Sleeping mattress material?

That does seem like a good fit - but I think I'd probably aim for stuffing container boxes or just plywood+legs there instead. I guess it's nice that section deflates to almost nothing, but it also means to use it you lose ALL storage space in that area - and removing the seat bottoms gives you some nice extra storage space! :)

I would move all the stuff that's down there to the front seat at night.
 
Solo, I remove half the backseat bottom and use two Thermarests on top of each other, with a 8 gal Rubbermaid tote in the footwell. All my gear is in the half of the cargo area not taken up with the mattress. I use 2 Thermarests just because I've got two available and they're easy.

IMG_0840-XL.jpg


When there's two of us, I remove the entire backseat bottom and use a 'full' size regular old air mattress (Intex, I think, around $20), with a 8 gal Rubbermaid in each footwell. I move gear to the front seats and roof at night.

DSC_0536-XL.jpg


DSC_0429-XL.jpg




If you have a non third row model or a non cargo deck slider model, you need to build a spacer or otherwise pad the cargo area, as it is 2.5" lower than the flat surface created by the seat backs.

DSC_0559-XL.jpg


If you do it right then you can make a flat surface from rear hatch to back of front seat.

DSC_0560-XL.jpg
 
Solo, I remove half the backseat bottom and use two Thermarests on top of each other, with a 8 gal Rubbermaid tote in the footwell. All my gear is in the half of the cargo area not taken up with the mattress. I use 2 Thermarests just because I've got two available and they're easy.

IMG_0840-XL.jpg


When there's two of us, I remove the entire backseat bottom and use a 'full' size regular old air mattress (Intex, I think, around $20), with a 8 gal Rubbermaid in each footwell. I move gear to the front seats and roof at night.

DSC_0536-XL.jpg


DSC_0429-XL.jpg




If you have a non third row model or a non cargo deck slider model, you need to build a spacer or otherwise pad the cargo area, as it is 2.5" lower than the flat surface created by the seat backs.

DSC_0559-XL.jpg


If you do it right then you can make a flat surface from rear hatch to back of front seat.

DSC_0560-XL.jpg

Looks like those coolers fit perfect. What exactly is it?
 
How would you compare the durability compared to your typical backpacking air mattress? How do you inflate it?

It feels a lot more durable than our backpacking mattresses, and I strongly suspect it is. But I haven't had either break yet so hard to say for sure.

It's an open-cell inflatable foam. It self-inflates 95% of the way by just letting it sit with the inflate valve open for about 30 minutes. Use the included hand pump for a few pumps to top it off after that.
 
8 gallon Rubbermaid Action Packers. 1 lives in the truck all the time for tools and gear. The other we put dry food in when camping.

Damn, cheap at Wal-Mart but they don't have them here. $30 at REI. Everyone else is about $30.
 
Solo, I remove half the backseat bottom and use two Thermarests on top of each other, with a 8 gal Rubbermaid tote in the footwell. All my gear is in the half of the cargo area not taken up with the mattress. I use 2 Thermarests just because I've got two available and they're easy.


DSC_0429-XL.jpg


If you have a non third row model or a non cargo deck slider model, you need to build a spacer or otherwise pad the cargo area, as it is 2.5" lower than the flat surface created by the seat backs.


If you do it right then you can make a flat surface from rear hatch to back of front seat.

DSC_0560-XL.jpg

How far forward does the front seat have to be? Can you drive with them in place?
 
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I guess it depends on how much you want to spend. If money is not a thing then I agree with a couple others about the Exped Mega Mat as it is super comfortable (at least I seem to think so I know mattresses can be subjective). I find it is the next best thing after your home mattress itself. When I first started car camping I also used my thin backpacking inflatable pad and it worked just fine and for most people it will be just fine but I wanted something a little more comfortable for the back of the vehicle. I was also in the back of a jeep grand cherokee at the time and the rear seats do not fold flat like the 4runner so half the sleeping area was angled a little bit and since the backpacking pad was so slim i felt that angle all night long. So I first used what I had and used an older Coleman twin inflatable mattress that was a lot thicker than my pad. So when I tried it was way better then the thin mattress pad and the thickness absorbed the angle better if that makes sense. If you are on a budget I would go that route since coleman ones can be picked up for cheap and it shouldn't get punctured on anything that is naturally in the back of a 4runner if you have anything extra back there well I guess it depends on what it is. Then once I started sleeping a lot in the back of my vehicle on trips thats when I invested in the Exped and I can never go back now haha. I haven't personally done this but I have a friend who used a thick piece of memory foam (you can order them custom sizes online) and his is not the basic 3" topper his is like 5-6" thick way thicker than a topper and he loves it as he has a memory foam mattress back at home so it gives him a similar nights sleep. Again this is going to be a pricier option and on the same level as the Exped so I would just go the Exped route.
 
All the way; no.

But when it's just me I slide the passenger seat up and leave it like that when driving.

I'm tempted to sort of make a support base (almost like a side table) to fit in the gap. Means a container would fit even more awkwardly, but you could fit a smaller container and/or stuff other random things there. And maybe it could adjust to wherever the front seats may be...
 
Damn, cheap at Wal-Mart but they don't have them here. $30 at REI. Everyone else is about $30.

After doing some research (still need to actually test fitment), based on the measurements of the Rubbermaid 8gal action packer, you can achieve the same fitment with the Frontrunner Wolfpack box with the Hi-Lid.

Frontrunner Wolfpack with hi-lid will cost ~$10 more but I would rather use those as they are more modular if i ever want to install on my roof rack.
 
I'm not suggesting that this is the best for anyone here but worth a look.

The 'Super Paco' seems to be highly regarded in overlanding groups. To me it looks very hot (I'm also in AZ). I have all ultra light gear myself that includes a double inflatable pad that I think is 4" - it has one of those half sleeping bags that attaches over the top. I don't know that UL gear is worth it either but it's probably shaved off 100lbs or so of stuff to haul around



Super Paco Sleeping Pad | NRS

71401_01_2706_rolled_up_021712_1000x1000.jpg
 
Amazon.com : Sea to Summit Comfort Deluxe Si Mat - Regular Wide - Self-Inflating Camping & Backpacking Sleeping Mat, Blue : Sports & Outdoors

Cheaper & thicker than the MegaMat, and completely self-inflating. Like having a true mattress in the back.

The size is perfect - fridge, battery, other crap on one side of the truck, this fits perfectly on the other side.

That looks really good, but like so many items I’ve seen lately on Amazon:
“Currently unavailable
We don't know when or if this item will be back in stock.“
 

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