I ordered my truck cap – it will arrive in late May

The transition into spring is often a season of anticipation, marked more by the preparation for future adventures than the immediate arrival of warm weather. This week, that preparation took a significant step forward as I finally placed the order for an ARE MX camper shell for my truck. While the $5,400 price tag was a sharper “bite” than I had initially hoped for, the investment feels justified. Life is expensive, but I’ve worked hard to earn the means to outfit my rig properly.

I opted for the “Outdoorsman” windoors, which feature both outward-opening glass and screens, along with a sliding front window that folds down for easy cleaning. I’ll add a boot later on using gasket material or one of those kits you can order online to bridge the gap between the cab and the cap.

According to the estimates from Ruth’s, the shell should arrive in about six weeks. This timeline puts me on track for a Memorial Day weekend installation, though I’m undecided on actually camping then; the holiday weekend is notoriously buggy, and I may prefer to spend that time meticulously moving my gear over and perfecting the setup.

Driving the big truck— after years of driving my lifted Silverado—is surprisingly effortless. I’ve found that I’m quite comfortable maneuvering through city traffic and tight parking spots, thanks in no small part to the rear-view camera and towing mirrors. They are absolute game-changers, turning a “ginormous” vehicle into something that feels manageable and responsive.

Between these larger logistics, I’ve been tending to the smaller rhythms of daily life. A quick sweep of the local thrift stores yielded a solid work shirt from the Salvation Army, even if Goodwill was a bust.

To cap off the day, I’ve been logging miles in the Pine Bush. It’s a cool, lingering sort of cold, and the King’s Road barrens and Madison Ave trailheads aren’t showing many signs of spring just yet. Still, it’s a good day to kill time, take some photos, and clear my head before the inevitable grocery run at Walmart.

The gear is coming together, the truck is ready, and now, I’m just waiting for the weather to catch up and my cap to arrive.