RTT or Bed Top tent....?

[xechcorx]

I'll soo start the layout of my bed on my 84 Xtracab, and I'm currently debating options for tent location. My truck will primarily be a daily driver for the next year and HOPEFULLY next spring I will be setting off for a complete US/Canada expo taking anywhere from 6 months to a year. I plan on seeing the amazing parks and places throughout North America, sans mexico for now.
The truck's rear end consists of a 86+ rear housing so I'm going to be using a widebody fenders, to keep the tires tucked, and the 5-0 off my back. The bed will be a tube frame base with the fenders attatched via zeuz clips or alike. There will be a 22 gallon cell occupying the front section of the bed, and the frame has been bobbed about 9 inches. The inner bed walls will be comprised of plastic plywood to prevent any corrosion issues, and ease of fab. This said I am at a decision making juncture.
1. A minimal exocage over the cab leading into a rack system to place the tent level with the roof of the truck.
2.Internal cab cage and similar rack system.
3.Internal cab cage and provisions for a bed level tent setup, ontop a beefy tonneau.

I am not purchasing a magnolia or ezi-awn or the alike. I have a very nice "standard" tent that I will be setting up on this platform. I dont have 3k for a tent in addition to the already extensive modifications to the truck.

My main concern for the bed level tent is bears. I'd rather not get mauled in my sleep. I know the RTT option is safer but still not bear proof. What other concerns or opinions do you all have on RTT versus bed tent? I will allow provisions for lashing gear on the toneau or the rack for when the tent is not in use regaurdless, but I'm looking for feedback on these options or any other ideas you all may have.

Mike

 

[xechcorx]

Really? No input?

 

[jeepmedic46]

I would go with 3. Sounds like the best option and sounds like it would be the most secure.:smiley_drive:

 

[xechcorx]

The tonneau would be made of the same recycled plastic plywood as the inner bed. I'd probally use 1/2 or 3/4" sheet for the "lid". It would give the best fuel mileage for sure, and secure all of my gear, another REALLY nice feature; my only concern is being molested by a bear while I sleep. Tho it's no different than backpacking in bear country. I suppose regaurdless of tent location nothing will be an excuse for improper cooking methods and food storage concerns.

 

[theMec]

I can think of a lot of things I'd add before a cage. Unless you need it to support your RTT, I'd save you $ for something else. Of course, if you're planning on rolling, it's different ;-)

If you're car camping in a griz area, it's best to stay at established campgrounds since they have steel bear boxes for your food.

 

[Jwestpro]

All your options have merit for different situations, you have not really stated your intentions or even locale - for example you mention bears but are you in AK all the time or just once on some trip and in AZ the rest of the time?

For all I know you didn't want to be mauled by cattle wandering through the Black Hills of ND Of course if you're worried about those carnivorous Monte Python bunnies you'd better be inside a solid enclosure.

Seriously, another idea if you want the RTT most of the time is to go high allowing internal bed space for the few times you are concerned or are just crashing for the night on a long trip and don't want to open the tent if it's raining or just getting a 5 hr nap.

I have a RTT on my LR3 but have often slept in the back inside on top of the gear level when napping in a rest area on the way to somewhere more suited to actual camping. Your truck could work similarly.

 

[xcmountain80]

Where didi you find a $3k RTT that thing must make breakfast lunch and dinner. Option 3 does sound good, as per your concern about bears,,, bear spray and hanguns are the typical fair for arming yourself against bears. Another question is hoe many peaopl are there,,, just you? A RTT mightbe overruled if it's just you but one of those sigle persoc cots that look like a mini RTT might be useful mounted on a platform just below your roof line. DON'T KEEP FOOD IN THE TENT.


Aaron

 

[Mc Taco]

Welcome to ExPo! I like option 1 (Minus the exo-cage. Personal preference). I like to keep as much of the rear open for visibility. Good luck with your project and trip. Sounds great.

 

[xechcorx]

All your options have merit for different situations, you have not really stated your intentions or even locale - for example you mention bears but are you in AK all the time or just once on some trip and in AZ the rest of the time?

"I will be setting off for a complete US/Canada expo taking anywhere from 6 months to a year. I plan on seeing the amazing parks and places throughout North America, sans mexico for now."

I.E. Moab, Rubicon, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon, Alaska, B.C., Death Valley, Crater Lake, ect

Some of these locations have bears some don't. I have limited experience with bears, so I decided to ask, before constructing this segment of my truck. Obviously the most important factor in any of this is proper cooking and food storage etiquette; that I will be following. As I will be living out of my vehicle for an extended period of time over various regions I decided I would like an above ground sleeping platform for use on rocky terrain, or whatever conditions I deem necessary.
I can not use the internal bed space for sleeping as I have a 22 gallon fuel cell taking up two feet of space behind the cab, and the truck has been bobbed, thus my sleeping area resides on top of the bed with a tonneau and flip up extension or with a rack.

theMec- "I can think of a lot of things I'd add before a cage. Unless you need it to support your RTT, I'd save you $ for something else. Of course, if you're planning on rolling, it's different ;-)"

I'm pretty well covered on modifications, :smiley_drive: The truck is getting a cab cage as 84 Yota's are not exactly the most robust cab when rolled, or wrecked. I'd rather spend the 300 dollars in material and properly cage my truck and live in a worst case scenario situation be it on the freeway or wherever.

I guess you all need to know some background here, so you dont think I'm some NOOB. I'm not blowing smoke or asking questions for some speculative project that's never going to happen. Nor am I building some driveway pimp expedition rig, I'm talking about a truck that will be able to drive across the country, drive gnarly trails (I.E. Rubicon), and continue on to more trials and parks under its own power with HOPEFULLY minimal failures. However these facts are irrelevant to my question at hand.

 

[Martinjmpr]

If it's an 84 I'm assuming it has the 22r engine? In that case I'd go as light and as low as you possibly can. Weight and wind drag would make that rig very unweildy if you build it too high. I know from experience how easy it is to roll a 2nd gen Toyota 4x4 (I rolled mine twice, the second time it was totaled.)

I think you may be overly worried about bears. People tent-camp in bear country all the time, it's not a big deal. If you are in an established park like Yellowstone they generally know where the bears are and you would not be allowed to tent-camp in those areas but in non-bear areas (which is most of the park) you would be fine.

I won't comment specifically on your chosen setups except to say that, again, your best bet for both highway and off-road stability will be anything that keeps your weight lower to the ground vs. higher. This isn't Africa where you have to camp up high to stay away from the predators, millions of people in America camp on the ground and do just find, so even being at bed-height puts you up at a pretty decent height (honestly, I'm a lot more worried about little critters - bugs, snakes, etc - than I am about bears, mountain lions and the like.)

If you're really worried I suppose you could try to set your bed up so that you could mount a fiberglass or aluminum shell on it, but that will restrict a lot of the things you can do with the bed.

Again, I think if you go lightweight, low and simple, that would be the best way.

That's my $0.02

 

[xechcorx]

If it's an 84 I'm assuming it has the 22r engine? [/B]$0.02

Cummins 4BT, which is not helping my COG issues. :Wow1: