truck canopy???

SonOfUgly · Post by **SonOfUgly** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 8:36 pm

anyone sleep in a the back of a truck with a canopy on the playa??? good idea, bad idea...any bad experiences

Dork · Post by **Dork** » Fri Mar 21, 2008 8:51 pm

I did for a few years. I rigged up a shade about a foot over the top of it, and covered any exposed areas with mylar emergency blankets. It was superior to all tent setups I've had over the years - it stayed cool long into the morning, and was nice and roomy. The only downside, really, was that it was only about 3' high inside it. No standing up and changing like you might be able to do in a tall tent.

The only reason I switched back to tents is I sold the truck.

Captain Goddammit · Post by **Captain Goddammit** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 2:53 pm

Allyn... hey, you're not far from here!
I know people who do it.
I think the best part is that it makes an effective dust storm shelter. Tents don't! Put some weatherstripping tape between the truck bed and canopy, and do whatever you can to really seal it up tight. Make sure to close it up whenever you leave, and you'll be a happy camper who's bed, clothes, food, etc. doesn't get saturated with dirt in the next storm!
And it's rare, but it might even rain!

SonOfUgly · Post by **SonOfUgly** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 3:20 pm

right on, i go campin in the backof my truck all the time just didnt know if it would be bad on the playa. and it has weatherstripping tape between the truck bed and canopy, also has a lumber rack that would be real easy to tie a tarp over it...

Captain yeah it's about a 15min drive and a freey ride over.

this is going to be my 1st year there aswell, cant wait

LeChatNoir · Post by **LeChatNoir** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 3:22 pm

We use the truck cover as our main personal shelter every year. I constructed a knock-down wood frame that sits on top of the truck cover and extends out over the tailgate for about 6 feet or so. Two posts support the extended part. This is then covered with silver tarps to completely enclose the space, leaving the topper covered, but with space for airflow, and a â€œback porchâ€

SonOfUgly · Post by **SonOfUgly** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 3:41 pm

[quote="LeChatNoir"]

Oh... toss in an old futon for a very comfy bedding.
[/quote]

already got one in there

Bob · Post by **Bob** » Sat Mar 22, 2008 11:09 pm

Aside from whiteouts, most of the blowing dust on the playa is within a foot or so above the surface, so sleeping in a pickup bed gets you above all that.

Post by **mdmf007** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 7:04 pm

Gets damn hot in the back of a truck though. shade the ass end and it cuts 40 degrees off easy.

CapSmashy · Post by **CapSmashy** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 9:15 pm

A little bigger than a canopy.

Redoing the inside at the moment.

Captain Goddammit · Post by **Captain Goddammit** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 10:47 pm

They do make all sorts of BIG truck canopies!

SonOfUgly · Post by **SonOfUgly** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 11:32 pm

wish i had something that big....

CapSmashy · Post by **CapSmashy** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 5:28 am

Yeah, mine is pretty tiny compared to most and has none of the amenities you can get in the big campers. I can almost stand upright inside of it and it is the full 8 foot length though. I have to drop my tailgate for hauling it around since I have the 6 ft 6 bed on my Dodge. That limits my trailering capacity since I have to use an extension bar coming off my hitch.

Of course, a slide in unit like what's pictured above is around $10 to 12k used and abused and up to $40k new. I picked mine up for $900 from a divorce firesale.

Made locally too but as it is a stripper model, I do not think I'll be needing any to find any parts for it.

Captain Goddammit · Post by **Captain Goddammit** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 6:16 am

CapSmashy wrote:I have the 6 ft 6 bed on my Dodge. That limits my trailering capacity since I have to use an extension bar coming off my hitch.

Of course, a slide in unit like what's pictured above is around $10 to 12k used and abused and up to $40k new.

Hitch extensions... one of my favorite peeves!
My camper hangs almost 4 feet from the back of the truck, but there's a way around using a hitch extension. This pic shows it a little better if you look closely...

