Posted: 7/9/2024 6:56:59 PM EDT
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Hi guys. I have a question that's been in my head all day and I wanted to run it by you. I've been looking at truck bed tents for a while. There seems to be some good options in the $200-$300 range. I have a 5.5' bed which would probably fit a double air mattress and would probably be comfortable for the most part. That got me to thinking. Do they make tents for something like, say, a utility trailer? I have a 6' x 10' utility trailer that seems like it would make a nice base for a tent. It would be a lot more room than the truck bed. I haven't found anything specific to that sort of application but I wonder if any of you have ever tried to rig up something like that. If so, how'd you do it? |
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I see a lot of roof top tents (RTT) on utility trailers around here. Tier 1 would be Go Fast Campers up in Montana. |
Ludwig Boltzmann, who spent much of his life studying statistical mechanics, died in 1906, by his own hand, Paul Bhranfest, carrying on the work, died similarly in 1933, Now it is our turn to study statistical mechanics...
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Originally Posted By WWolfe: I see a lot of roof top tents (RTT) on utility trailers around here. Tier 1 would be Go Fast Campers up in Montana. |
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Most put an elevated rack on the utility trailer, and store camping gear/coolers/etc. under the RTT. Beware... many RTTs are $3k or more! |
Ludwig Boltzmann, who spent much of his life studying statistical mechanics, died in 1906, by his own hand, Paul Bhranfest, carrying on the work, died similarly in 1933, Now it is our turn to study statistical mechanics...
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Originally Posted By WWolfe: Most put an elevated rack on the utility trailer, and store camping gear/coolers/etc. under the RTT. https://forum.expeditionportal.com/attachments/img_2182-jpg.454809/ Beware... many RTTs are $3k or more!  |
| I'd put a rooftop tent on the rails or even higher, and store everything (with drawers?) underneath. Or, just built a plywood platform, put a regular tent on top of that, and you have dry storage underneath. And you are off the ground! Cheap and functional! |
Ludwig Boltzmann, who spent much of his life studying statistical mechanics, died in 1906, by his own hand, Paul Bhranfest, carrying on the work, died similarly in 1933, Now it is our turn to study statistical mechanics...
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There’s a few members here with RTT and off road trailers. I ran an Ikamper skycamp mini on the back of my truck for awhile but have gone to a ground tent nowadays. I like turtle backs for trailers. Attached File Attached File Attached File @11boomboom @ageone @jafrush |
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Originally Posted By -Ascent-: There's a few members here with RTT and off road trailers. I ran an Ikamper skycamp mini on the back of my truck for awhile but have gone to a ground tent nowadays. I like turtle backs for trailers. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/163367/IMG_1701_jpeg-3262254.JPG https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/163367/IMG_1704_jpeg-3262259.JPG https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/163367/IMG_1705_jpeg-3262262.JPG @11boomboom @ageone @jafrush |
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I came across this recently. $2750. Attached File https://tuscaoutdoors.com/products/the-hitchhiker-camper The company started off making those plastic hunting blinds. Lowe's actually some nice affordable hardtop roof top tents from $1400. https://www.lowes.com/pd/Trustmade-2-Person-Grey-Pop-Up-Tent-with-Aluminum-Pole-Flame-Resistant-Fabric-Waterproof-UV-Resistant-and-Detachable-Pockets/5014829177 $1700 https://www.lowes.com/pd/Trustmade-Scout-Plus-Polyester-2-Person-Tent/5013691221 Comparable "name brand" hard top roof top tents start around $3000. |
| I probably wouldn't need a hard enclosure unless I was planning to do serious overlanding. I had originally looked at truck bed tents. There are some clever designs for those but you're limited depending on the size of the truck bed. A utility trailer seems to solve some of the space restrictions. I'd love to have a travel trailer but the nice ones are expensive. |
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Originally Posted By TheLASwamp: I probably wouldn't need a hard enclosure unless I was planning to do serious overlanding. I had originally looked at truck bed tents. There are some clever designs for those but you're limited depending on the size of the truck bed. A utility trailer seems to solve some of the space restrictions. I'd love to have a travel trailer but the nice ones are expensive. A regular ground tent ought to fit in a utility trailer. But I wouldn't drag a utility trailer with me just to put a tent on it. |
