Truck Campers Only, w/ an Overland & Off-roading theme

[kfvintx]

Can't wait to see and hear every detail of your ST install experience.

I agree this thread has been invaluable. I have been in the market for std truck camper but now stepping back and re-evaluating my options based on this thread alone. So, thank you to every person on here that has contributed whether it was about camper, inflators/deflators, A/C, AC/DC (still slow down my reading on AC and A/C ) or regions/locations...... all of it is super helpful.

 

[Chadx]

You mention not needing AC where you are, MT I think, but if I recall the absolute hottest night we ever had in a camper was up near Whitefish…. Maybe 2020??? It was so hot they had closed all the streams in the area to fishing and it was well in excess of 100 degrees durning the day and damn close to that at night. We were in the AluCab Khaya at the time and went to the nearest Walmart and bought USB powered desk fans and some clips to hang them by the bed blowing on us. It worked, but I would have ponied up $5k that night to be comfortable. Like I said you never know, that portable AC option sounds idea if it can be carried someplace secure and out of the way.

Needing and wanting are two different things. Ha. And personal thing. As mentioned, I'd run it all the time if it was that handy and much to my wife's dismay! Going with a portable will mean it's juuuust hard enough to setup that I'll only do so when it's absolutely necessary. We'll store it in the back seat of the pickup and only bring it when we need it. I typically remove the 60% side of the extended cab rear seat and replace it with a platform. In previous camper, we didn't have much camper storage, so lots of stuff lived in the back seat. The Supertramp has more and so will free up a lot of space in the back seat. And the portable A/C units are surprisingly small and light. Time will tell if I feel it was a mistake to go portable rather than rooftop. I'm not too proud to admit my mistakes if it turns out that way. Ha.

Interestingly, our most miserably hot night ever was on a Banff trip (AB, Canada). I think the night in questions was up in Jasper National park 3+ north of Banff. Didn't cool off at all one July night (we had very cool, turn-on-the-heat-in-the-daytime temps the rest of the trip). That nights campground was down in a low spot with all campfire smoke settling so couldn't open camper windows without choking. Would bounce between sitting outside in the smoke, mosquitoes and slight breeze to inside the camper not sleeping. Took three showers to cool off leading up to the night. Sleepless night and I can relate to your comment about being willing to pay $5,000 for A/C add-on for that single night. Thing is, that has been the only night in 6 years that it was that bad. Usually it cools off in the MT mountains every night even when very hot during the day. And low humidity. Our long UT trips are in early spring or late fall so same thing there; we are more likely to run the heater than A/C. Having A/C would certainly remove, or reduce, our heat/temperature considerations from our trip planning, though.

 

[TRAMPER]

She’s getting close now!!!!!! Kelsey just did the in-depth walk of all the systems and the boys started working on the truck! We got dropped off back at the hotel for now but they anticipate being done shortly after lunch. According to Kelsey “they’re getting pretty good” at mounting these on Superduty’s lol.

The camper greatly exceeds even my lofty expectations in fit and finish and the starlink made it on on time!!!!! It looks amazing!!!

I think the White/ Greyscale design of the camper is really going to look great with the Oxford white SAP Tremor.

the Megatron in the background on pic #2. Hahaha. Wow!!!

 

[NightForceFan]

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She’s getting close now!!!!!! Kelsey just did the in-depth walk of all the systems and the boys started working on the truck! We got dropped off back at the hotel for now but they anticipate being done shortly after lunch. According to Kelsey “they’re getting pretty good” at mounting these on Superduty’s lol.

The camper greatly exceeds even my lofty expectations in fit and finish and the starlink made it on on time!!!!! It looks amazing!!!

I think the White/ Greyscale design of the camper is really going to look great with the Oxford white SAP Tremor.

the Megatron in the background on pic #2. Hahaha. Wow!!!

Best color combo in my opinion. Congrats on a sweet camper.

 

[TX03RUBI]

Stopped by the dealer today. They’re hoping to have my truck back to me by this weekend. We’ll see if it actually happens or not though. If I can pick up the truck by Friday I’ll be installing the camper on Saturday. Currently sitting on a flatbed trailer in my shop lol

Hahaha yes!! Power tanks are awesome! And talk about being able to run air tools!

We did Peek A Boo and Spooky, incredible! Talk about a hidden gem. I would tell anyone who reads this and wants to try it to go in prepared. You’re really on your own back there and help isn’t close by.

You mention not needing AC where you are, MT I think, but if I recall the absolute hottest night we ever had in a camper was up near Whitefish…. Maybe 2020??? It was so hot they had closed all the streams in the area to fishing and it was well in excess of 100 degrees durning the day and damn close to that at night. We were in the AluCab Khaya at the time and went to the nearest Walmart and bought USB powered desk fans and some clips to hang them by the bed blowing on us. It worked, but I would have ponied up $5k that night to be comfortable. Like I said you never know, that portable AC option sounds idea if it can be carried someplace secure and out of the way.

Sounds like Summer of 21’. I’ve spent a ton of time up around Whitefish over the last decade, and 21’ was brutal. I don’t recall 20’ being that bad, but then again it could’ve easily done it without me noticing.

