Camping Solutions

Not that I owe you an explanation but I've never camped in a national forest or park, and don't camp on private land. Sometimes I will finish a midnight shift and sleep in the truck on a street. Wouldn't have mentioned it if I knew the internet police were out on the prowl today

 

Thanks, sounds like a good solution. I don't mind taking the kayak off to set up shop, it's not too bad to move around

 

Duh, should have noticed that bow & the wheels. Mines Olive green
Small tent in the bed the most cost effective way without messing too much...

 

Have you looked into an actual truck tent like Napier or Ridgeline?

https://www.autoanything.com/truck-tents/toyota/tacoma/110A50603A0A0A17A173A1.aspx

 

I’m lazy and don’t like lifting things...

 

OP, when I was in research mode of which new Tacoma I would buy and how I planned to outfit it I went through the same thought process in what to do about my kayaks, and slealth camping near where I plan to fish. That and being more portable than pulling my trailer that has all my normal camping gear and RTT on it.

I decided before I even purchased my truck that I was going to go with a Soft topper, and then build an aluminum rack to go over it to carry my kayaks, and give me a place to crash if that option was ever needed. Mostly the ST has given my stuff a dry place to be as I live in a normally rainy area (PNW Oregon).

There are a few available racks out there that will work over the ST including those ladder racks that are made to fit outside of a hard shell topper.

This rack/ST combo I put together has been the absolute perfect solution for me, all while keeping everything incredibly lightweight.
The ST is 16lbs, the aluminum rack is 26lbs, and my ARB awning is also 26lbs. The rack will support 600lbs, so I may occasionally toss one of my RTT's up there for non trailer/kayak trips.

 

Nice set up, making me realise i need to get a life...

 

My son does this now on my old 1997 Taco since he killed my old kayak rack with a tree branch. I built him a stinger to support the back of the kayak with.


Recently I scored a used Autohome Columbia wedge RTT and a Thule bed rack system for $800, and put it all on the 1997 Taco for my son to use to haul his kayak and be able to camp above it.




And I know it will work on my truck as well, as I hauled it 3 hours home at 65-70mph from Seattle just strapped through my aluminum rack and tied straight to the bed D-rings. It is way too far back for proper use, as it just sitting on the rack and is about an inch from touching the shark fin antenna on the cab. I have since made some proper mounts for it to attach directly to the top of the rack and hover over the fin.

 

That's slick! I had considered a similar setup but wanted more 'security' so I got the hard shell, but love how lightweight yours is - any issues leaving gear in your bed so far?

 

Thanks for the compliment!

I build my stuff to be a solution to whatever is holding me back from getting out and having fun. My son and I have been kayak fishing off the Oregon coast together for about 4 years (myself for 12 years), so I think I have my setup pretty dialed in for the time being. The truck suspension/tires/gears are in the works now to facilitate further exploration.

 

I Don’t have too far to drive to get in he water so I set the yak up at home thge night before, drive down at silly o’clock, slide the yak out on the wheels and straight in the water. Super simple...

 

I've had hard shells in the past (one on that 1997 in fact), but reality is the security is only slightly more than the Softopper can provide. I know how easy it is to break into the back of a hard topper as I had to once on mine because the keyed handle got siezed up and would not unlock (big ass channel locks opened it right up. Either way, I didn't and still don't put the expensive stuff in the bed until I'm about to leave home. I never prepack that stuff the night before leaving it for the dickhead thieves to take over night. Once at camp, I am at the same mercy as anyone else camping with a normal tent and leaving their gear secured in the tent. The trailer however is more of a fortrace and can be completely locked up and MUCH harder to break into (still do able if motivation dictates).

 

That close, and you could use a Vespa with a kayak trailer, bro!

 

Not my thing but thats pretty cool

 

I’m mean you were being a dick so I figured I’d be one too. It’s fun isn’t it.

 

In all honesty I think it’s pretty dumb

 

You know....I've actually considered this. I have a 2013 Hobie Addy as well. Picked it up for $1500 used from a friend in awesome condition.

 

You get your opinion, I get mine. Some people like lakes some like rivers and some like sitting on the couch
I'd rather be on whitewater rivers than on the couch and the hobbie with tent/rainfall is better than the couch

 

Nice find!

 

Wow. This is it. Beautiful set up man