Moonlander Upgrades For Camping - How I Have Customized This Awesome Topper For Camping!

[@bfranco1519]

One thing I really like is you can stand or sit on the roof of these for stargazing or chilling. Love it!

[@ColoradoCamperman]

For sure! That is a neat feature.

[@williamfuller2389]

Can't tell you how many times I watched your first video with the ML you posted last Aug. I got alot of ideas from that video. You were Radica's 1st long bed only to find out I was their second last April. Love what you did to yours only wishing they made those carpet kits for my older Dodge. That sliding window you have on the driver's side is perfect for installing a hose plate for attaching a hose from a diesel heater. The screen slides over for a quick install/uninstall. Came in handy camping in cold conditions.

[@ColoradoCamperman]

Heck yeah! The long bed makes a huge difference for the ML! That's a really good idea for the diesel heater. What diesel heater did you pickup? Have you done any other upgrades to your ML?

[@williamfuller2389]

@@ColoradoCamperman Yeah, I've done a little. I made two short tabletop platforms out of PVC shelving, shortening some of the legs to accommodate the wheel wells. I installed them in Denver after the topper install. The bed is in a Twin configuration ( 1-38" panel, the second narrower panel stored at home) as my wife would never want to sleep inside. This frees up more floor space. I use two short PVC rods to secure my one 38" bed panel up for better access to underneath. I installed the MaxAir cover that fits over the standard vent cover, allowing my to keep the vent open at all times. I mounted a fishing pole overhead rack. I placed a carpet covered mat between the side platforms where I secure my fridge. I put wood liners over the aluminum sheet panels that extend out from both sides protecting those panels from any direct contact from items bouncing around in transit. Using small baskets on top of the wood for more secured storage. I store two large bins, rollup tables and my canvas tent under the bed platform. I need to cut back on some of my gear, down to only one bin and relocate my fridge to free up more leg space inside. Better coordination of storage in my truck will help. Love this ML!

[@williamfuller2389]

@@ColoradoCamperman Forgot to mention, while I bought two different heaters, I have only used my HCalory camping in both my RTT and my ML. It's just more convenient to use.

[@ColoradoCamperman]

@@williamfuller2389 Heck yeah! Sounds like you've done a lot. If I camped in my ML more, I would get a lot more done inside. I use it most as an everyday topper and occasionally camp. Thanks for sharing what you've done!

[@im2yz4u17]

Simple kitchen is amazing addition.

[@ColoradoCamperman]

I agree! Thanks for the comment and watching!

[@kristennone785]

Idea: they make magnetic towel bars, you could use for your sink. All you need to do is glue a metal plate to the aluminum wall with Loctite or something. There all kinds of magnetic shelves and things. And you can use cargo nets on the ceiling.Also you could use black electrical tape to cover any blue lights that you don’t want to see, Ive done that bc I like to sleep in the dark too. Love your setup. ❤

[@ColoradoCamperman]

Thank you for your tips! I will definitely look into those. I would like to add some shelving or at the minimum a towel bar. Funny you should say that about the electrical tape, I have done that on the devices in our camper and on our smoke detector! Those little lights drive me nuts! Thanks for the comment and watching!

[@MagicHawkeye]

@@ColoradoCamperman - They also make a semi-transparent tape specifically for LEDs. A single layer dims it quite a bit, but allows you to see it if you need to; double layer pretty much blocks it entirely. I'm thinking either pegboard on the side, or the "MOLLE" board (is it really PALS board?) I've seen metal peg board too (can be used for magnetic attachments). And a bug zapper (they make battery powered zappers, by the way.)

[@McClungMichaell]

Nice update.I love the Moonlander Brian! I've checked out the web site. I'm tired of old broken truck shells and I just sold my truck camper. I do painting and drywall and have all my tool in my truck bed. Moonlander might be the right ticket. I watched your other review as well. My suggestion is you might want to to think about 1" insulation board the pink stuff and aluminum tape the seams for cold nights and it would help keep the heat down as well, no hot metal. You could add thin veneer plywood like door skins with some flat self tappers for extra insulation and it would cut down on condensation too. Just my two cents. Cheers enjoy

[@ColoradoCamperman]

Thank you! I love the Moonlander too, it really is a sweet rig. I think you would definitely enjoy it for work and personal use. We are always amazed at how much stuff we can fit in there. The extra height and width gives you so much more room than a traditional topper. Funny you should say that about the insulation and veneer plywood, I have thought about doing exactly that! We will see what the future holds... Thanks for watching!

