Summer can only mean one thing: it’s camping season. Before you jump in your pickup and head out on your next adventure, make sure you have everything you need to make it an epic one. Camping can be as simple or as extravagant as you make it, but these innovative ideas will make sure your next camping trip is one to remember (and totally Instagram-worthy).
1. Elevate your tent
Every great camping adventure starts with the right tent. When you have a pickup, you don’t need to sleep on the ground like the rest of the camping newbs—with one of these pickup truck tents, you can sleep right in the back of your truck. There’s nothing better than staring up at the stars from the back of your truck (plus, you probably won’t wake up to a spider or snake in your tent!).
2. Slide in a portable camping shell (but not any old camper!)
A tent is fine, but what’s the serious camper to do when it’s time to hit the road? Turn it into a camper, of course! But if you’re imagining an ugly camper, think again. Modern campers come in everything from cedar to canvas, and they are nothing like your dad’s old beat up camper. The best part is that they add sleeping room, kitchen space and (most importantly) electricity to your camping adventures.
3. Design your own camper
Premade campers are cool, but the sky’s the limit when you build your own. This unique camper was designed to fit in the back of a Ford F-150. It might look like a standard camping shell but it transforms into a spacious RV. If you build yourself one of these, you won’t be stumbling your way through the woods in the middle of the night. It even has a bathroom!
4. Add plenty of storage
The struggle of camping is always finding room for all your gear. Adding drawers to the bed of your truck is a great way to make sure that you have room for everything you need to enjoy your camping trip without feeling cramped. Plus, the top of the drawers doubles as a sleeping platform that’s perfect for your sleeping bag or air mattress.
5. Get cozy
There’s nothing worse than spending a night tossing and turning in your sleeping bag. Enter the perfect air mattress. Designed for two, and the perfect fit for your truck bed, this one even comes with a backrest that’s perfect for reading or snuggling up before bed.
6. Turn your pickup into a swimming pool
There’s nothing better than a refreshing swim after a long day of hiking. If you’re nowhere near a river or lake, don’t despair. You’ll be the envy of your campground when you turn your pickup bed into a swimming pool! Uh, yes please.
7. Kick back and relax
Summer cries out for relaxing in a hammock with a cold drink and a good book. You can do both with the help of a truck hitch hammock system. Who needs trees when you can bring your own hammock stand right in the back of your car?
8. Bring the kids along
Camping is a great way to spend quality time with the kids, but it can be tricky to find space for everyone in a truck. That’s where this ingenious truck bunk bed comes in. All you need is some PVC pipe, canvas, and nylon to whip up a portable and comfortable space for the little one to sleep safely in the cab.
9. Build a dining table
This truck-side dining table takes camping meals to a whole new level. This table attaches to the side of your truck, but you can also fashion a table that slides out of storage drawers in the bed of your truck. The stools might be a bit more challenging to transport!
10. Create an outdoorsman’s dream truck
This one might be best left to the professionals, but there’s no doubt it’s innovative. This show pickup was hacked to include everything from a kitchen to storage for firearms and archery gear. The sleeping area is mounted on top of the rig, complete with a sweet space to kick back and relax after a long day.
