

Awesome I'll have to add that to the list of possibilities.

 

I've heard about Ranger/Tacoma shells being interchangeable anyone know if this one would work for me?

http://baltimore.craigslist.org/pts/4384984175.html

 

IMO any 6' small truck cap will work then modify the shit out of it.

 

Sounds good to me. Just have to check it out first hand and see if it'll work out.

 

Here is a wood frame and vinyl sided cap I maybe should have kept.