when you guys go out on overnight or extended trips, do you usually sleep in the bed of your truck, or bring a tent? or perhaps even a canopy (assuming you want some shelter) over the bed?

danny

Usually if it's raining or I'm close to a road I'll sleep in the back of the truck to keep down the road noise. It's also nice not to have to load a wet tent into the truck. Otherwise I sleep outside on a tarp or in the tent. Most of the time I have so much camping crap spread all over the back of the truck there's no room for me. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

Tent for now. But I would like to invest in a cargo drawer system so I can sleep on a level platform above all my tools, supplies and other junk.

Tent leaves less wear and tear on the truck I guess.

It also gives you a place to unload stuff that you dont need when offroading. I empty out all my cooking stuff. Extra clothes, weather gear that doesnt fit the current situation, and so on.

Truck. W/ the 4 door Montero, there's enough room in back and I've built a storage system that is the same height as the back seat when it's folded flat.

Great especially in foul weather and takes no time to set up. May still need a tarp or tent for stuff that won't fit with me inside the back.

An interesting mod for truck camping would be window netting. If you could roll all the windows down and keep the skeeters out, it would make it ten times better.

Maybe magnetic tape around the window frame, I am sure the idea is workable.

I've been thinking about making magnetic window screens for a while now. I've also thought about creating some sort of tent-like contraption to screen the tailgate when fully open. A storage platform would work great for that setup. I don't know how the folding rear seat would fit into the design though <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />

even better, a bed mounted tent...oh, wait they got those already... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

they have bed mounted tents? that sounds cool, who makes those? canopies sound like a lot of fun also, but seem expensive.. anyone ever buy/make one?

danny

The TentCot seems pretty cool, for one person camping at least.

I had an insulated fiberglss shell on my truck, it was awesome to sleep under. Sliding side windows with screens. It took about a yr to realize it would get destroyed offroad, so depending on your wheeling and terrain a shell may not be a good idea. For mild wheeling, exploring, etc it's great, but if you get into a lot of trees or even rocks, not such a good idea. Neither is a big SUV w/ all that sheetmetal and glass. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/nana.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/bird.gif" alt="" />

I have been happily using a tent for several years, works great and takes up very little space and is useful for those times when you can't take your truck with you. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

hmm... well some searching turned up some interesting things-- check these out

http://www.imagineafrica.co.za/4x4_vehicle_rental.htm

http://www.off-road.com/toyota/reviews/trucktent/

http://www.rv4x4.com/newproducts/tailgate_tent_II.html

http://www.softopper.com/terminator3.html

that convertible like soft topper i think might be my vote for most ingenious, although i dont know how useful it would actually be...

danny