DIY Truck Camping Bed Build - Comfortable Mattress and Storage

In this episode I go over my DIY truck camping bed platform. Remember, this is the way I did it, not the way you have to do it. There are tons of ways to customize such a setup, but if you're looking for a cheap and easy setup to get you on the road, this just might be it. One thing I left off out in the video is the bed top itself. For that I simply used a piece of plywood I had lying around cut to my mattress dimensions.
Amazon affiliate links can provide me a small monetary gain if you use the links to purchase something. The good thing is this is at no additional cost to you!
#truckcamping #camping #diy
Element Fire Extinguisher
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Kelty Blanket
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SetPower Fridge
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Milliard Tri Folding Mattress with Washable Cover Cot Size
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Milliard Carry Case 4" Tri-Fold Mattress
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Fitted Sheet for The Milliard Trifold Mattress
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[@fire58372001]

Hi there, I saw your vid. I've been truck camping since the mid 80's. Here's what I've learned & I'll pass them on to you. Some of this you may already have, do, or know about. 1) Get stuff you need at a camping store for backpacking. It's small, compact, & light weight. 2)Get splash guards for your truck. It'll help keep you & your rig clean. They work. I know. 3) When parking for the night, park headlong into the wind. That way if a storm comes you won't have to worry about a side wind ripping off your camper shell. Plus, if anything comes bouncing towards the truck, since you have a slimmer profile, it might miss you. If it does hit, the front of the truck is reinforced. Also when cooking you're in the lee & the wind will blow the smoke & odors out of your rig. 4) Use bug spray on the interior doors & windows/ screens openings to help keep bugs out. Use wasp & hornet spray around & on your tires to help keep critters out. Basically, all points of contact on the ground. 5) An inch is a lot of room. Learn how to stack & get used to sand & dirt. Use floor mats to put your shoes on also. 6)Air out your sleeping area every morning or often. In an enclosed space the air gets stale. 7)Use a small fan to circulate the air in your sleeping area. This will help prevent hot & cold spots from forming & help prevent condensation & mold & mildew from forming. 8)Use a solid hooded sweatshirt. Draw the hood tight when you sleep to help encapsulate body heat. It can double as a pillow/ dirty clothes holder/ gear carrier etc. I hope this helps. Great vid, thanks for sharing. Drive safe. 🤠

[@rockymountainroughridersofMT.]

Great minds think alike, I built that same exact setup in my Tacoma, bed rug and all. I did build some small storage area with shelf across from the bed. After hearing you speak of getting a good night's sleep and speaking highly of your mattress, I decided to order one. My current mattress is not the greatest. I like the idea of having a folding mattress for when not in use. 👍

[@whiskeydogoutdoors]

Right on. Hope you dig it. I gave your page a follow, looking forward to checking out your content! I’ve got a Grizzly. For several years my buddies and I would do a week or two each summer up in Colorado.

[@user-sy2fy4eq8v]

Great video, preacher is the star

[@whiskeydogoutdoors]

Thank you and I couldn’t agree more!

[@stpierreno]

like your channel, should have more subs

[@whiskeydogoutdoors]

Thank you!

[@TheRiverkayaker]

Pre drill the holes for the screws, the wood is not likely to split

[@jezzie1965]

Those first aid kits keep my granddaughter real busy te cats and dogs be all bandaged up including me😂

[@whiskeydogoutdoors]

😂

[@stephanelachance6195]

Yess Sir...simple and dept free ....back to basics !! »Thanks !!

[@whiskeydogoutdoors]

You’re most welcome!

[@DaveCollierCamping]

Awesome, have a great weekend

[@whiskeydogoutdoors]

Thanks, same to you.

[@montycraig5659]

Liked, Subbed, and commented! Great advice, and Preacher is da bomb!!

[@whiskeydogoutdoors]

Thank you! And I’m a bit biased, but I totally agree on Preacher!

[@michaelshurley5046]

I like your outlook brother. I have a 04 grand cherokee. I was in my shop looking at how I wanted to build my bed. Forgot I had an old twin metal frame. Cpl 2x's for support and bit of ply for the deck bam done. Foam matress on top and storage under. Cost 13 for the ply lol thats budget build lol.

[@whiskeydogoutdoors]

Exactly!

[@dlt20723]

Great video. Straight to the point. Answered a lot of questions for me. Love the dog. What a good boy! Thanks.

[@whiskeydogoutdoors]

Glad to hear that, thanks! And yeah, he’s definitely a good pupper!

[@maximilian_greenell]

It's cOoL 👌🔥🤙 Like 🔥👍

[@LifeinThirdPlaces]

I camp out of a Subaru right now but want to upgrade to a truck setup like this. Love the simplicity of it!

[@whiskeydogoutdoors]

I had a Subaru before this truck! Loved it, but the space of the truck sure is nice.

[@LifeinThirdPlaces]

@@whiskeydogoutdoors I bet! The thing I'm running into in my research on trucks is that so many of them have short beds. There are also a few 4-cylinder full-size trucks out there which makes NO sense to me as someone who wants a camper trailer at some point.

[@wilk2500]

Great video and information.

[@whiskeydogoutdoors]

Thank you!

[@dsonnek7781]

Thanks for sharing, I'm working on a 2001 ram with the off road package and topper. Trying a few things to keep things organized, like the Milwaukee packout. SUV tent works nice off the back of the topper, works great on the Jeep as well. Good idea on the carpet and velcro.

[@whiskeydogoutdoors]

You’re most welcome, glad you found value in it. And good luck with your build out!

[@Pinzman27]

I didn't see the link for the mattress? Did I overlook it? thanks for the video.

[@whiskeydogoutdoors]

Oh man I forgot it, great catch! All the mattress info/links have been added. Thanks!

[@joefrieson5100]

Nice setup.

[@whiskeydogoutdoors]

Thank you

[@jamesreck8476]

are your drawers anchored or do you just bungee cord them to keep them from tipping over?

[@whiskeydogoutdoors]

They’re not anchored. The bungee cord holds my paper towels and secures the drawers along with the stack itself while driving. I had it anchored elsewhere before and the drawers would inevitably slide open on trails, so the bungee was required. When I moved it I didn’t bother to anchor it since I had to use the bungee anyway. The stack is easily removed this way for cleaning and repositioning when I carry more gear. I’ll have another video covering the full setup back there in a few weeks.

[@Killchain44]

Hi there. Thank you for the great ideas! I'm a camping newbie and I just purchased my first truck and I'm in the market for a topper. Which one do you have? I like that your side windows have hinges at the top. Thanks in advance!

[@whiskeydogoutdoors]

Thanks! I have the A.R.E. CX model. You can build it out to include the side windows like mine. I love them.

[@Killchain44]

@@whiskeydogoutdoors Good to know! Thank you! I have been looking at some of those ARE models actually, but didn't know you could order them with those kind of side windows that fold out. Super handy I bet when you need to grab items when outside of the truck. How's the ventilation at night when sleeping?

[@whiskeydogoutdoors]

@@Killchain44 yeah they’re super handy like that. I also cook inside there so I can swing one open and vent all the smoke, smells, and heat when necessary. Or just open them on those perfect weather nights. Each window additionally has a slider window panel with screen, so even closed I get great ventilation.

[@whiskeydogoutdoors]

@@Killchain44 I have a small rechargeable fan that I often put in front of the screen to really get some airflow on warmer nights.