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Truck Camper Help

Check Greg @ tethered truck camper build very informative and I would use a yoga mat as a padding roll up when in not use. If you use heater crack your window. All you need. You want some air to circulate. When we meet up I’ll give you ideas what I did years ago brett
 
Patriot said:
i do have the carpeted topper so that should help with condensation and insulation. I will definitely do windows curtains but are you suggesting the hot water heater insulation style curtains to keep the heat out or to keep the heat in?
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Helps keep the heat in. Not sure how much or if it’s worth it because although the windows loose heat everything I’ve researched with the buddy heater shows they crank out heat. Almost too much to keep on constantly for a truck bed and topper. I have some trial and error this winter.
 
I treat the sleeping bag kinda like cold weather clothing and use layers.....silk bag liner, cheapo wally world mummy, surplus extreme cold down bag and I can go from 1 extreme temp to the other. I picked up a very nice fleece/duck canvas rectangle bag from goodwill for 8 bucks that I can use also...that 1 is extra large 2 person and it doubles as hammock quilt.
 
eBay is a good option for good condition used sleeping bags. I agree that a liner bag, a cheap summer bag or top quilt and then a decent zero degree bag is a good combo to cover all your bases.
 
PastorKen said:
I’ve camped many times in my truck bed with a topper. I like using a military style folding cot paired with a really good sleeping bag. I sleep like a baby with that set up during Ohio winters. The trouble comes in the morning when I have trouble motivating myself to get out of that warm sleeping bag into the freezing cold truck bed.
To solve that problem, I bought a buddy heater and a CO sensor. The plan was to turn the heater on when I woke up just to help me get out of the sleeping bag, but I haven’t had a chance to use the heater since I recently went back into the military.
I have also camped with an air mattress In the back of my truck. I only did that once, when my wife went truck camping with me. A queen size air mattress fit perfectly in the back of my F150 with a 6.5 foot bed.
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I put a sheet of 3/4 plywood across the front of the bed laying on the side rails. Makes for great storage and room for bedding under neath.
 
If this thread is going to continue I am going to need a lot more pictures of trucks and campers and truck campers both before and after please. Thanks.
 
Patriot said:
what bag do you recommend 0 or 20 degree rated?
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www.rei.com

Sleeping Bag Temperature Ratings Guide | REI Co-op

The key factor when you choose a sleeping bag is temperature rating. Here's how sleeping bags receive their comfort and lower-limit ratings.
www.rei.com www.rei.com

Most sleeping bags are tested with a sleep pad under it. This shouldn't be and issue for you since I imagine you'll have some kind of foam or pad under you in your truckbed; however, if you don't put something under you you will be significantly less comfortable and colder. Also the general rule of thumb is that the rating on the sleeping bag is the lab tested temp not a sleeping comfortable temp. So for example, if you want to sleep comfortable at 40 degree you might want a 20 or even a 0 degree sleeping bag depending on how cold or hot you sleep. If you want to be comfortable at 0 degree you may want to consider a -20 degree sleeping bag. If you have a little heater or something in your truck you may not need such low rated sleeping bag.
 
gcr0003 said:
If this thread is going to continue I am going to need a lot more pictures of trucks and campers and truck campers both before and after please. Thanks.
Click to expand...

I don't have any before pictures (just imagine a dirty truck bed with no topper). Found a cap for $100 on craigslist, bought it, painted it with bedliner, and then built my sleeping platform, shelves, storage, and made some mosquito netting screens. I'm in NC, so it doesn't get super cold often (heat is a bigger issue). Fans are a must here, however. I found some cheap ones on the web that you can recharge with a USB charger, as well as a cheap solar panel and converter/ generator (very small, but I don't need much) for under $50.

I have a millard trifold (4") cot size mattress, and it fits perfectly on my platform. It is a bit of a hassle at times to fold it up and shove it to the back, but that thing is COMFORTABLE. Worth the space it takes up IMO. I can slide a board on the right side to accommodate another mattress/ guest, but I like being able to have a little legroom. All cooking gear, tools, etc. are stored away, and the astroturf is a throwback to my first truck ever (used it as a bed liner).

It's not much, but it works for me.
IMG_2344.jpgIMG_2343.jpg
 
Plastic Brentley said:
I don't have any before pictures (just imagine a dirty truck bed with no topper). Found a cap for $100 on craigslist, bought it, painted it with bedliner, and then built my sleeping platform, shelves, storage, and made some mosquito netting screens. I'm in NC, so it doesn't get super cold often (heat is a bigger issue). Fans are a must here, however. I found some cheap ones on the web that you can recharge with a USB charger, as well as a cheap solar panel and converter/ generator (very small, but I don't need much) for under $50.

