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I don't have a set up....yet. I've been looking at a lot of stuff to turning my Ranger into an overlanding RV. Mixing different voltage batteries can be a pain in the butt when putting them in series, so you might want to reconsider a 12 volt battery. You can even build lithium setups relatively cheap and custom fit to your bed box.

As for your wiring, you should look into upgrading your wires to a thicker gauge to handle the system load you're going to be putting on it. Looking up electrical systems for car stereo systems really helps give you a grasp as to where to start. Your 12 volt cigarette plugs you're going to have to find, splice, and mount yourself. I warn you it's a pain in the ass as you most likely will burn up a few trying out the system. I learned this the hard way when helping my buddy mount his center console in his S10. You can find brackets to match the Thule roof rack to mount flexible panels but you can also find roll up panels that plug right into your cigarette lighter. Just face the windshield toward the sun and use the panel like a sun visor.

I'd advise against cutting a hole in your cap roof for a fan. It'd be a thousand times easier to mount a 12v fan inside the cap and open a window. That way you won't have to worry about a leaky roof. You have to remember that you're only trying to circulate about 90 cubic feet of air; you don't need a huge fan roof fan to do that. If you live in an arid enough region you can always get a personal swamp cooler for those hot summer nights.

Charge controllers and and monitors are pretty much whatever you can find. Most of what you see on the internet is DC/AC and not DC/DC. A lot of times you can just hook up the panel to the system through a 12v lighter plug and have no worries. I wouldn't worry too much about it unless you're going to have a super small amp-hour setup like a single battery. But I've seen people just use volt meters that plug into cigarette lighters as their monitors. When they see their voltage drop below 12v, they know to crank the motor and run the alternator for a bit to charge the system.

You should think of panels as a supplemental setup rather than the primary charge source. Your alternator is going to be your main source of charging your batteries until you can plug your system up to a grid. Just be sure your current alternator is going to be able to handle the load of charging multiple batteries. It might be worth looking into getting a high output alternator if your truck doesn't already have it. It's one thing to short yourself on battery capacity, but burning up an alternator is a pretty shitty thing to happen to you.

I’m guessing the secondary battery you have isn’t deep cycle, so you’re not really going to get any use out of it for heating purposes. Even with a deep cycle battery, heating all the air without propane isn’t really feasible. But if you did intend to do this often and wanted to spring for 100ah or so, a trucker’s bunk warmer can help you be more comfortable combined with the advice others have given you. This was the one I used when I was traveling in a teardrop for 3 months: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001122SZQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_JPn1Bb58CSX5R

The best option if you really wanted to be comfortable would be a vented heater that works on combustibles, either tapping into your tank or from a propane tank. The key is to make sure you have one that is venting the products of the combustion outside so that you can run it overnight safely and you won’t get the Moisture propane releases when it burns.

These can be pricey, and aren’t worth the investment if this isn’t something you’re going to be doing often. But I think the espar brand is popular. Of course you’re going to want a sensor anyway just in case anything goes wrong.

Just a thought and no experience but why not rare earth magnets? You could either put magnets on the outside and inside or use pieces of painted steel on the outside and magnets with hooks on the inside to mount the bags.

Something like this. I’m sure the magnetism would extend through the aluminum.

845LB(380KG) Super Powerful Neodymium Fishing Magnets with Black Epoxy Bond, Magne... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GBNMSBM/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_c_api_i_JPxBDb58GJG18

Good Luck. I've used Resolve Fabric Cleaner on oogie fabric with good results. You still need to apply elbow grease with a brush. But vinegar + water might work just fine too. Maybe Awning Repair Tape: https://www.amazon.com/Camco-42613-Awning-Repair-Tape/dp/B004XNQLB2 We just bought a 40+ year old truck camper & are fixing it up. These truck campers are the swiss army knife of campers!

Thanks man here is my set-up

I drive a 2008 Tacoma SR5 4.0L 6 speed Access Cab (Love this truck).

I use these tie-downs

These happijac rear bumber tie-downs

And I installed Firestone Ride-rite air bags... This is a must have the truck rides and feels so much more stable with them! I ran the airlines in the fuel door next to the fill nozzle. That way it reminds me to check airbag pressure when I am filling up.

The tie downs I chose were for me the most economical way to go. Very easy to install as well.

