Sleeping cheap before a tourney (Summer 2007 tips contest winner)

[Duane Paquette]

I seek out ways to cut costs so I can fish more.  For under $300.00 I set up my camper shell very nicely.  I have an ac, bed, heater, water supply, microwave, stove top and sink.  A 5 day cooler holds all of the cold stuff like drinks and food. 

With this set up I spend the night prior to a tournament at a local campground for a fraction of the cost of a hotel room.  For instance if If I'm prefishing for 3 days at lake ouachita here in AR the campground (COE) fee will cost me $15 for 3 nights. This is way less than 1 night in a hotel and I don't have to worry about thieves.  Hot showers and restrooms are available at most campgrounds so that isn't a problem. If the campground is a Corp campground I get 50% off to boot.  If anyone is interested in how I set the camper up I can take some photos and post. 

The neat thing about this whole deal is you can set up anyway that best suits your needs. 

This is my bed.  I'm a short guy so I can sleep sideways in the camper shell.  The frame is three 2x6 running from truck bed rail to truck bed rail.  Each 2x6 has a 2x6 as a support.  In the photo you can only see 1 support as the others are hidden behind that one.  On top of the 2x6 frame I put a 3/4" plywood sheet.
My truck is a GMC Sierra 1500 w/ 6 foot bed.  If you have an 8 foot bed that's even more room.
Mattress is a 4'" posture pedic.  The kind that leaves a hand print when you remove your hand.  Bed is 36" wide by 68".  If I want to sleep on by back I have to sleep with my head on 1 corner and my feet on the oppisite corner.  Since I usually sleep on my side it isn't a problem.


Cooler is a 5 day ice holding one from walmart.  It slides under the bed.


Water can is 6 gl and a hand pump from JC Whitney will be used to pump water for sink It goes under bed on left side


This is my kitchen area.  Notice the microwave, sink and travel griddle.  Sink is a wash basin that my wife use to use in the garden. Ssshh.


This shows the cabinet in place.  The back of the cabinet was cut out to allow it to fit over the wheel well.  The sink rests in a hole that is not big enough for it to sit flush with the counter top.  That way I can get my fingers under it


Got to have an A/C right?  I built this stand for the ac.  It sets on the tailgate so any water runs off and away from the truck bed.  AC has 2 little legs that came on it to hook onto a window.  I place these legs in front of the stand so it doesn't slide.


THis is what the truck looks like when it is closed.  I did use a styrofoam  sheet to close up any holes but it would snap to easy.  To fix this I used my extra pillow to close the space.  It really does a better job than the styrofoam. The hole in the end of the cabinet is a drain for gray water from the sink.  I planned on running a hose to an outside container but found it easier just to lift the sink out and dump it.

For heat I use a little ceramic heater.  Even at 17 degrees I slept like a baby.  Of course in the winter time I don't leave the tail gate down.

Notice the bass on my pillow?  That way if I can't catch them at least I can dream about catching them.

[Swede]

Anything that saves $$ - I'm interested in.  Would love to see the pics 

[Duane Paquette]

I'll take some photos and I'm assuming the attachment part below will allow me to post photos.

If you are vertically challenged like I am  (5'7") you can make the bunk sideways in the truck and save lots of space.  But that is the great thing about setting your truck up to meet your needs. 

Let me take some shots, resize and post.  Be back later.
pac

[Bassinkorea]

Cool, can't wait to see you photos  thanks for sharing your money saving tip 

[Duane Paquette]

I'll post in a series since I don't think I can post all pics at once

[Duane Paquette]

Run down on costs.  Going from memory here.

1 sheet of plywood $26
2x6 lumber was scrap here at the house
Microwave was given to me
mattress $70
water jug $7
Griddle stolen from wife.  She'll never know!
Cooler on sale for $26
AC stand more scrap here at the house
paint $6
ceramic heater $18
AC unit $120

Total $273

Not exactly free but it will pay for its self in a weeks time by not sleeping at a hotel

[Bassinkorea]

That's great Duane, love the photos.....you've got a little mobile Hotel right there 

[Nutt]

Thats a pretty cool setup.  What about powering all the electrical?  What size generator do you use?

[Ron Fogelson]

A little thought, a little work and a little time sure can save some $$$$$ in the long run.  Great tip, thanks for posting it here for us.

