The Ultimate Truck Camping Guide For 2020

COVID-19 isolated yet freed us at the same time. Before COVID, most Americans dreamed of traveling the world. But even after lockdowns, Americans are beginning to realize their travel dreams CAN still happen after remote work became mainstream. Why pay for expensive rent and be stuck in one place when you can live rent-free and travel anywhere?

That’s why van life is booming right now. But is van life the best solution?

If you’re like most people, you’ve probably chosen van life. But I have found a far better (but massively underhyped) option: truck life, made possible with creative truck camping. Here are 4 solid reasons why you should choose it…

Why I Chose Truck Life

It was this YouTube video that convinced me:

Simply put, a couple that’s tried everything from RV life to van life concluded truck life was best. Their reasoning? Mostly because…

Truck Life’s Affordability

The couple had both a:

• $7,000 Vanagon
• $12,500 Tacoma

Which do you think would be more expensive in a year’s time? The vanagon.

By how much? By more than $36,000!

(Source: Bound For Nowhere)

Why so much? Because the maintenance for the van was crazy expensive. In comparison, the Tacoma’s maintenance costed less than $400. Better yet, when they sold the Tacoma, they made 95% of the original cost back (12.5K).

This leads us to a big benefit of the truck camping life: it’s very affordable. Another Youtuber, The Homeless Firefighter, rocked a similar build for less than $10,000. This build saved him so much money that he can now pay off his house with cash. The best part?

When you come to sell your truck — especially if it’s a Tacoma — you’ll make most of what you spent back. This gives you the freedom to change your mind. However, that’s not the only reason why they went to truck life. They also liked how…

Trucks Are Beginner Friendly

To replicate the couple’s build…

(Source: Bound For Nowhere)

…you only need 3 things:

• Camper Shell
• Truck Bed Storage Drawers
• Mattress

And you’ve got yourself a mobile home on wheels. No special skills, tools, or manual work needed. Even I could do it — and I barely know how to use a screwdriver. And that’s not all there is to like about truck life. There’s also…

Truck Life’s Expandability

Do you know of a vehicle that can go from a 2 person setup to a 6 person setup with minimal mods? Trucks. One Youtuber, Big Sexy Beast Adventures, does this all the time. Throughout the year, Beast Adventure lives out of his truck camper shell with his dog:

(Source: Big Sexy Adventure Beast’s Channel)

But when his kids come over, he attaches a small RV and comfortably houses his entire family:

(Source: Big Sexy Adventure Beast’s Channel)

This is a great feature as family sizes tend to increase down the line. And as families grow, so do your destinations which leads us to another benefit…

Trucks Can Go Anywhere

So whether you want to visit national parks or drive to remote public land, trucks can get you there.

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A post shared by David Jenkins (@davidjenk253)

Not only that, but trucks can save you a TON of money on the #1 money sink: parking.

Truck Camping Saves On Parking

Parking eats a TON of money — sometimes costing well over $90 a night (the cost of a hotel). Why waste your money to park your vehicle?

With a truck camper shell build I’ll layout, you can ‘stealth park’ in any public place (like Walmart parking lots and neighborhoods) without spending a single cent. This will save you hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars on parking costs so you can spend more on fun. And that sums up 5 good reasons to choose truck life. Convinced? Read on to find out how I did it…

How To Start Truck Camping Step-By-Step

You need only 3 things to truck life:

1. Reliable Truck
2. Few Essential Off-Road Mods
3. Truck Living Space

With these 3 things, you can be truck camping anywhere. Let’s start with the first:

Step #1: Get a Reliable Truck

If you already own a 4×4 truck, scroll down to step #2. However, if you don’t own a truck and don’t know which to get, read on…

#1: Set a truck camping budget

First, choose a budget range you can afford:

• $10,000 – $15,000
• $15,000 – $20,000
• $20,000 – $30,000
• $30,000+

I personally went with the last option as I’m truck camping full-time. However, the best rig for you ultimately boils down to your budget. Choose a budget range you can afford and move onto the next step…

#2: Select a Truck Size

There’s 2 truck sizes:

• Compact Truck: Great for solo riders or couples
• Full-Size Truck: Great for families

Choose a truck size that fits your family size then move onto…

#3: Choose a Reliable Truck

Your truck needs only 3 main features:

• 4×4 capability: Makes your truck off-road capable.
• V6 (or higher) engine: This gives you the power to take on any trail.
• Locking rear differential: Helps you get out of tight spots off-road.

If your truck has these 3 features, go ahead and buy it. Which probably makes you wonder: what truck did I choose?