[@BoondockBertoOverland]

Thank you so much for the great tour of your Moonlander and the mods you made. Sweet setup. With Aloha, Matt

[@ColoradoCamperman]

You're welcome! Thanks for the comment and watching!

[@Pinzman27]

I just picked up my MoonLander yesterday (3/8/24). It sits on may 2004 Chevy Silverado Duramax HD 2500 EXT Cab 8 foot bed. Luke referred to it as The Beast. I'm sad that bed rug does not have anything that'll fit my truck I love it so far and can't wait to build it out. So I subscribed to get ideas.

[@ColoradoCamperman]

Heck yeah! Congrats. Thanks for subbing and watching.

[@timothywildhaber2798]

Nice first moon lander I’ve seen ! I am also a fan of the hard top-side toppers ! Nice look great !!!!

[@ColoradoCamperman]

Thanks for the comment and watching!

[@eddiepineiro9145]

I have a topper too I'm setting up..but smaller..I'm using a big umbrella bug screen and covering the whole topper with it..

[@ColoradoCamperman]

That's a great idea! Thanks for the comment and watching!

[@jnmaher1967]

Love the Bed Rug

[@Bearsfan920]

I’ve been leaning towards moonlander since your 1st video. I’ve even talked to Luke on phone & e-mail. I have a Ram 5.5 bed & I’m 6’1 & a half. I love my truck with the exception of it being a short bed. I should’ve got the long bed, short cab instead. Trucks are expensive & I don’t want to trade it in. Moonlander went up, Luke warned me to get it before that. Your video’s are the only ones to get information on what it’s like owning one. The setup is option & I love the carpet too. You however have a bigger bed, I’m more surprised you still went with Moonlander & not a regular shell. I live in Green Bay, the salt worries me. I’d have to wash it off by hand as it’ll be too wide for an automatic wash.

[@ColoradoCamperman]

The Moonlander with a long bed is pretty amazing! There is a still a lot of room in a 5.5' bed because of the width of the Moonlander. The width and the height of the Moonlander is a game changer. That is why I went with it versus a normal topper. I liked the aspect of sleeping across the width of the topper and having all the storage under. I had a topper on my previous truck. I built the bed frame around the wheel well and there was not a ton of storage under the bed. I would think that the Moonlander would hold up to salt since it is aluminum, but I could be wrong. It is annoying not fitting in car wash! That is my main beef with the Moonlander, lol! Thanks for the comment and watching!

[@Addiezmom]

Hi Brian! Another child! Congratz to you and your wife!! I bet the little guy loves being a big brother! Still love you videos!

[@ColoradoCamperman]

Hello, good to hear from you! Thank you! Yeah, the lil dude loves being a big brother. He says his sister is "his baby". Thanks for the comment and watching!

[@Sirskibumsalot]

Hey Brian....good looking set up you got there.,. Thought I would pop in here and say hi 🙋🏻‍♂️🐶.....been in the mountains all summer camp hosting and fly fishing every day .been on the road now for two years as well ..also I .found and bought some new property just last week ....so going to start over and build another home lots have happened and lots to do again .....congrats on the new kidlet .....ok ttyl ......cheers 👍

[@ColoradoCamperman]

Thanks for checking in! Sounds like you have been busy. New land?!? That is really exciting. Same area as last time or did you find something new? Thanks for the congrats! Good to hear from you :)

[@Sirskibumsalot]

@@ColoradoCamperman ....New area for sure ....farther north ... Idaho, Utah, Nevada corner ....Big mountains to explore and ski... lots of water to fish 🎣🐟⛷️

[@ColoradoCamperman]

@@Sirskibumsalot Heck yeah, that is a great area! Have fun with your new property!

[@seanruddy]

Getting our moonlander in a few weeks. Thanks for the video nd suggestions.

[@ColoradoCamperman]

Congrats! The Moonlander is awesome, I still love mine. Have fun and thanks for watching!

[@angelogarciajr5356]

Thanks for sharing. It seems the gas milage would drop with the width of that thing buckin wind. I think that is what I need. The main thing I need to figure out is what I would want Moonlander to add on this rig to make it easier to build it up a little. Very cool rig...all we need.

[@ColoradoCamperman]

My mileage dropped 5-10%, not too bad. In my opinion, the Moonlander is well worth the MPG drop. Thanks for watching.

[@jennyoden7076]

I’ve seen on someone else’s over landing video where they have a magnetic place anywhere paper towel roller, you could use that as a towel bar for bath & hand towels too!!

[@ColoradoCamperman]

Yeah that's not a bad idea! I'm thinking I just may use a 3M hook. Thanks for watching.

