Full size Truck Camping

Just a few more thoughts. When shopping for a camper shell be sure to get a high-top one. The higher door in the back makes it a lot easier to get in and out.

And, importantly, make sure the shell is lined. This may seem frivolous but when you and your bride get in there, close the hatch and do some heavy breathing (any breathing, not just sexual breathing) condensation will rain down on you if you don't have the lining.

Also, get a contractor window on the floating bed side. It costs extra but these flip-up windows (They work just like the back hatch window.) make it tons easier to load and unload the truck.

Also, again, get an extndable pole with a painter's hook on the end. This will allow you to reach back into the truck, underneath the bed and pull stuff out.

Mal

thanks for all the replies! Loving the truck so far, hope to have linex put in and the MX top on in a month or so! then ill be building a platform like the one above. I'll try to post some photos along the way.

Here’s one more option for an adventure vehicle: I put together a "micro-RV" camper using a Ford cargo van (it's huge in there compared to a pickup topper). I've been traveling the west for 3 years, and it's got 7+ inches of clearance so I go off-road more than you'd expect. I put together a little book about how I did it...
Book link
Roger

My guy and I spent 2-3 weeks in his Nissan Frontier extended cab, 6.5 ft bed with a normal cap (He's 6' tall and has no fit-issues). We don't opt for a bed platform but instead built a shelf that fits on the cab-end of the bed to stash supplies (our feet tucked under the shelf at night, heads toward the tailgate. Throw a futon mattress down right on the bed and its about as comfy as you could need! While on the go, we simple roll the futon mattress up and tuck it under the shelf and have all the space we could need for our extra climbing/camping gear.

The crew cab seems like a big waste of interior space to us. And while we don't currently have a dog my guy said the extended cab was plenty of space for her (boarder collie), providing you don't have an XL sized dog. And personally, I'd rather have the extra space in the bed than in the cab.

Malcolm Daly wrote: as I said, headroom is overrated.

That depends entirely on how lucky you plan on getting in the back of your truck. Headroom is KEY.

We tend to stash our rubbermade bins outside the truck with big, heavy rocks on them (keeps animals out).

I'm always surprised when I read these threads that chevy/gmc suburbans don't come up as a choice.
You can get em with a lift gate or barn doors, 4x4, it's comfortable ddriver, remove the third row seat and fold the middle flat and you have an 8' interior bed that allows access to the heater-a/c, ability to get to the front seats in inclement weather, etc....

proud owner of a gmc 1500 long bed, with X-tra height camper shell.

set it up with a futon, enough room to fold it up and have a couch, sit up with head room.

this was home for the summer, 1974 western wilderness camper, bought for 400$. tried to sell it here on MP, for a 12 pack of beer. no takers, alas i paid 18$ to bulldoze it in the middle of Utah.



patty enjoys the front row view on the ferry from port townsend to anacortes



the inside

Malcolm Daly wrote:Just a few more thoughts. When shopping for a camper shell be sure to get a high-top one. The higher door in the back makes it a lot easier to get in and out. And, importantly, make sure the shell is lined. This may seem frivolous but when you and your bride get in there, close the hatch and do some heavy breathing (any breathing, not just sexual breathing) condensation will rain down on you if you don't have the lining. Also, get a contractor window on the floating bed side. It costs extra but these flip-up windows (They work just like the back hatch window.) make it tons easier to load and unload the truck. Also, again, get an extndable pole with a painter's hook on the end. This will allow you to reach back into the truck, underneath the bed and pull stuff out. Mal

Hey man I'm brand new to the forum and I know this thread is old as hell but I'm hoping you still had that camper top and could get me a serial number off of it. I need a part for mine but the plate is missing so I'm stuck in the mud. Thanks!

This is my friends full size truck set up for camping. I was going to do a similar route but with a Tacoma, only to realize I would need a full size truck for my needs.

After much research, I ended up with a 2008 Chevy van that has AWD. The interior build is still in progress, but It will have two "bunks" that I can place a spacer between for one large bed for the wife and I.



The best thing about a van is you don't have to get out to get into the back. I just move the seat back and step over! It was awesome this winter to have so much space to get ready in the ski resort parking lot.

Steven - what awning do you have on your van?

Adamant D wrote:Steven - what awning do you have on your van?

I picked up this no name awning on eBay:
ebay.com/itm/2-5M-x-3M-PULL…

It's really not too bad. the finish isn't as nice as Rhino Rack but I think it'll do just fine.