My personal choice: 2020 Tacoma TRD Off-Road

My reasoning is simple: I needed a reliable compact truck that can fit 2 people and hold its resale value well.  Tacomas were the natural choice. After all, Tacomas are:

• Highly Reliable: This is a given.
• Amazing Resale: Tacomas have the lowest depreciation rate on the market and are highly sought out. This makes it easy to sell.

But honestly…Tacomas are SUPER overhyped. Truth is, any reliable truck will serve you well without a super expensive price tag. You can find reliable truck recommendations on Dashboard Light. This site uses data from over 2 million cars to gauge reliability. Here are the models sorted by truck size:

• Compact Truck
• Full-Size Truck

Simply choose a truck model you like and buy it. But how should you buy? Let’s break your options…

#4: Lease Vs. New Vs. Used

I’ve sorted the 3 buying options by budget:

• Lease: 10-15K Budget or Short-Term (<2 years)
• Buying Used: 20-30K Budget or Serious Modding
• Buying New: $30,000+ or Long-Term Use

Let’s start with the first…

Leasing Your Truck: 10-15K Budget or Short-Term (<2 years)

For 10-15K, the only truck you’ll be able to afford is an older truck.

The problem with older trucks?

[Image]

They can be unreliable.

At higher mileages, you’re much more likely to run into serious issues. If you’re a beginner like me, this is the LAST thing you want (as we have 0 handyman skills). Instead, go with a lease. You get a new, reliable truck that won’t break. This saves you from expensive repair disasters and possibly getting stranded mid-road. Not fun. That’s why I recommend leases for low budgets: it’s low risk, inexpensive and safe. But what if you have a little more money? Then I recommend…

Buying Used: 20-30K Budget or Serious Modding

You’ll be able to snag a reliable, used truck at this price. This gives you free rein to do serious mods.

The only question is:

How do you find a reliable used truck?

How I Found My First Used Truck

First, use Autotrader.com. From extensive research and testing, Autotrader is hands down the best website for finding used cars (at least in Texas).

Next, set up filters based on your wants (budget, model, features). This helps you find truck deals fast.

After you set the filters, favorite this link for easy access later.

Finally, look at trucks daily. It took me about a month of twice-a-day search (once in morning and evening) to find a used Tacoma at a reasonable price. But truth be told, you will likely buy a rotten truck full of problems if you don’t follow these tips:

• Buy from a brand dealership: (Toyota, Ford, GMC, etc.).
  • Pro Tip: If you’re going to buy private, bring a mechanic with you to check the car.
• Read the Carfax: Aim for less than 3 owners, no accidents, and consistent vehicle maintenance every 5,000 miles. Never buy a car without a Carfax history.
• Get a prepurchase car inspection: Google ‘prepurchase car inspection’ and you’ll find a local service. This saves you thousands of dollars in hidden damage and can be used in price negotiation. 

Follow these tips and you’ll score an awesome used truck. Don’t have the time to do this? Then buy new. 

Buying New: $30,000+ or Long-Term Use

New gives you peace of mind.

(Image by Dusty Barnes)

You’ll have 0 mechanical issues and you’re backed with the original manufacturer’s warranty. If the truck ever malfunctions (it won’t), they’ll most likely fix it free of charge. That said, I only recommend new if you’ve got the money OR you intend to truck life long-term (like me). Otherwise stick with used. And that’s all there is to buying your first used truck. So to recap, you should have:

• A reliable truck model (use Dashboard Light)
• Bought (or make plans) to buy it

After you’ve done these things, it’s time for the next step…

Step #2: Make Your Truck Off-Road Ready

These are the 3 core things needed for off-roading:

1. Off-Road Tires: I recommend all-terrain tires for better off-road grip (traction). Most recommend General Grabber AT2 or BFGoodrich K02s.
   1. Skid Plates: Most expensive off-road damage occurs at the bottom of your truck. Skid plates protect from this. Only necessary for more serious off-roading.
   1. Recovery Gear: When you’re stuck, this gear is your ‘get out of jail free’ card. Here are the 5 essentials:

1. Tire Deflator: Deflating tires make it easier to drive over hard terrain (sand, mud) and get out when you’re stuck.
2. Air Compressor (ARB On-Board): Refills deflated tires with air. This allows you to drive comfortably on cement roads again.
3. Recovery Boards: When stuck, put these under your tires to get unstuck. I like ARB recovery boards.
4. Tire Repair Kit(Boulder Tools Kit): If punctured, this kit temporarily patches your tires so you can drive back to safety for serious repairs.
5. Warn Medium-Duty Epic Recovery Kit: When you’re stuck deep, a tow strap will allow another truck to pull you out. No help around? Use a winch.