I also found some awesome towing mirrors (not shown in the picture) through a Group Buy on tacomaworld.com .. They are ProEFX towing mirrors and they are basically Dodge mirrors for the Tacoma.

I bought this rear swing-out bike rack for my truck. Very heavy duty (and very heavy), swings out easily for me to get access to my steps and camper door, swings back in and secures tightly. Downside: expensive, heavy. Upside: works great. I've taken it on some very lumpy roads (Alaska, Yukon, NW Territory, B.C.) and none of the articulating parts seem to have worn at all. Says it fits 4 bikes but that may be ambitious. 2 bikes fit with plenty of room to spare, though.

So we use one like this: https://www.amazon.com/HadinEEon-Variable-Temperature-Electric-Protection/dp/B07HT3FXCY/ref=sr_1_8?keywords=electric+kettle+2+liter&qid=1569181722&smid=A393JJ1Z5FPQ17&sr=8-8


We chose this because it can sit on the counter in our house while we arent camping and it looks normal. We do our best to buy items that serve more than one purpose so the cost per use goes down.


We use it to heat water for showers, make coffee, and sometimes make ramen noodles while camping. It packs away easily and heats up quick.

That is one a nice Truck. Tons of room for activities.

The answer I have to your question is reliant on whether or not you're stealth camping. I purchased this Bug Net. Then cut it to the size of my back hatch and installed it with some velcro tape. Combined with the open windows it provides plenty of airflow. If you've tried sleeping with the gate down and are still getting too hot some battery powdered fans can definitely help. I also purchased two of these. The battery on em is short and I don't remember them being that expensive. However, their power consumption is low and I can charge em real quick with a portable battery.

I am able to sleep comfortably in my camper shell during the summer. But I am from Minnesota and it doesn't get too hot up here.

Fellow Sierra resident (South Lake Tahoe) and it will be my first winter storing the camper. My buddy has stored his camper up here for two winters now and has good luck with this cover. He then takes pallets and creates an A frame roof structure and covers with a heavy tarp to prevent snow build up. The Sierra gets wet and heavy snow so the baseline is 20lbs per ft^3 of snow. Inside he uses a bucket with moisture absorbent material.

Dee Zee DZ86718 Heavyweight Bed Mat https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000VU90GO?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

This is the one I got. It’s really heavy duty and fit perfect in my 98 ranger.

Someone else reccomend these on Amazon, thinking one in and another going out will do a lot of good.

innobay Personal Fan USB/Rechargeable Battery Operated with LED Light, Quiet (4-inch, Black) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00OUFMPPY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_JYwJDbCPWH5J5

Thank you!! We used some peel and stick wallpaper we found on Amazon for both sides of the ceiling. Links below!

Picture:
https://i.imgur.com/av5Pjk3.jpg

Products: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XG32N8S?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00X2HKSB4?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Thanks! Yeah no problem. Mind Reader BAMAT-BRN Luxury Roll Up Shower Bath Mat, Anti-Slip Mat, Environment Friendly Bamboo, Brown https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07F92T98T/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_2mm6CbVHDC88T

There’s some other more robust ones on amazon that don’t roll up but I wanted something that was more compact I don’t use it a whole lot but it works for me.

Thanks for the video. I'll be traveling for 8 weeks next summer in a 2016 palomino, and looking for ideas. My camper is about 2" too long to shut the tail gate so I usually leave it at home so no back porch, and I don't have the inside access to the truck bed, did you put that in your self or did it come that way?

I also am looking to add or bring a 2nd LP tank, you mentioned a 1 lb backup, is this the coleman campstove version? Is there an adaptor?

Edit: I think I found the adaptor

Maybe consider a diesel heater that would probably only cost a $1-$2 a day to run in cold conditions. A lot easier than propane and uses little electricity.

Are these the buddy heaters you’re talking about?

https://www.amazon.com/Mr-Heater-F232000-Indoor-Safe-Portable/dp/B01DD6C4MY/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?keywords=mr%2Bbuddy%2Bheater&qid=1569008572&sr=8-3&th=1&psc=1

Sorry for the long delay!

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Most truck-peeps would use this clamp to secure structures to the truck bed (the same area where camper shells scure down).

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I was ballin' on a budget, so I actually just took some small F-clamps I had to fasten the cuppy to the truck bed.

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Lemme know if this helps, can draw a picture if you need!