for those of you who sleep in your 4Runner...

[hrt4me]

... what have you incorporated for ventilation and blinds?

For ventilation, I was planning to get some mesh screen and cut out shapes just slightly larger than each of the rear passenger windows; then I would glue magnetic strips on the edges which overlap the rear windows so I can just stick (via magnets) these mesh screens to the outside of the 4Runner, and thus, leave the both rear passenger windows down slightly for air (but no bugs) to get inside the vehicle... has anybody made anything similar?

For blinds, what have you done to keep out light when sleeping in the rear cargo area?

Skyrat's Rear Cargo Box and Sleeping Deck

4Runner Sleeping Deck

Dan RamRod's sleep platform

 

[shootmymime]

all of our 4runners have the window vent shades. when we go hunting we crack one window to let air in for the dog whos in the back. the covers allow you to crack the window about an inch with out anyone knowing they are open as well as keeping any type of rain or snow out.

 

[hrt4me]

all of our 4runners have the window vent shades. when we go hunting we crack one window to let air in for the dog whos in the back. the covers allow you to crack the window about an inch with out anyone knowing they are open as well as keeping any type of rain or snow out.

yeah, my 4Runner has those window vent shades too, but I want to be able to leave the rear passenger windows cracked without mosquitoes and gnats getting inside while I'm sleeping...

and I still need to figure out a decent way to black-out the rear cargo area so I can sleep without too much outside light making its way inside...

 

[shootmymime]

mosquitoes and gnats getting inside while I'm sleeping.

didnt think of that because its usually too cold for bugs while we r hunting.

how dark do you want it inside? what about tinting the windows? what about putting velcro around the panels with sticky backs (if you dont mind leaving them the velcro stuck on the panels when your not camping) and throw up some light black fabric like felt or something else that has velcro strips so they will stick.

for bugs.... let me think

 

[GentryGoon]

Here's something [MENTION=63060]rickashay[/MENTION] made. I'm gonna make the same kinda thing before I go to Moab.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/878182-post126.html

 

[revenantdead]

i forget where, but i read where someone did the same thing over the rear door windows but put magnets at the edges of the screen material. roll down the windows, stick screen to outside of the door. no permanent modification, no velcro, and bug free ventilation.

 

[Stick Figure]

For window screens I have a vision of a nice routered insert that rolls up in the window frame above the glass. Of course I haven't made it any farther than thinking about it yet.

For a bit more sunlight protection/ privacy I was going to steal this idea:

More on the Land Cruiser Vehicle Feature: Overland the World's Lexus LX450

 

[BURNINGAIR]

Wow, this thread is just a train wreck..

 

[slomatt]

I made some window inserts out of 1/8" plywood and screen door material. The fit into the window track and have worked great for several years.

- Matt

 

[white_n_slow]

ventilation? Nothing.

For privacy, I just keep my underwear on. I've been thinking about getting some dark window tint.

 

[Gerdo]

This is what I use. There are a few small gaps but I haven't seen any bugs inside. I also have vent shades that shed any rain.

Nothing for privacy.

***Please do have a window open an inch or so (even in the cold), people have suffocated in closed vehicles and even tents***

 

[Kanger328]

I was just thinking about this the other day because I'm planning a long road trip in the near future. I was thinking of rigging up some wire or string along the outline of the ceiling. Then add a curtain with open hooks. That way you can easily put it up and take it off. Just an idea.

 

[papapoopski]

***Please do have a window open an inch or so (even in the cold), people have suffocated in closed vehicles and even tents***

What? No. Cars are not air tight.

A person could suffocate inside a vehicle if they are trying to cook inside the vehicle or heat the area inside with a portable heater that uses an open flame.

Otherwise. No. People do not suffocate in cars or tents without some other factor being present.

 

[cuilleree]

Looking for photos of window curtains/tint/shades/blackout curtains

For those of you who cover your windows, could you post photos? I'm new to the forum, but I haven't been able to find many ideas of what works to cover windows for camping.

I had a friend with a Tacoma who put velcro on the windows and could attach pre-cut felt pieces over the windows, but after several hot days the adhesive on the velcro melted. Then he used some cheap metallic-ish contact-type paper.

I'd like to try to get it right the first time. But since I bought my 4Runner today, I might be just a little too excited to get started...

 

[Joelev]

I haven't done it yet, so take this with a grain of salt, but my plan is to take a cue from the VW folks and make some snap-on window covers using something like these: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00144AHUE/ref=ox_sc_sfl_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

I had a similar piece that snapped over the front window in my Sportsmobile (don't worry, it wasn't a fancy, new one) and it worked quite well.

 

[Hear5Johnny]

I went through this last year. My first uses was to glue a magnetic strip to the edge of a cut out that matched the windows. Tried that, it worked but the magnets would peel away from the netting.

I then made a 2.0 version taking ques from a version that you could buy. I made a "slip" the that went over the whole thing upper portion of the doors. It slipped over the door and had a magnetic setup on the outside.

*will post pics tomorrow

 

[Sherwood4Runner]

I used a great item for this while traveling in New Zealand. Our camper/hatchback came with these mesh bag we could put over the windows to allow ventilation and prevent bugs from getting in. They were a mesh bag that had some give to them with one end of the bag open and elastic along the open rim of the bag. So, you could roll the windows all the way down, if you pleased, and simply slip the mesh bag all the way over the door (with the door open) and then shut the door with the 'bag' secured over the top half of the door. Worked fantastic.

 

[hour]

I'm going the route of rigid material cut to fit in the upper portion of the window track, with the window rolled down like 6". I'll put a 4' duct collar type thing in the board. Other side just some screen with magnets on the outside but depending on the temperature I should have positive pressure inside the truck blowing out the cracked window, no bugs.

I built a swamp cooler using a square ~5gal Tidy Cats litter container with a 12v water pump and 12v bilge fan (5 amps... :wow2: ) Got a PWM knob controller deal which successfully slows the fan down a ton without the motor sounding wonky while extending battery life. All controlled via Arduino over bluetooth so I can turn it on or off without getting out, and turn the pump on or off if it's not scorching out just to bring air in. If I want to use another arduino in the mix or run an extended temp sensor wire, I'll make it act like a thermostat

TL;DR bring air in via bucket swamp cooler ducted to window.

 

[MyHigh]

Here's a little something I did, it's a screen for the gutters on a house.

Check out "My 4 dollar window screen" for more info

 

[Asaspades93]

[MENTION=88597]MyHigh[/MENTION]. I remember seeing you post these a while ago but couldn't remember the name of the thread, thanks