Show me your truck camping setup!

Welcome! And nice pupssssss!

 

When it’s just my wife and I and we are camping a ways off we will just take the truck. We have a mattress and throw all the other stuff up top.

The rest of the time we trailer.

 

You’re killing me. Stop it.

 

This is very important. I've got a detector velcroed to my shell at all times, regardless of whether or not I am using a heater or even camping. I've even heard of carbon monoxide getting into the shelled bed of a truck and killing pets while driving. Spooky.

 

The wilderness is better alone, at least in my opinion - that's what makes it the wilderness.

As for moisture accumulation, the shell on my truck has a liner, so no moisture accumulates on it, and the bedliner doesn't get wet either. The only moisture that accumulates is that of the windows(which happens regardless of having the heater), and buildup on the metal framing of said windows just from breathing inside. I have had no issues starting it in cold temps, but that also depends on what you mean by "cold." The lowest it's gotten while I have been camping and using the heater was 17 degrees F and I had no issue starting it or staying warm. It's mainly a comfort to have the heater to warm up the back right before bed and waking up in the morning when it's cold.

Having a Carbon Monoxide/Smoke detector is a must-have when camping/sleeping in the bed of the truck, especially when using a heater. A few times I even had the heater and a Coleman stove going in the enclosed back when it was raining and I was cooking inside the truck bed. It's a tight fit, but being able to stay dry and warm, cook, and not worry about dying from invisible poison is a win for me

 

The bug looks awesome. I swear I've seen other pics of it here on the forum and every time I'm, like, "daaaaaamn!"

 

Thanks. Cold as in "negative temperatures". The coldest I've slept in unheated bed+cap was -10F. It took me like 30 minutes to pack up for the night properly, plus had to stop chewing* beer and dry up for about 2 hours before going to bed.

I think I'll try my luck with one of those cheapish Chinese diesel heaters. Would love to bust a grand on Webasto or Eberspacher, but honestly I need a heater maybe once-twice a year.

[*] 5% ABV beer:



Can also recommend mounting an awning. Had it on my Volvo, what a great aid for a rainy evening.

 

I’ve had a bit of trouble (multiple tries required) lighting my Little Buddy in cold temps… but that’s also been at 6500+ elevation, and I’m guessing the elevation (O2 and pressure) has more to do with it than the temp. Once started, it never sputters.

And… we use ours to warm the tent, then we climb into bedding, and shut off the heater so it’s not operating “unattended”. By the time the heat dissipates, the bedding is warm and we’re all asleep.