With these 3 things, you can pretty much off-road anywhere.

The other mods people usually buy — fancy bar lights, lifts, stickers — are solely for Instagram. In general, the more things you add to your truck, the more you’ll spend. That’s why I highly recommend keeping your truck as close to stock as possible and upgrade only when necessary. Your pocket and truck will thank you down the line. Saving on mods will allow you to spend more on a killer living space.

Step #3: Make Your Truck Livable

These are the 5 best truck life builds.

I’ve sorted each build by use. So whether you’re looking for a budget build or an overlander build, you’ll find it here. Let’s begin!

Best Overall: Truck Camping Shell

What is it?

Camper Shell + Drawers =

(Source: Bound For Nowhere)

Why go a Truck Camper Shell build?

• Simple: Only need a camper shell + drawers to make this work.
• Saves You Money: You can park anywhere. Whether that’s a Walmart parking lot or a neighborhood, this ‘stealth parking’ feature will save you a TON of cash.
• Compact: There’s 0 wasted space. You’ve got a bed and all your camping gear efficiently stored below in the drawer.
• Upgradable: Need to camp more people? Add a rooftop tent or attach an RV.

Examples of Build

• Bound To Nowhere: A couple rocked this build for 9 months with no issues. They highly recommend it for beginners.
• Big Sexy Beast Adventures: A solo overlander that’s contributed to this guide. Patrick has been rocking a camper shell build for years.

Who is it for?

Couples or solo adventurers. This is the option I’ve personally chosen.

Best Budget: Truck Camping Tents

What is it?

Truck + Truck Tent =

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by NB EDITS🎣 (@nb.edits)

Why go for it?

It’s dirt cheap, easy, and fast. Here’s a quick comparison between camper shells (or toppers) and truck tents:

Simply put:

Truck tents are cheap and fast while camper shells are more of a permanent solution. Camper shells also have better rain proofing and insulation ability than truck tents.

Examples of Build

• NBedits: A recreational fisher that camps out of his truck tent.

Who is it for?

The complete beginner with a tight budget. It’s also a great way to ‘test drive’ truck life without sinking a ton of money. Just get a truck rental, truck bed tent, sleeping bag and you can truck camp anywhere without investing much time or money!

Best for Overlanding: Rooftop Tent

What is it?

Truck storage + Roof Top Tent =

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by David Jenkins (@davidjenk253)

Why go for it?

Roof top tents are lightweight, compact, and very comfortable. Very popular in the overlanding community.

Examples of Build

• DavidJenk253: A huge collaborator on this guide. He mostly overlands solo but sometimes brings his wife.
• Down2Mob Overland: The adventures of a bearded man living in a rooftop tent.

Who is it for?

A solo adventurer or couple that loves overlanding (driving to remote places & camping). I’ve personally combined this build with the Camper Shell build for maximum space.

Best for Families: RVs

What is it?

Truck + RV =

(Source: Fate Unbound)

Why go for it?

It’s the most comfortable build. It can also easily fit an entire family without losing the comfort of home. The only problem? It can get quite expensive. You’ve got to buy the RV, storage, parking, and maintenance. Not recommended for beginners.

Examples of Build

• Bound To Nowhere: A minimalist couple living out of their Tundra’s Four Wheel Camper.
• Fate Unbound: A couple living out of their RV full-time.

Who is it for?

People that value the comfort of home on the road with plenty of space for a family. That sums up the top 5 truck camping builds. Choose a build that fits your intended use and get the recommended parts. Once you’re done, it’s time to buy the other remaining truck camping gear.

Essential Truck Camping Gear

This is my recommended list of truck camping gear. It took over 4 months of research, trial-and-error, and expensive mistakes to compile this list. I hope it helps you as much it’s helped me. Let’s get started!

Truck Camper Shell Build

• ARE MX: The MX has extra headroom and fits my 3rd gen Tacoma. Choose the options in this video.
• DECKED Drawers: Waterproof, rugged truck drawers. You need to hire a professional handyman to install these.
  • Alternate Option: If you have woodworking skills, you can build sliding wooden drawers for cheap following this video.

Sleeping, Bathrooms, Showers

Sleeping

• Waterproof Mattress Cover: Protects mattress from moisture.
• Klymit Sleeping Bag: Serves as a multi-season blanket. Saves a ton of time as I no longer make my bed.
• Insulated V Ultralite SL: Lightweight sleeping pad for camping or very cold nights.

