How I Became a Part-Time Dirtbag and Built My Dream Truck Camper

Dirtbag / dert-bag / (noun)

derogatory and informal:

1. A particularly dirty or unkempt person
2. An individual incapable of respectfully participating in common aspects of society
3. A person who is committed to a given lifestyle to the point of abandoning traditional employment and other societal norms in order to pursue said lifestyle

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My poor mother. All she ever wanted for me was a stable life and a respectable job. She never wanted to raise a dirtbag. But, it would seem that a dirtbag is what she got (sorry, Mom!). Or, a wannabe part-time dirtbag, anyway.

You see, after bumming around a bit during and after college, I did eventually settle down with a respectable 9-to-5 and a family. The days of late nights, half-baked cross-country road trips, and ill-planned misadventures were traded for nearly two decades in a business-casual wardrobe and a respectable resume. But the yearning for fulfillment and more time spent out-of-doors had been simmering just below the surface for some time. Then it began to reach a boiling point.

The Dirtbag Diaries
I came across Fitz Cahall and The Dirtbag Diaries podcast purely by accident. Or, more likely, an algorithm. It was recommended to me by my phone while searching for a different outdoor adventure-focused podcast. Upon first listen, I knew I had found something that resonated within.

Each episode features a story told by people living a life intentionally built around the outdoors. Many guests sacrifice personal comforts for a life pursuing fulfillment and purpose outside. It was entertaining and inspiring.

Intrigued, I went in search of more information. I learned that Fitz, the host and founder of The Dirtbag Diaries, was a struggling outdoor writer who spent seven years living out of his truck, chasing stories and immersing himself in his “community of climbers, skiers, wanderers, and dreamers.” And, just as he was about to resign himself to a “real job,” he called a Hail Mary and started The Dirtbag Diaries podcast. It turned out to be a hit. Now in its 18th year, there are over 400 episodes, and the podcast has been downloaded more than 35 million times.

“That’s what I want to do,” I thought to myself, “be a freelance outdoor writer who spends as much time immersed in nature and his hobbies as I can get away with.” So, after a supportive conversation with my wife, that’s what I decided I would do. As our family schedule and budget would allow, of course.

Diving into the Dirtbag Life
A couple days later, I was at my local hardware store purchasing two-by-fours, plywood, and screws. It was time to finally build the “glamper shell” for our 1993 Toyota pickup that I had been dreaming of for several years. The goal was to make the camper shell as comfortable, practical, and functional as possible while also being as frugal and resourceful as possible.

After poring over photos of builds on the internet and watching too many camper shell tours on YouTube, I knew how I wanted to set it up. I would build a simple frame that fits just inside the truck bed, with a single permanent sleeping platform on one side, featuring storage underneath.

There would also be a removable second sleeping platform that could be laid in to create a full-size bed for family camping trips or when my wife and/or son joined me on adventures. In single mode, it could also hold a bike, a cooler, tackle, and gear. Additionally, it could serve as a workspace in a pinch. And, it all could be easily removed in one piece whenever we needed the truck for truck things, like hauling mulch, firewood, or helping friends move.

Thinking through other practical uses, I picked up a ladder rack and two secondhand rooftop bike rails so I could also carry two bikes plus our canoe atop the shell. I also realized I could string a tarp along the overhang of the roof rack to make a private shower or changing area for camping in the backcountry or campgrounds without a shower house. It would be an all-purpose adventure-mobile that could handle most anything we might ask of it, so long as four-wheel drive wouldn’t be required. Ideally, it would inspire more adventures along the way, too.

Dreams to Reality
My first order of business was measuring the bed of my truck. Next, I sketched a rough blueprint for how I would build the frame and platform. Then came mounting the ladder rack and bike rails to the top of the camper shell. Drilling holes in the roof was a little discomforting, but I made sure to use rubber gaskets between the legs of the ladder rack and the shell and squeezed a little silicone around the bolt heads to minimize the risk of water leakage.

Next came the frame for the sleeping platform. I gathered my newly acquired lumber and a few basic hand tools: circle saw, drill, tape measure, and rafter square. I measured the width and length of my truck bed three more times, marked the measurements on the lumber, and then started cutting.

Once the frame was assembled, I lifted it into the truck bed. It fit, but it wasn’t pretty. There were rough cuts and imperfections, for sure, but it was good enough for who it was for. However, with my wife in mind, I grabbed some surplus paint from the basement and gave the frame a couple of coats in hopes that it might hide my mistakes and protect the wood from moisture.