I have a millard trifold (4") cot size mattress, and it fits perfectly on my platform. It is a bit of a hassle at times to fold it up and shove it to the back, but that thing is COMFORTABLE. Worth the space it takes up IMO. I can slide a board on the right side to accommodate another mattress/ guest, but I like being able to have a little legroom. All cooking gear, tools, etc. are stored away, and the astroturf is a throwback to my first truck ever (used it as a bed liner).

It's not much, but it works for me.
View attachment 48789View attachment 48790
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Wake up and get some short game practice with coffee.....
Screenshot_20210630-112349_(1).png
 
I know how much some of yinz like your cute little arts and crafts projects, but I just throw down a sleeping pad, unroll my sleeping bag, crawl in, and go to sleep. I do have a basic 3/4" OSB platform for a little extra gear storage when I sleep on the platform, but its main functions is so I can store things out of sight for security. Works pretty well, I don't see much need to get fancier. I do have a shortbed though, so that eliminates most of the bigger build project options, since I only fit sleeping in my diagonally.
 
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elk yinzer said:
I know how much some of yinz like your cute little arts and crafts projects, but I just throw down a sleeping pad, unroll my sleeping bag, crawl in, and go to sleep. I do have a basic 3/4" OSB platform for a little extra gear storage when I sleep on the platform, but its main functions is so I can store things out of sight for security. Works pretty well, I don't see much need to get fancier. I do have a shortbed though, so that eliminates most of the bigger build project options, since I only fit sleeping in my diagonally.
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There's a lot to be said about having something simple and effective that you can remove and use your truck bed normally. Sounds like you might have that setup figured out. I started that way, and it worked great. But I also wanted something more stable so I could travel around during hunting seasons. I don't haul much in this truck though.

For the record: I'm all about cute arts and crafts projects. Unashamed, too (well, I am very ashamed of the curtains I tried to sew for this thing. They work, but my god, they are ugly. No pictures will ever be posted).
 
Plastic Brentley said:
I don't have any before pictures (just imagine a dirty truck bed with no topper). Found a cap for $100 on craigslist, bought it, painted it with bedliner, and then built my sleeping platform, shelves, storage, and made some mosquito netting screens. I'm in NC, so it doesn't get super cold often (heat is a bigger issue). Fans are a must here, however. I found some cheap ones on the web that you can recharge with a USB charger, as well as a cheap solar panel and converter/ generator (very small, but I don't need much) for under $50.

I have a millard trifold (4") cot size mattress, and it fits perfectly on my platform. It is a bit of a hassle at times to fold it up and shove it to the back, but that thing is COMFORTABLE. Worth the space it takes up IMO. I can slide a board on the right side to accommodate another mattress/ guest, but I like being able to have a little legroom. All cooking gear, tools, etc. are stored away, and the astroturf is a throwback to my first truck ever (used it as a bed liner).

It's not much, but it works for me.
View attachment 48789View attachment 48790
Click to expand...

this thing is epic. Roll up to any timber with this set up and it’s a guaranteed booner, ten pointers just throwing themselves at your Easton’s :tearsofjoy::tearsofjoy:
 
I've never used a truck bed shell, but I've spent lots of nights in the back of a GMC Suburban.

I've done it down into the teens and in night time temps dipping up into the 80s. Cold is more fun than hot. A tent, shell, or car with a warm body in it will actually be substantially warmer than the outside air. I've never used a heater. Only thing I do is set an alarm 15 minutes before I need to get going. When it goes off I reach up front, turn the key (and therefore heater) on, let it warm up for a few minutes, and then get dressed.

For a bed I love a cot with a 3 or 4" memory foam mattress cut down to fit it. I can set it up in the truck, in the canopy tent, in a buddy's garage, or out under the stars. In the truck it gives you an elevated place to sit and put your boots and socks on and you can store stuff under it.
 
Nutterbuster said:
I've never used a truck bed shell, but I've spent lots of nights in the back of a GMC Suburban.

I've done it down into the teens and in night time temps dipping up into the 80s. Cold is more fun than hot. A tent, shell, or car with a warm body in it will actually be substantially warmer than the outside air. I've never used a heater. Only thing I do is set an alarm 15 minutes before I need to get going. When it goes off I reach up front, turn the key (and therefore heater) on, let it warm up for a few minutes, and then get dressed.

For a bed I love a cot with a 3 or 4" memory foam mattress cut down to fit it. I can set it up in the truck, in the canopy tent, in a buddy's garage, or out under the stars. In the truck it gives you an elevated place to sit and put your boots and socks on and you can store stuff under it.
Click to expand...

That’s what I do in the ol 4 runner minus the cot/pad. I get dressed while I’m still horizontal and my first step outside is into my boots.
 
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