BEST Kayak Fishing & Truck Camping Setup! My Go -To Camp Spot (Minus the SNAKES..)

Heave, scrape and shine — that’s how the weekend started.

Overview

A weekend systems test: a heavily modified Hobie ProAngler 14 and a custom trailer were dug out, cleaned and readied; a truck outfitted for car-camping served as basecamp; a short trip to Guntersville (Town Creek) validated the gear on water and at camp. The outing included minor repairs/cleanup, an evening paddle, drone footage, and a day of LiveScope-assisted fishing before storms prompted an early pack-up.

Kayak, trailer and on-trailer kit

• The kayak: a heavily modified 2021 Hobie ProAngler 14
  • LiveScope-ready plumbing and a custom 360° transducer mount repurposed from a 360 drive
  • 12-inch Garmin display (shared with the bass boat)
  • NK300 (OG) motor and a lighter ENK 180 Pro option
  • Aluminum J-plates, Catch tracks, YakAttack fittings, marine mat
  • Dakota lithium and Power Queen batteries; Newport Vessels 36V battery referenced
• The trailer:
  • Handmade frame and platform; retractable ratchet straps and a winch
  • Lights and ramp-friendly platform; visual scars from a tornado-incident story
  • Small maintenance notes: busted sprayer cap, batteries prodded to life

Camp setup (truck and rooftop tent)

The truck camp was set up like a compact, plug-in cabin:

• Top Oak rooftop tent (Galaxy Pro) with awning (270°) and strip lighting
• Built-in 100Ah battery and a Peekron power station as backup
• Pull-out APL55 fridge on a slide; onboard water with a sprayer (cap missing)
• Billy Bars tailgate cover used as a cook surface
• Neat storage for rods, tackle, DeWalt track pack drawer and Yakimo boxes
• Power routings: a power cord threaded through the tent window to run lights and accessories

The trip — site and activities

• Location: Guntersville — Town Creek, chosen because the truck could park level and the kayak could be tied to a log away from the ramp.
• First annoyances: campers had left fire pits full of trash; the host cleaned them out.
• Evening: sunset, tailgate hot dogs, a quick paddle after seeing bait congregate.
• Drone: initially would not pair with its remote, but later produced aerial footage.

Night and morning

• Night: rooftop tent slept well; camp felt settled under the awning lights.
• Morning: simple breakfast (eggs from home chickens and sausage cooked on the tailgate cover), coffee and relaxed plans as the lake filled with boats for a kayaker tournament.

On the water

• Electronics: the 360 LiveScope rig worked as designed, painting bait balls and schools of brim.
• Fishing: the host chased a bait ball and fooled one bass; heat and sun made intermittent retreats to shade necessary.
• Camp life: a curious rope/creature investigated the kayak and log; a hammock (Dylan’s) became a semi-permanent fixture.

Outcome and assessment

• What worked:
  • Trailer and kayak performed as expected
  • Rooftop tent, power setup, water tank and fridge all proved comfortable and functional
  • 360 LiveScope rig and associated electronics performed well
• Decisions: storms and rising heat led to an early pack-up and return to the shop
• Closing note from the host: new videos uploaded every Monday at 6:00 p.m. Central, with playlists and links to gear shown.

Presenters / sources

• Kayak USA (host / channel creator)
• Dylan (camping companion)
• Chris (camping companion; first time in rooftop tent)

Referenced gear & brands

• Hobie (ProAngler 14)
• Garmin (12” chartplotter)
• LiveScope (360 LiveScope rig)
• Dakota lithium, Power Queen battery, Newport Vessels (36V battery)
• ENK / NK motors, Xi3 trolling motor
• YakAttack, Catch (J‑plates / tracks)
• Top Oak (rooftop tent)
• APL55 fridge (slide-out)
• Billy Bars (tailgate cover)
• Peekron (power station)
• DeWalt (track pack drawer), Yakimo boxes, Tim Percy plate
• Various aftermarket trailer and rigging parts