Conflicted with my camping set up. HELP!

If you have a double cab short bed the softopper is not so useful if you are planning to sleep in it since the bed is too short... been there done that. I ended up buying Rubbermaid Action Packers for the bed for modular, lightweight, lockable dry storage and we bought a pop up tent that you literally throw in the air and it is set up. I get full bed functionality for the 95% of the time I need it and plenty of dry storage for the few times I need that. I also don't lose half my gas mileage when I head out on 7+ hour drives to the camp site. We also have a standard cab level bed rack to take our kayaks, bikes, cargo basket etc. Simple, cheap, and functional in all situations.

This setup also leaves the hitch for our ATV or fishing boat. If u don't have stuff like that to worry about taking with u, a little pop up as others mentioned would be handy assuming u have a place to store it

 

again depends on what you are trying to do. If your going to set up camp for a few days or more, setting up a trailer for base camp makes it worth it.
I didn’t like how much fuel I think I consumed pulling, but I drive fast. We also did a bunch of national parks and it sucked to find a place to drop the trailer or pull it on the twisty roads.

When the pop up was stopped and set up, it was great. For me to have a trailer, it’s needs to be built to be dam tough, unlike the pop up where everything rattled open or off, including a screw in the dam door jam.

 

Agree with your analysis. Thanks for your feedback. That Opus one is built for off roading so it may solve some of the rattles. Looks to be built damn tough.

 

On our trip there were places we wanted to camp but never felt good about driving that far on dirt/rough roads with the pop. When I go back out west, it will be my truck that will determine how far we go, not something we are dragging behind us.

 

I assume there are budget constraints. The reason being is that you should just build your truck to meet your needs instead of compromising for several different options.

It’s sounds like the DB no longer serves its purpose so basically everything is going to change based on that decision.

 

Having a hard shell is a necessity for me. I don’t understand how people get away without one as my shit would get stolen pretty quickly. What do people do when they’re loaded up and stop at a restaurant, go to the store, or go for a hike or ride?

I have a short bed and they make a cheap tent that fits over the shell with the tailgate open which gives you plenty of room. Tent sets up super quick. It’s great to just leave beds set up in the back and just pull over and basically go to bed. If we’re in the mountains and there’s no bugs then you don’t even need to put the tent extension on.

We also use a quick pitch ground tent.

The problem we run into with camping is strictly storage logistics. If we’re sleeping in the bed we have to try to put most shit in the cab. I’ve looked at a cargo basket for the roof - this is probably the best solution for me. We can sleep in the bed while traveling without shifting all of our gear around. And if we’re staying somewhere for 2-3 nights we’ll just set up the tent.

We typically don’t like camping at parks or campgrounds with the RV crowd. It doesn’t seem like camping to me. We look for solitude on forest service roads and dispersed sites.

I don’t really get the RTT craze. They don’t seem very practical. I’d rather have a hard shell that will not only provide me secure storage but also a place to sleep while traveling. Just get a cargo basket if you don’t want the cab full of shit.

 

A RTT wouldn't be practical at all for me. Having to fold it down every time I wanted to drive somewhere while camping would be a major PITA. I camp 2-3 weekends/mo and don't think that's often enough to justify keeping a big, heavy tent on top of my truck. Not to mention making the bed unusable for most of what I need it for. And the high cost. Honestly I don't see why most people think they are a good idea, aside from the cool factor.

So it's ground tent for me. Or more specifically, a bivy sack most of the time. I often move sites daily on road trips and the bivy takes just seconds to put away. Open valve to let a bit of air out of the pad, fold the whole package twice and throw it in the back seat. Setting back up just unfold and take 5-10 puffs of air to re-inflate. Using a bivy is like cowboy camping but with a waterproof cover in case of unexpected rain, keeps bugs off and protects from wind. I can keep it open most of the time for a view of the stars. I'll use a tent if there is rain in the forecast and sometimes if I'll be set up in one campsite for a few days. If moving frequently the bivy is awesome. A tent can be set up away from the road/parking spot and you can take it backpacking. Can't do that with a RTT.

I'm interested in the soft topper. Folding it down will allow me to carry the moto, and other times I can fold it up and sleep inside when it's windy or raining. An easily collapsible sleeping platform would be awesome.


Random spot I crashed at on Memorial day

Been camping without any sort of topper for 25 yrs. Anytime I leave the truck my stuff just goes in the cab. Not the most convenient but it's not a big deal. I've learned to bring as little as possible on trips so there isn't much of value to steal to begin with. 1 duffel bag for clothing, 1 tub for cooking/other gear, 1 box for food, 1 cooler. Some lockable space would be nice. But just as someone could break into truck cab they could break into a hard shell topper as well. I've been broken into once, and I consider that my fault for leaving the truck overnight somewhere I shouldn't have. Generally, campsites have seemed pretty safe. Trailheads sometimes yes, sometimes can be sketchy. I've been pretty fortunate.

 

^Yeah a lot of people never get a topper and get away with it fine but I just usually have too much stuff to continuously relocate for it to be practical for me to go without. Also I throw the skis back there. Much safer with a topper. Topper also helps give the dog a place to hang sometimes.