Bathroom

• Pee Bottle: A wide mouth bottle for peeing on the road.
• Privacy Tent: Need to poop or shower? Quickly pop this up and do it in peace.
• Reliance Portable Toilet: A compact and affordable toilet.
• Glock Folding Shovel: For digging your truck out of mud or digging cat holes for pooping. Just don’t tell anyone that.
• Baby Wipes: Wipe your behind with this after finishing business. Faster and saves a ton of toilet paper.
• Metamucil Drink: Dumps come out easier after drinking this. Must be the fiber.
• Personal Mirror: A lightweight mirror for grooming.

Showers

• Solar Shower: Get lukewarm showers using this in the sun.
• Doctor Broner’s Soap: Soap that you can use in the wild freely (biodegradable).

Electricity

• Jackery 1000: This battery powers EVERYTHING in my truck. Learned it from DoggyU’s video.
  • Pro Tip: I highly recommend getting solar panels if you won’t be driving a lot.

Cooking

Food/Water Storage

• Austranvik 37Q Car Fridge: A portable car fridge to store any perishable food/drinks. Lasts for days on the Jackery 1000.
• Reliance 7-Gallon Water Jug: Stores drinking water.

Kitchen

• Martin Double Burner Stove: Portable propane stove for cooking.
• Martin Single Burner Stove: Single propane stove for boiling water.
• Coleman Fuel Cylinders: Fuel for stoves. Buy these locally.
• GSI Outdoors Enamelware Fry Pans: A safe, non-toxic pan for cooking.
• GSI Outdoors Enamelware Saucepan: Great for soups, sauces, etc.
• GSI Outdoors Hard Anodized Dutch Oven: Great camping oven.
• Santoku Portable Cutting Board: A portable cutting board for small jobs (like vegetables).
• Swiss Army Grand Maitre Knife Set: The only quality cutlery set you need.
• Epicurean Chef Series Cutting Board: A bigger cutting board for serious cutting uses.
• Wolf Grizzly Campfire Trio: Get a clean campfire using this pit.
• Reusable Utensil Kit: All the utensils one will ever need in a neat package. I personally prefer disposable utensils.
• Hot Logic’s Portable Oven: Warm meals or bake anything using this portable oven.
• Hot Logic’s Meal Containers: These reusable glass containers fit perfectly in Hot Logic’s portable oven.
• Disposable Meal Containers: I personally meal prep in these to save time doing dishes.
• Portable Trash Can: A compact durable trash can.
• CamelBak Insulated 32 oz Bottle: Keeps my colds super cold/warm (almost) forever.

Wardrobe

Camping Clothing & Storage

• Duffel Bag: Store all your clothing in this.
• Packing Cubes: Organizes your clothing in the duffle bag.
• Compression Sack: Store seasonal clothing (like jackets) in these to save space.
• Laundry Bag: Put your dirty clothes in these to reduce odor.
• Clothing: Sweat-resistant clothing made from either polyester, nylon or elastin.
  • Shirts: Merrell Tencel Short Sleeve & Long Sleeve (Only shirts you’ll need)
  • Shorts: BCG 100% Polyester Shorts
  • Pants: Polyester Gym Pants
  • Underwear: Hanes Polyester Underwear
  • Socks: Smartwool PhD Pro Light Crew Merino Wool Socks
  • Jackets: Smartwool Merino 250 Base Layer Hoodie
  • Rain Jackets: Merell’s Whisper Rain Jacket
• Merell’s Trail Glove 5: Hands down the best budget barefoot running shoes
• Merell’s Vapor Glove: The best barefoot running shoes…but it looks a bit awkward.
• La Sportiva Bushido II Running Shoes: Great trail running shoes for hiking and runs.
• CamelBak Zephyr Running Vest: A lightweight running vest I use for runs
  • Cheaper Alternative: CamelBak Ultra Pro Vest
• Trucker Hat: Protects face from the sun.
• Tubular Scarf: Protects neck from the sun.
• SPF 50 Sun Glasses: Shields eyes from the sun.
• Lip Balm: Prevents desert lips.
• SPF 50 Sunscreen: Prevents the ‘burnt prune’ skin look.
• Unscented Deodorant: Scented deodorants attract wild animals while this doesn’t.
• DEET Repellent: Ticks are the #1 threat to humans in the wild. This keeps them away.
• Permethrin Repellent: Makes your clothing ‘pest proof’ (ticks, mosquitos, etc.)
• Garmin Instinct Solar: A solar-powered smartwatch with a very long battery life (1+ month)

Truck Camping Remote Workstation

Internet

• Netgear Nighthawk M1 Mobile Hotspot: Router that turns your cellular data into a wifi hotspot for laptops.
• Cellular Service: Most van lifers go with AT&T due to good coverage and price.
• WeBoost Signal Booster: Boosts cellular signal in remote areas (like National Parks).
• Sonim XP8: A rugged phone with better reception than average phones. Serves as your mobile hotspot (or ‘wifi’).
  • Pro Tip: As an emergency backup device, get a Somewear Hotspot or Garmin In-reach.

