Perusing just about any article written on the topic of overlanding equipment is an adventure. It is amazing to see what overlanders come up with in everything from camping equipment to the rigs they drive into the middle of nowhere. Recently, I was reading an article on overlanding campers. I was once again reminded just how industrious this group of outdoor adventures truly is.
The article in question was all about platform campers. These are collapsible campers that are mounted on the top of a pickup truck, van, SUV, etc. They lay flat during the journey. At the end of the day, they pop up to provide reasonable sleeping accommodation – at least, if you are into that sort of thing.
I was fortunate enough to see plenty of pictures depicting what the article’s author was likely drooling over. No doubt I was impressed with the campers. But I was more impressed with what I saw overlanders doing with the space underneath.
Under the Pickup Cap
I was surprised by one overlander’s use of the space in his pickup truck bed. The truck was equipped with what appeared to be a standard fiberglass cap, with the possible exception that it had a camper attached to it.
I am familiar with pickup trucks and caps. Pickups were my father’s preferred form of transportation when he was still alive. But my dad never made very good use of the bed space he had. If the pictures in the article are any indication, overlanders do not have that same problem. Every inch of space was maximized to its full potential.
I saw a lot of packing containers that looked like they were purpose built. I saw a lot of ratchet and cam straps holding things down. For all I know, some of those cam straps were from my favorite brand: Rollercam. What do I know for sure is this: overlanders pack a tremendous amount of gear in what most of us would consider an exceptionally small space.
Innovative Camper Designs
As previously mentioned, my amazement was not limited exclusively to the industrious use of space. I was also duly impressed by some of the innovative camper designs featured in the article. This article was not my first rodeo either, so to speak. I have been researching and writing on overlanding for several years. So I have seen plenty of articles and pictures featuring extremely innovative camper designs.
The article featured a truck top camper with easily deployed canvas panels affixed to a frame that, when extended, creates an A-frame sleeping space on top of the vehicle. Think of the letter ‘A’ lying on its side, with one of its legs flat against the top of a truck. That’s the image.
An overlander with this setup obviously doesn’t have a full kitchen and shower to work with. But as far as staying off the ground, keeping critters away, and staying both warm and dry, the featured truck top camper does the trick.
So Easy to Use
What fascinated me most about the camper was how easy it is to use. Just release a couple of latches and pop up the open end. The other end is hinged. It remains stationary. You can deploy the entire thing in under half a minute. Folding it back down the next morning is just as easy.
It has been said that necessity is the mother of invention. I would say that applies to overlanding. Whether it is cam straps, truck top campers, or just about any of the other equipment overlanders use, necessity has made them an industrious bunch.