[@johnege7352]

So, I should have my moonlander camper installed by 2nd week of Feb! :)

[@ColoradoCamperman]

Heck yeah! Congrats, you won't enjoy it. I still love mine. Thanks for watching.

[@joeys7519]

You should open with the fact your bed is 8 feet , I think a lot of people will be surprised when they get theirs and it’s shorter

[@ColoradoCamperman]

Sorry, I forget that not everyone has a real truck. I mean seriously, a 4.5 or 5.5 ft bed?!? Lol, thanks for watching.

[@TacticallySound223]

@@ColoradoCampermanpersonally I’ve never needed more then 5 ft of bed. Considering you sleep horizontally for me it’s not a huge issue. Especially if you pair it with the decked storage

[@kdhartman44]

My bed is 6.5 and I have plenty of room! Picked my Moonlander up a week ago.

[@johnmca5643]

I didn't know they're 8-doot beds. My Tacoma is 6-feet. No way can I go less.

[@dsmith1934]

Haha, I just left a comment on your other video, before seeing this. Nice update.

[@ColoradoCamperman]

I saw that! Thanks for watching.

[@huckleberrychris]

Nice update

[@ColoradoCamperman]

Thank you!

[@mikelabree]

Very informative video. I just got a Toyota Tacoma and am looking at all the options.

[@ColoradoCamperman]

Glad it was helpful. Thanks for the comment and watching!

[@Flatcoatclimber]

thanks for the informative videos. You gave me some good tips for setting mine up (#249) when I pick it up this spring. I will be setting up my kitchen area under the Maxxair fan on the driver side. I already had the battery lantern, Jetboil, etc. I found a small, light, swivel chair (which I think is a great idea). Luke suggested an electric bunk warmer instead of my portable propane heater. What do you recommend for shoulder-season camping temps? My 2 biggest expenses outfitting the Moonlander will be the Bedrug and a power station to run the Maxxair and the bunk warmer. Any suggestions on a reliable brand and capacity? I guess 500-1000 Watt-hours (charging off the truck on the road with possably a solar panel for camp. I have camped out of canopy shells till now, so I want to do this right without wasting money. tks Smitty

[@ColoradoCamperman]

Glad the video was helpful and congrats on your future Moonlander! I still love mine to this day. I slept in my the other night, it was in the 30's. So far, I have never used a heater. I've only ever used my 0 degree sleeping bag or a ton of blankets. It has been sufficient enough. The only time it sucks is when you get out of bed to get dressed. I have a Buddy heater, but it puts off a lot of condensation. The bedrug definitely seems to help insulate things and it is much better waking up and putting my feet on that vs a steel truck bed. As for power stations, I have 3. 2 are off brands and one is an EcoFlow. I really like the EcoFlow. It always works, it runs to it's capacity, it charges quickly, and the display/buttons are great. The capacity is small, but EcoFlow sent it to me for free, so I can't complain. If I had to purchase one with my own money, I would probably go with an EcoFlow. I hope that helps! Thanks for the comment and watching!

[@kdhartman44]

A couple more questions if you don't mind, I'm trying to plan things out for pick up day in July. What are you going to be using for heat? I see you have a sizable power station, will that support a small electric heater? I'm not really interested in the hassle and mess that diesel heater require. Also is that a single panel you have for your bed or two? Thanks a bunch! Keep the vids coming!!

[@ColoradoCamperman]

No worries. I haven't needed heat any of the times I've camped. I've camped down to about 32-33 degrees, with lots of covers for my bed, I was fine. If I need a heater, I plan on using my buddy heater. I had considered an electric heater, but they consume too much energy. My big 2000 Watt hour power station would only run a 400 watt heater for 5 hours. I considered getting a smaller infrared wall heater that consumes 250 watts, but that still would only provide 8 hours of heat. Here's a link to the one I considered getting: amzn.to/3vnpHmH If the sun was out and you were able to bring in solar, that might work. But 8 hours in the winter time, won't even make it through the whole night. For the panels, I have two panels. The larger one is the size of a twin bed. If I add the small panel, the bed platform is the size of a full sized mattress. I have a folding full sized mattress that has worked out really well. Since I primarily use the Moonlander as a topper, it is nice to be able to fold the mattress away and put it in it's bag. I also bought a mattress protector. Here's a link to the mattress and bag that I bought: amzn.to/3S6MlZa amzn.to/3NU1o65 Hope that helps!

