What do you call this thing?

I guess I’m old, but I wouldn’t call the foam rings or inner tubes a “boot”; donut sounds like a better term for those.

The TC “boots” we had on our truck back in the 1960’s and early 70’s were made of vinyl and custom made to fit the TC and truck. They required the entire removal of the TC window and truck window. The boot was screwed into the TC and fed into the cab of the truck where it snapped around the window opening. Of course, that was back when our TC windows were at least 2’ wide.

We do use a boot now, but the opening is only large enough for our 4 legged family members. When I use a foam insulator around the outside of the boot, I mask the areas where it contacts with blue painter’s tape.

Since the 1960s, I've called them a camper "boot". They used to be made out of vinyl by your local upholstery shop that could custom make them to fit your truck and camper.

I use an inner tube and have for about a year now. No scratches in the paint for me yet, it is super durable and totally weather proof. I really like it and is working out great.

We do a lot of driving and there is nothing worse than having to stop every 20 minutes and escort the kids to the bathroom on a busy road. This way I can pull over they can crawl in and use the bathroom, and we can be on our way. It is totally water tight and have driven through many storms.




Nolan

tony lee wrote:

tinted windows, locked doors, keys in my pocket, Glock at my side, it should be a pretty secure solution.

Perhaps OK in the USA, but what about when you have to leave your toy behind.

Just never leave the vehicle unattended in a couple of SA cities. They can open a locked door in seconds and clean you right out.

Some times you make choices... if you are in bad places it's your fault... if you are in bad places and are not able to protect yourself then some would say you are stupid (no one on here would say that of course)

tinted windows, locked doors, keys in my pocket, Glock at my side, it should be a pretty secure solution.

Perhaps OK in the USA, but what about when you have to leave your toy behind.

Just never leave the vehicle unattended in a couple of SA cities. They can open a locked door in seconds and clean you right out.

If you google Truck Camper Foam Boot you will find a lot of info.

DO NOT use intertubes, or anything with a solid or hard surface... they will scour the paint off your truck quickly.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I understand that you are planning on the trucks back seat being a "bed room"

but remember that there are no seatbelts in the camper... and he'll want to make quick trips while your truck is moving

... your son is precious cargo

If he's hurt it'd be newsworthy as much as when people leave their babies ib the back seat all day in the hotest days of summer

Best of luck

Sleepy

MN Ben wrote:
inner tube

Great idea! Now to find a way to keep it spread open, or attached on both sides somehow.

sleepy wrote:
I made the passage one time in each direction with a little effort... never even considered doing it again. It is much faster to just open the door and walk to the cab of the truck or vicea versea

I think some people see it as a route to the truck if the boogie man is outside the camper.

If I should ever feel that uncomfortable I wouldn't want to be laying prone... crawling through that passage... that would be a vulernable position

I think a better plan is to just stand up the the escape hatch in the roof and look way down on your visiters... with a double barrel shotgun in hand but out of sight doesn't hurt either.

Sleepy

I like your thinking. I'm mainly considering it to let my four-year old son dive in to retrieve stuff for us, and to also perhaps sleep him on the rear bench of the truck as well to free up camper space. He is all too excited about the concept of going back and forth through the window that I've gotta do something. Luckily both windows line up nicely... but the truck glass doesn't slide! A replacement is on my list this year.

But yeah, I figure with tinted windows, locked doors, keys in my pocket, Glock at my side, it should be a pretty secure solution. I'd also go the roof hatch route for a defensive position or check of the outdoors. Maybe only a grizzly is tall enough to put paws up there. I've also got a ladder bracket to hang/mount/strap stuff to, so that somewhat thwarts that avenue.

I made one out of foam, no scratches yet. It seems to stay put on the truck and camper side, the movement is taken up by the foam in-between. Way too small for me to get through, but the cat loves it!

I used a boot made of foam for 11 years... no scratches, it caused no problems.

I made the passage one time in each direction with a little effort... never even considered doing it again. It is much faster to just open the door and walk to the cab of the truck or vicea versea

I think some people see it as a route to the truck if the boogie man is outside the camper.

If I should ever feel that uncomfortable I wouldn't want to be laying prone... crawling through that passage... that would be a vulernable position

I think a better plan is to just stand up the the escape hatch in the roof and look way down on your visiters... with a double barrel shotgun in hand but out of sight doesn't hurt either.

In any case... It was called a boot by my Lance Dealer. they get to name it.... they sell more TC's than anyone... and of course Wayne got it right too.

Sleepy

There's nothing like the learning from other people's experiences. It's not like these things are a couple of bucks. I was interested in the one made of foam and it's around a hundred bucks. Appreciate everyone's input. Thank you