I'm planning a hunting/camping trip right before Thanksgiving up to the Panhandle and I'm just about too old for tent camping anymore because I like sleeping off the ground. It's too hard to get up on a cold morning for this old body. I've been thinking about how to build me a cot out of PVC to put in the back of my truck. I have a camper shell I put on there and normally I'll just put a full size air mattress in there and sleep on that. It's comfortable but it takes up all the room and there's really no room to store my gear except for in the cab (I have a 6' truck bed). Has anyone ever done this? I did an internet search and came across the photo below. It looks easy enough except for the specialized 4-way tees. You probably can't get those at Home Depot. The article said those were to attach an extension when you wanted a full sized mattress. Anyhow, I'm going to give it a shot. I'll post some photos of my progress.
Dang Jim, you brought many old memories. Pops and I use to camp in the back of his full size pickup when I was a kid. We had 2 separate cots that was store bought with a spring mattress. Think we had like a foot between the two. Battery lights and we were good to go.
Bossman, I'll just have to say "Amen" to your opening statement about bringing back memories! Remember sleepin' in the back of the truck, in line, at the check station at the old Jane Green GMA, renamed Bull Creek a few years later. Back then it was "1st come, 1st served" only allowing a given number of hunters in the gate. A short time later they went to drawings to provide access during the 1st 10 days of the season. What a mess, when I look back but then we were about 45 years younger.
That leads me back to Jim's OP, that makes a lot of sense, a PVC frame, a piece of plywood and some sort of padding. Storage under the bed, just don't rear up and hit your head in the middle of the night, my friend!
Jim, Do you have an safari planned with a stick and string before Thanksgiving up here in Zone D?
Treefarmer
TRY LOEWS, they have has some pvc connections I couldn't get at home depot. I wish I'd of thought of that back in the 80's-90's. If you could find a sleeved hammock type of mesh/netting like they use for a dogs bed it'd be just the ticket.
9dawgs, where you going to be in the Panhandle? Where do you plan to hunt? I'm between Crestview and DeFuniak Springs on US 90 which is next to I-10 near exit 70.
I made something similar to the photo for my S-10 6 foot bed. You just gotta get accustom to the tight space. I used plastic bins for storage under the bunk and stack able bins for the rest. Most places I'd stay had fire rings and cover to sit under so I stayed pretty comfortable. I just need the basics.
