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Old 07-07-2015, 06:58 PM #1
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4Runner Car Camping Low Profile Setup (Cooling Fan, Bugs Screen, 360 degree light...)

Dear 4Runner Folks,

It is fun to modify 4runner for excursion or back country adventure trip. Lots of hardcore modification to replace roof rack, high intensity light bars, tailor sleep platform with underneath drawers, a profession ARB fridge sleep with you side by side.
I would like to bring up LOW Profile modification so that you can have 4runner camping anywhere with easy setup in 15 minutes. You won’t be spot even you stay overnight outside Walmart. We will go through each one of them how to tailor them :

1. Cooling Fan – You want to maintain air circulation inside the vehicle through the summer night. You want to prevent bugs/mosquito coming in at the same time with your fan(s) running the whole night, right? I will share with you how to tailor made cooling fans (nobody can see it from outside). I seldom see anyone do this before especially for 4runner camping.

2. Bugs Screen – You do not want bugs/mosquito inside your 4runner while you are sleeping. Many people have addressed this part with a screen mat (magnet) outside the windows. It too obvious that you are sleeping inside the car, how can you cover the rear door with more air circulation (4runner has a unique rear glass window, you can lower it down as you wish). In addition, you want to keep bugs away even though it is raining outside !

3. Exterior 360 degree LED Light – Once you drive into a campsite or stopped in a rugged road or in emergency situation. You want to light up the place around your car. While you are sleeping inside your car, you may wish to turn it on in the middle of night to check if there is anything (animal/people) around you. You can hide these lights (becomes a regular SUV) in the city. It is just a usage on-demand setup within 15 seconds.

Sometimes when you stay in campsite or stopped in emergency situation. You may want to have a flash/strobe light up in the highest point of your vehicle. When you return back to your car from washroom in campsite , you can easily spot your vehicle. In emergency situation, you can turn this light into SOS strobe. Where and what to install for this little light, to share with you.


4. Flexible Sleeping Platform – Unless you are a technical expert or handyman, you can add a professional sleeping platform inside your 4runner. You cannot easily remove them since they would be a permanent setup for excursion. I would like to share with you how to add a flat sleep platform (fold up/down the 2nd row seat on-demand basis). You can finish the sleeping platform setup within 2 minutes. It can accommodate two people as well.

5. Watch Movies/TV – Wow, you can easily setup everything (bug screen, exterior lighting, sleeping platform…) within 15 minutes and ready to sleep. You may want to enjoy TV or Movies WHILE you lay down on the bed inside. Does it mean that you need an overhead DVD player? How to easily mount these gadgets for entertainment before you fall into sleep?

6. Interior LED Lighting - Many people change the interior light into LED to save power. Certainly, you can add LED lighting strips and driven by battery. Here is a simple method the light up the whole car compartment.


7. Batteries Power – Everyone of you must be an expert about battery (dual battery, Diehard, Odyssey ) for hardcore trip. To share with you about minimum cost setp to run those little gears (e.g. fan, light, USB power…).

** I would like to SEEK your ideas how to do these (above) better under the situation of low profile setup **

Last edited by johnnywofee; 07-07-2015 at 07:01 PM.
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Old 07-08-2015, 01:09 PM #2
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Talking 4Runner Car Camping Low Profile Setup : Cooling Fan

Cooling Fan – Air circulation is very important while you are 4runner car camping, you want to keep the fan running the whole night, meanwhile, you want to keep the bugs/mosquito away. ** It is assumed that you have a sun roof in your 4runner.**

Material: 3 computer fans (12V, thin size)
Plastic board from HomeDepot

Method: Customize the size to fit into the sun roof.
Cover the fans with mosquito screen (prevent bugs coming in from fans)
You can open and close the glass roof as you wish since the fans are very thin. But you cannot close the original sliding shape cover.

Power: It can be powered from your car battery or external battery (certainly, you may have concern about this, we will talk about it in the coming section of batteries in your 4Runner)

How to use: You can close all side windows, and then lower down the rear window with 4-5 inches. Air circulation would be maintained from the back to the front through out the night.

