Car Camping in the 5th Gen

[JayM026]

So I built a platform to level the rear out and keep it in al l the time. When we go camping I have an air mattress with some sheets and blankets I use in the rear and I have some battery powered fans I can clip onto my Rago Panels. I also have a jackery for any power needs at night phones tablets heating blankets etc. I had some sheets on bungies for privacy but have since purchased the full set of WeatherTech inserts for the windows. I also got some vent inserts to keep the windows open at night I’ll post some pics when I get those.

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[uh0h50]

Well did plenty of it stock. Removed the 60 split seat bottom. Cut up iso mats and taped them into layers to form a pad to take up the hump (ugly but functional and cushy). Rubbermaid storage container in the footwell to give me some extra room 6’5”. Pics are floating around somewhere on here.

I recently finished my 2nd row delete cargo platform. Will prob just be using my old iso mat with a little inflatable pad till find myself a mattress of my liking.

Looks awesome! What paint or material did you use for the finish?

 

[uh0h50]

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Looks like a really clean install. Did you apply carpet on top of the platform?

 

[JayM026]

Looks like a really clean install. Did you apply carpet on top of the platform?

Yes i used a commercial black carpet i cut to fit around the platform and stapled it down underneath, then some cloth to sorta seal off the gap facing out.

 

[kaitlyn2004]

Just curious for some of you that stated it... why do you sleep head towards the rear hatch? I've always just naturally thought of putting feet that way

 

[papapoopski]

I bought a cot from walmart for $40. The kind with 3 hooped legs. The legs closest to the front can be partially folded to rest on top of the flipped up seat. I can store gear, snowboards etc under it. I'm 6' and sleep fine. This setup works great for 1 person but for 2 I would use a dedicated platform and get a roof box for storage.

Screens for the windows are a necessity for me for summer. They are cheap and easy. The cot allows air to flow underneath so I can stay a bit cooler.

Winter nights are fine too, more protective against wind than any tent you will find. Coldest night I've had in it was -22F ambient temp in northern VT. I had trouble finding a public restroom because septic systems were freezing 6' below ground. I did not run the truck at all overnight.

 

[DallasTRDPro]

Just curious for some of you that stated it... why do you sleep head towards the rear hatch? I've always just naturally thought of putting feet that way

I guess it depends on how tall you are. The reason I sleep with my head toward cargo door is because i would rather my feet hang off the mattress than my head. I have the 40% split removed and lay a 72" mattress on the drivers side. I’m 6’1” tall so it’s not perfect but fits in the space pretty well. My feet hang off, but i don’t really care. It’s comfortable. By removing the 40% seat bottom, I'm able to hide my air compressor, recovery gear and tool roll with seat laid down. With it up, it makes it so easy and safe for my dog to jump in and out. I have to keep the 60% bottom so my dog can sit/lay in the back seat.

I have the cargo tray so my floor is completely flat. I put my cooler/hopefully fridge soon on the passenger side. That leaves plenty of space for my dog. I put the rest of my gear/clothes in the front seats. Its a pretty basic and simple set up. My goal was to keep things simple on a daily basis and allow me to bug out if necessary especially in our new normal and civil unrest.

 

[Mutant138]

Looks awesome! What paint or material did you use for the finish?

Thanks. Duplicolor bed armor 16oz cans.

 

[Hungryhawk]

camping solo in 5th gen SR5 daily driver with DIY awning & cot.

I return my 2017 SR5 back to a daily driver after my solo camping outings, so everything comes out.
The Teton cot has 2 pair of legs, and I can level the cot with small blocks of wood if the car is not level.
I sleep with my head beside the rear side door windows and I have DIY screens on both doors for cross ventilation. This cot fits snugly over the folded passenger side rear seat giving a 28" x 74" flat bed. For cold weather I have 3 layers of pads on the cot: Mylar insulation (Home Depot), closed cell ground pad, self inflating air mattress. Space under cot works for small coolers and boxes with supplies.
By having the driver side rear seat set up I use it in camp and easily roll onto the cot feet to rear.
My DIY awning works great. A Bushpro Silvicool tarp 6'x9' stops the sun's heat, and rain. My 9-1/2' DIY awning roof poles are quick & easy to attach and remove. The 72" Lathi wood staff comes out for driving but the 36" PVC stays on till heading home.