I used C-channel, and lots of gussets and even a few extra crossmembers, to stretch the tongue longer and lower so it reaches under the camper all the way to the truck's hitch. This tows WAY better than with a hitch extension! Granted, it's a big-ass duallie, but that trailer loaded for BMan weighs 8200 pounds and now it drives like it wasn't there, even without a weight-distributing hitch.

You can buy a camper like this for a LOT less than that, too! $3000 or so will score one. I took the low-buck, add labor to get what you want approach and paid $1500 for that one because A.) it's 20 years old, and B.) it had been left stored up on it's jacks and had fallen, and fixed it.

CapSmashy · Post by **CapSmashy** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 6:39 am

Good score on the camper. I did see some fixer uppers at pretty good prices, but I just do not have the time to mess with something like this year and with the wife coming out this year, I needed something contained and ready to go. The remodeling work isn't necessary, just something fun to make it a more personal space.

And yeah, I know hitch extensions aren't the best thing in the world, but I will have my heavy stuff (water) in the camper and keep the trailer pretty light. I really only need the trailer for the 2 tricycles I'm bringing out this year as there is no where to put them with the camper and fuel for the generator.

Even adding in the weight of 30 gallons of fuel for the generator (estimated guess at this point), I might be towing as much as 500 pounds of cargo on a 6 x 10 trailer so the hitch extension (off a factory mounted Class 3) should not really be too much of a determent for me.

I am also running Goodyear helper airbags to level it all out if necessary. And with the craptastic mushy springs Dodge went to for a more "carlike" ride, I know I'll need them.

ibdave · Post by **ibdave** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 4:25 pm

CapSmashy wrote:
O Made locally too but as it is a stripper model, I do not think I'll be needing any to find any parts for it.

Where are you going to put the Stripper Pole?????

thirt33n · Post by **thirt33n** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 4:27 pm

Smashy-
your little camper is great. what's the brand/model?
i assume it'll fit on a small pickup like a Ranger...

Dork · Post by **Dork** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 4:32 pm

Oh yeah, one of the really great benefits to sleeping in the back of a truck - you can put the futon mattress and blanket in FIRST, then load all your boxes on top. When you pull into your camping spot you can unload the boxes and go right to sleep without having to set anything up first.

Just make sure you pack as much as you can in easy to unload boxes

Captain Goddammit · Post by **Captain Goddammit** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 4:41 pm

Or you can do like a friend of mine, and make a raised platform from 2x4s and plywood and load stuff under the bed.
Whether its a motorhome, camper, or simple canopy shell that you're staying in, I'm a big fan of putting as much shit in the trailer as possible and keeping the living space ready-to-use. It's so nice to arrive on the playa and be able to just flop until you feel like working on stuff!

thirt33n · Post by **thirt33n** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 4:45 pm

Or......

CapSmashy · Post by **CapSmashy** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 5:54 pm

ibdave wrote: Where are you going to put the Stripper Pole?????

Stripper pole will be mounted outside the camper in the Tiki Bar area.

CapSmashy · Post by **CapSmashy** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 5:57 pm

thirt33n wrote:Smashy-
your little camper is great. what's the brand/model?
i assume it'll fit on a small pickup like a Ranger...

Brand name is Capri Campers.

http://capricamper.com/

I have the Ranchero model.

They specialize in low cost and low weight camper units for the Rodeo and Pro Fishing tournament circuits.

CapSmashy · Post by **CapSmashy** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 6:13 pm

Captain Goddammit wrote:Or you can do like a friend of mine, and make a raised platform from 2x4s and plywood and load stuff under the bed.
Whether its a motorhome, camper, or simple canopy shell that you're staying in, I'm a big fan of putting as much shit in the trailer as possible and keeping the living space ready-to-use. It's so nice to arrive on the playa and be able to just flop until you feel like working on stuff!