Fogy

[Duane Paquette]

Thats a pretty cool setup.  What about powering all the electrical?  What size generator do you use?

I don't have a generator so all of my stays have been at either Corp of Engineers or State campgrounds.  I get a site that has electric hookups and run a heavy duty extension cord to a surge protector in the camper shell. 

For light I have a small desk lamp that clamps in place.

[thatjohnkid]

Very cool, a good idea as well if your a hunter and need a place to crash for the night.  Did that before in a mini-van just took out all the back seats and crashed for opening weekend of squirrel season back in MI a few years ago.

[Duane Paquette]

I had some questions from taller folks that were concerned about the bed going side ways in the truck bed.  If you are to tall for my set up all you have to do is make the bed run the leangth of the truck or use a cot. 

I used a cot for 2 years but got tired of putting it up and taking it down.  Plus it wasn't as comfortable as a real mattress.  With a cot you also loose storage space.  With my bed above the truck sides I have kept a lot of storage space free.  Also with my set up, two can sleep inside although it is cramped.  I place a cot under the high bed and my buddy sleeps with his feet under my bed and his head towards the tailgate.  The cooler gets set outside so the cot will fit.

[Swede]

Holy Smokes Batman - we've got ourselves a self made Super 8 Motel.  Thanks for the great tip!!

[CaptChaos86]

That is some creativity there. Way to use ol noogen and save some money.

[Big J]

Best Idea I've heard of.  It looks awesome too.  What do you do when you got to go to the bathroom?

[Duane Paquette]

Best Idea I've heard of.  It looks awesome too.  What do you do when you got to go to the bathroom?

Not a problem.  I stay at Corp of Engineer or state park campgrounds that have facilities. 

[Beagle]

Very cool thread. My vote for tip of the month. Like I really get a vote. But if I did, this would be the one. 

[1FASTLASER]

EXCELLANT!!!!!! I used to do a load of camping with my parents and siblings and for some reason got away from it. Reading this post jogged my memory as to why. The hassle of setting up the tent,the dressing room and the dining canopy etc..etc.. Then dragging out the coolers...............you get the pic. Being that I have 2 boys that are at the age now that fishing trips are in order this idea of yours got my ole noggin going. Shoot me and the 2 boys can do this together A BIG PLUS and save some money for gas or better yet MORE TACKLE...LOL Like I need it. Gonna get out the tape measure and figure out what I gotta do to make the bed where it will fold out in three sections to accomodate us.

[Bassinkorea]

Very cool thread. My vote for tip of the month. Like I really get a vote. But if I did, this would be the one. 

Your chance to vote will be coming real soon Beagle......just watch this space 

[Duane Paquette]

When I made the design for my set up I used Power Point to build the "blue print".   It has the capability to draw to scale and you can get a idea if your thoughts will work out before spending any money.  It isn't exact but close enough to give you a good idea if the plan will work.

Draw your truck bed at a scale of 1" = 1'.  A top view and rear view worked for me when I was doing this.  Save these veiws as slide #1 and #2.

On slide #3 draw the plywood to scale and line out the cuts with a dotted line to see if 1 sheet of plywood will meet your needs. Save slide

Slide #4 make a copy of top view and add cuts to see how it will look and fit. 

I'd be happy to send my version to anyone that would like to see it to use or to better understand what I'm talking about.  Just send me a pm.

I bet between all of us interested in something like this we can come up with something that makes mine look like a crude beginning.
pac

[Duane Paquette]

After looking at the rear view photo a thought came to me.  If I had made the the cabinet door the same width as the empty space between the ac and the kitchen area I could have just opened the door instead of using the pillow to close off the space. 

[Duane Paquette]

I am posting the power point plans that I used for my project. This is only an example not any kind of actual building plan. Use at your own risk.
pac

I had to transfer the ppt to a word doc in order to get it to work on the web page.  I have printed it out from the web page and it is easier to read the words after printing the example.

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[mbhutton]

Hey man thats great way to save some money, i am wanting to start fishing some more tourments and that would save me a great deal of money.thanks

[cdavisnow]

Great idea, but how do you take a shower in there?

[Duane Paquette]

Great idea, but how do you take a shower in there?

I only stay at state parks or Corp of Engineer parks.  In AR they (parks) normally have flush toilets and hot showers.