I live in far West Texas at the base of the Pandhandle. I camp (ground tent, roof tent, and hammock) all over TX all year long. A RTT with a Milwaukee 18V fan (or two) has been the ticket for comfortable sleeping in the middle of the summer for us. I still put a few nights a summer in a hammock on our river trips, but getting 6-7’ off the ground has been highly beneficial for the light breeze provided at night. Hoping to pick up my truck in the next few days and get this dang camper mounted up. It’s currently sitting on a flatbed trailer in the shop waiting on a truck haha

 

[TRAMPER]

Best color combo in my opinion. Congrats on a sweet camper.

Thank you!!! I agree of course lol… I know white gets the “I’m here to read your meter” treatment from a lot of people but I think with everything blacked out it looks bad ass! Thanks for the kind words.

 

[TRAMPER]

Stopped by the dealer today. They’re hoping to have my truck back to me by this weekend. We’ll see if it actually happens or not though. If I can pick up the truck by Friday I’ll be installing the camper on Saturday. Currently sitting on a flatbed trailer in my shop lol

Sounds like Summer of 21’. I’ve spent a ton of time up around Whitefish over the last decade, and 21’ was brutal. I don’t recall 20’ being that bad, but then again it could’ve easily done it without me noticing.

100% could have been 21…. We travel out west quite a bit and the trips blend. Only reason I figured it wasn’t 21 was because of travel restrictions… but it’s possible I was ignoring those from the peoples republic of NY anyway. Hahaha. It was HOT though, like I said the state had all fishing shutdown because of high water temps. We wandered to a cooler location lol.

 

[TRAMPER]

Stopped by the dealer today. They’re hoping to have my truck back to me by this weekend. We’ll see if it actually happens or not though. If I can pick up the truck by Friday I’ll be installing the camper on Saturday. Currently sitting on a flatbed trailer in my shop lol

Sounds like Summer of 21’. I’ve spent a ton of time up around Whitefish over the last decade, and 21’ was brutal. I don’t recall 20’ being that bad, but then again it could’ve easily done it without me noticing.

What’s the camper??? Unless I missed it in a prior post? Also what happened to your truck? Hope all is ok.

 

[TX03RUBI]

100% could have been 21…. We travel out west quite a bit and the trips blend. Only reason I figured it wasn’t 21 was because of travel restrictions… but it’s possible I was ignoring those from the peoples republic of NY anyway. Hahaha. It was HOT though, like I said the state had all fishing shutdown because of high water temps. We wandered to a cooler location lol.

I travel all the time for work, and I 100% ignored the travel restrictions. However 21 they were much more lax than summer of 20. I spent a couple weeks up there in July and August of 21’ for fun. I’d have given a lot of money for an AC that trip as well. Went through there a few weeks ago, and everything was solid white lol big difference. I sure wish I could land a gig that would justify living there (W MT in general not Whitefish). Prices have gone insane. I’d likely take a pay cut to live there at 3-4x the COL.

 

[TX03RUBI]

What’s the camper??? Unless I missed it in a prior post? Also what happened to your truck? Hope all is ok.

Just a pop up wedge camper with a few extras. Nothing fancy. I still need my truck bed as a truck bed regularly, but I also wanted a safe(ish) place to store my gear. This is kind of the best of both worlds for my immediate needs. In a few years I’m hoping to snag a flatbed camper of some sort. Right now drooling over the builds in here has to hold me over lol

 

[Mister Bevilaqua]

Everything out west and here in Texas as well has gone insane with the west coast influx post 2020. I'll always have a residence here in Texas and hope to take my last breaths here one day but I'd love to have a small place in MT/WY/ID to spend the summers. The snowbirds have it figured out, I would like to do the same but long before retirement lol.

 

[NightForceFan]

Everything out west and here in Texas as well has gone insane with the west coast influx post 2020. I'll always have a residence here in Texas and hope to take my last breaths here one day but I'd love to have a small place in MT/WY/ID to spend the summers. The snowbirds have it figured out, I would like to do the same but long before retirement lol.

You and I have the same goals. Lol. My wife won't move from Texas permanently so I will be stuck buying a small place in northern NM, Utah, or western CO at some point. We should go in halves

 

[TRAMPER]

Stopped by the dealer today. They’re hoping to have my truck back to me by this weekend. We’ll see if it actually happens or not though. If I can pick up the truck by Friday I’ll be installing the camper on Saturday. Currently sitting on a flatbed trailer in my shop lol

Sounds like Summer of 21’. I’ve spent a ton of time up around Whitefish over the last decade, and 21’ was brutal. I don’t recall 20’ being that bad, but then again it could’ve easily done it without me noticing.