[@MagicHawkeye]

​@@ColoradoCamperman - Have you considered placing a small FIR (Far Infrared) or NIR (Near Infrared) heating pad under your sleeping bag? They should draw a lot less power than the NIR panels you mentioned. NIR actually penetrates the body more deeply than FIR, however FIR works by heating stones which radiate FIR, so it stays warm longer. Some of the smaller FIR pads run off of DC. I have a small FIR neck pad designed to heat the back of the neck which runs off 12V DC. It’s cord is easily detachable (standard barrel plug), and i can quickly unplug it from the power source and walk around while wearing it around my neck. I find it works amazingly well in my house, and that little bit of heat around the neck does much more than i might have imaged to take the chill off the whole body. It has the added benefit of being therapeutic for sore necks, which is what it was primarily designed to do. I just happened to discover the warming effect. Unlike kdhartman44, i like the idea of a diesel heater. My biggest concern is spilling diesel fuel while refilling the tank. Two options occur to me: One could place the fuel tank outside, but #2 diesel (found at most gas stations) typically begins to gel at around 15°F. “Heating oil” or #1 diesel doesn’t contain the same paraffins as #2, so gels at much colder temperatures. Some “winter blends” at gas stations also have lower gel points. There are some anti-gelling additives too. Perhaps a better option is to place the fuel tank inside, but near the back. With a long enough fuel line and sensible placement, one should be able to move the fuel tank outside of the rig for refueling, in case of spillage. I would make sure to have a clamp on the fuel line hose at the tank, however; wouldn't want the hose coming off the tank due to movement. If one has leftover fuel at the end of the season, it can be safely stored until the next (diesel doesn’t go bad as quickly nor in the same way as gasoline). But one does need to ensure algae doesn’t grow in it, during long term storage. Another option is to mix it into a vehicle gas tank. Diesel will burn fine in a gasoline engine, if its concentration isn’t too high.

[@bajabret60]

Glad I found your video. I am considering wedge campers, but am really leaning towards Moon Lander. What do you think of wall mount hardware on inside? Molle or others. Not sure if screwing anything into thin aluminum is good idea, or if a super strong adhesive would function well.

[@ColoradoCamperman]

Luke, the owner of Moonlander, said that you can drill into the frame no problem. I have yet to do so, no real need for it yet. I'm going to be putting up some 3M hooks for a towel holder & jackets. We'll see how those do. Thanks for watching.

[@bajabret60]

@@ColoradoCamperman Great idea.. thanks!

[@davidk6668]

Can the max air fan be installed on the side or back lift up gate of the camper? This might reduce potential water infiltration from rain or standing water on roof, give more usable space on roof for other additions, and still have the ventilation capability of being on roof. Any comment?

[@ColoradoCamperman]

Probably, you would have to talk to Luke the owner. I requested for it to be in the location I wanted, so I don't see what the issue would be to put it somewhere else.

[@kdhartman44]

Great video!! Are you still happy with the ML, any leaks?? I pick mine up in July!!

[@ColoradoCamperman]

Thanks! I love the Moonlander! I am still very happy with my purchase. I use it mostly as a giant topper and go on a few camping trips with it per year. Hopefully that will change soon, small kiddos have limited my camping, lol! No leaks and no complaints at all, they are solid units. Have fun with yours!

[@Powerwinoffical]

Great video! Interested in reviewing our POWERWIN BT100 1280Wh LiFePO4 Battery?

[@ColoradoCamperman]

Thanks for the comment and watching! I'm not interested right now.

[@michaelmoody9041]

Hey Brian, I'm just wondering - did you have to remove the moonlander to install the bedrug? I had the bedrug on my GMC Canyon and found it to be the best solution for dust control in the bed!

[@ColoradoCamperman]

No, I did not have to remove the Moonlander in order to install the bedrug. It has definitely helped cut down on the dust. I still have some gaps on the bottom of my bedrails that are allowing dust to come in. I'm going to put some foam blocks in there. If that doesn't work, I may actually spray foam it. Thanks for the comment and watching!

[@dixielambrecht7009]

👋, I will be getting my moonlander in November and was wondering if and how much you might charge me for a table like you built. It is perfect. I am in Colorado ...Denver area

[@ColoradoCamperman]

Congrats! That is really exciting, you will love the Moonlander! The table was super easy to build. If you have a saw, tape measure, and a drill, you can build the table. I don't know how much to charge because I hadn't planned on making one for anyone, lol! You could definitely DIY, give it a try! Thanks for watching.

[@timetohunt1]

What size power station do you have? Thanks for sharing

[@ColoradoCamperman]

That power station is a 2000 watt with 4000 peak watts. Funny enough, it just crapped out on me the other day. I cannot charge it via solar or AC. Everything else on it has worked great. I'm looking into buying an ecoflow or Anker.