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My 1-man tent will fit ok in the 5.5' bed of my Tacoma, if I don't have the truck box in there. With the truck box, though, I'll just take a trekking pole and prop up my MLD Trailstar tarp over the bed, and with my pad angled diagonally, my feet will overhang the tailgate by about 1 ft. With a good sleeping pad, the overhang isn't noticeable one bit. It will work ok in a pinch, in those times where there isn't suitable ground to put out a tent. Another option for less-than-suitable ground is to use foam pads as your tent footprint, rather than a thin, fabric footprint. It's now my go-to when car camping. I've taken 20"x72"x 1/2" closed-cell foam pads, and cut them to fit the width of my 1-man tent, and with 4 panels taped together, it rapidly unfolds/folds like a z-fold sleeping pad, just much larger when folded, 20"x32"x2". While it does take up vehicle space when packed, and certainly not something to backpack with, it's low profile enough to just toss my other gear on top of when heading out, or packing up. With truck-bed or truck-top tents, you have to stow them and manage any oversized stuff in them to take your vehicle anywhere, and for me, that's a PITA. A trailer would also be a PITA; maybe ok for short, well-planned trips; but for 1 to 2 months on the road, forget it. |
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Originally Posted By drobs: A regular ground tent ought to fit in a utility trailer. But I wouldn't drag a utility trailer with me just to put a tent on it. To have a real bed and be off the ground seems like it could be worth it. The between RV and tent camping, like a cheaper pop up. |
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Originally Posted By -k-: To have a real bed and be off the ground seems like it could be worth it. The between RV and tent camping, like a cheaper pop up. Originally Posted By -k-: Originally Posted By drobs: A regular ground tent ought to fit in a utility trailer. But I wouldn't drag a utility trailer with me just to put a tent on it. To have a real bed and be off the ground seems like it could be worth it. The between RV and tent camping, like a cheaper pop up. I'm still not seeing what benefit that is other than being able to level the utility trailer. A large thick air mattress cushions you against any rocks on the ground. I have a big air mattress that I use in my big ground tent. My major bitch about ground tents is, setting them up is a PITA, especially when it's hot out. The last time I went camping, I sweat my ass off setting up the tent, sweat some more airing up my air mattress, then sweat all night long while sleeping in the tent. The following morning, I sweat some more taking the tent down. I saw the benefit of a roof top immediately. Those things go up and down fast, like 30 seconds fast! |
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I have a truck bed tent by Sportz for my Ford ranger Got a mattress that fits the bed too, fan, interior battery light 1) Off the ground 2) can run power into tent ( chargers, lamps etc) 3) easy set up. Standing up 4) best truck tent I have had for 20yrs Confession: I have a Coleman pop up 6 person ground tent for Everglades Deer Hunting trips. |
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Originally Posted By drobs: I'm still not seeing what benefit that is other than being able to level the utility trailer. A large thick air mattress cushions you against any rocks on the ground. I have a big air mattress that I use in my big ground tent. My major bitch about ground tents is, setting them up is a PITA, especially when it's hot out. The last time I went camping, I sweat my ass off setting up the tent, sweat some more airing up my air mattress, then sweat all night long while sleeping in the tent. The following morning, I sweat some more taking the tent down. I saw the benefit of a roof top immediately. Those things go up and down fast, like 30 seconds fast! One of the bigger benefits is that air flow is considerably better 6-7’ off the ground. I can sleep perfectly comfortable up top where I’d be swearing if I was on the ground. |
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It's going to depend on how you will realistically use it. If you're going to camp/glamp softly in a paid campground (some people do it, I'd rather extract my own teeth) then the trailer will allow you to carry more soft things. If you're going to do like we do here, where you drive up some semi-passable unpaved logging road in the National Forest and camp in wonderful seclusion, then the trailer is not going to work, unless you have superhuman backing skills. You see, sometimes when you're up one of those roads where the trees and brush are wiping the sides of the vehicle, you come to a place where the road is impassable. If you have a trailer, then what? You never mentioned what kind of "camping" you intend to do. Attached File Attached File |
