Sleeping comfortably in a 2017 4Runner
- Thread starter tomdez
- Start date
Khjphoto
New member
Last edited:
MeefZah
New member
I just returned from a 8 day trip to Utah and Colorado and had the presence of mind (maybe?) to take a few shots of my setup in various stages of utility.
As it is loaded for a camping trip, purpose built pallet on the bottom, cooler, large Rubbermaid Action Packer with cooking gear, personal duffel and wife's duffel containing clothes and sundry behind that, 2 - 8 gal Rubbermaid Action packers behind that (not visible) containing tools, recovery gear, and dry / canned food. 2 sleeping bags, sheet, air mattress, and blanket are rolled into a tight bundle behind the cooler (top barely visible). Bungee net on the ceiling stows our clothes when we are sleeping.
In use for sleeping in the back. Rear seat bottoms are removed. Rear seat backs are folded forward. Front seats are slid forward. Rubbermaid 8 gallon APs are in the rear passenger footwells. Bedroll with air mattress / sheet / bags is in place and inflated. Personal duffels are on the front seats. Cooler and cook box are outside (cooler is bear resistant and I've never had a problem with animals; and cook box contains no food and the stove and pots are put away clean so there is no residue to attract animals).
Everything out but the pallet and the 8 gal APs.
As it is loaded for a camping trip, purpose built pallet on the bottom, cooler, large Rubbermaid Action Packer with cooking gear, personal duffel and wife's duffel containing clothes and sundry behind that, 2 - 8 gal Rubbermaid Action packers behind that (not visible) containing tools, recovery gear, and dry / canned food. 2 sleeping bags, sheet, air mattress, and blanket are rolled into a tight bundle behind the cooler (top barely visible). Bungee net on the ceiling stows our clothes when we are sleeping.
In use for sleeping in the back. Rear seat bottoms are removed. Rear seat backs are folded forward. Front seats are slid forward. Rubbermaid 8 gallon APs are in the rear passenger footwells. Bedroll with air mattress / sheet / bags is in place and inflated. Personal duffels are on the front seats. Cooler and cook box are outside (cooler is bear resistant and I've never had a problem with animals; and cook box contains no food and the stove and pots are put away clean so there is no residue to attract animals).
Everything out but the pallet and the 8 gal APs.
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KEWW Pro
Member
Dude, this is fantastic! Just when I was about to get all technical on an interior sleep and camping system... so simple and easy, very impressive!
k0bra
New member
What size Yeti (or offbrand?) is that?
MeefZah
New member
It's a Grizzly 40. Got it free from a buddy who used to work for a liquor distributor and it was branded with a JD logo... pretty decent cooler, really. It's been all over the US in the past 4 years.
MeefZah
New member
Thanks mang!
axisbogner
New member
Will 2 of these cots fit side by side in the back? Anyone with experience? The measurements are tight. Thank you.
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Roccoeight
New member
Used a piece of 2 INCH RIGID BUILDING INSULATION, Fills the gap perfect, it's light weight and inexpensive
Cheers
Cheers
DesertCanyons
New member
Sleeping in the back of my 5th Gen
The floor of the 5th Gen 4Runner is not flat no matter what you do. I don't have the space-wasting sliding cargo tray so That may be the exception.
Every time we go camping I take the back seats completely out - seat back and seat bottoms. Takes me an hour, max to remove or replace. I carefully place all the parts in a bag so they don't get lost. With the seats out I put all of my heavy gear down low in the 2nd row foot well, which is also near the middle of the car. Water bottles, come-along winch, air compressor and recovery gear all go there. The ice cooler is right behind all of that gear, about where the seat bottoms rest when they're in use.
When I get to the campsite I take some of the gear out and slide everything else to one side. I leave some of the softer gear bags in the low foot well and stuff things in and around until the floor is somewhat flat. I lay down a plain foam pad and a Thermarest self-inflating sleeping pad over that. I throw in my sleeping bag with my head forward, near the side door because you can't exit through the back tailgate. If there was two of us we could take everything out and do just about the same thing over the whole floor. I'm over 6'-0" tall and there's plenty of room for me to sleep in back with the seats out.
The back seats are out most of the time. I only put them back in when we're taking more than the two of us in the car or I need the floor space in the garage. The 60% portion of the seat back is heavy, due to the two seat belts that bolt through it I think. The other 3 parts are pretty light. Put the seats on a couple of 2x4s and cover them with plastic to keep them from getting dirty.
The floor of the 5th Gen 4Runner is not flat no matter what you do. I don't have the space-wasting sliding cargo tray so That may be the exception.
Every time we go camping I take the back seats completely out - seat back and seat bottoms. Takes me an hour, max to remove or replace. I carefully place all the parts in a bag so they don't get lost. With the seats out I put all of my heavy gear down low in the 2nd row foot well, which is also near the middle of the car. Water bottles, come-along winch, air compressor and recovery gear all go there. The ice cooler is right behind all of that gear, about where the seat bottoms rest when they're in use.
When I get to the campsite I take some of the gear out and slide everything else to one side. I leave some of the softer gear bags in the low foot well and stuff things in and around until the floor is somewhat flat. I lay down a plain foam pad and a Thermarest self-inflating sleeping pad over that. I throw in my sleeping bag with my head forward, near the side door because you can't exit through the back tailgate. If there was two of us we could take everything out and do just about the same thing over the whole floor. I'm over 6'-0" tall and there's plenty of room for me to sleep in back with the seats out.
The back seats are out most of the time. I only put them back in when we're taking more than the two of us in the car or I need the floor space in the garage. The 60% portion of the seat back is heavy, due to the two seat belts that bolt through it I think. The other 3 parts are pretty light. Put the seats on a couple of 2x4s and cover them with plastic to keep them from getting dirty.
SirWilliamGoes
New member
I just lay a sleeping pad down on one side and sleep. I have the sliding tray. I will be designing a better solution within the next 6mths
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Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk
delloro
New member
Heck ya. Only way to go.
lunchboxtheman
New member
(My first post!) I use a cot as well. I almost bought the Somnia but ended up with a Helinox cot one (high model) instead. I saw it in this thread from backcountrymedic and thought that the Helinox cot was a better choice for me since it's lighter and I could potentially carry it backbacking with me. Pics below.
The legs don't all touch the ground on the incline, but it has been sturdy enough for me (I weigh 155lbs). There is a slight incline, but not too bad. I may still try to make some wood blocks to level it out.
There is enough space underneath to store a bunch of stuff while it's set up. It also gets your sleeping platform to overlap the wheel wells a bit which is a more efficient use of space.
I can put more pics and info in a build thread if there is interest.
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Is that for a Tacoma?
SirWilliamGoes
New member
How is this for entry and exit? I studied this a good bit this past weekend while camping and thought it was somewhat cramped with no platform I'd imagine with even less room it would be even more difficult(My first post!) I use a cot as well. I almost bought the Somnia but ended up with a Helinox cot one (high model) instead. I saw it in this thread from backcountrymedic and thought that the Helinox cot was a better choice for me since it's lighter and I could potentially carry it backbacking with me. Pics below.
The legs don't all touch the ground on the incline, but it has been sturdy enough for me (I weigh 155lbs). There is a slight incline, but not too bad. I may still try to make some wood blocks to level it out.
There is enough space underneath to store a bunch of stuff while it's set up. It also gets your sleeping platform to overlap the wheel wells a bit which is a more efficient use of space.
I can put more pics and info in a build thread if there is interest.
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Rainmaker47
New member
One of the best options all around.
Roccoeight
New member
Thinking you should cut about 6-8 inches off each leg. Put the end caps back and have more head room.