I live in far West Texas at the base of the Pandhandle. I camp (ground tent, roof tent, and hammock) all over TX all year long. A RTT with a Milwaukee 18V fan (or two) has been the ticket for comfortable sleeping in the middle of the summer for us. I still put a few nights a summer in a hammock on our river trips, but getting 6-7’ off the ground has been highly beneficial for the light breeze provided at night. Hoping to pick up my truck in the next few days and get this dang camper mounted up. It’s currently sitting on a flatbed trailer in the shop waiting on a truck haha

Just looked back through my albums. You were right!!! 2021! Since this is a truck camper thread here’s the Tacoma with the Khaya camper on Going to the Sun Road on that 2021 trip.

FWIW I LOVE those pop up truck cap camper’s. My GFC was incredible and still let the truck 100% be a truck! I think if It was me traveling alone as a trout bum, fishing state to state living in a truck I would still be in a Tacoma with a GFC. Married life has made me soft hence the shift to the Supertramp. Oh side note there’s a guy here at Supertramp living full time in his Superduty/ GFC setup so it’s certainly possible!!!

 

[NightForceFan]

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Just looked back through my albums. You were right!!! 2021! Since this is a truck camper thread here’s the Tacoma with the Khaya camper on going to the sun rd.

FWIW I LOVE those pop up truck cap camper’s. My GFC was incredible and still let the truck 100% be a truck! I think if It was me traveling alone as a trout bum, fishing state to state living in a truck I would still be in a Tacoma with a GFC. Married life has made me soft hence the shift to the Supertramp. Oh side note there’s a guy here at Supertramp living full time in his Superduty/ GFC setup so it’s certainly possible!!!

That's a great pic and setup. Love the Tacomas, just need more space/power for the time being. Will be watching the 2024s closely and see how that new motor does. May pick one up as a project.

 

[TX03RUBI]

View attachment 136035
Just looked back through my albums. You were right!!! 2021! Since this is a truck camper thread here’s the Tacoma with the Khaya camper on going to the sun rd.

FWIW I LOVE those pop up truck cap camper’s. My GFC was incredible and still let the truck 100% be a truck! I think if It was me traveling alone as a trout bum, fishing state to state living in a truck I would still be in a Tacoma with a GFC. Married life has made me soft hence the shift to the Supertramp. Oh side note there’s a guy here at Supertramp living full time in his Superduty/ GFC setup so it’s certainly possible!!!

Oh I have no desire to live in it. If that was the case I would easily be able to justify the flatbed build currently. However this is just a good excuse to get out for 2-10 days at a time and do some fishing, hunting, and exploring with my boy. Occasionally the wife will tag along as well. While she loves those trips too she requires an occasional Airbnb or hotel every few nights for a good shower and sleep in a real bed.

If I was completely single a Tacoma/Wedge combo would be absolutely ideal. The 250 offers enough room I can make it work for short durations with the fam though. Besides needing it for my occasional towing needs.

 

[TX03RUBI]

Luckily for me WTX is a lot closer to the mountains than CenTex or the Hill Country. I can be in Lincoln National forest in 3 hours, or Carson in 4.5. The San Juan’s are about 7 hours for me. Being that WTX is a drive to get anywhere I pretty much think of it as a semi quick drive. I don’t mind leaving early and getting there in time for a late lunch. I’m hoping to be a trout bum for a few months come next spring. Lol

 

[kfvintx]

You and I have the same goals. Lol. My wife won't move from Texas permanently so I will be stuck buying a small place in northern NM, Utah, or western CO at some point. We should go in halves

Add me to the "investment fund" to go in thirds . On a side note, I've been spending more time in F'burg lately with some friends building their home on some land out there.....area has changed a lot in last 5 years.

Y'all have me seriously drooling over your setups in here.

 

[TRAMPER]

That's a great pic and setup. Love the Tacomas, just need more space/power for the time being. Will be watching the 2024s closely and see how that new motor does. May pick one up as a project.

Space, Power, and Payload are exactly why we sold the Tacoma. We LOVED that truck and it took us to some amazing places but the Tremor is on a different level. The 2024 Tacomas do look interesting, and they’ve addressed a lot of the short comings. Time will tell.

 

[Mister Bevilaqua]

You and I have the same goals. Lol. My wife won't move from Texas permanently so I will be stuck buying a small place in northern NM, Utah, or western CO at some point. We should go in halves

Deal, but no NM, I like hunting there but could never see myself living/owning property there. Colorado I'd be up for just to continue to piss off the full-timers there with another Texas plate on the streets for them to fume about lol. The Provo and Heber valleys along the river have long been on our map and we used to do Thanksgiving up there every year fishing for trout on the middle and lower Provo. Sadly that area has skyrocketed as well but that'll never not be the case with any of these spots, you've simply gotta get in and commit.

 

[NightForceFan]

Deal, but no NM, I like hunting there but could never see myself living/owning property there. Colorado I'd be up for just to continue to piss off the full-timers there with another Texas plate on the streets for them to fume about lol. The Provo and Heber valleys along the river have long been on our map and we used to do Thanksgiving up there every year fishing for trout on the middle and lower Provo. Sadly that area has skyrocketed as well but that'll never not be the case with any of these spots, you've simply gotta get in and commit.

Haha. I grew up in SE NM so I am still partial to that terribly run state. Really miss all the BLM land.