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Originally Posted By jacksprat: I have a truck bed tent by Sportz for my Ford ranger Got a mattress that fits the bed too, fan, interior battery light 1) Off the ground 2) can run power into tent ( chargers, lamps etc) 3) easy set up. Standing up 4) best truck tent I have had for 20yrs Confession: I have a Coleman pop up 6 person ground tent for Everglades Deer Hunting trips. I have one as well, also in a Ranger. The only downside has been getting in and out after a few drinks. Banged the shit outta my shins that first year. Later that winter I ended up with a flat and had to use my spare. Turns out the spare also makes a good step for getting in and out of the tent. |
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants" - Thomas Jefferson
Oh, and for the record. Many who RV camp (often to crowded RV sites) wonder why we spend about as much as an RV for a smaller living space. Understand, we have been avid backpackers for years, graduating from tents (before that, it was bivi bags and tarp/poncho hootches), to hammocks for our AT backpacking trips. This trailer setup is up like a mobile 5-star hotel for us and gives us the flexibility and autonomy to avoid crowded camp sites, yet still gives us some great features to enjoy some of the finer things in camp life even without water or power hookups (like a hot shower, refrigerator, heat/AC, and a little more robust camp kitchen than hot water in a freeze-dried meal ROCK6 |
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants" - Thomas Jefferson
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I used to do a lot of volunteer wildlife work, it was always in rough country. One of the old retired guys would bring an atv on a utility trailer. He had a canvas wall tent made for the trailer so after he uloaded the machine he had a nice camp. |
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The wife and I are in day 7 of our 12 day trip to Costa Rica. We are somewhere in the clould rainforest mountains...a crazy bitch to get to, but the wife was given a last minute recommendation for an awsome Soda/local café with beautifully maintained campsites.  Cloud forest waterfall hike and riding horses out before heading to the Pacific coast for a little beach time and wrapping up an awesome trip. My wife did a Canva of our itinerary and will update with our trip updates if anyone is interested. She listed who we rented the vehicle and kit from, sites, activities, and prices as options with links to videos and contacts. Very professionally done. Started this morning off at another campsite where we did the early hike up a jungle river ravine to some cave like waterfalls and then innertubbing the river for a little distance, jumping back on the road for tomorrow's adventures... Anyways, she off flying the drone before a little classic Costa Rican Soda dinner...cheers!  ROCK6 |
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants" - Thomas Jefferson
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Not a fan of tents that go in or on vehicles. If you need to run to the store or run an errand in your truck. Now you have to pack up camp to do so. They are great for over-landing though. As far as buying a utility trailer to pitch a tent on. Not a fan of that idea either. If I'm going to tow a trailer. I'd pick up a used 12-14' cargo trailer and do some light modifications. You can store camping shit in it while traveling and once you set up camp sleep in the cargo trailer itself. A lot better off should bad weather arise. And its spacious. It really just depends on your budget and what you'll be doing with it. |
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Originally Posted By ICEAGE: Not a fan of tents that go in or on vehicles. If you need to run to the store or run an errand in your truck. Now you have to pack up camp to do so. They are great for over-landing though. As far as buying a utility trailer to pitch a tent on. Not a fan of that idea either. If I'm going to tow a trailer. I'd pick up a used 12-14' cargo trailer and do some light modifications. You can store camping shit in it while traveling and once you set up camp sleep in the cargo trailer itself. A lot better off should bad weather arise. And its spacious. It really just depends on your budget and what you'll be doing with it. So, this was the thought process my wife went through. She’s using a smaller 4x4, so a big trailer wasn’t something she wanted. You also have to understand one’s background. The vast majority of our “camping” has been backpacking and living out of a pack for 7-10 days, so even a small trailer with some nice amenities is like a Ritz-Carlton on two wheels for us.  