 

[mistervague]

We don't sleep in the truck (too many people; too much stuff) but here are a few of my favorite car camping things --

- PETT toilet plus bags & small sealable plastic container to hold the used bags. Leave no trace.
- NEMO Helio shower. Can't use a roof mounted shower since we tend to carry kayaks and so space is limited, and a Road Shower is too heavy to put on the new TRD Pro OEM roofrack (only rated for 110 lbs).
- NEMO Heliopolis privacy tent. Alternates between potty tent and shower tent. I'm with family -- they like this.
- Camp chairs
- Camp Chef portable BBQ. Awesome. I forget which model, but it folds up like a briefcase.
- GSI Outdoors cookware & tools (cutlery, cutting board, etc.). I love their stuff.
- Light My Fire mess kits.
- Goal Zero LED Lantern of some sort.
- A cooler
- Cerveza

 

[UpDog]

I've got a built-in stealthy cargo box that levels out the cargo with the rear seats, similar to [MENTION=65614]Antman[/MENTION]'s original build. On top of that, I run a 31" wide trifold mattress (honestly the same one I sleep on nightly in the house):

Amazon.com: Milliard Tri Folding Mattress with Washable Cover, Cot Size (75 inches x 31 inches x 4 inches): Kitchen & Dining

On top of that, a 39" wide 40ºF Coleman sleeping bag:

Amazon.com : Coleman Autumn Glen 40 Degree Big & Tall Sleeping Bag : Sports & Outdoors

It's a wide sleeping setup and has the advantage of being able to sit up straight without my head bumping the roof. I prop a couple of pillows against the passenger seat and can hang out and read or work on the laptop just fine.

<a href="https://ibb.co/KGzqcyn"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/rtf6Ky9/IMG-20201107-155738847-HDR.jpg" alt="IMG-20201107-155738847-HDR" border="0"></a>

<a href="https://ibb.co/tKbfF4h"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/GpVwN0J/IMG-20201025-104901619-HDR.jpg" alt="IMG-20201025-104901619-HDR" border="0"></a>

Also in that shot is the hot water tank and sprayer nozzle. Great for showering, doing dishes, spraying off the dust on the rear bumper, spraying kids in the neighborhood...

As for lighting, I had a buddy install an always-on USB plug into the liftgate, which I run a string of led lights out of:

Amazon.com: YONHAN Quick Charge 3.0 Dual USB Car Charger with Switch, Waterproof 36W 12V USB Outlet Fast Charger Power Outlet for Marine Boat Motorcycle Truck Golf Cart and More: Automotive

Amazon.com: Luminoodle Color - 10ft RGB LED Rope Lights - 14 Color Options, Remote Control, Dimmer - 450 Lumens of Light for Camping, Hiking, Safety - Color LED String Light That Doubles as an LED Lantern: Home Improvement

<a href="https://ibb.co/dJHmm4P"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/TqNWWM4/IMG-20201107-155759274-HDR.jpg" alt="IMG-20201107-155759274-HDR" border="0"></a>

The led kit has built-in magnets which allow it to be mounted inside/outside in about 30 seconds. Also has amber settings to keep the bugs at bay.

Beyond that, the cargo storage holds a 2-burner propane stove and we tucked a black 4" PVC pipe that holds 3 1lb propane tanks secured with spiderclamps under the right rocker. I don't know a damn things about propane or propane accessories and I'd prefer the stuff be outside, especially with the interior temperature hitting 130F+ in the summers here in the desert.

<a href="https://ibb.co/Y348JyR"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/R9GPtBv/IMG-20201107-155824070-HDR.jpg" alt="IMG-20201107-155824070-HDR" border="0"></a>

I'm trying to go as far STEALTH as possible, without the inside getting cluttered with storage bins/bags/coolers/random shit. Being able to roll into any random parking lot and not get flagged as a camper is high on my priority list, so even Yakima/Thule roof boxes are suspect. I'd love to see how others have tackled this.

Cheers!