Best Truck Topper For Camping

Homemade Diy Truck Bed Camper Designs

Take your fishing, hunting, and camping game to the next level with these 15 best DIY truck bed camper designs that will help transform your trucks into big camping luxuries. Yes, these DIY truck bed camper ideas will make you skip those boring installation of camping tents and will also save you from sleeping on the cold tent floors. The homemade truck camper project shares all the details about how you can convert the rears of your trucks into luxurious beds and cozy sofa sets so they will be enjoying the camping there without falling in the trouble of tenting. It will save a lot of camping time, and you will be able to enjoy camping anywhere without choosing a very suitable location for tenting.

If you are puzzling at how to use the wood to install the comfortable cabins on the back of your truck, then get all the hacks here. Browse this collection of 15 DIY truck bed camper designs that will discuss lots of popular camper truck bed cases. Buying a truck bed camper can be a highly expensive affair, and it will charge a lot even if you hire the professional to modify the back of your vehicle to serve as a truck camper bed.

Accessories And Build Ideas

While utilitarian-minded owners of camper shells may prefer to keep them and their truck beds bare, camper shells serve as passable living quarters for short-term trips where the work of loading, stocking, and driving a slide-in camper might not make sense. For those with four-cylinder midsize trucks like the Toyota Tacoma, camper shells may represent the fullest extent of what their power and payload capacity facilitates. In either case, a few upgrades make camper shells comfortable for short or even long-term trips. Most notably, for truck owners with short bedsor indeed, any truck bed shorter than your own heightsomething like the DAC truck tent can facilitate sleeping with the tailgate down and shell window raised, adding the necessary length for comfortable, non-diagonal sleeping. In a pinch, a tarp or mosquito net secured with bungees can also provide this coverage.

Leer Truck Cap For Toyota Tacomas

Leer is currently the leading manufacturer of fiberglass and aluminum truck caps in North America. Their headquarters is based in Indiana, but you can find their products at retailers throughout the United States and Canada.

The Leer collection of truck toppers is separated into three categories: cab-high, mid/high-rise, and commercial caps.

Leer cab-high models match the height of your truck cab while the mid/high-rise models extend to provide up to 15% more storage space.

On the commercial side, Leer offers lightweight aluminum designs that dont add too much weight to your truck while still being able to handle the weight of a rack and other equipment. That helps you retain the ability to load the bed down with tools or recreation gear.

The Leer brand gives you various options to choose from once you have selected a topper.

The 100R model, for example, allows you to choose one of three option kits with things like 50/50 slider side windows, a framed back door, and T-handle locks.

Other standard stuff includes an insulated roof, fiberglass base rails, gas door props, and much more.

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My Transformer Style Setup

In all my research I never came across another approach exactly like the one I eventually settled on, but maybe they existed. Im sure some obscure climbing dirtbag without internet built it way back in the 70s.

Now hes probably scouring at me for having invented the Transformer Style of Truck Camping.

Conceptually, I knew what I wanted, now it was time to try to make it into reality.

Im not super savvy when it comes to building things, but I talked my good buddy Jeff who has been working construction forever to give me a handhe had the know-how and all the tools to help pull it off.

We grabbed a bunch of lumber at Home Depot: a few 2x2s, 2x4s, a few sheets of 1/2 plywood, and a bunch of screws.

All in all, it was around $100 worth of lumber .

The biggest question was how we could secure the vertically oriented side bins to the bed/side of the truck They would need to support the weight from above and not collapse inward.

The lining on the bed of my truck offers nice, deep, 1/2 thick grooves along the length of the bed, so it was the perfect thickness for a sheet of plywood.

Jeff came up with the idea of precisely notching out the 2x4s where the canopy clamps were Thus we could remove the canopy clamps, put the 2×4 in place and clamp the canopy to the truck with the board in between.

In the photo above you can see how the vertical side bins are attached to the truck.

Below you can see the same photo with the canopy clamps now in place.

Clothing For Truck Camping & Overland Travel:

Having a wardrobe of high-quality, fast-drying, well-insulating wool and synthetic clothing will make a HUGE improvement to your truck camping and overland travel experience. It makes doing doing laundry easier, helps with hygiene, and youll get more mileage out of each wash – which can drastically decrease the amount of clothing you have to carry on your truck camping adventure. The key is to layer your clothing to adjust your comfort level while truck camping:

• Shirts – a wool shirt is an excellent base-layer. It dries faster and insulates better than cotton, and it doesnt retain body odor like cotton so you get more mileage out of each wash. Shirts made with synthetic materials are a good option too as they dry very quickly and can also be made with anti-microbial materials to reduce odor.

