Larry Bird once said that he never learned anything from winning, only when he lost. My camper setup attempt wasn’t different.
I went on my first “overlanding” camp trip and while it was a blast. And I learned many things about my truck camper setup and want to do things differently to correct my faults.
Just like with any new project, I hit the streets to learn more about truck camper builds. It didn’t take long to see my previous design flaws. It was apparent that I needed to create a modular system to gain functionality.
I found this video from Levditti that stands as the blueprint for my build. I did modify it based on my truck needs and also, my budget, and my skill level. This video was my inspiration:
My Camper Setup Plan Modifications
In a perfect world, this build would have fit into my truck and I hit the road. However, we don’t live in a perfect world, and my truck is smaller than the one for this design.
Truck Camper Setup Length
The first thing I did was measure my truck. The truck bed is about 5 feet 6 inches long and perfect for my height (5 feet 4 1/2 inches!). So, the length of my bed and storage module was set to fit into the truck bed with a few inches to spare. I will have to slightly bend my knees when camping…not a big deal as a side sleeper.
Truck Camper Setup Width
The width of the truck bed is about 5 feet wide. Because of the narrow width, I needed to decide where to make my cuts. I figured it was best to set up my bed at a proper width and decrease the storage accordingly. My bed is set at about 26 inches wide, roughly the space needed to sleep in a tent. This leaves about 12-inch floor space and about 18 inches of storage space.
Backpacking Vs Overlanding
I am using my truck camper build to go backpacking while I am out adventuring. So, unlike pure overlanding, where I travel to beautiful destinations and camp. I will have backpacking as my main goal during my trips.
So, my truck camper setup has to have a place for all my backpacking gear. So, the right side of my build will have a flat area to place my backpack. I will also have cubbies to store my extra clothes, blankets, and miscellaneous camping gear.
A Place for Everything In My Camper Setup
As a self-proclaimed minimalist, I really want a place for everything I am going to take on my trips.
Stinky Storage
One storage need from my first trip is that I need a place for stinky socks and hiking shoes. Therefore, I created an open cubby for my shoes on the left side of the truck bed. I will line it with a plastic bag and cinch it up tight to keep me from gagging.
Drawer Under Bed
The bed will have a long drawer to store my stove, dried foods for the trip, spices, cookware, and utensils. I will divide this up over time. I don’t want to put permanent dividers into my drawer until I have figured out my needs.
The Camper Setup: Bed
I ordered foam to place on the bed. And, I will create a water-resistant covering to prevent mold in the summer months. Also, I will have enough foam to create a length-wise bed extension. This will act as a soft floor or widen my bed if my wife comes with me.
The Middle Aisle
This serves three purposes. First, the middle aisle acts as a floor and divider between the bed and the storage. Second, it provides extra width for the bed when propped up on the rails. Finally, it prevents the bed and storage from sliding around and keeps them in place when traveling.
The Storage Compartment
I need a place for my cooler, clothing, power source, clothing, assorted cords, and miscellaneous items. The cooler takes center stage at the front of my camper setup build. It was too big to box in so, I have kept this area open. And, I want more access to the cooler when camping. I will use a bungee cord to secure it during travel.
That about sums it up. I will have more pictures and subsequent posts as I move this build along.
Final Thoughts On My Camper Setup
I have a good idea of how I am going to use my camper for my future adventures. So, this build will fill my needs like portability, storability, and camp-able.
