Not every camping trip turns into a magical Pinterest moment.
Sometimes it turns into you cutting tree sap out of your dachshund’s toes with Walmart meat shears at 9pm.
This was one of those weekends.
But honestly? Those are usually the best trips.
If you’ve ever wondered what truck camper life with dogs actually looks like, here’s a real weekend from start to finish — from finding campsites in the dark to hiking with two dogs and dealing with ticks, tree sap, and the occasional camper mishap.
If you’re new to truck campers, you might also like my post about what no one tells you about owning a truck camper.
Arriving at Camp in the Dark
We left Friday evening after work and rolled into the area after dark.
Finding a campsite in the dark with a truck camper is… a little chaotic.
Our strategy is pretty simple. We have a general area in mind, then we park the truck, grab our headlamps, and go walk potential campsites before pulling in.
Truck campers are great, but once you commit to a spot it’s not exactly easy to back out if it turns out to be terrible.
So Chris and I basically wandered around the woods with headlamps like two raccoons checking out real estate.
We probably looked at five or six sites before we found the one.
And it was worth the extra walking.
It was a big open spot right along the river with plenty of room to spread out.
The Truck Camper Setup Routine
Once we decide on a site, we have a little system.
I stay in the truck while Chris gets the camper leveled.
Not because I’m lazy (well… maybe a little), but mostly because if I get out I’m either in the way or trying to wrangle two dogs while he’s moving the truck back and forth.
So I just sit there like a supportive passenger princess while he works.
Once we were level, we got out and did the bare minimum setup.
When it’s late and dark, we usually just throw most of our stuff in the truck bed and deal with it in the morning. Camping is supposed to be relaxing, not a midnight organizing project.
I fed the dogs while Chris got Starlink set up, and then we climbed into the camper and watched an episode of Big Sky before going to sleep.
Not a bad way to end a Friday.
We’ve slowly upgraded our setup over time to make truck camping easier. Some of our favorite changes are in this post about truck camper upgrades that made camping easier.
Waking Up by the River
We woke up the next morning to the sound of the river right outside the camper.
And this is one of the reasons we love truck camping so much.
You wake up, open the door, and you’re just… outside.
Coffee tastes better.
The dogs are immediately ready for adventure.
And for a few minutes everything feels quiet and simple.
Until the chaos begins.
Exploring With the Dogs
We spent most of Saturday exploring around the area with the dogs.
Lulu, our black lab, is convinced she was born for this life.
Jingle, our long-haired mini dachshund, also believes he is a rugged mountain dog.
Reality says otherwise.
He tries very hard, but after a while he usually ends up riding in his backpack like the tiny king he is.
Which he loves, by the way.
Camping with dogs is one of our favorite parts of truck camper travel, but it definitely comes with some extra mess and chaos. I wrote a full post about how we keep our truck camper clean with dogs.
The Tick Situation
If you’ve ever camped in the woods in the spring, you already know what happened next.
Ticks.
So many ticks.
We did the full inspection routine when we got back to camp, which mostly involves checking dogs, checking ourselves, and pretending we’re not slightly paranoid about it.
Camping reality.
We’re pretty careful about this stuff though. Both dogs stay up to date on flea and tick prevention, and we keep them current on their Lyme disease vaccines since we spend a lot of time hiking and camping in the woods.
Ticks are just part of the deal when you spend time outside like this, but a little prevention goes a long way toward keeping everyone healthy.
And it definitely helps the peace of mind when you’re pulling your third tick of the day off a dog.
Camp Dinner (The Simple Kind)
After hiking most of the day, we headed back to camp hungry.
One of the things I love about truck camping is that dinner doesn’t have to be complicated.
This night was a simple one — Chris made Philly cheesesteaks and I had a sub, which we cooked and ate outside while the dogs wandered around sniffing everything within a 20-foot radius.
Nothing fancy. Just cheesesteaks, a sub, the river in the background, dogs at our feet, and Chris tending the fire like it’s a competitive sport.
And honestly?
Food just tastes better at camp.
The Tree Sap Incident
The real adventure happened later that night.
Somewhere along the way Jingle managed to step directly into tree sap.
Not a little sap.
I’m talking glued-to-the-forest-floor level sap.
And of course it ended up between his toes.
So there I was at 9pm in the camper, sitting on the bed, carefully cutting hardened tree sap out of a dachshund’s toe fluff with a pair of Walmart meat shears.
Not exactly the glamorous side of camping.
But we got it out.
Jingle survived.
And the camper did not require emergency surgery.
My Personal Low Point
At some point during all of this, I also managed to fall down the camper steps.
For a brief moment I was fully convinced I had broken my ankle.
Turns out I was fine.
Just a little dramatic.
But I do have a few impressive bruises to show as evidence, and at this point I’m fully convinced the camper steps are actively trying to kill me.
They’ve already claimed my dignity once this season.
Camping is magical.
The camper steps are less magical.
In their defense, it’s not their fault. The steps are sturdy, and wide.
I apparently just have a hard time staying upright.
The Reality of Camping With Dogs
Camping with dogs is amazing.
But it’s also messy.
There will be dirt.
There will be ticks.
There will probably be some kind of mysterious forest substance stuck in someone’s fur.
But weekends like this are still our favorite.
Because even when things get a little chaotic, we’re still waking up next to rivers, hiking new trails, and watching sunsets from the camper door.
And those are the moments that make the tree sap, ticks, and near-death camper step experiences completely worth it.
What We’d Change Next Time
We really did love this campsite. It was beautiful, right on the river, and exactly the kind of place we’re always hoping to find when we’re truck camping.
But if we’re being honest, there are a few things we’d probably do differently next time.
1. Choose a campsite where we can offload the camper.
The spot we picked was gorgeous, but we weren’t in a position where we could unload the camper and take the truck to explore the forest roads. And exploring forest roads is honestly one of our favorite parts of truck camping.
Jingle especially loves it. His entire personality revolves around hanging his head out the truck window and pretending he’s on some kind of wilderness expedition.
2. Bring the Jeep.
We actually bought our Jeep for trips exactly like this — so we can set up camp and still explore the area.
The problem is… I hate driving. I’m fully a passenger princess and will avoid driving whenever possible.
But on trips like this, having the Jeep would have made exploring so much easier.
Lesson learned.
3. Pack slightly more than I think I need.
I’m the opposite of a chronic over-packer. I always convince myself I can get by with less.
This time I forgot pajamas.
Last trip it was socks.
One of these days I’ll learn.
4. Keep a closer eye on the river with Jingle around.
Jingle is obsessed with water. Like truly believes he’s Michael Phelps.
The river was running pretty fast because of snow melt, and while he never actually jumped in, I spent a good portion of the afternoon mentally preparing myself to rescue a dachshund from a very enthusiastic swimming attempt.
He stayed on shore… but my anxiety definitely did not.
Again, we really did love this campsite. But if we’re being honest, these are the things we’d probably change next time.
Dirt Road Lesson
Camping trips don’t have to be perfect to be memorable.
Sometimes the best stories come from the messy weekends — the ones with ticks, tree sap, bruised ankles, and a pair of emergency Walmart meat shears.
And if you ask me, those are the trips that end up being the most fun to remember.
What is your favorite campsite memory?