• Kuhls line of mens travel shirts and womens athletic shirts offer both merino wool and excellent synthetic options that are durable and extremely comfortable

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Truck Canopy Window Options

When truck topper camping, proper ventilation can make or break the experience. Youll want at least one sliding window with a screen .

A side wing window that opens outward can also be really handy when needing to reach things at the front end of the truck bed from outside without having to climb all the way in from the back.

They now make combination sliding-wing windows that offer the best of both worlds.

We also recommend installing high-quality dark ceramic window tint. This will help reduce heat, increase privacy, improve your ability to stealth camp, and help to keep your gear hidden from prying eyes.

Another major upgrade to truck shell camping comfort level is to install a vent fan in the roof of the shell. Check out our post, How To Install a Vent Fan in Your Truck Camper.

Truck Camping Toiletry Hygiene And Laundry Gear:

You gotta keep it clean, even out in the boonies. This is all the gear youll need to stay fresh truck camping in the back country.

And if you want more info and some helpful tips on how to stay clean while traveling and camping check out our detailed post on bathing while truck camping and traveling. And if youre curious or unsure about using the bathroom in the back country, weve got an entire post tackling the subject of what to do with #2 while truck camping.

• Wolfwise Shower Tent*- this provides a nice private place to bathe or change clothes

• Razor

• Car Sick Bags – handy to have if any one gets car sick, or otherwise.

• Wag Bags* – the best way to pack-out you or your pets business when wild camping

• A Portable Camping Toilet– this guide discusses the three main categories of camp toilets

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Bestop Black Diamond Supertop For Truck

Turn your campsite experience into absolute fun through versatile bed access.

Bestop particularly develops a suitable tent for your Toyota Tacoma truck. Its 7630135 offers the basic functionality of an efficient convertible top.

The price tag is indeed satisfactory for its overall features. Otherwise, youre good to go with the best super top for the truck.

Features & Benefits

Improved Hardware

Premium fabric with exterior coating develops high waterproof characteristics. Quality hardware enables simple operation. Outside zip panels get you privacy against outdoor elements. You can even install windows, using the optional tinted kits.

Protective Covering

The design encourages protection for its inner space all along. The high-strength thread remains on standby to tackle weather adversity. Heat-sealed seams trigger good insulation with moisture resistance. Youll feel comfortable throughout the whole stay.

No-Hassle Installation

The inclusion of clamp hardware eases the entire deployment process. You dont have to open the rear vinyl window, thanks to independent tailgate operation. Belt rail attachment triggers a simple setup for 2005 2019 Tacoma. Quick bow release allows immediate removal of the system.

Pros

Trucks Are Beginner Friendly

you only need 3 things:

• Camper Shell
• Truck Bed Storage Drawers
• Mattress

And youve got yourself a mobile home on wheels. No special skills, tools, or manual work needed. Even I could do it and I barely know how to use a screwdriver. And thats not all there is to like about truck life. Theres also

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Truck Bed Tent Comparison Table

• Final Thoughts

When we are talking about truck bed tents were talking about a waterproof, lightweight, and affordable pop up tent for the bed of your truck, not those full size truck bed campers.

Truck tents are perfect if you already have a truck but dont want to bother with the expense and hassle of hauling a trailer or a full size camper.

Truck Canopy Camping The Ultimate Guide

The Dirtbag-Mobile. Every climbing bum who decides to spend a length of time on the road inevitably ends up living in and out of their vehicle.

Its kind of a rite of passage.

The types of vehicles that people end up dirtbagging in are about as varied as climbing itself.

Youve got your standard little car, the cliché outdoorsy rig the Subaru Outback, Jeeps, SUVs, pickup trucks both large and small, youve got vansfrom the super classic VW bus, to minivans, to the bigger and more upscale vans like the Sprinterand youve even got the occasional trailers and RVs.

The two most common dirtbag rigs from what Ive seen are pickup trucks with a canopy or some type of van.

Though there are options ranging from a roof top tent, a truck bed camper, the canopy, or even a truck bed tentRead more about the pros and cons of each approach.

One of the main advantages to using a canopy for camping is the stealth factor: no one really imagines someone camping out in the back, whereas it is pretty obvious if youve got a van or a roof top tent on your truck. This opens some stealth camping opportunities that might not otherwise be available.

In this article were going to be discussing building out the pickup and canopy combo, since thats what Ive got.

More often than not, we dont have the liberty to decide what sort of vehicle were going to dirtbag in. Its usually whatever it is we happened to buy a few years back.