Good point on the Rooftop being on the vehicle verse a trailer. We kind of ran into that a few times which is why my wife decided on getting the trailer. We don’t necessarily do traditional “overlanding”, but it’s nice to camp outside Savannah, Charleston, etc. and just drive in for a nice dinner and not worry about having to set up camp when you get back. We do look for less populated sites that don't have electricity or even water. A lot of places to boondock in nearby National Forests. We wouldn't leave the trailer unattended unless it's in a somewhat secure campground. I can see both sides, but for now, this is my wife’s passion and I’m just enjoying the ride. At some point, we’ll have to acknowledge were more seasoned than we think and get a traditional camper, but for now, we have fun doing what we do with our setup. This, like many ARFCOM hobbies, isn’t cheap. She just purchased a 180-degree self-supporting awning we’ll put on this weekend for a trip next week. Much easier to pull out and put away…makes a difference when it’s raining! For those in GA and who are interested, this year’s Adventure Vehicle Roundup, GA 2025 is in October, Crawfordsville, GA. My wife is stoked about going and it’s only about 30 miles from the house. ROCK6 |
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants" - Thomas Jefferson
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Originally Posted By Mainsail: What? Run to the store... what store? What kind of camping is that?  To be fair, when we're not out doing boondock camping, actually getting away from everyone, we do like to stay at a campground outside of a whatever town we're visiting. While it's not a cost thing compared to a hotel (which is much more convenient), we appreciate doing it our way ROCK6 |
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants" - Thomas Jefferson
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Originally Posted By Mainsail: What? Run to the store... what store? What kind of camping is that? Originally Posted By Mainsail: Originally Posted By ICEAGE: Not a fan of tents that go in or on vehicles. If you need to run to the store or run an errand.... Run to the store... what store? What kind of camping is that? It adequately sums up the issue with most of the car camping I've ever done. |
This is what I rigged up on my F250 I recently traded in. Will do something similar with the new truck, but will probably come up with a cot/platform that's easier to take down since I pull it out during the summer months.  It's nice being able to have some essentials along anywhere you go for the odd spur-of-the-moments overnighter somewhere without having to set a bunch of stuff up or tear it all down. |
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Originally Posted By Mainsail: What? Run to the store... what store? What kind of camping is that? I do two types of camping. 1. Solo mobile hunting on public land. Most of my time is going to be spent either in a tree or on foot in the woods. Public land in La you don't hunt from where you're camping typically. So you camp in one spot and drive to wherever you want to get in on foot. I'd literally be packing up camp at 5:00AM every morning and resetting up camp at 7:45PM in the dark every night. Moving my gear in and out of the tent. Etc. 2. National/state parks with the wife. This typically lasts 7-10 days. Maybe we just do one camp-ground. Or maybe we move every 2-3 days. We do some hiking, swimming, kayaking, fishing, etc. Maybe we need to drive to get to a new recreation spot for the day. Maybe we run out of stuff to cook and need to run to a store to re-up supplies... Maybe there is a nice restaurant in a nearby city the wife wants to hit. Etc. We aren't just slumming it on the trail all the time. As we may be in and out of cities. Last year we camped out half the time in national parks and spent half of our time in hotels in cities. We did city stuff and camping stuff on the trip. If you're going for 10 days or so it can be a nice break in the middle of the trip. I've considered getting a hard shell pop up roof-top tent. They are pretty fast. But due to the circumstances I listed, decided its not worth the expense. Considering I live in Louisiana I don't have opportunity to overland. If I lived out west I'd probably have a different set of requirements. I've looked into building one of those teardrop or square-drop trailers to sleep in. Eventually decided towing a trailer (even if its light/short) is gonna be a hinderance. After extensive research I've decided this hunting season I'll pick up a used camper shell for my truck off of marketplace. And I'll be camping/sleeping in the bed of my truck. Seems to be super common/popular as on youtube there are a ton of guys that hunt that way. Tons of shells available for sub $500.00 and I can build a wooden cot frame with storage underneath out of pallets for free.
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