Homemade Wildernest?

[austintaco]

Why not just make a tent room off the back of your existing shell? Use the bed of the truck as the sleeping area, and a stand up tent room off the back. I used to do basically the same thing, I had a $40 screen room that I would set up off the back of my truck.


My set up was obviously pretty crude, but it worked surprisingly well to keep bugs out (when the zipper was closed), and a fair amount of weather protection. A custom enclosure that is freestanding/not dependent on the vehicle that meets your wife's needs would be an easier solution IMO. Using the bed of the truck as the sleeping area worked great for us, it was truly weather proof, no matter how bad it got outside the sleeping area wasn't going to collapse from the wind or start leaking.

I'm in your area, high profile tents and the desert winds that we get can make for some miserable conditions. Not sure that your conduit plan is going to have the strength to hold up.

That's what we did, but we opted for the Flippac because our trips were always drive, stop, camp, drive, stop, camp, as Kermit described. However, when we had this set up, and we stayed for more than a night, it was ideal. In Ouray, after we had our camp set, we could just detach the "tunnel" from the truck, and drive into town for some fun. When we came back, you just had to back up and reattach. We slept in the truck bed on an air mattress, and all of the camp supplies were in the tent. Even a full size dog crate was set up in the tent. It was like our living room in the woods.

 

[austintaco]

I wanted to add that the flippac is ideal for stop and go. The other night, I drove to OK to pick up a part and camped out in a nearby campground. I had camp set up in about 5 minutes, and working on dinner for me and my dog. Not bad.

 

[chazjwest]

That's what we did, but we opted for the Flippac because our trips were always drive, stop, camp, drive, stop, camp, as Kermit described. However, when we had this set up, and we stayed for more than a night, it was ideal. In Ouray, after we had our camp set, we could just detach the "tunnel" from the truck, and drive into town for some fun. When we came back, you just had to back up and reattach. We slept in the truck bed on an air mattress, and all of the camp supplies were in the tent. Even a full size dog crate was set up in the tent. It was like our living room in the woods.

I can see how the Wildernest would be a PITA to take down if you want to stop and go camp. That's kind of the idea of getting a truck camper for us. I forgot to mention we have a 1 year old daughter, so I don't think a roof top tent would be good for us. I'm now thinking Flip Pac or find a Pop Up slide in and gut it so we just have the shell and beds. I like having the kitchen outside anyways.

Thanks everyone for all the input and ideas!

 

[homemade]

Odd that the Flip-Pac seems to doing so well now, and cost twice as much. (That thing is rather fugly as well)

Kinda like the how Microsoft tablet failed in 2002, and the now the iPad sells like crack to addicts.

All about timing, I guess.

The Flippac for small trucks is $3875 from the factory, installed. If the Wildernest cost $3500 back in the early 1990's when they stopped making them then the flippac is probably about about half the price if you adjust for inflation. By the way you do get the presumably stronger/thicker fiberglass from the factory if you order without windows, or so FRP tells me.

I don't see how anything could be much faster to set up or take down than a flippac, add some time if you have to use the rain fly.

I agree about the looks, especially on smaller trucks but it is quick and easy to take off if you get some brophy cable jacks.

 

[homemade]

Correction of sorts. Wildernest stopped production early '90's, maybe '92?


$3500 in 1992 = 5733.09 in 2012

 

[Clutch]

Oh sorry, I was referring to the AT Flip-Pac...which is "I think" the base model is $5000.00

can see how the Wildernest would be a PITA to take down if you want to stop and go camp. That's kind of the idea of getting a truck camper for us. I forgot to mention we have a 1 year old daughter, so I don't think a roof top tent would be good for us. I'm now thinking Flip Pac or find a Pop Up slide in and gut it so we just have the shell and beds. I like having the kitchen outside anyways.

Thanks everyone for all the input and ideas!

Some are perfectly fine with having everything attached to the vehicle. Actually a lot!...by seeing how many do it on this forum.

I might be the odd man out, since I don't like.

The girlfriend tended to create a mini living room inside the 'Nest...and sure enough after everything is setup, we would want to run up the road for whatever reason, then have to tear everything down, to do so...with an EZ-UP she can create her mini living/bedroom/kitchen base camp...and we can drive away without much hassle.

Maybe if I built some cabinets/kitchen or whatever inside, it would of helped, I use the truck for other things besides camping so it didn't make much sense to do that to it...since 95% of the time...we aren't camping.

