Truck Bed Camping: How to do it and why it is awesome
You are likely familiar with the classic camping setup. It includes pitching a tent under the open sky. You also unroll a sleeping bag and drift off to the sounds of rustling leaves and distant wildlife. But have you ever tried truck bed camping? It’s a different kind of adventure. Roll out a sleeping pad and bag right in the back of a truck. You could also use a spacious SUV. This turns your vehicle into a cozy little haven under the stars. My family and I recently gave it a try. It opened up a whole new way to experience the outdoors. Let me share why we chose this approach. I’ll explain how we made it comfortable. I’ll also provide the little tips that transformed a simple truck bed into a surprisingly inviting campsite.
For the first year of owning our western NC mountain land, Pumpkin Patch Mountain Homestead, we camped on the property. We bought unused raw land, which barely has enough flat areas to camp comfortably. But we made it work with two tents. Each Lightweight 2 Person Camping Backpacking Tent fit one adult and one little kid. The family enjoyed setting up our sleeping area quickly. We camped as we would at a state or national park. In the picture below, we set up a giant tarp under the tents. Then, we wrapped it over the back of both tents. This helped to keep the morning dew and light rain from dripping.
Our sleeping situation changed as we moved into summer. Our two neighbors had informed us that a black bear had been visiting our side of the mountain. The bear had jumped into an open car window and pulled out some groceries from the back seat. It was also found stealing bird food and pushing on the back sliding glass doors to get in. The bear had been fed. It was not scared of humans. This meant it was a danger to me and my girls. We had to change our sleeping arrangements when we went up there, and so truck bed camping was born.
We own a 2004 Ford F150 with a six footbed and a hard cap or camper shells. The purchase and installation for this cap was purely for keeping our belongings dry. The husband moves a lot of materials for his job, so years ago it was just sensible to buy one. I never really paid enough attention to realize we could camp in it too. The shell has screened windows on each side and an easy opening and closing tailgate glass. Our truck came with a rigid and hard truck bed liner that has deep grooves. It works great for any water flowing through, but not necessarily for sleeping on. The Self-Inflating Camping Pad was essential to be comfortable. Our camper shell leaked in one spot when it rained heavily. The grooves kept us dry while sleeping.
The bed of our truck was surprisingly spacious, comfortably accommodating two adults and even one small child. During family trips to the property, our oldest daughter loved the back bench of the cab. She curled up contentedly there. Meanwhile, the rest of us settled into the bed. Yet, the experience reached its peak enjoyment on solo trips—whether my husband or I went alone. There was plenty of room to stretch out, kick back, and simply relax under the open sky. The truck bed transformed into a personal retreat. It blended the freedom of camping with the cozy comfort of a familiar space.
The best part was the easy setup. Tents, even the smallest, typically take two people to set up easily and quickly. Sleeping in the back of the truck takes one person and no time at all.
We usually hauled materials to the property for the weekend. Those materials were in the truck bed. This was an easy remedy by unloading the materials under the carport then sweeping out the bed of the truck. I kept a small two-foot broom in the truck at all times. After, I would Lysol the bed and open the windows to let the liner dry. Finally, it was time to roll out my sleeping pad and bag. I fluffed up my pillows. I set up my night side table that included my MPOWERD Luci Inflatable Solar Light. It also included reading a book and evening snacks and drinks. And bam you are done setting up the sleeping arrangement for the night or two.
There were times when I had to drive out in the middle of the day. My sleeping gear was all set up in the back. For the most part, it was not too much trouble. I would grab any loose items like water bottles and my books to toss in the cab of the truck. Everything else stayed in place for the most part.
Ultimately I enjoyed camping out in the back of our truck. We plan to do this more often. We will do it even when we are not at our property. This includes merely camping in a park on vacation. It keeps us safe and dry with plenty of room to sleep and gives privacy.