Can pop up truck campers with soft sides be safely used in Alaska and other wild country? Thinking about bears, big cats, raccoons, etc. Any experienced input appreciated.

Yes!Why not?I been to Alaska and NWT several times. I seen people with kids staying in tents. Others just overnighting it in sleeping bags literally under the stars.I don't see Alaska wildlife as being any different than northern Wisconsin or any other place with bears, bobcats, raccoons, etc. The deer, moose, and buffalo ignore you. You have to go out of your way (very carefully) to get decent views of them. Food storage and campsite cleanliness needs to be adhered to. Just practice good camping manners and all will be well.LeRoy

I "think" there are some campgrounds in Yellowstone that require hardside campers. Last time there was 35 years. No idea about anywhere else. So if Yellowstone NPS requires it in a couple campgrounds I would think other national parks might would as well. It wouldn't bother me to camp anywhere in a softside pop up.

I did it for 2 months a long time ago. Teklanika campground in Denali had a no popup camper rule, but that was for trailers. They considered a truck camper to be far enough off the ground.But you realize, of course, that an Alaskan Brown bear (and others) gets into anything it wants to - hard side, soft side, whatever. I would not expect that to be a problem, though, unless you are extremely careless.

cewillis wrote:I did it for 2 months a long time ago. Teklanika campground in Denali had a no popup camper rule, but that was for trailers. They considered a truck camper to be far enough off the ground.But you realize, of course, that an Alaskan Brown bear (and others) gets into anything it wants to - hard side, soft side, whatever. I would not expect that to be a problem, though, unless you are extremely careless.Reminds me of an old friend who lives near Warren, Pennsylvania on the edge of the Kinzua National Forest. He put his garbage in his International Scout one evening to take it to the dump and got sidetracked and forgot about it. Heard an awful racket in the wee hours of the morning and came out to see a bear shredding the side of the Scout to get to the garbage. Motto of the story is camp clean leave no garbage lying around and you should have no issue. Bears have wicked claws and are determined. You can always take a long gun along, in as much as you cannot transport a handgun through Canada but you can a long gun or shot gun provided you can show proof of ownership.

Don't think a raccoon would be an issue, too low to the ground for one and timid.

Popup truck camper with soft sides | Good Sam Community

22 Replies

TxGearhead
Explorer II
Mar 30, 2019
I "think" there are some campgrounds in Yellowstone that require hardside campers. Last time there was 35 years. No idea about anywhere else. So if Yellowstone NPS requires it in a couple campgrounds I would think other national parks might would as well.
It wouldn't bother me to camp anywhere in a softside pop up.
Homeless_by_Cho
Explorer
Mar 30, 2019
Yes!

Why not?

I been to Alaska and NWT several times. I seen people with kids staying in tents. Others just overnighting it in sleeping bags literally under the stars.

I don't see Alaska wildlife as being any different than northern Wisconsin or any other place with bears, bobcats, raccoons, etc. The deer, moose, and buffalo ignore you. You have to go out of your way (very carefully) to get decent views of them. Food storage and campsite cleanliness needs to be adhered to. Just practice good camping manners and all will be well.

LeRoy

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Popup truck camper with soft sides

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