If you had to build an overlanding setup around a pickup truck camper, what would you reinforce first before heading into rough terrain?
Posted by Forward-Target3930@reddit | overlanding | View on Reddit | 7 comments
I have been slowly shaping my pickup into something that can actually handle real overlanding trips, and the next big step is adding a camper. The thing is, once I started looking more seriously at camper setups, I realized I have no idea what should be reinforced first before taking it into rough terrain. The trucks I see rolling through trails on YouTube look rock solid, but I know that is not reality for most of us once we add weight and start flexing the frame in weird angles. Some people keep telling me the frame and suspension are the first things that start complaining once a camper is mounted. Others swear it is the tie downs or the bed rails that take the hit. I even came across a few lightweight camper shells on Alibaba just to get an idea of structural differences, and it made me realize the build quality is all over the place depending on how the shell transfers stress into the truck body. I am not planning to buy anything online just yet. Worse even on marketplaces… I’m just trying to understand what actually matters. So for those of you who run proper overlanding rigs with a camper, what did you reinforce first, or what did you wish you had reinforced before hitting uneven trails. Was it suspension, mounting points, frame protection, or something you only learned after something started bending or rattling?
GrumpyBearinBC@reddit
I had a 2004, 9’6” Adventurer camper on a 2000 F-350 and took into some lakes that roads became trails.
I built a pallet for the camper to sit on because to bring it home I had to buy lumber and plywood to get enough clearance that the bunk did not contact the roof of the truck.
I would look into some sort of disconnect system for the camper jacks so they could be removed when the trail gets sketchy. I had a few times where the ends of the jack left some divots along the way.
I would look into some of the in box tie down systems and the Torq gun tie down system because the chains can loosen on the trail and allow the camper to shift. If you are using something similar to a Scout brand camper, an in-box tie down system would be best because you do not have the tie down bars sticking out. If you decide on a full size camper longer than the box, I would recommend finding a suitable locations to add tie down points so that you can add 2” wide ratchet straps running to the hitch.
I have seen some really nice campers built inside of work shells like Space Kap. Even a regular truck canopy can be built out nicely.
cloud_coder@reddit
Front end, springs, shocks
stopgap_odyssey@reddit
I think people get lost in what a “real overland trip is”. Just get out there man, go on a trip, come back and adjust your vehicle to be more functional as you go and have the need for it. You will be SHOCKED how little the fancy gear gets used on 90% of rigs
But to each their own, I’m tryna overland in a sedan so pay no mind to me.
fidelityflip@reddit
If going with a cap on a truck bed, bed stiffeners depending in the truck brand. This reinforces the sides of your bed which is critical on a lot of newer trucks that have a composite bed.
211logos@reddit
This question is impossible to answer without knowing what kind of camper you're adding onto what sized truck.
There's a reason people here have popup toppers and lightweight popup slide ins, not full sized hard sided campers with slide outs.
My advice, given the limited info, is get a light weight camper so that you don't have to do anything to the truck but attach it securely.
OhhhMadOne@reddit
For wheeling first things are protect your investment. Skid plates and rock sliders. Next winch and recovery gear. Start overlanding. Upgrade as you find limitations that annoy you.
TheGuyUrRespondingTo@reddit
I put around 30k miles on a 2014 Tacoma with a Harker EDC camper, maybe 3-5k of that being on dirt roads & actual 4x4 trails. The pinch welds on the bed were the first thing to start to give, followed by the sheet metal around the mounting bolts for the bed. The camper scooped up air & pulled back hard on the bed over time, which is a force the beds are not really engineered to handle. If I did it again, I'd invest in reinforcement brackets for all 4 corners of the bed (these already exist on the aftermarket, for Tacomas at least) & some beefy metal plates to widen the load distribution on all the bed mounting bolts.
Never had issues with the frame bending, but I got good suspension (OME BP51s front & rear) to soak up the heavy impacts & I have no doubt that ayed a role in saving my frame from stress. Kings would have been a better investment in durability & serviceability, I would not get OME suspension again. But I did drive the hell out of that truck, regularly driving 30-40mph over unmaintained dirt roads with potholes big enough to swallow my 33" tires, & that suspension just soaked it all up...good suspension is well worth the investment if you plan on doing a lot of hard miles.