How do you camp with a 5ft shortbed?

No stick shift available in 6ft with a double cab...

 

Alot of good ideas in this thread:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...eping-platform-drawer-storage-systems.424709/

 

I have a 60 dolalr coleman pop up tent and i think its probably easier to set up than any RTT

For winter camping id curl up in the short bed w my girl

 

Easy

 

the primary benefit of driving a tacoma in the city isnt SB v. LB, its the narrow width. I drive Portland, Seattle, Vancouver BC downtowns frequently in a DCLB and the tacoma shines. Back in parking is all you need.

 

The OP starts his post saying he got a short bed, it looks super cool. I was responding to that. As far as driving a double cab long bed Taco in major cities , it just isn’t a problem. I don’t consider it that big of a vehicle. Now if you’re talking about an F350 crewcab 8’ bed, that is a little challenging in the cities. That is a PITA

 

I am 6' even and I could probably sleep in the back of our DCSB. Haven't tried it yet but I have test fit myself in there. I am a side/fetal sleeper so a 5' space works for me. Despite being almost a foot shorter, the wife would have more of a problem sleeping back there then mebecause she sleeps stretched out.
what I might do is look into building a tent/cover thing that would go over the open tailgate and shell back window to give that extra 1' or so while still sealing it up.

Despite being cool and all the rage these days, I am trying really hard to avoid a RTT. Just do not want all that weight up high. That and they are expensive and a PITA to take on/off and store.

 

us short kings don't have to worry about this.

 

6'1 with DCSB. No problem with this 70 dollar tent. Going RTtT though.

 

I don't....DCLB is the only way to go.

 

I bought a DCSB, and haven't been able to camp since. What was I thinking? . Seriously I've never considered the bed of the truck as shelter. Set up and furnish the tent as I like and I'm good to go.

 

Nice setup.

We have a tent about that size. Thing is a cast iron bitch to set up but if you have the clear, level space for it and don't mind the effort, so nice to sleep in.

 

I’m gonna go with this. I have a long bed. I’ve never slept in the bed. Why? Because I have a high quality tent that untethers me from the truck. I can put it anywhere I want.

Every method will have its limitations.

 

This is why an access cab is superior

But really, I sleep in mine a few times a year when I fish/hunt in the dead of the winter. It's just nicer to be inside the canopy when I know it's going to rain/snow/blow/freeze/etc., or when there are brown bears around... But outside of a few trips like that, I almost always sleep in a tent on the ground. Its way easier to just pitch a tent than it is to clear out or rearrange a bed full of gear.

 

honestly your best bet is to get a ground tent and a cot+bag.

i took up camping again after being out of the game for a long time, and the tents available right now are amazing vs. back in the day. It literally took me longer to pull a new $100 coleman 4-person out of its Amazon packaging than to set the tent up. Just incredible. Heard costco has some nice ones as well

 

I'm 6'2" and sleep in the back of my DCSB. Normally, I sleep in a tent or throw my hammock up, but just recently I was on a cross-country trip and found parking lots pretty convenient at 2am. Sometimes it's tough to find a place to camp in the east. I do just fine in the bed, usually at an angle.

 

I think I might go with one of these setups by NOMAD PLUS my AirBedz. In retrospect I wish I had an AC to bypass all of this..

https://topperezlift.com/index.php/product/the-nomad-camper-package/



Currently I have a DAC tent for the back and works okay.. Doesn't really keep the moisture out tho

 

Ground tent or rooftop tent here. Both fine choices depending on the situation.



ARB Simpson III rooftop tent and Front Runner bed rail mount.


Here's a German-registered Hilux owned by a German couple taking it around the world that I met at Bryce Canyon National Park at the end of September. They'd already done Southern Africa and South America. Travelling North America now and then shipping the Hilux to Australia. They've rigged their RTT to open over the tailgate to give shelter at the back of the canopy when needed.

 

Here is another option we used in the Yukon. It always seems to rain or heavy dew as everyone that camps knows!
Used the tent section as storage and a dressing area and slept in the shell with the shotgun on the ledge pointed out for bears and wolves.
Everything in the shell was kept in plastic totes to keep organized, dry, and dust free - lots of endless dirt/gravel roads and unless you seal the tailgate sides and bottom dusts gets sucked in covering everything - nothing that blue painters tape can't fix or you can buy a seal kit.
Those tailgate area only tents look pretty nice for a quick setup option but we liked the tent area we had.
Wife got hotels alot so all worked out on a 3 month trip!

 

muddog321, does that tent allow one to close it up and take the truck away from the campsite? One of the big downsides of a RTT is having to break camp to go anywhere.

Who makes that one, BTW?