Truck Camping Photo Thread

i sleep in the back of my truck with a cap on it. got a bedrug, carpted headliner,mr heater. i run a rain fly off of my yak racks. got side windows with vents and screens. i stay warmer, cooler,drier and feel safer than in a tent. its just the wife and me, we have ample room. i used to have a platform, but it felt like a coffin, and it added a lot of weight. i use a shelf up front to store stuff, plus i have a roof basket for more storage. it works well, and is easy to put away,truck is a daily driver, so i don't want all that stuff in there all the time. camped alot in a tent, i'm almost 60, i don't miss sleeping on the ground at all! we camp were there are animals that can hurt you, the truck gives you time to wake up,and get the gun.

 

There's nothing terrible about it but why spend the money to Sleep on top of your truck?

 

Right, Gotcha! $0 Camping ;

- Walk to the woods.
- Find a evergreen tree.
- Crawl under.
- Spread the leaves and needles over you for a blanket.
- Sleep
- Get up and make a campfire using two sticks.

Sounds like Fun (NOT!!)

 

F' that. I'm a civilian and a geezer now and I'll leave the "Big Green Machine" method to you kids and wave to you down on the ground from my FlipPac.

Being uncomfortable doesn't make you a man, it just makes you uncomfortable.

 

i can't afford a nice cabin in the woods, but i can afford a taco, with a nice cozy cap in back. for a small fee i can use all the wild places this country has set aside for us to enjoy.

 

Auburn hills California

 

RTT are good at keeping things like for snakes, scorpions, etc outside. Not so much for large North American critters but there are either other measures a camper should be taking or the animal isnt a concern in the first place. Black bears climb like monkeys. Grizzleys/browns climb better than most think they can and RTTs just arent that high off the ground. Ff there are strong food smells coming from a RTT a bear would either climb in or pull the thing down. Just use good camp hygene in bear country and don't worry about it whether you are on the ground or in an RTT. A mountain lion could easily jump on top of an RTT if it wanted to. But attacking humans in their sleep just isn't what they generally do. Hell, attacks on humans are uncommon under any circumstance. Moose don't thrash people in tents.

 

Not taking it to that Extreme but if you want to go ahead

Talking about if you are a camper you already have all the gear for camping outside(Tent, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, ETC.)At least I do.Why would one camp on top of their truck? Just a question here guys.

 

i don't own a truck top tent, but they do look nice. i love to be outdoors, i used to backpack alot, i don't anymore. that said i like to be comfy, i'm almost 60, sleeping on the ground, with a 100 dollar air mattress , is no fun anymore. i put the mattress in the truck, turn on the heat, if need be. i got 60 year old knees, back, and other aches. i do day hikes now, and flyfish, i'm tired at the day.

 

I think for a lot of people it comes down to setup and pack up time. With a rooftop tent you can keep your sleeping bag and pillow folded up in the tent. When you get to camp you take off the cover and literally unfold the thing and you're good to go.
You also never have to worry about packing up a muddy or dirty tent.

 

So you just unfold the thing & your set?

 

Pretty much.

This ones mounted to a trailer, but you get the general idea.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=edL0vVy3Q-8

 

Are they any warmer than normal tents?

 

Your tent isn't sitting on the cold ground so generally speaking a RTT will be warmer than a ground tent.

 

But generally speaking spring, summer, fall are warm (kinda) and I don't camp is Winter, Too cold here in Chicago

 

As long as I can get away, I've succeeded.
Hammock, tent, RTT, shell, nothing on the beach in Mexico, whatever takes me into nature is fine, as long as I have dry close, dry bed and food.
Fit your needs and enjoy, advantages are different for everyone.

 

exactly I have a grand trunk Hammock, A kelty tent, and thinking about a RTT get me out doors and I'm happy

 

We bought the RTT for several reasons. First, it's super easy to set up. Even when we attach the annex to it I still spend less time messing with it than a ground tent. It's awesome to unzip it, flip it and be set up.
Second, not sleeping on rocks is awesome. Where we tend to camp there are plenty of rocks and not so much level real-estate to pitch a tent. With a rtt you just pull a tire on a rock to level the truck and fold it out and you're good to go.
Third, while it doesn't really add a whole lot of safety, it does get you about 7ft off the ground for a little piece of mind knowing critters have to want to get up there to get there instead of accidentally wondering into or onto your ground tent. Not a huge selling point for me but for some people it might be. And last, they are thicker material than typical light weight ground tents which will be slightly warmer than a mostly mesh tent with a super light rain fly. Also they tend to block the sunlight a little better which from what I have noticed, feels like it keeps it cooler when its hot out compared to normal tents while in sun. Being up higher also usually promotes better air flow to cool things off also. And to top it all off, you have your 2in foam mattress to keep you insulated on the underside.
I personally love our rtt because it excels everywhere we need it to. That's the important part everyone seems to forget. Don't worry about what is new, cool, trendy, whatever, just make sure it works for you.
Just my .02 take it as you will.

 

A few guys have them in my club. I've been lurking a lot. I'll be sleeping in my bed shell cause I just got one. And need the shell for work. If I didn't need it, I'd have a half height, tube rack in the bed with an RTT. Though a friend has his on the roof of his FJ Cruiser, and the view is pretty awesome, you get a mezzanine view. The small bushes blocked my view of the lake, my friend had a postcard out the window. I like the shell for the noise, but I'm guessing the RTT's are a bit better than the thin nylon tents.