For me the topper is a no-brainer because it serves many purposes: security, shelter, dog cage, etc. For someone like OP who is fine-tuning their camping set-up, I think a topper is a good choice because it provides several benefits and is versatile in a camping set up.

 

Your point is well made. For me, being in NY and spending most of my time camping upstate and into Canada I am not sure I will end up going places where I would have a hard time pulling the camper. It might happen but that would be the exception rather than the rule. Looking at RTT versus pull along trailer. So far the RTT is winning. I need to think through the hardshell topper, though. That could also be an option worth considering.

 

off the ground, don’t have to find a clear level spot to set up my tent. We also use cots, and I’m hoping for a nice sleeping situation in an rtt, the wife has had 2 back surgeries, and we only went back to camping because of the cots.

I wouldn’t give up my ground tent at this point, we camp too much with friends. But an RTT will open up other possibilities for the wife and I, again if we can find the right bed comfort.

With the hard shell, I feel way better having it up above the cab, allowing for me to keep the softopper or get a cap.

 

I often haul tall things or long things or long and tall things that wouldn’t fit under a hard shell cap. A roll up cover works much better for me.

@CoTacos there are simple small Off road oriented trailers that are basically cargo boxes with a rack for a RTT. The Taxa Wooly Bear for example. Otherwise a simple camper shell with a hard pop up camper might be best.

 

Didn't read anywhere in this thread why the truck couldn't be built how you plan to use it, and just don't park it in the garage.

Unless you have a silly strict HOA, no driveway, or high theft problem in your area, just let the truck live outside.

Problem solved!

 

OP I was in the same exact predicament as you. I had a DB cover, Kb VooDoo rack, and soft shell tent. I loved it, it worked for our needs, but our space was severely limited. On extended multiple week trips, with the dog taking up the entire back seat, we were really lacking on storage space, and struggled to reach anything in front of the bed.

I too, knew that if I went cap, I would not clear my garage door. With my original setup I was using a ceiling hoist to remove the rack/tent off the truck when I didn't need it.

But I knew I had to make a change. So I did the math, bit the bullet and ordered a cap. I LOVE having the cap. My storage space has doubled, and I can access all of it. I built a drawer system that has totally transformed how we camp out of the truck, we no longer have everything stored in bins that turn into a mess when one critical item is removed and everything caves in on itself.


BUT, now I had a clearance problem. Like you, my ceiling height isn't the issue (10'), its the door frame! Without the tent, the truck clears, but won't clear with the tent. So I could install the tent on the truck from the hoist, but could't pull out of the garage. So I thought and pondered and came up with the best solution for me. Tiny wheels:
It ain't stupid if it works, and it works for me. For clarity, I DO NOT drive anywhere with these obviously. I put them on in the driveway, back into the garage, lower my tent down and install it on the cap, then pull out and put my 33s back on. Whole process takes me 10 minutes. If I have to do this twice times a year, so be it. Now the truck lives outside, and only in the winter will the tent come off and the truck will live back inside. This way I can remove and install the tent solo. Not easy to wrangle up a buddy when you need to install it last minute.

In your shoes, I would do the math. Eventually I want to go to a hardshell, which I think would give me clearance on the garage door frame without having to use the tiny wheels. If you afford the space with a cap, rack, and hardshell, and still clear that would be the best of both worlds for you.

 

way to think outside the box/“garage”

all I could think was this song, but more like tiny wheels on my truck.
https://youtu.be/muEFD_odvUg

 

Is that swag sitting on a cot?

 

I never understood the permanent mounted camp setup. Its like using a motorhome as your daily driver.

I did the ground tent thing for 20 years and had a great system for it. I kept 2 contico SUV boxes in the garage - one for tent and bedding, one for kitchen, plus a cooler for cold stuff. Outfitting the truck took literally less than 30 seconds to load gear, then a minute to drive to the corner and buy a bag of ice. The boxes doubled as ottomans/tables at camp.

Now I'm solidly doing the trailer thing. I keep my impact driver in the front storage for my popup because it raises and lowers the stabilizers in seconds, and also there is always one loose screw somewhere inside. Thats just part of the game now, discovering a screw on the floor and figuring out where it came from.

 

Yes it is

$140 TETON Sports Camping Cot with Patented Pivot Arm - Folding Camping Cot for Car & Tent Camping - Durable Canvas Sleeping Cot - Portable Camping Accessory - 86" x 45" - Outfitter XXL,Black

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01GLGRVU8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_FaDfFbT2AFVJB

I bought it for cheaper at the time

 

I've done it two ways. I've used a truck tent (not a RTT), which worked great but was a drag to take down every morning when I wanted to move. I've also pulled an Intech Luna Rover. It had no problems with dirt, gravel, washboard. But it was too small and didn't work well off grid. Here is a link to my post about the truck tent.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-3rd-gen-today.399305/page-6778#post-21559854

 

i have a gazelle t3 tent (fits perfectly on DCSB). the tent provides enough head space to put a cot or an inflatable mattress if you want to be off the ground. i still manage to carry everything i need for a long weekend trip with the original cover closed.

 

Uptop overland mid rack, retrax locakable tonneau with tepui rtt. I fit 4 33s ko2s im the bed of my truck. with this set up you can still use it as a truck but not enough to have to help all your truckless friends move something every week. Win win for me