Please take a look of the pictures and give your ideas how can it be better.
Attached Images
4Runner Car Camping Low Profile Setup (Cooling Fan, Bugs Screen, Exterior 360 degree-img_20150702_081940-jpg  4Runner Car Camping Low Profile Setup (Cooling Fan, Bugs Screen, Exterior 360 degree-img_20150702_082007-jpg  4Runner Car Camping Low Profile Setup (Cooling Fan, Bugs Screen, Exterior 360 degree-img_20150702_082027-jpg  4Runner Car Camping Low Profile Setup (Cooling Fan, Bugs Screen, Exterior 360 degree-img_20150702_082039-jpg  4Runner Car Camping Low Profile Setup (Cooling Fan, Bugs Screen, Exterior 360 degree-img_20150702_082159-jpg 

Last edited by johnnywofee; 07-08-2015 at 01:12 PM.
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Old 07-08-2015, 01:24 PM #3
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I like the creativity, but why not just use a tent
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Old 07-08-2015, 01:30 PM #4
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Then would you camp at Walmart?

Quote:
Originally Posted by johnnywofee View Post
Dear 4Runner Folks,

I would like to bring up LOW Profile modification so that you can have 4runner camping anywhere with easy setup in 15 minutes. You won’t be spot even you stay overnight outside Walmart.
Quote:
Originally Posted by HOJeepster View Post
I like the creativity, but why not just use a tent
Walmart doesn't like you setting up a tent in their lot. I'm just guessing actually. They could be ok with that.
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Old 07-08-2015, 01:33 PM #5
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Not Bad.

Quote:
Originally Posted by johnnywofee View Post
Please take a look of the pictures and give your ideas how can it be better.
I like this although the need for fans is a bit much for me up in the PNW. But it's a clever way to add a screen if you used that board as a border and had a larger screen area. A screen like this could probably work in the back window too.
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Old 07-08-2015, 02:28 PM #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Swarty View Post
I like this although the need for fans is a bit much for me up in the PNW. But it's a clever way to add a screen if you used that board as a border and had a larger screen area. A screen like this could probably work in the back window too.


Yes, the ideas of this threat is for park and sleep ANYWHERE, low profile with quick easy setup within 15 mins. We will talk about screen in Part 2. I did not see anyone add this kind of fans before, just to share you guys of your ideas for improvement.

Take an initial look of the big screen net that was added on the top of the sunroof (as you mentioned)
Attached Images
4Runner Car Camping Low Profile Setup (Cooling Fan, Bugs Screen, Exterior 360 degree-img_20150702_081706-jpg 
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Old 07-08-2015, 02:44 PM #7
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Well, I guess you can live in a car but you can't drive a tent.
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Old 07-08-2015, 05:08 PM #8
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I'm working on a build that meets most of these criteria. Some not done yet. But the load platform/sleeping platform is complete. You can check it out in my build thread here



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Old 07-08-2015, 05:43 PM #9
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Cool fan setup. Crucial in the summer here in Texas.

I recently camped out for a trail run by Austin and lent all my tents out to friends, so I slept in the 4runner. I grabbed a large mosquito net (no-see-um mesh would be better but I was in a pinch) at REI, wrapped it around the rear door, and wound the rear window down. I placed a large fan at the window and hooked it up to a battery. It was a solid night's sleep.

It is a nice alternative for anyone with the rolling window IMHO because:

a) you get more airflow by parking with the rear window into the wind.
b) more airflow through a larger opening
c) better natural protection from the rain from the spoiler if you only wind the window a bit
d) option to tie a small tarp to the roof rails for severe storms
e) very secure and tight fastening for bug protection
f) no handy work. just a large net, a battery powered fan, and maybe some cord to setup of the fan.

$15 on a net + fans that I already had = slept like a baby
Just my thoughts on a cheap and easy rig with very little work setting up.
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Old 07-08-2015, 05:44 PM #10
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Old 07-08-2015, 10:16 PM #11
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Wink

My thoughts are that fans/small panel for rear window (protection from light rain under spoiler) and screened side front windows (w/vent visors for rain protection) would make it all-weather. Also, independent operation for multiple fans.


And, a bear might climb down the big sunroof opening.
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Old 07-09-2015, 07:27 AM #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dude View Post
Hope you are under 6' tall...otherwise you'll need to remove seat bottoms to have enough length to sleep comfortably.
Diagonally.
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Old 07-09-2015, 07:45 AM #13
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Quote:
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And, a bear might climb down the big sunroof opening.
He keeps his food in a tent outside.
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Old 07-09-2015, 09:13 AM #14
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Quote:
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Diagonally.