[@kevinrose8568]

What happened to your gas mileage after installing the ML? Did you previously have another topper on it or was is open bed? I guess I'm wondering most about what the ML would to do my gas mileage as I would be going from open bed to a topper like ML? Thx.

[@kevinrose8568]

Great video btw. Appreciate the update. I'm thinking about getting one of these.

[@ColoradoCamperman]

My MPG went down 4-7%, which I didn't think was too bad. I used to get 13-14mpg before I got the ML, now I average 12.5-13mpg. I had an open bed before the ML. I haven't noticed a loss in power at all or feel an excess drag. My truck drives the exact same. Hope that helps, thanks for watching!

[@drumchef6581]

Hey, just wondering if you have any plans to or have researched adding insulation panels to the interior for cold weather camping?

[@ColoradoCamperman]

I may eventually add some insulation. I primarily use it as a camper from April-October, so I haven't really had the need to do any insulation.

[@phillipjacobson4457]

I have often wondered why toppers don't use a door on the side you open, and extends the foot box out to the side, covered in tent canvas. A side pop out. That way the tooper is a normal width.

[@ColoradoCamperman]

That would be a nice feature! I've seen numerous toppers with a side canopy/awnings but I have not seen side entrances.

[@largemarge1603]

Video starts at 01:14

[@ColoradoCamperman]

Video starts at 0:00, list of upgrades starts at 01:14. Is our society so impatient that people can't watch a 1 minute intro? In the intro I list some of the key benefits and why I like the Moonlander, that seems beneficial to prospective buyers. Whether you watched the intro or not, thanks for watching.

[@Baebon6259]

Did you op for full size or slim size pod?

[@ColoradoCamperman]

At the time I purchased the Moonlander, full size was the only size available, I was the 11th Moonlander ever made. My truck is already huge and there is nothing slim about it, lol! So, if I was given the options today, I'd still pick the full size.

[@DavesCampingAdventures]

Nice camper! can you lock it from the inside?

[@ColoradoCamperman]

Yes, you can lock it from the inside. It is a great camper! And it is also a huge topper that fits a ton of stuff when you are not using it as a camper.

[@DavesCampingAdventures]

@@ColoradoCamperman Thank you! I really like it, been looking around for something, this just might be it thanks buddy🤙

[@ColoradoCamperman]

@@DavesCampingAdventures You're welcome!

[@alfonsomueller4438]

I like this setup. It is something that I can afford even though I made poor financial choices in life, like joining the Army and later becoming a teacher.

[@ColoradoCamperman]

It's a really cool setup! Thanks for the comment and watching!

[@careycrews1]

Its all metal. Isn't it hot AF in the summer?

[@ColoradoCamperman]

Not really, I camp at elevations ranging from 8,000-10,200. In the summer, day time temps are usually in the 70's maybe low 80's. If it's too hot, I park in the shade. In warmer climates, yes, it would be hot but so would any camper without AC. Thanks for watching.

[@ziruk-king4466]

Hi -- what is the length of your truck bed?

[@ColoradoCamperman]

8' bed

[@ziruk-king4466]

Would I be able to use that swivel chair with bed down in a 6 1/2. Thanks

[@ColoradoCamperman]

​@@ziruk-king4466Depends on how big your bed platform is. I have a full size. If you did a twin, yes. Maybe with a full size platform.

[@Noname1234-p3g]

Thanks for camping. It's not overlanding.

[@jeffsutton6382]

When are you going to insulate it

[@ColoradoCamperman]

I haven't felt the need to yet. I've camped in it down to around freezing. With a warm sleeping bag, it's fine. There is condensation that builds up in cold temps though. If I did more cold weather camping, I probably insulate it for that reason.

[@Sasquatchflow]

No leaks yet?

[@ColoradoCamperman]

Not yet! I hope it stays that way.

[@phillipjacobson4457]

Your power station battery will die in subzero weather as lithiumion is not cold friendly . Better off using a optima blue top deep cycle lead acid, and inverter.

[@ColoradoCamperman]

I haven't had any issues with it in the mid to upper 20's. I haven't tried it in colder temps yet.

[@Chuck_Hooks]

The time will come when an a/c option will be available. Be very interested in what people come up with.

[@ColoradoCamperman]

Yeah, you can really customize them yourself. The frame is extremely strong too, so you could probably mount an a/c no problem. Thanks for watching.

[@111dcormack]

$$$$$ how much.

[@ColoradoCamperman]

For what? Moonlander? Fridge? Chair? Moonlander pricing is on their website www.radicaproducts.com/moonlander