Is camping in a shell really feasible and comfortable for 2 people?

I've been debating between roof top tent or camper shell. I have a long bed, so the length won't be too much of an issue.

I was thinking about throwing a skycamp 2.0 on top of the ARE shell I'm interested in, but not sure about the weight and damaging the shell. Then when you price that all out, you're not too much out of the ballpark of a gofast camper.

So in a long bed pickup, can two people realistically sleep / dress comfortably in a cab-high shell?

 

Depends on the people.

Also, GFC

 

You have the truck, maybe take your favorite beverages and go lay in the bed while still in your driveway.

If it were me, hell no. I'm pretty flexible on camping, but I'd rather sleep on the ground than wedged between the wheel wells. But I'm not you. Do a dry fit with your fellow camper and ask if you can tolerate it for a full 8 hours.

 

It works until it's stormy and late and you have to empty the back to sleep. Get a tent or GFC or better$$. Just an opinion

 

Depends on campsite and age too. Getting dressed would be impossible for me unless I could get out.

 

I sleep in the back under my canopy, get a great sleep. 2 in the back will depend on the individuals for sure.
It’s no big deal getting dressed back there unless your heading for 250lbs.
In Moab we had a big storm hit at night, I was warm and comfy under my shell while my buddies in their ground tents were eating dirt.

 

I also have a ground tent/ screen room that attaches to bed and canopy for changing, bugs, weather etc.

 

ideally you're going to want a platform to get you out from between the wheel wells. And then at that point, you're losing headspace and will likely want a mid-rise shell if you plan to sleep in it more than a few times. Some guys are able to make the cab-high work for them though

roofnest makes an interesting option if you go that route: https://roofnest.com/product/falcon/

but like you say, $$$

 

No. Go camper

 

Sometimes for a one or two nighter I’ll sleep underneath my tonneau in a short bed with my legs hanging out on the tailgate. A 6ft bed with a sleeping platform and topper sounds like the Four Seasons to me! All jokes aside I guess it depends on your tolerance and most importantly your partners tolerance. I’m sure the sleeping part would be fine, the dressing might be a little complicated. Might consider getting a little extra head room or an annex.

 

I camp a lot solo in my cab high shell and occasionally with one other person, I don't have any complaints. I'm pretty small I guess, but I've never felt the need to spend big on an RTT or camper.

A mid rise shell would be nice and I am keeping my eye out for decent used ones, but with a sleeping/storage platform just above the wheel wells and a decent mattress you're really all set.

 

One person it's fine, I used to do it alot skiing. A bed platform is nice so you can use the full width of the bed opposed to wedging between the wheel wells. With 2 people it sucks though (and my girlfriend is tiny at 5 foot nothing). Also is a huge pain having to move everything from the bed to the cab to be able to sleep in there.

With 2 people we've always just used the ground tent after trying a few miserable nights in the camper shell.

It worked great when I was single but I sold my shell this summer and am in the home stretch of finishing up my DIY GFC knockoff which is going to be a huge upgrade/gamechanger.

 

Used my Leer 100XR for the first time this weekend with my wife. Built a sleeping platform inside and all done. We have a folding mattress and a good double sleeping bag. Was one of the coziest nights I slept while camping.

No room for changing inside though, but not a big deal for us.

 

how tall are you 2? i had a long bed (7' bed) regular cab mazda B2000 with a midrise shell and a carpet kit, that was great for in the back camping. then i got another minitruck with a 6' bed and a sloping (cab-high in the front, and taller in the back) and that was do-able for in the back camping for 2. but we're both under 6' tall. even now i think i'd get a mid-rise shell for the tacoma.

 

I went to colorado this year with my girlfriend and we didn't bring a tent. I have an are topper that is flush to the roof of my 2nd gen tacoma. I used 2 2x6s to support a 1/2" sheet of plywood, while I used totes to store our belongings underneath the plywood/ bed. If you're clostrophobic, I'd go with the high ceiling topper. It was comfortable to sleep in for five days, but the biggest problem I had with my set up is you do a lot of crawling in a tight space, closing the tailgate is a pain, and if you stretch your arms straight out in front of you while lying on your back you can't do it. Long story short, the topper that's flush to the cab roof is realistic, but uncomfortable. high roof toppers would be much more comfortable and practical, but an RTT would be more comfortable and practical for a week out or more.

 

I slept in my topper a few times but after one time in heavy rain I needed to do something else. I opted for a SlumberJack off the back. It gives me a ton of room the is dry, wind and bug free, much more tolerable.

 

I do it all the time with my girlfriend and dog. I've got a leer 122, so taller than cab height. Sleeping platform so full width of bed with storage underneath. We're also both under 6' and in our mid 20s so it's pretty plush compared to what we've tolerated before

 

What mattress are you using? Had my eyes on a millliard but it hasn't been in stock for awhile...

 

There are air mattresses that have wheel well cutouts. I have one, and it’s awesome. My wife and I have slept on it many times (in a truck bed tent). Super comfortable.

 

It comes down to just how bad you need to get away from home.

How much you can put up with for a night or two the weather turns to shit go home or find a nice motel to camp out.

Would I want to do this for a week or longer when I was 19 it was a grand adventure living at home yet great to get away 40 plus years later not so much .

I have always lived in the Country or the mountains my one brief living in a town the back yard bordered on a National Forest so my mind set is quiet different then those that live close to others.