Have you ever been on the road and thought to yourself, that would be a great place to camp? If you don’t have the necessary tools with you, you’ll be forced to get a hotel, and when you travel a lot, that can get expensive.
For those who always take long road trips, you might benefit from setting up your truck for truck camping. It’s not too hard to install and though the supplies may seem expensive, you’ll save a ton of money in the long run.
Sound too good to be true? Here are just a few things you’ll need to know about truck camping before you set out on the road.
1. Canopy
Once you pick up a truck from a dealership like Speedliner, the next step will be getting a roof over your head. A canopy is a pretty hefty expense but the good news is, it gets cheaper from here on out and you might be able to find a used one a little cheaper than buying new.
Be nice to your taller campers. Make sure you get one that will give you plenty of headroom. Not only will it give you more living space in your truck but, you won’t run the painful risk of constantly bumping your head.
2. Sleeping and Storage
Everyone has to sleep eventually, that’s why you want to make sure you give yourself the ultimate in comfort. You don’t want to travel with an awful crick in your neck after all.
You can purchase a sleeping pad or mattress to provide a bit of cushion. If you’re traveling in the winter be sure to get a high-quality sleeping bag to keep you nice and toasty.
Do yourself a huge favor and pick up a nice pillow. There is only so much comfort you can obtain from a sack filled with old clothes.
3. Your Interior Build
You want to build the interior of your truck with storage and comfortable space in mind. Make sure to keep it cheap and simple. You don’t want it to be overly complicated to install and uninstall. Besides, the more intricate you get, the heavier the truck will be which means you’ll burn more gas.
You just need a few drawers for storing your kitchen items, and plywood to create a sleeping space and general flooring. Don’t go with carpeting here unless you just like dirt.
4. You’ll Want a Small Dustpan and Brush
Speaking of dirt you’ll want to pick up a small dustpan and brush. As you move in and out of the truck you’ll inevitably track plenty of dirt.
You can imagine that this will get pretty messy after a bit. If you keep something as simple as a dustpan and brush in your truck, you’ll cut down on how messy things get. If you go truck camping a lot, your truck will become like a second home to you, make sure to treat it as such.
5. Cooking Supplies
On top of sleeping, eating is probably the first most necessary bodily function. You’ll want to make sure you carry around any kitchen accessories that you would need if you were cooking at home. This may seem like a lot, but if you carry storage bins, you can store most of your food and supplies in that.
If you really do travel in your truck a lot, you’ll benefit from picking up a small, portable, two burner stove. If you only travel every now and again, you can probably get by with just picking up a Jetboil.
You’ll also need a flat surface to cook on so be sure to cover your tailgate with a piece of plywood.
6. Humans Can’t Live Without Water
You’ll also need to bring water with you to not only cook with but also to drink. You’ll want to pick up a large jug and fill it up before you take off.
If you pick up a small fridge, you can bring along bottles that you can refill to keep cool for drinking. Make sure to keep the jug full as you travel, if it starts to get low, it’s time to make a stop! Kind of like maintaining your gas tank.
7. You’ll want to Have Power
You’ll want to pick up a small power inverter so you can keep your electronics going while you’re on the road. It can plug right into your cigarette lighter place and will be more than enough to keep your cellphone going so you have GPS and so your kid’s tablets will stay charged.
Not only is it essential to stay entertained and not get lost, but if you’re traveling in a hot area, you can plug a fan into it to keep you and your fellow travelers cool at night.
8. Pick Up an Awning
You can’t predict what the weather is going to do while you’re traveling. It’s for that exact reason that you want to pick up a cheap awning. This ensures that you won’t get caught in a killer rainstorm or get too sunburned by the intense sun.
You’ll be able to stop and cook and sit and rest for a bit without having to wait out bad weather.
Everything You Need When You’re Truck Camping
If you travel a lot, consider decking out your truck so you can just do truck camping. It will be cheaper in the long run because you won’t have to make stops at a hotel, or spring for fast food because you’ll be able to cook your own meals. Besides, roughing it can bring you and your fellow travelers closer together.
Want to go camping but don’t want to give up any comforts? Visit our blog to see the best glamping destinations.
