If you have a truck, you can escape ordinary camping and upgrade to camping to your truck bed. The best thing about camping with a truck is you can camp pretty much anywhere you can take your truck.
There are a few different ways to transform your truck into a cozy camping setup. One of the most popular ways is with a rooftop tent, but you don’t even have to get that fancy.
The great thing about a truck bed is that it already provides your camping layout, you simply have to ensure that it’s covered and that you have a comfortable place to sleep.
A truck camper or a canopy are two ways to enclose your bed area. Let’s look at more ways to create the perfect truck bed camping setup.
Source: Reddit
Create a Truck Kit
Before you get to planning your camping setup, it’s important to organize a kit to take care of your truck should the need arise.
A basic kit should consist of jumper cables, a toolbox, a flashlight and extra batteries, a tire repair kit, duct tape, zip ties, and a multi-tool.
These items cover most unexpected situations you might face while camping in your truck.
Choose a Truck Bed Covering
Unless you’re camping somewhere warm with no bugs, the next item in your camping setup should be a covering for your truck bed. If you want to avoid the expense of a truck bed camper or rooftop tent, your main option is a canopy.
These are also sometimes called truck toppers, truck caps or camper shells. These essentially fit over your truck bed and make it even with the cab, creating an SUV-like profile.
Most truck canopies are constructed of fiberglass or aluminum, and both have benefits and drawbacks.
Fiberglass is usually more form-fitting, meaning it will be more aerodynamic. On the other hand, aluminum canopies are usually easier to find and more affordable.
For camping, you’ll want to ensure that your canopy is well-ventilated, tight-fitting, and can be insulated if necessary.
Related article:New Truck Toppers – How Much Do They Cost?
Truck bed tents are another possibility to consider. These are installed over your truck bed and generally provide a covered area outside of your truck bed as well for additional living or sleeping space.
Related article: Guide to Truck Bed Tents
Source: u/igotalotofrice Reddit
What To Bring and How To Store It
What you bring mostly depends on your situation, specific preferences, and how long you plan to camp. The main things to consider include food, food storage, cooking items, sleeping gear, and clothes. The next step is to decide how to store these things.
Your truck isn’t a van, and most of the truck bed may have to remain clear for your sleeping arrangements.
With that limited space, you’ll want to plan some effective truck bed storage solutions. Consider maximizing your vertical space with stackable storage containers and bins. If you have a four-door crew cab truck, you can also use the cab for some storage.
Truck bed drawer systems might work if you can get one that provides a sizable platform to arrange your sleeping setup.
Related article: A Buyer’s Guide to Truck Bed Drawers
You can also potentially pack items into a truck box or something similar that can be removed from your truck bed when you arrive at your camping spot. The primary consideration here is that it’s secure enough to ward off animals or thieves but relatively easy to move.
Yet another option is to install a roof rack on your truck and get a cargo box that can conveniently store most or all of your gear.
Source: u/Wagoom Reddit
Planning Your Sleeping Arrangments
The central part of any camping experience is a good sleeping setup. You have your covered truck bed, so now what?
The first step is to install a sleeping platform. The raised surface is a barrier between you and your truck bed. If you have a truck bed drawer system, this platform might work perfectly.
The next step is to add an air mattress or sleeping pad. The final steps include a high-quality sleeping bag and a supportive pillow.
Related article: A Buyers Guide to Truck Bed Air Mattresses
When choosing your sleeping arrangements, consider the climate where you’re camping.
Memory foam products are popular, but they get hard when it’s cold. They also tend to retain heat, so they might not be the best option if it’s hot either.
Source: u/BwanaPC Reddit
Protect Your Truck Bed With DualLiner
Before you pack items in your truck bed or get it set up for camping, protect your truck bed with the only bed liner system that really works.
DualLiner truck bed liners fit perfectly to your truck bed to keep out moisture and debris. The non-skid mat also ensures that nothing moves around.
Further reading: Truck Camping – Enjoying the Great Outdoors in Your Pickup