Mobile Workspace

• Tailgater Tire Table: Converts your tire into a table. I use aluminum as it’s lighter.
• STRONGBACK Camping Chair: An ergonomic portable camping chair.
• STRONGBACK Low G Recliner: An ergonomic lounge chair. Great for reading books and chilling.
• Portable Standing Desk: Turns your laptop into a standing desk or desk stand.
• Computer Glasses: Protects your eyes from computer strain and improves sleep.
• CamelBak Hiking Backpacks: Transport your workspace anywhere. Works well for hiking.
• USB-C Cable: The most efficient phone/laptop charger for car charging.
• Car Charger: Charge your electronics in your truck.

Security

• VIOFO A129 Pro Duo Cam or Zenfox T3: Front and rear cam to help you win car accident cases.
• Lock’er Down Console Safe: Secures your most important valuables without taking much space.
• Swiss Army Pocket Knife: For small tasks. For more pressing needs, a good survival knife.
• Counter Assault Bear Spray: Keeps bears in their place.

Emergency Supplies

• Adventure Medical First Aid Kit: A complete kit that prepares you for any emergency health scenario. I have the Sportsman 400 and Mountain Hiker medical kit.
• FuelPax 2.5 Gallon Gas Cans: An emergency gas cache. A must-have in any off-road build.
• Platypus GravityWorks 2.0 Liter Complete Water Filter Kit: Makes any sketchy water source drinkable fast. Great for hiking and survival.
• CamelBak Water Reservoir: Stores drinkable water in a compact pouch for fast hydration.
• Source Hydration Bladder: A budget alternative to the CamelBak Reservoir.

Extras

• Garmin Overlander GPS: An all-in-one GPS for city and off-road.
• Carhartt Seat Covers: Looks sleek and keeps chairs pristine for years.
• Carhartt Windshield Cover: Sun shields that fit your windshield like a glove.
• Radenso Pro M: Police radar that’ll save you TONS in speeding tickets.
• Fluid Film: Protects the bottom of your truck from rust-causing components (water, salt, etc.).
• Hults Bruk Axes: For cutting firewood or clearing roads. Very reliable.
• 3rd Gen Injection Fob Cases: Makes your key fob more durable and stylish.
• Tacoma Bed Stiffeners: Prevents the truck bed from cracking under all the weight.
• Tacoma Mountain Hatch: I use this as a cutting board.  
• Rhino USA Tie Down Straps: Keeps the refrigerator and any moving gear in-place.
• Tacoma Spotter Mirror: A side ‘blind spot mirror’

That’s all the gear I personally use. If you follow this list, you should have 95% of what you need to get started in your truck camping adventure. What’s next? Finding where to go.

Plan Your Road Trip

This is the method Luke Makris — a professional travel agent — used to plan an 80-day road trip to over 1,000 destinations and 35 states.

The best part? It cost him only $2,000 to pull it off. So if you want to save time and money while traveling, use Luke’s planning resources.

Step #1: Decide Where To Go?

This resource will help you decide where and when to go.

Step #2: Setup Google My Maps

This resource will give you a general overview of Google My Maps. For a visual version, watch this video.

Step #3: Find Exciting Activities

Luke Makris’s video on finding awesome activities quickly. Here’s a PDF version of the video. If you like his content, I highly recommend checking out his website and Instagram.

If you don’t feel like doing all this, Luke can do all the planning for you. But I personally recommend learning this yourself so you can plan future trips.

Conclusion

And that’s all there is to truck camping. Follow these tips and you’ll get an awesome adventure-ready truck. Here are some extra resources that might help:

• David Jenk’s Channel (a HUGE thank you for his invaluable help)
• Big Sexy Beast Adventures (another awesome collaborator on this guide)
• Bound To Nowhere

I hope this truck camping guide helped you as much it did for me. If so, I’d appreciate if you could share it with your friends. Thanks and see you on the trail soon!