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

I have mine bolted to the rack with carriage bolts, nothing fancy.

 

depends on where you plan to sleep.

Toppers hold resale value.
Metal is probably stronger and lighter than fiberglass (200lbs) traditional shell such as SnugTop and whatnot.
And, metal can come as a load bearing surface on top for gear. Whereas a shell may or may not come with tracks, that upon which to put say a Sherpa topper rack is still like $1k in parts, on top of the shell cost
shells can be found used
but finding a Sherpa shell rack to fit yours, used cheaper, not really findable

I have taken shelter in bad weather and it was great. Vents to breath, temp insulation, comfortable.

Honestly, I'm not really a fan of anything that isn't hidden, and does not possess the ability to be stealth as needed.
Or requires time to deploy.
Not every scenario is always on a mountaintop far and long to get to, deploying a shelter. The idea behind a truck is no deployment.
But that's me. Maybe not you.

Things that require deployment, well, that takes time. It becomes obvious to anyone outside what is going on.
Can cost additional. And likely renders the truck not movable during that time. And takes time to collapse back down.
As one person I've heard put it, "what if you get bit by a rattlesnake and need to drive to the ER"
"hold on, I can't, my RTT is deployed"
Also, pretty sure an RTT adds more weight

with a shell, I could simply climb in under 60sec and had gear mounted elsewhere, at worst a thing or two inside
and no added cost, weight, and mounting parts of RTT
in a pretty secure way

Decked drawers look nice. I want them. And they're priced higher used locally than other states in my experience for some reason. At that point would just wait until I can order new.
But the last "drawer" setup I had was a wooden bed platform, with 3 big sliding totes underneath.
It worked pretty well. Bunch of room, cheap, clear totes to see where stuff is, and they can be pulled out and carried to transfer things

I'm guessing at minimum the next time I'll do this is a cross country move. Let's say work pays X amount of relocation. It's probably better to not blow that on a shitty hotel.
To pull over at a truck stop and sleep each night. Which, I guess, given that context, would probably not have to be stealthy.
Never done that yet though don't know if it's ideal. At least a hotel you can prep some meals and shower.
Gym membership shower is cheap; but that's unlikely to have locations dotted across a country trip. I hear whatever showers truck stops have are a ripoff. Like $18/time

 

I’m selling mine right now:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/rightline-truck-bed-tent.815916/#post-29344188

 

Correct solid sides with molle panels on the interior of the side doors.

 

Update - decided to get a GFC camper. With a long bed I might have done something different but with weight considerations I think it’s a good option. A topper plus rack and RTT would need some suspension or leaf upgrades.

 

Your picture of the topper tent got my attention. I haven't seen one before - looks like a way better solution for short beds with a topper than the one Softopper themselves sell. I like how it zippers/velcros into the softopper and rolls up out of the way when not needed.

Here is a link for anyone else similarly interested! https://thetoppertent.com/products/soft-top-attachment

 

Nice setup! How do you power your fridge? 12v or battery direct?

 

I have one of these installed in the rear of the center console. https://amzn.to/41DNuul
Power box plugged into the 12v, fridge plugged into the 12v power box socket.

 

Or make something yourself. I used wood for my short bed foot box extension because I camp along the north rim of the Grand Canyon and off the Eastern Sierra; plywood doesn’t flap like a mofo in high winds. Cost me $60 or so. Ugly too, which I like.

 

Get yourself a 5000 cubic inch backpack, fill it with the absolute minimum necessities, learn to get by with that and then after you have gained experience slowly add and adjust for comfort. As in backpacking the bigger the pack you will simply fill it and bring more than you need. Same goes for a truck, with the amount of space you have even in a short bed you can quickly find yourself with just way more STUFF than you need. But for some the STUFF is what it is all about for them, especially if they are trying to create content for You Tube.

 

If I were yo go camping again, I'd rent a little midsize Camper. You could load the crap out of it, drive in comfort, and just park it!

 

My plan for learning camping in the trucks is essentially what you just said, choosing places close to home. Build a containment box like that one suggested, or a bed-tent. If I bring "not enough", I can run home. If I bring too much, then plan not to bring the "extra" again.

No one can tell anyone else what is "just right" ... everyone must learn on their own.

 

Nothing taller than 7" I think is what I could find. I store a lot up on the top in bigger boxes, and then move them to the front at night when not in use. I mostly keep kitchen box, stove, and tables and chairs underneath.

 

nice