Getting Comfortable
The next step was the funnest. It was time to make it pretty! I bought some marine carpet for the beds, canvas for making curtains, copper string lights to run around the interior, and a five-foot-by-six-foot outdoor rug.

Once everything was in place, it was time for the moment of truth. I laid out some memory foam and my sleeping bag, and I lay down.

It felt downright homey. Or, as homey as the back of a truck can be, anyway. I had done it. Our new glamper shell was complete, and all for a fraction of the cost of a pull-behind camper or the price of entry for the #vanlife.

In total, I spent just shy of $300 for everything. I was proud of my creation and frugality. I was eager to adventure, already scheming about all the camping, fishing, floating, and biking trips that would be possible and the stories I could write as a result.

The Beta Phase
I tested out the functionality of the new glamper shell first, hauling bikes to my favorite trails and using it as my race headquarters for my inaugural marathon and ultramarathon. It was just as useful as I hoped it would be. So far, so good.

My first real sleep in the back of the truck was during a camping trip for my best friend’s 40th birthday. And, naturally, it poured all weekend.

However, I am happy to report that I stayed relatively dry and slept exceptionally well. There was some moisture and a couple of damp spots along the corners of the rug from the downpours, but my bed stayed dry and warm. It was a little cramped but otherwise very comfortable.

After that waterlogged trip, I added additional weather stripping around the shell and decided to purchase two waterproof inflatable memory foam camp pads during a clearance sale to replace the standard bed foam I had used.

Beyond those upgrades, I acquired a small, battery-powered hanging fan for better circulation in warmer weather and my dad’s old, compact folding camp table to accommodate my stove and cookware.

Is it the prettiest camping setup? No. Is it the fanciest? Definitely not. But, all in all, it’s exactly what I want it to be, and I couldn’t be happier with my new glamper shell. Now, both my wife and my son keep asking when they can try it out, too. So, we need to start planning some adventures together — as a dirtbag family.

 

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Bonus Feature: My Conversation with Fitz Cahall
Curious to know more about the principles behind The Dirtbag Diaries and the lifestyle in general, I reached out to Fitz seeking guidance for a wannabe part-time dirtbag. Fitz graciously agreed to a phone interview, and, in this case, I was happy to meet a hero.

I found out that Fitz’ first mobile home was also a ’93 Toyota pickup named “Crash,” though for the first few years as an itinerant journalist, he did not have a camper shell. If the weather was good, he’d throw his sleeping roll in the bed of the truck and sleep directly under the stars. And if there was inclement weather, he would sleep under his truck, which builds character and makes for good stories, but he doesn’t recommend it. Here’s what else I learned from Fitz.

In your mind, what makes a “dirtbag”?
On one level, the term came about through the climbing scene in the ’70s and encompassed being broke and living out of your car so you could pursue these endeavors that society doesn’t necessarily view as valuable. Now, there are varying shades of “dirtbag.” The truth is we can all find some level where we say, “This thing matters to me in my life, and I’m going to shape my life to allow it to be an integral part of my world.”

Why is “dirtbagging” a valuable and meaningful lifestyle?
When you choose to make compromises in regard to your time and money in order to prioritize the things that mean the most to you, it creates a deeply meaningful experience. There’s purpose and beauty in the process and in the doing. That one little leap opens up so many new possibilities, like, “What else can I learn about the world and about myself?”

After all your years of freelance writing, podcasting, and dirtbag living, what’s the most important piece of advice you would give to your younger self when you first started out “dirtbagging”?
When I was younger, the things I was interested in weren’t on the radar for most folks. It certainly wasn’t mainstream. It felt like being part of some fringe culture, similar to the early days of the punk rock scene. So I’d tell myself, “Don’t be afraid to keep going. If it’s meaningful to you, that’s what matters.”

What advice would you impart to anyone wanting to spend more time pursuing their passions?
It sounds trite, but just do it. There will always be an endless list of chores, and the challenge is making the effort to do the things that light us up. Most of the time, the chores can wait. I never have the feeling afterward of “That was a waste of time – I shouldn’t have done that.” It’s always the opposite, in fact.

To learn more about Fitz Cahall and The Dirtbag Diaries, visit dirtbagdiaries.com.

Author: Kyle Wayne Stewart is a frequent contributor to Terrain.

Top image: The author and his truck camper. (Kyle Wayne Stewart)