How do people camp out of a double cab short box ?

Ive been looking at that sized camper. I was thinking 4,000 lbs max loaded would be comfortable. That sound about right?

 

Man, that's gotta suck.

 

THIS. I haven't slept on the ground while camping in probably 10 years.

 

lol I did get caught in a flash flood one time though lol.

 

Its an ever evolving world.. I still throw in some regular camping.

 

Some of those reactions on ExPo are literal LOLers.

 

I like the guy that was laughing at people getting chased by a bear from the safety of his RTT - nothing brings me more joy as well

 

I'm used to camping out of a backpack so taking a truck is too easy. I like my backpacking tent and I can set it up in less than three minutes. When it's too hot for a tent, rainfly and hammock time!

Fundamentally though, HYOH.

 

pack less

 

We modded a cheap Walmart tent by cutting the back and bottom a bit so it fits around the tailgate and the open back window and tailgate in the back of our Gen1 (see my Avatar). The shell covered the rest of the bed, and I made a expanding sleeping platform that opened over the open tailgate, making a great full length double bed.

 

I put my tent on the ground and sleep in it. Like how people have been doing forever. Or use a hammock. Or just sleep on the ground.

 

Any pictures of this setup?

 

That guy went full vent.

 

I think the biggest worry I have with sleeping lengthwise in a short bed with the tailgate down is that at night, you need to concern yourself with the El Chupacabra and Bigfoot grabbing you by the toes after drifting off into sleep with one's woobie.

 

It's the Whompus Cat I'm afraid of.

 

Just get a good tent and footprint, backpacking mattress and bag. I don't even bring the truck sometimes. But either way... Same gear. It packs small. No gas mileages were damaged in this photo and there was plenty of room left for beer.

 

Awesome bike! That's the way to go!

 

I will try to find a shot of it set up, unfortunately it's from a few years back and we sold the 2002 Taco. The sleeping platform and tent was pretty nice wind and rain proof too, but it quite literally looked like we backed into someone's dome tent and drove off with it stuck to the back. My wife and young daughter and I could sleep comfortably in it. The sleeping platform was set over the wheel wells, so it was high enough to give full width of the bed and the length of the bed with the tailgate down plus another foot beyond it. The tent cost about $30, and I used 2 sheets of exterior ply, paint, some automotive upholstery and some hardware to build the platform.

 

I like sleeping out without a tent or just'ising a basic camp setup too, but there's nothing like getting off work late on a Friday and trying to find a good spot to set up a tent in the dark after driving all evening to get out to the desert- and it's so windy when you finally park that your TP roll unravels itself before you even notice and have a chance to use it and you have to walk back to the truck to get a second one (true story - don't ask). I wouldn't even think of trying to put up a tent in those conditions, and the prospect of sleeping on the ground with gravel blowing all over you isn't fun either, so that short bed becomes a welcome sight when that happens. . That was my motivation for making a short bed sleeper.

But heck, I'd trade some desert camping for camping in those mountains with a motorcycle anytime!

 

Thanks for all the information, as this is exactly what I am trying to achieve myself. I would love to see any shots you have provided you are able to find them! Thanks in advance!!