Tacoma and camping....

The one I mentioned for $1k, you could get some tacomapocalypse bed bars (bare steel and paint them yourself) for $225. These are identical to the ones I have, mine are just relentless fab brand. Then you can get a smittybuilt tent right now for like $650. If you want the bed bars powder coated, it'll run an additional $100 but should still keep you right at the $1k price.

 

Solid advice on renting the RTT. Wife and I rented one for a trip this summer to test it out and see how it works with our daughter before investing in the purchase.

 

I pull out and away on straps so no scratching on the sides occur, top is along the tailgate edge which is covered with plastic already. top edge of the truck bed is prone to scratches and stuff anyways from regular objects. So as of yet i notice no scratching occur, use F11 Topcoat and you will never have an issue.

 

I do like the price point, leaving the bed open for storage and the tent being lower over the bed VS up high like some of the set ups ive seen. Definitely worth discussing this option with the wife.

 

That's why I went softopper instead of the shell. It's also way lighter and it takes me 2 minutes to take it off or put it back onto my truck. RTT's are a bitch to take off without a rig to do it, and I don't want that giant wind anchor on my truck 24/7

 

HAHA sometimes i think she is tougher than me. I think she has me open the pickle jar just so i feel special.
We have changed our minds to go to Glacier national park so staying off the ground will make it easier to stay warm.
I am really liking the RTT mounted above the bed as it is cheaper than the campershell option even if you go with a soft shell and it allows me to keep the bed open for storage the whole time. We plan on a coleman style stove for cooking.
I would take the plunge on a good cooler. We traveled doing National enduros last year and grew tired of stopping for ice on a regular basis. Especially when the races caused us to drive further south. We were buying a bag a day when we went to florida for the Alligator enduro. We bought an Ozark and have been very happy with it. Once the contents are cooled down it holds ice for a good amount of time

 

I need to update my build thread but I went from getting a truck thinking I’d keep it basic to going full in.
One thing I like most about my Tradesman setup is that we can “covert camp” anywhere without people knowing, which is great on long drives when all you need is a place to rack out. We will find a place somewhat secluded and then jump in the back when nobody is looking. I built a sleep platform back there with 2” memory foam. At 5’9” I sleep at a slight angle and my girlfriend is 5’2” and we sleep great back there.
The Snomaster fridge/freezer is a game changer not having soggy food and ice-cream at the ready.
My shell has a rear compartment that is where I keep all my kitchen stuff for easy access. Also put flexible solar panels on the shell to always stay fully charged.
The @RelentlessFab flat tailgate skin is a must! We prep all our meals there so the flat surface means no more spills.
One thing to really think about is how much you will add in weight to your truck. I’m about to change my leaf setup for the 4th time and recently changed my suspension a 2nd tim as I’ve gotten heavier.

 

If you and your wife don't have a lot of gear or not over 6ft tall, I think a camper shell is a good option. If you go on youtube, there are videos of people building drawer systems to store their gear below the surface they're sleeping on, so that could be an option as well.

I love camping here in CO--I try to be out for at least 15-20 days each summer, and this is my first season with my RTT, so far I'm loving it. As long as you're mindful of its limitations, a RTT can really make camping a lot of fun. I still pack along my 2-person ground tent just to give me the option, but overall there are a lot of things about RTT that just works better for my style.

A few thoughts on RTT:
-If you have to drive into town or whatever, you'll have to put the tent up, but it's not bad--between my GF and I, we've gotten pretty fast at putting up and taking down the tent.
-Some people say that you can leave all your beddings in the RTT and just fold it up. I haven't tried it myself so I can't speak to if it actually works, but if it does work for you, that's a lot of time saved.
-Most comfortable sleep I've had camping. It's nice waking up, open the tent door and enjoy the sunrise 7 feet off of the ground.
-Additionally, being higher off the ground also means you'll probably catch wind more.
-The tent acts as a canopy for all your gear in my bed
-Gives you a better opportunity to go explore for that perfect campsite since you don't have to worry about finding a good surface for your ground tent, however, you need to find ways to level your Tacoma

Regarding camping in national parks, depending on the time of year or the time of the week you go to a campsite, they may all be booked since NP campsites are always packed during the prime seasons. But if you're willing to adventure a bit, you can find all kinds of disperse spots that are typically way prettier than designated campgrounds. Only problem with disperse is that if there's a fire ban in the area, you can't have campfires.

Hope this helps!

 

yall are selling me on the RTT. Especially being that it is a cheaper alternative to the camper shell and still relatively quick set up and tear down

 

Softopper owner too. Even though I have Dakars in the rear I still like to keep my weight as low as possible, two big dogs, girlfriend, and all the gear for a few days adds up. Also, the price was well worth the build and quality and rolling up the sides is great in the summer. Security was the only drawback for me. But, being a jeep owner before this, I never kept anything of high value in my vehicles in places I was concerned about. I also camp pretty light, less to load and unload as possible. I tend to not spend a lot of time at camp, mountain bike and climb all day. Invest in a solid Yeti clone cooler for sure. Renting an RTT seems like a good option too, though you'll need custom bars over the Softopper to support it. Then you run into the issue of it riding pretty high on the truck.

Before the Dakar install:

 

I used to be able to lay two sleeping bags and three pillows flat inside my RTT. But then I added another layer of memory foam underneath the mattress to double the thickness ($40 for a mattress topper is way cheaper than $200+ for a new thicker mattress). And now I've got a lot less space to compress... I can still keep the pillows up there, though. And, of course, I don't have to pass out drunk in order to get a good night's rest anymore

 

@newguy915 Another option to consider: here in California, and especially in the Eastern Sierras region, there are a few companies that will rent you a trailer, drop it off in your campsite, and pick it up when you're done. So there's another nice car-camping option. I love roughing it, but man, a trailer with a shower and a proper bed are nice on longer stays.

I don't know if they're allowed to operate in Yosemite, but it's worth checking out.

 

In regards to the topper did you get one and have to cut it to size or did you find one that fits pretty well by default? May add this to my RTT if it's not too much of hassle.

 

Plans have changed to Glacier anyway. But i dont have an interest in hauling a camper or small trailer. I want to do it all out of the taco

 

Same thinking, it’s so simple and inexpensive. Unless OP is planning a trip during snow season then a ground tent is ideal. Packs away small, don’t have to pack it to drive down the road to get food or sight see. You can get a tent, sleep mats, sleeping bags etc and not spend too much money. Get a fold up table, cooktop stove and a bucket for dishes and enjoy some camp meals. Can fit everything in the cab if needed when going for a hike etc.

 

Its looking like we will be going late may, early june to Glacier so that is always a possibility.

 

My tent is 96x48, I think. Something close to that. I got Queen-sized mattress topper and had to cut a small strip off the side to narrow it a bit. Rough cut with scissors. Since I put it under the current mattress, it doesn't have to look pretty.

 

Agree, for the price of a RTT, you can buy a pretty pimped out ground tent plus sleeping pads and such and still have money to spare. No camping setup is perfect, but a good old fashion ground tent will never be fully replaced in my opinion.

 

Camped out of mine for 2.5 weeks and 5K miles

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/5k-miles-west-cross-country-pics-video.575256/

 

that is exactly what we are looking to do, only a few hundred miles north. that looked like a killer trip