So what about a small quiet generator like a Honda outside the vehicle with an extension cord running to a small electric heater INSIDE the vehicle? I know you need a generator and they do make some noise but no worries on emissions inside the vehicle.

how much fuel does an idling 4runner overnight use up?


serious question

Simplest solution is usually the best. That said, I hear a candle can take the edge off the cold. Some say a candle should be part of an emergency kit when driving in the winter/snow especially in remote areas.


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Unnoticeable for my occasional use. Off and on 4 or 5 times. But maybe 10’s of dollars if run continuously... I wonder too.
I wouldn’t be able to fall asleep with the engine going though.

As for lack of motivation for getting started in a cold 4runner in the morning,
That’s legit. But turning the key makes it comfortable within 5-10 minutes. Prime time snooze


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Yea I was thinking, if there is a way to sleep and keep the inside of the 4runner cozy all night I would feel more ready to hike into the woods at 3am. Camping with the wife is in our regular 3 season tent or in the 4runner.

When going hunting, my friend has a wall tent with wood stove. Though it takes forever to get the wood stove started and is cold as hell once out of the bag. This year it was especially cold and we would wake up every morning with the condensation from our breath frozen to the ceiling of the wall tent.
It is just a very large space to heat quickly, vs the back of the 4runner.

Some people use the UCO candle lantern for heating a tent. Candles last 9 hours and the 3 candle lantern gives off quite a bit of heat. You would could put something metallic around it to lower the light level but still give it air. We have the single candle lantern and spare candles in our emergency kit.

I use a heated blanket on top of my sleeping bag. It is powered by a goal zero yeti 400


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I don't know, but a good sleeping bag is my next investment and maybe wool clothes for the kiddos since they like to kick the blankets out when they sleep.

This what I was thinking too and a portable heater with a thermostat. With the Mr Heater, the thought of CO poisoning would keep me awake all night or wonder if I was going to wake up.

https://www.amazon.com/Lasko-754200-.../dp/B000TKDQ5C

I'm with everyone else who says warm clothes and warm sleeping bag. We camp in sub zero temps on a pretty regular basis in the winter months. I do have a Mr. Heater that I'd use in a large canvas "wall tent" for hunting. Otherwise in my dome tent we just use warm sleeping bags, which is what we do most of the time. The best advice is NOT to use an air mattress. Use something insulating like foam.

There used to be tent safe heaters like the Zodi hot vent. But I think they may have discontinued them. They were about $500 and used a heat exchanger and small fan to pump hot air into a tent. I think they must have killed someone with a leak or something because they seem to have disappeared from existence.

If you do use it - at lest get yourself a CO monitor. I have a Toxirae3 for other reasons - but something like that would work great. It's not cheap though. I'd guess there are some that are less expensive.

I've slept in Toyota pickup beds with and without shells, suburban and excursion, they're all cold as hell, but 10 minutes of running the motor for heat in the morning was all it took to get going.

you might try one of these boat heaters

https://www.westmarine.com/buy/west-...iABEgJFePD_BwE

or if you need a little heat - one of these (its really a dehumidifier but puts out some heat)

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Davis-Air...yABEgJqbvD_BwE

I let it idle.

Never had an issue. You get some water build up in the exhaust but that blows out once you start driving.

Unless the candle is in a special holder off the floor that can't be knocked over as occupants roll around at night,
This is a very bad idea.
I've known candles to start vehicle interior fires. With the occupants asleep it's very easy for them to get burned alive. That is a sure way to die. Imagine the smoker who drops his cigarette on the mattress. The brother of a friend of mine died this way.
Candles have hot wax that becomes flammable when spilled on combustible materials, that is, anything on the inside of the vehicle.

I was thinking the same thing. I'd imagine in that small of an airspace an electric blanket + body heat might keep the inside decently warm.