A turtle travels everywhere it goes carrying its home on its back, with everything it needs inside. So too do those tour pros who live from a camper on the tournament trail. It seems the number of pros who opt to live and travel in RVs, truck-toppers, or fifth-wheel campers is increasing with each tournament season.

Aaron Martens travels with his family, and recently sold his huge RV and now pulls a fifth-wheel camper, while his wife drives their truck pulling the boat. Brent Chapman bought a fifth-wheel camper after his BassFan Top Gun win in 2005. Randy Howell uses a Zephyr Travel System – a sort of RV-plus-trailer that totes his truck and boat inside.

These are big rigs, and they're not cheap.

Kiriyama's Kamper

Kota Kiriyama also opts for the camping life, but chose a smaller setup. He uses a Host RV brand custom truck-top camper. Though less expensive and expansive than the others mentioned above, he contends that it's no less sophisticated, and actually increases his efficiency as an angler while he travels the Bassmaster Elite Series trail.

"All the time, more guys are camping instead of staying in motels," Kiriyama said. "Some are pulling separate vehicles, like fifth-wheel campers, but then you have to have a second healthy person to drive the other vehicle."

He travels alone, so he chose the truck-top over the towed variety.

"It's a custom truck camper for traveling fishermen," he said. "It has a large rod locker on the roof, and I can put 40 or 50 rods in it. It has another custom rod storage space under the bed. Host RV has the most advanced technology in campers. Compared to others it is stronger and lighter, all aluminum, and has amazing attention to detail.

"It's not like old campers you can tolerate for just a few days," he added. "You can live in there real nice. I can work in the camper too without it taking too much space. I pack everything I need before I leave, and I know where everything is the whole time. It's very convenient. I don't have to unpack and repack all my stuff at a motel."

The campers have a number of options available. For example, his includes a slide-out in rear – perfect for his short-bed pickup – and he said it adds "a huge space."

"And you don't have to do anything at the campground or leave your camper (behind when you drive locally). The camper is small enough to leave on the truck and still put the boat in (at the ramp). And I have it wrapped," so it generates impressions for sponsors.



Host RV
Photo: Host RV

Kiriyama's camper is dressed with graphics that promote himself and his sponsors.

Benefits of Camping

"I can't live in a motel anymore," Kiriyama admitted. "I didn't know if it would make that much difference, but I couldn't do without (the camper) now. But you have to have a good camper. This one has a queen-size bed, refrigerator, nice kitchen, room to work on my gear, and my own generator. I don't even have to have power plug-ins, and I can charge batteries. I carry my own water and propane. It has a good heater and air conditioner.

"Compared to a motel, it's quiet, you get to be by the water, and you don’t have to fight traffic so much," he added. "You have your own place everywhere you go. You sleep in your own bed. It's cheaper too. Many campgrounds charge maybe just $25 per night."

He typically reserves his campsites ahead of time, and if he needs to layover while traveling, he'll often pull into a truck stop or rest stop and hit the hay. The charge there is usually nil.

Another factor to consider: Most pros who stay in motels unload crates and bags and totes from their vehicles and boats when they arrive, to move it all into the room. Then they have to repack to go to the next event. Not Kiriyama. "You can prepare everything before you make a trip and it's all there and ready to go the whole time," he said.

"You have your own space. I can't think of any disadvantages. I just keep liking it more and more."

Notable

> Kiriyama noted that serious weekend fishermen who often travel to multi-day events or stay for several days of practice would benefit from having a good camper instead of staying in motels. "And it's great if you have a family or want to take a dog with you on trips," he added. "You don't have to worry if the motel allows pets."

> Kiriyama's custom camper, including the interior, is featured on the Host RV website.