Leaving a crash area open is an unofficial central plan as a just in case for on the road out there.

The upper bunk area will be utilized for storage of large costuming items, light weight necessities, toiletries/personal items and bedding ( and whatever else will comfortably fit) while in transit.

I am going to build a split deck lid that folds out over the open space between the benches and that area will be used for water, food totes, etc. All the stuff I want sheltered from the elements in transit/don't have to worry about it flying away if a lid pops open or sprouting legs and walking off at a stop.

The trailer will be for the trikes, gasoline for the gennie, the 2/3's of a costco carport for the Tiki Bar/kitchen area, and the frame for the shade structure to go over the camper.

I'll also have the back seat of the truck for stuff as well since I have a quad cab.

This is all purely theoretical at the moment since I have yet to actually do a dry run at packing it yet. I know I am going to be reducing my "stuff" load from last year, but doubling the food and drink supplies since the wife is coming.

Meh... it'll work out. Always seems to one way or the other.

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 9:29 pm

thirt33n wrote:Smashy-
your little camper is great. what's the brand/model?
i assume it'll fit on a small pickup like a Ranger...

Certain years of the ranger have a barely detectable descending curve on the rails, until you try to put something on there.

CapSmashy · Post by **CapSmashy** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 5:23 am

gyre wrote:Certain years of the ranger have a barely detectable descending curve on the rails, until you try to put something on there.

Totally forgot about that. I do not believe they make campers for small pickups.

Bare bones, pop up style campers are typically what's available for smaller trucks.

thirt33n · Post by **thirt33n** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 12:02 pm

I'm thinkin about taking the infamous JUNGO ROAD again.
My 78' vw van made it in 2002(also in photo) ....shouldn't be a problem in my new truck.
[img][img]http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e24/x ... BIGman.jpg[/img][/img]

it's a 2000. I can see the descending rail, i think. I'll probably just get a canopy.

We came in from the west last year just before the gates opened and just ahead of the flood of y'all string of cars creeping through empire and gerlach.

Bobby thinks my truck is DOPE.
[img][img]http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e24/x ... bynme3.jpg[/img][/img]

so does our Green Man.
[img][img]http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e24/x24lucas/View.jpg[/img][/img]

Crux

gyre · Post by **gyre** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 12:55 pm

Toyota had a Chinook fibreglas camper for their little trucks.
If you can find one in a salvage yard you might get it cheap.

http://www.blazerchalet.com/othercampers.html

I know someone with one of the very high quality steel toppers with a door on a ranger.
May be a gem top.

Captain Goddammit · Post by **Captain Goddammit** » Thu Mar 27, 2008 6:14 am

There have been and still are lots of campers for small trucks.
Here's one example with a pop-up top, probably the best way to go with a small truck:

http://www.eastendcampers.com/northstar-campers.html

Of course, new ones are crazy expensive...

Thecatman · Post by **Thecatman** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 1:17 pm

I've camped in the back of my truck dozens of times. Took it to BM last year. I put a sheet of 3/4"x 4'x8' plywood in the bed and an air mattress on the plywood and slept great in spite of the dust. If I'm not out exploring I keep the plywood in the garage. It's a 1995 Ford 1/2 ton (F150), 8 foot bed with a run of the mill "universal" shell. Without any bells and whistles. Truck is tannish and the shell is a fire engine red. Suits me for what I use it for.

Captain Goddammit · Post by **Captain Goddammit** » Sun Apr 06, 2008 1:44 pm

On the other end of the spectrum, I have a friend with a big Ford who just nails a few sheets of plywood across the top of his wooden stake sides, covers it with blue tarps, and throws a mattress inside. He likes it.

Thecatman · Post by **Thecatman** » Thu Apr 10, 2008 7:34 pm

Theres also some camping gear manufactures that make pop-up tents that mount to truck bed rails. They're made according to make, model and year and make the for "suv's" too.