MDTrailrider
New member
I found this thread while searching for something else. I decided to resurrect it since I’ve been sleeping in my 4Runner for several years. I spent too many nights in tents while it was raining hard or during thunderstorms and I had to pack my tent in the rain once too often.
I took a completely different tact when I decided to try sleeping in my 4Runner. I decided to use a cot to get above the flipped up seat bottoms. I got a Coleman Converta Cot. It works great. It takes no special preparation to use. Just remove the cargo cover, recline the rear seats and slide in the cot. The cot has a cantilevered back and head section so you can adjust it and use it like a lounge chair. The cot is just tall enough to clear the rear seat bottoms. The cot back rests on the rear seats and tilts up slightly but not enough to make a difference to me anyway. I put a couple of backpacker sleeping pads on the cot and whatever sleeping bag I need for the temperature ranges expected. I also use a traveling pillow. I find it to be very comfortable.
One thing great about it is it allows a lot of storage under the cot that stays out of the way while camping. It is also a great platform for storing cargo while traveling. I usually leave most of the gear in the truck when I’m camping along both sides and under the cot. I have to bring a lot of stuff for dirt riding. Camping gear, riding gear and tools and stuff to maintain the bike or fix it. I keep the space beside one of the rear doors clear and use that as the space to take my socks and shoes off and climb into and out of the cot. I drive with my seat all the way back. I fold the cantilevered section over while driving so I can slide my seat back and keep the cot setup with storage under it and on top of it.
I crack the back window about an inch and a half while sleeping. I have found that to be enough to ventilate the truck. Bugs don’t come in for some reason. I was going to fabricate something with mosquito netting but found it wasn’t necessary. I have found that the truck will fog up if the window is just slightly opened.
There are only two disadvantages to sleeping in the 4Runner this way that I’ve noticed. The first is that it is a little tight getting in and out of the cot and sleeping bag. There isn’t enough headroom to sit up straight on the cot. I’m 5’11” and 180 pounds with average build and I don’t have a problem getting in and out. It’s just not like sitting on the side of a bed though. The second disadvantage is that there is only enough room for one cot in the 4Runner. I have to use a tent if my girl friend comes with me. That is a small price to pay for getting to go on an adventure with her.
I also usually bring a 10x10 popup canopy and set that up behind the 4Runner. It provides a nice covered area by the truck incase it rains. It only has an 8x8 canopy but that is plenty of covered area for me.
For a long time I have been chewing on the idea of replacing my bike trailer with an all aluminum v-nose enclosed trailer. I would build a lightweight wall to create a bike garage on the back of the trailer and create a dry camper in the front. That would be nice but my homeowners association doesn’t allow the storage of trailers in the yard. I get away with the trailer I have now by keeping it in the shed. I can’t do that with a big enclosed trailer. Maybe someday. I would keep most of my camping and bike gear permanently stored in the trailer if I had one. I would never have to pack and unpack. I would just restock what I used after each trip.
I took a completely different tact when I decided to try sleeping in my 4Runner. I decided to use a cot to get above the flipped up seat bottoms. I got a Coleman Converta Cot. It works great. It takes no special preparation to use. Just remove the cargo cover, recline the rear seats and slide in the cot. The cot has a cantilevered back and head section so you can adjust it and use it like a lounge chair. The cot is just tall enough to clear the rear seat bottoms. The cot back rests on the rear seats and tilts up slightly but not enough to make a difference to me anyway. I put a couple of backpacker sleeping pads on the cot and whatever sleeping bag I need for the temperature ranges expected. I also use a traveling pillow. I find it to be very comfortable.
One thing great about it is it allows a lot of storage under the cot that stays out of the way while camping. It is also a great platform for storing cargo while traveling. I usually leave most of the gear in the truck when I’m camping along both sides and under the cot. I have to bring a lot of stuff for dirt riding. Camping gear, riding gear and tools and stuff to maintain the bike or fix it. I keep the space beside one of the rear doors clear and use that as the space to take my socks and shoes off and climb into and out of the cot. I drive with my seat all the way back. I fold the cantilevered section over while driving so I can slide my seat back and keep the cot setup with storage under it and on top of it.
I crack the back window about an inch and a half while sleeping. I have found that to be enough to ventilate the truck. Bugs don’t come in for some reason. I was going to fabricate something with mosquito netting but found it wasn’t necessary. I have found that the truck will fog up if the window is just slightly opened.
There are only two disadvantages to sleeping in the 4Runner this way that I’ve noticed. The first is that it is a little tight getting in and out of the cot and sleeping bag. There isn’t enough headroom to sit up straight on the cot. I’m 5’11” and 180 pounds with average build and I don’t have a problem getting in and out. It’s just not like sitting on the side of a bed though. The second disadvantage is that there is only enough room for one cot in the 4Runner. I have to use a tent if my girl friend comes with me. That is a small price to pay for getting to go on an adventure with her.
I also usually bring a 10x10 popup canopy and set that up behind the 4Runner. It provides a nice covered area by the truck incase it rains. It only has an 8x8 canopy but that is plenty of covered area for me.
For a long time I have been chewing on the idea of replacing my bike trailer with an all aluminum v-nose enclosed trailer. I would build a lightweight wall to create a bike garage on the back of the trailer and create a dry camper in the front. That would be nice but my homeowners association doesn’t allow the storage of trailers in the yard. I get away with the trailer I have now by keeping it in the shed. I can’t do that with a big enclosed trailer. Maybe someday. I would keep most of my camping and bike gear permanently stored in the trailer if I had one. I would never have to pack and unpack. I would just restock what I used after each trip.
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