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How To Choose The Best Truck Topper For Camping

Truck toppers seem simple, right? Theyre just covers that get on top of your truck? Sadly, no.

Choosing a truck topper requires a lot of research and consideration. After all, you do not want to get stuck in a situation where the topper either doesnt fit or protects you.

It would be best if you considered various things before buying the truck topper you like the most. So, lets find out the things you need to keep in mind before settling with the right truck topper for you!

Truck Bed Camper With Storage

In normal camping, sleeping on the ground is a big pain. In the fall season, it can freeze you to death. So, say by too tough camping and live the luxury at camping too by building this DIY truck bed camper. It provides amazing storage space in the form of 3 built-in drawers and quite something quick to make with 2x4s, plywood, and other wooden boards. you will get the free video instructions to build it from start to end like a pro. Details here

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Napier Backroadz Truck Tent

Spend your night on a truck bed under the sky with satisfaction.

Napier introduces one of the best truck caps for camping you can get. Its Backroadz Tent is indeed the only one to offer a full floor.

Youre to get a perfect space to stay behind the vehicle seats. Even the price goes easy on your wallet, considering the features.

Features & Benefits

Steady Materials

The entire frame includes a solid polyester taffeta for construction. It includes an 800mm PU to ensure reasonable interior insulation. Full rainfly induces waterproof action to protect against weather conditions.

Additional Floor

Its almost impossible to manage a high-quality topper with flooring. But Napier certainly looks into the whole picture. The basic assembly includes a full floor unlike any other. It keeps yourself dry, cool & clean from truck bed elements.

Convenient Sizes

The design almost fits all common pickup trucks out there. Its even suitable for trucks having Bedliner or toolboxes. And you can choose either a short bed or a long bed here.

Pros

How Do I Turn My Truck Into A Mobile Adventure Home

Now we can all have the car of our dreams

For exclusive access to all of our fitness, gear, adventure, and travel stories, plus discounts on trips, events, and gear,.

Its easyand relatively inexpensive. But before you rush out and start converting your truck into the ultimate adventure vehicle, step back and think carefully about the design, because the same rules youd follow when buying a nonmobile home apply here: be patient and detail-oriented and begin with the right foundation.

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Supplies You Need To Make Black Out Curtains For A Diy Truck Bed Camper

I used privacy curtains we already had but were not using. It doesnt matter what color or material these are just as long as they dont allow too much light to shine through. I adhered the curtains to the sides to the truck topper using stick-on Velcro that I bought in one long stripand cut into 3-inch pieces. One roll left me a bit short and I ended up having to buy a second one.

I only used the hook side of the Velcro, which is the rough side, as the carpet lining of our camper acted like the loop side. If you dont have a lined canopy, you will have to use both sides. That will make things a bit trickier as you will have to make sure your sides match up.

I cut the curtain to the size of the window plus at least two inches overhang and one additional inch that I then folded under and sewed, creating a finished edge around all sides of the curtains. I made a window cover for both sides of the topper, plus one for each end and one for the small skylight window in the top of the camper.

Added Features And Accessories Of Tacoma Shells

Things like interior LED lighting and roof racks may or may not be important to you. Most camper shells offer some sort of add-ons to try to differentiate from the competition.

So once youve found several models that fit your Tacoma, these accessories may be the final factor in your decision.

For example, my 2014 TRD sport doesnt include a locking tailgate. So if I didnt have a locking rear window, Id have no way to secure the belongings inside when I pop onto the trail for a long day hike or climb into my tent at the end of the day.

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Hit The Road With The Best 4 Season Truck Camper For You

After reading, we hope you have all the information you need to purchase the best 4 season truck camper for you. We know that there is a lot of information to absorb, but it should all be helpful to you in your search for the perfect fit. Remember, you are spending a lot of money when you purchase a 4 season truck camper, so you do not want to purchase one that does not fit what you need. Take the time to do your research and you will be much happier in the future.

Finding the perfect 4 season truck camper can be difficult because there are so many options to choose from. We wish we could make it easy for you and tell you what the best option is, but everyone has different needs. For us to assume we knew what you need would be irresponsible, so we cannot say which option is best. However, we can say with confidence that all the options listed above are popular among consumers.

Purchasing a 4 season truck camper is a big step to take for you and your family. It is a significant financial investment, and it will change your lifestyle. However, if you pick the right camper, it is a purchase you will never regret.

Have you ever used a truck camper before? Are you interested in using your camper during the winter? Where would you want to travel with your truck camper? Let us know in the comments!