truck campers pop up

[the other side]

What do you all know about a truck camper? I was trying to solve a problem. I spend months in a hospital with my daughter. Last time it was 4 1/2 months in the intensive care unit. You can not sleep with your kids in the intensive care so I slept in the back of my SUV for all but 2 1/2 weeks of the 4 1/2 months. After intensive care she went to rehab hospital for 6 months.
I cant put my teardrop in one parking spot and car in another. I was thinking about getting a truck camper that pops up so it will fit in the covered parking lot. Im afraid if it isnt a pop up it probably wouldnt fit in the garage. Even if you cant pop it up in the garage you can still crawl in it and sleep and have access to the fridge to cut the cost of eating at the hospital (I live 3 hours from the hospital, not close enough to go home to eat). It would have to be a small one cuz I have a Toyota Tacoma.
What do you think? Any other ideas for hospital garage living?
Thanks!

[Wimperdink]

Either a conversion van or this bad boy.....

http://www.quickupcamper.com/




Honestly though for temp sleeping quarters in your situation.... a taller camper shell on the back with a matress and some carpet on the camper shell interior can give you a very comfy temp living.




When its all over just resell it.


I feel your pain... my twins were in the NICU for 4 months and I spent a lot of time sleeping in waiting rooms etc... You might see if there is a Ronald Mcdonald house nearby. We were invited to stay at one but rathered stay in the hospital in the waiting rooms to be closer. I did sleep in my conversion a couple times during our spell there. Good luck with your situation and may it all be over soon for you.

[the other side]

I was hoping to have the use of the fridge for food, a microwave, and maybe a portapotti. Almost couldnt make it all the way back to the hospital one morning (too cold I guess)
I really didnt mind the back of the SUV with my blow up mattress and portable DVD player, but some extras would be SO MUCH BETTER. A shower would be GRAVY!!!

[Wimperdink]

I was hoping to have the use of the fridge for food, a microwave, and maybe a portapotti. Almost couldnt make it all the way back to the hospital one morning (too cold I guess)
I really didnt mind the back of the SUV with my blow up mattress and portable DVD player, but some extras would be SO MUCH BETTER. A shower would be GRAVY!!!

Those slide in campers for trucks of your size are pretty high dollar. They stick up pretty high too. You might not make it in the garage. I had to park my hightop conversion outside as it was too tall for the garages.

[the other side]

Man!!! The streets of Baltimore, Me sleeping, uuuuuggggghhhh!

[Wimperdink]

I've actually been playing with ideas for an S10 slide in truck tear for convenience of just going out by myself or with hunny. The cabover would hold my feet and the bed would extend back from there. Under the bed would be a small couch. The bed over the couch would hinge over into the cabover giving standing/stooping room in the back for changing/porta potty access or whatever is needed back there. Too bad you need it now and not whithin time to build.

[the other side]

Would that idea be able to fit in a garage though? Or did you mean on the street?

[Wimperdink]

Would that idea be able to fit in a garage though? Or did you mean on the street?

I'd have to measure but probably not.... parking garages are usually around 7' height. My conversion van measures in at 7' 4" so I can't get in them or average automatic car washes either.


Really though if you have the money available, it might not be a bad idea to pick up a used conversion van for this time.... They really are plush inside and have tv's and fold down beds already built in. You could remove the middle captains chairs and throw in a porta potty with no problem at all.

http://baltimore.craigslist.org/cto/2311941611.html nice enough one for $2,900 and there again you could put it up for sale once your ordeal is over. There are some in your area for under 2,000. They are quickly becoming unpopular because of gas mileage. Mine gets about 12 mpg.

[stevem50]

you can build some pretty cool stuff in the back of a pick-up w/ a cap on it. no.. not tall enough to stand up in, but if you boxed off the bed walls over the wheelwell, you could make a sleep area that flips up for storeage. after you have a "bed area" then arrange the needed stuff, ac, fridge,luggable loo porta-john, etc.. tint the hell out of the windows and you got an instant bedroom. if you remove the tailgate, some truck caps are available with large locking doors that go all the way to the base of the bed. easier to get into and more secure. seems that keeping it simple will get it done sooner and for a bunch less money

[PKCSPT]

I'd go with the topper shell where you remove the tailgate and it has a door. My father in law put in a bed that was hinged so he could put it up out of the way and a large cooler for food I wouldn't think it too hard to add the porta potti too. Shower is another challenge.
Good Luck

[the other side]

you know thats not a bad idea. they do have those little refrigerators that plug in the cigarette lighters. Do you know if they drain your battery if plugged in all the time? It def. would be alot cheaper than those truck campers, although not as luxurious. Another problem I had was turning the car on and off for heat/air and to charge my DVD player.
I wonder if people would think I have something of value in there and try to break in. When I was in the back of the SUV it was just another suv car sitting in the parking lot. It didnt draw ANY added attention.
If we end up in the hospital for another LONG go of it, I think investing in "MORE" might be better though. I spent a total of 10 months that year (if you count the 2 month say my other daughter did) in the hospital parking lot. If you add all of the parking fees and the hotel once in a while for a bath, and the food in the hospital, it would prob. pay itself off rather quickly, I guess. Atleast it could do all I need it to do.
One family I met rented and apartment. I BRIEFLY thought about that. But if you consider that, I would come out ahead if I got even the most expensive truck camper (as long as I could sell it when done with it).
It would be SO much easier if I could just park the teardrop (and pay double for 2 parking spots).

[Corwin C]

Sorry to hear about the health issues. I went through a similar experience with family member's hospital stays. Lived in the back of the Tahoe with a full size coleman inflatable mattress, a sleeping bag, "manifold soup*" when I warmed the Tahoe up before bed, and a cheap gym membership (for the shower.)

*(For those of you unfamiliar with the term -- punch small hole in lid of can of soup. Place can on exhaust manifold of running engine for about 15 minutes. Carefully remove lid completely (can be hot) stir thoroughly and Enjoy straight from the can. Dishes consist of a spoon...)

[the other side]

Well I can tell you all that in the winter you do NOT need the fridge. I can store frozen dinners in the SUV and stick them in a cooler (with no ice) for the night (while I keep heating up the car). BUT, you do have to be careful with soda. The cans start getting deformed and bloated. If you get canned ice tea it isnt as bad.
Also in the winter you need a bigger blanket under you than on top of you (on an air mattress).
In the summer you need a LOT of drinks and trips back in the hospital to cool off (but then you have to pee a lot with all the drinking). Way harder to eat in the summer out of a car compaired to the winter.
I cant tell you how many diaper wipe baths I took in my SUV!

[High Desert]

other side, do you already have a pickup to put a camper or shell on? If so, what size?

A cab high shell on a full size, 8' long bed pickup has a lot of room, more than your tear. Like some others have said, with a little planning you could have just about all you want except the shower. And you could add a second battery to the rig on an isolator (simple proceedure) for power. No more starting the engine during the evening. And the full rear door ones are the best by far, trust me it's no fun crawling over that tailgate every time you want to get in. These can often be had for a few hundred dollars if you already have the truck. I paid $250 for mine off of CL.

Best of luck in your search for a solution.

[the other side]

the truck is going to be a toyota tacoma. It wont be the truck with the little square back end, so I guess it is a long bed. My husband has give up on his mid-life crisis car finally. We REALLY need a second vehicle that can carry the wheelchair. Husband will have to trade in his car and our old toyota pickup (with a long bed). If the NEW truck doesnt happen, we have a long bed toyota pickup (the one without the name).