I sleep diagonally in mine comfortable at 6'1"
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Old 07-09-2015, 02:52 PM #15
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4Runner Car Camping Low Profile Setup : Bug Screen

Dear Folks,

Thank you guys that you have contributed lots of ideas in Part 1 (fan), your 4runner car camping experience triggers people's passion to explore its possibilities further. I like your sleeping concern (diagonal sleep) , we will talk more about this in Part 4 that I will share a simple flexible setup to accommodate the basic comfortable sleeping needs.

Now let's go to Part 2 of Bugs Screen customization – If you have a spouse/friend sleep inside the 4runner with you, everyone wants bugs free throughout the night. Cooling fan makes you happy but you do not want bugs sting on fresh meat, right?

Some criteria :
- You want air circulation in ALL windows,
- See outside from inside (with 360 degree viewing),
- Won't be seen from outside (in any angle),
- Raining outside (no water leaking into compartment but still maintain fresh air from outside)
- Low profile (no attraction to outsiders)
- Quick and Easy setup within 3 minutes.

Material: Wacky Karpet (sled, $5 each) large size 54", RED color only. DO NOT use other color (because the plastic material of other color is not strong/tough enough). RED is the best. You may be able to find it in Toysrus or Internet :

H2O! Recreation Inc. Wacky Karpet 18" X 54" - Red: Shopicana - Shopping in Paradise
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XN2oS6KY_VU

A large piece of Black color of mosquito screen net.

Method: Customize the WACKY Karpet to fit into ALL windows. You can go to Costco and get some large paper to tailor made a template for each windows size and shape. Then, you can use that paper (with size and shape cutted) and place it on the top of WACKY Karpet, cut WACKY Karpet with a scissor.

** You may want some openings on it for air circulation and see through from inside compartment, if anyone want to know the details of openings on the Wacky Karpet, please let me know **


Cover/stick the Wacky Karpet with a black color mosquito screen by double layer adhesive tape.

How to use: After you finish the customization, you can INSERT this bug screen (a very thin and tough layer of plastic) BETWEEN the window glass and rubber space. Yes, it can exactly fit into it without any gap ! Remember to let the black color side (mosquito net) facing outside, CAMOUFLAGE black color seeing from outside.

Once inserted :
- You are good to close all windows (including the rear gate window) if you wish.
- You are good to lower all windows (including the rear gate window) by 3-4 inches when there is rain outside (provided that you have a rain visor installed as well)
- You are good to lower half or completely all windows (including the rear gate window) if you want most of fresh air (if you do not afraid bear waive their hands with you in the middle of the night !)
- You are good to SEE 360 degree from inside through those small thin openings (covered by black color mosquito net).
- You can cover your windshield glass by regular sunshade cover.

** For the sunroof, just cover it with a mosquito net with magnets surround the edge **

Please take a look of the pictures below and give your further comments.
Attached Images
4Runner Car Camping Low Profile Setup (Cooling Fan, Bugs Screen, Exterior 360 degree-wacky-karpet-red-color-only-jpg  4Runner Car Camping Low Profile Setup (Cooling Fan, Bugs Screen, Exterior 360 degree-img_20150709_012834-jpg  4Runner Car Camping Low Profile Setup (Cooling Fan, Bugs Screen, Exterior 360 degree-img_20150709_012814-jpg  4Runner Car Camping Low Profile Setup (Cooling Fan, Bugs Screen, Exterior 360 degree-img_20150709_012803-jpg  4Runner Car Camping Low Profile Setup (Cooling Fan, Bugs Screen, Exterior 360 degree-img_20150709_011658-jpg  4Runner Car Camping Low Profile Setup (Cooling Fan, Bugs Screen, Exterior 360 degree-img_20150709_011629-jpg  4Runner Car Camping Low Profile Setup (Cooling Fan, Bugs Screen, Exterior 360 degree-img_20150709_011601-jpg  4Runner Car Camping Low Profile Setup (Cooling Fan, Bugs Screen, Exterior 360 degree-img_20150709_011530-jpg 
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