We like to dirt bike, mountain bike, hike and river fish...with river fishing...seems like we are always trying to find the best spot....so go I'll riding and/or fishing all day to come back to a base camp. It works for what we like to do.

While some people just like to sit around camp all day. I didn't realize that is not for me, until I bought that type of camper.

 

[trackhead]

I built one recently. Bought a cheap tent, chopped it up, then sewed it back together to fit my cheapo camper I built out of fiberglass and wood. Here's a pic when I first installed it. It's cleaner now, and fits better. Works great. Total cost for camper and tent was under $300 and doesn't weigh anywhere near what a 1/4" fiberglass camper weighs.

The arch in the tent uses 1/2" EMT conduit, then I used tent poles between the arches to keep them spanned. Tolerates wind very well. Four big windows. Tons of interior room. Sets up in two minutes, same for take down. Yes, it's not pretty like a Flip Pac, but it fits my budget.

 

[DaveInDenver]

trackhead, that is pretty cool. The rear lean-back shows why WilderNest did it in their short bed campers.

Personally when I saw my first 'Nest the lightbulb flicked on, they work for us. I do get the issue that Kermit talks about, though. It's pretty rare we stay in one place more than two nights and even then the day is usually a ride or hike starting where we camped. If you stay in developed campgrounds and drive to trailheads, it's the wrong solution (Cruise Moab is no fun for us if we do the 'Nest). You have the same problem with a RTT, slide-in or sleeping in your truck. The nice thing about the WilderNest-style is that it's also just a shell (with 150 lbs weight penalty though) and so it does not prevent you from doing a tent-type base camp, which do sometimes. There is no one way to approach these things, but if more often than not you are pulling out EZ-Ups and tents, then obviously the truck camper is not right for your situation.

 

[Clutch]

trackhead, that is pretty cool. The rear lean-back shows why WilderNest did it in their short bed campers.

Personally when I saw my first 'Nest the lightbulb flicked on, they work for us. I do get the issue that Kermit talks about, though. It's pretty rare we stay in one place more than two nights and even then the day is usually a ride or hike starting where we camped. If you stay in developed campgrounds and drive to trailheads, it's the wrong solution (Cruise Moab is no fun for us if we do the 'Nest). You have the same problem with a RTT, slide-in or sleeping in your truck. The nice thing about the WilderNest-style is that it's also just a shell (with 150 lbs weight penalty though) and so it does not prevent you from doing a tent-type base camp, which do sometimes. There is no one way to approach these things, but if more often than not you are pulling out EZ-Ups and tents, then obviously the truck camper is not right for your situation.

I think the solution (for us) is a trailer. Have been looking at these. Can haul the dirt bikes/gear/whatnot....but still have that open air tent feel....or close it up when the weather turns bad..sit around and play pinochle...she wants a pop-up, I want a plain jane enclosed trailer...maybe you can have your cake and eat it too. :ylsmoke:

http://www.vrvtoyhauler.com/

 

[bob91yj]

A screen for the rear opening and bumpers on the top of the ramp so you can put blocks under it when it is down to make it level with the trailer floor. EZ up over the ramp for a shaded patio when needed. That's our system for keeping our enclosed trailer (not a toy box) more livable when we use it. I've often wondered why no one put pop out beds on the sides like that. Considered modifying my trailer like that, it looks very functional.

 

[Clutch]

A screen for the rear opening and bumpers on the top of the ramp so you can put blocks under it when it is down to make it level with the trailer floor. EZ up over the ramp for a shaded patio when needed. That's our system for keeping our enclosed trailer (not a toy box) more livable when we use it. I've often wondered why no one put pop out beds on the sides like that. Considered modifying my trailer like that, it looks very functional.

Seems like a great compromise. My girlfriend likes popups since they have an open tent like feel. But every one I have ever looked at has been a turd.

These look very well constructed. Having the beds fold out the sides, sure does open a lot of interior space too.

Have small 5X10 model...up to some monsters.



[video=youtube;YuuPLabRT6E]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=YuuPLabRT6E[/video]

 

[chazjwest]

Thanks for the ideas guys! I go full circle every day between a home build, a four wheel pop-up, and a flip pac. I'm leaning more towards the flip pac, just need to find one that's used at a good price.

 

[UK4X4]

"Have small 5X10 model...up to some monsters"

Ok have to bite - this is a monster !

Not sure I'll ever get the wife to go back to real camping ever again !