Truck bed camping

I have a Leer topper on my 6 ft bed 15 Tacoma. I have seen a number of people use their beds to sleep/camp in. I want to get more into this. My only concern is closing the rear glass on the topper. The shocks seemed too stiff to be able to close it from the inside. What does everyone else do to be able to close the rear glass and be fully closed off from the outside?

 

I camped in my 02 Tacoma and my 06 Tacomas for 16+ years. Both with fiberglass camper shells, I used to drape a tarp over the rear flip up window and tuck it in to sleep at night.
Worked fairly well. One night at Convict Lake it got down to 32 degrees. That was the last time I camped in my truck bed. Bought a 2016 Winnebago Minnie Winnie. Now I sleep in luxury compared to all those nights truck camping. Hell, now at age 69 I figured I paid my dues!

 

I’ve slept in the back of mine hundreds of times on hunting, fishing, camping trips. I have a Leer shell. No sweat, no problem to close the rear shell window. I don’t know what type of struts you have on your rear window but if it’s that hard to close you need to change them out.

 

I have a 13 with a Leer 100XR. Hatch has an interior latch handle and release. The issue is really closing the tailgate from the inside. I use a soft webbing strap that goes around the tailgate to pull it closed from the inside.

 

Im not sure what kind of stratus they are either. The topper was on the truck when I got it. Which struts should I switch them out for?

 

Any pics or links to the interior latch handle?

 

Reach up with right hand and pull down/in on hatch while using the left hand on the inside of the hatch to control the rate of decent.

 

hope that helps. Got to thinking that you might have the older dual latch system??? If so then you will have to figure out a way to manipulate the locking bars.

 

Agree about the tailgate being a lot harder to close than the window; it's heavier and you have to lean out to grab it. The window is simple, just grab the latch and pull it closed- add a piece of webbing to whatever if you need something to grab. I keep saying I'm going to put a rivnut in the tailgate and add a removable strap to the tailgate but haven't gotten around to it.

 

What tent setup is that? Am looking for a similar one to use this winter.

 

Napier Sportz tent. They have different sizes this one is the largest one for SUV’s. Bought mine on Amazon but noticed our Cabelas was selling them the last time I was there.

 

Mine doesn't look like that so I guess so? Mine is all metal with just the tabs. The chords attach to it to open the latches. I haven't tested if I can close it from pulling somewhere attached to it.

To everyone saying just pull it down and close it with my hand, there isnt really a space to have my fingers between the rear glass and tailgate.

 

Nice set up...

 

It would be a lot more helpful if you would post a picture. Without understanding what you're talking about, could you just loop a piece of paracord over some part of it?

 

I've used the interior emergency escape handle to close my snugtop from the inside, but the handle broke off and I had to buy a replacement mechanism... So I don't reccomend using that, at least for the snugtop Rebel.

Also thought I'd mention that when it gets cold, ie when it's bedtime, the struts get easier. Mid-night winters (30°) I'll have to hold the top up, mid-day summers the struts are powerful and the top opens itself up... I have a 5-foot bed so I sleep in back with the tailgate down for legroom and the top opened at a slight downward angle to shield from morning dew, I have to prop it up with a stick.

 

i Have slepted in my truck camper many times, I have a high roof shell. I drilled 2 small holes on the tailgate and the rear window and put a handle in each and just simply tied some home depot rope to each of them, makes it easier to open and close.

 

Is this the only camping in the bed thread? Let's see some set ups with caps/shells. I just picked up a leer 180 a couple days ago... here's a pic of my old 4runner that I lived out of full-time in the eastern sierras for 6 months... and the new shell/truck...

 

Nice! I love sleeping in the back of mine acces cab and 6ft camper

 

Slept in the bed of my trucks for 17 years. First Tacoma with a 6' bed, second Tacoma with a 5' bed. Used to leave the tailgate open and the hatch. Draped a tarp over the back. Had a Mountain Lion come sniffing around the back of my bed one night. Big paw prints in the dirt the next morning confirmed my visitor! I now have a Minnie Winnie. Back of my Tacoma now smells like a 13 year old GSD.