truck toppers for camping?

[jrogers88]

Anybody here use their truck with a topper for camping? Ive been thinkin about picking up a used topper for my 89 dodge to start transforming it into my hunting/ camping rig. My thoughts are clean the bed and add a twinsize mattress, then build a full length roof rack to hold all of my gear.

 

[Grizhicks]

Sounds like a plan.... Back in the late 70's, we had a little Datsun pick-up with a cap, and used it for several camping trips. Had a rack on top for the canoe, and we used roll-up foam pads. About the same size as a double bed, plus we were newly weds, so the closer the better. Good Luck with the project, and post pics.... Griz

 

[PistolBob]

Used to all the time. The only downside I found was in the late fall, winter, that steel truck bed got incredibly cold. You will want to have at least a 3 to 4 inch insulative foam pad under your body in cold weather or that cold steel will suck the heat right out of your body. Hypothermia can be a killer. Also make sure you have decent ventilation in the late fall and winter, otherwise your breath is going to condense on the inside of the topper and drip water on you all night.

 

[VERT]

If your truck bed is big enough just toss a matress in the bck and go. When I was a kid dad would thow in a matress and pile us kids in the back. That was before seatbelt laws.

 

[churchmouse]

We did this to our Van when we were first married and the kids were young. The couch behind the front seats folded down and the entire rear area was a mattress all the way back to the doors. All 4 of us could sleep in it comfortably and there was a lot of storage under the rear area.
Yes...the good days.

 

[jrogers88]

Its an 89 dodge w100 with an 8 foot bed so i know a mattress will fit. Another plus is that is got a spray in bedliner. Right now im just having a hard time finding a topper. Found a few but the people wanted way too much for them

 

[Glockowner]

My wife and I camp in the bed of my '05 Silverado shortbed. I have a Leer bed topped and it beats messing with a tent. It has sliding screened windows on both sides which is nice. I believe it is a full size air mattress that fits in there.

 

[Indy_Guy_77]

If you're tall... Be wary.

 

[jrogers88]

Like said above. I have a big cabin tent which is nice if 6 or 8 people are going but when its just me my fiance and occasionally my son when its nice enough out there is no need for a 14' tent. Plus if it rains we can be nice and dry

 

[jrogers88]

Im 5'9" so by no means tall. Its just to sleep in so its not like i will be walkin around in it. Although it would be nice if i can find one with the raised top

 

[Classic]

I had a Chevy 1/2 ton full size bed PU with a shell in the 80s that I camped in all the time. Built a short platform across the front of the bed and put a twin matress on top of it with plenty of blankets. Made a great alternative to a tent for those rainy weekends when tent camping can get rather miserable.

 

[Glockowner]

If you're tall... Be wary.

I am 6'4" and have no issues. The bed is listed as 6'6".

 

[Denny L]

Check out Lancer slide in for trucks

 

[Whitsettd8]

If you dont already have a camper this would work "see below". I used schedule 40PVC made two arches and a center support shoved those in the bed holes along with a tarp worked great for just me. I also had a old futon pad i threw in the back to sleep on.
Cabela's: Napier Sportz Truck Tents

 

[IndyDave1776]

Back in the Dark Ages my grandparents used boards on top of the rail on the bottom of the shell that in turn was on top of the side of the bed of the truck placed crosswise across the front and then a mattress on top of that--probably home made since it was thin and grandma was in the upholstery business. So far as I am aware it worked well enough and the wood had to be better than trying to sleep on a cold, corrugated steel floor.

 

[kludge]

Used to all the time. The only downside I found was in the late fall, winter, that steel truck bed got incredibly cold. You will want to have at least a 3 to 4 inch insulative foam pad under your body in cold weather or that cold steel will suck the heat right out of your body. Hypothermia can be a killer. Also make sure you have decent ventilation in the late fall and winter, otherwise your breath is going to condense on the inside of the topper and drip water on you all night.

This^ all of it.

A lot of state parks have shore power at the camp sites and in winter, one of those oil filled radiator heaters is the bomb. But a heater is not necessary with a good mummy bag. The insulating pad is though... beware of memory foam - it gets rock hard when cold.

I had a long bed Jeep Comanche with a 4" foam pad (a hospital bed topper) in the back and it was perfect.

If I didn't have kids, this would still be the way I'd be doing it.

 

[billyramair]

My wife and I used to camp this way all the time when we were in AZ. We just put several sleeping bags down to lay on. The truck kept fire ants, scorpions, and other critters out of our sleeping area. My brother-in-law built a nice carpet kit for his with wood cabinets that could easily be taken out and reinstalled. Redneck budget RV

 

[jrogers88]

Lot of good ideas here guys

 

[Reno316]

Anybody here use their truck with a topper for camping? Ive been thinkin about picking up a used topper for my 89 dodge to start transforming it into my hunting/ camping rig. My thoughts are clean the bed and add a twinsize mattress, then build a full length roof rack to hold all of my gear.

I did that several hundred times when I was living out west and climbing every vertical cliff I could find.

A couple things:
* Go buy a canvas folding Army cot, sleep on that. Use a good sleeping bag.
* Go to your local carpet store, get some scraps, and glue that scrap carpet to the inside of the camper shell. Amazing heat retention, and helps absorb the condensation of your breath.
* Organization is KEY. Have a box that you can secure to the bed and have your basic "Wait out the three hours of rain" supplies... a small stove with fuel, a cup for hot drinks, a paperback book, etc.
* IF you are going to leave the cap on full time, be sure you get one with windows that open. Otherwise, things get pretty rank, pretty fast.
* Don't forget a tarp that you can rig to sit under when back from the day's activities. I used to run my tarp along the side of the truck, with some cord and prop sticks and such. Made for a nice place to sit in the shade, or covered from light rain, while still being able to stand and stretch and cook a meal.

Or you can do one of these: Build Your Own Camper

 

[strong89]

i rigged mine up so if it got too damn cold i could open up my back glass of the truck and turn on the heater.. waterproof, windproof. love it.