TR4 as Hotel Rm??

mnofpeace

mnofpeace

Member
We've seen all of the tent-on-top setups, camping canopys, and the like, and they look pretty cool, but ive got a new (to me) situation and i want to ask if the brother/sisterhood has done this and how their set up has been to them.

I am gong down to Danville, va, about 5hrs from my home in suburban DC, to race at VIR racetrack in mid june. VIR has their own lodge, and such, which are nice, but pricy, and Danville also has a nice selection of hotels to choose from.

However...

They also charge only $50/day to 'camp' on the VIR grounds. Usually this would mean people using RVs in the paddock or camping areas. But with it being so much cheaper than any hotel, I was thinking setting up a sleeper area in the rear of my T4R, with a matress pad down across the flipped down seats, ipad utilizing the power outlets for nighttime entertainment, gear stored on the roof, racebike locked on the trailer, ect. ect. I would be there from Sunday to Wed.

If anyone has had this type of experience, pics, whatever, i would love to hear about it, and if this would be a good idea...to not only save money, but also to enjoy 'roughing it' in what is, basically, a huge park that has a racetrack running thru it.

thanks for any reaponses...
 
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I've slept in the back of my 3rd gen 4runner several times for track days. First few times it was just a pad and sleeping bag, but there is a slope so it wasn't super comfortable. I then switched to a queen size air mattress. I don't inflate it all the way so it fits in between the wheel wells. It's much more comfy. I've since converted a 7x12 enclosed trailer into a toy hauler, but it wasn't bad while it lasted.

You should definitely crack some windows because it gets very humid otherwise.
 
I've slept in the back of mine at the beach. I am only 5'9", so it is not that bad. If you are any taller, it may be a little uncomfortable. Also, make sure you have plenty of padding. You may think a simple mat and sleeping bag is enough, but it really isn't. It is a pretty hard surface.
 
I've slept in mine a couple of times. I've got the sliding tray so the floor is completely flat with the back seat folded down. At 5'10" there were no issues. I use an Xped back-packing air mattress and a sleeping bag or just a bed sheet if it's warm.
 
thanks guys, just what i wanted to hear.

im 5'8", so my size shouldnt be a problem.

sounds like getting a nice amount of padding should be my priority here...
 
mnofpeace said:
We've seen all of the tent-on-top setups, camping canopys, and the like, and they look pretty cool, but ive got a new (to me) situation and i want to ask if the brother/sisterhood has done this and how their set up has been to them.

I am gong down to Danville, va, about 5hrs from my home in suburban DC, to race at VIR racetrack in mid june. VIR has their own lodge, and such, which are nice, but pricy, and Danville also has a nice selection of hotels to choose from.

However...

They also charge only $50/day to 'camp' on the VIR grounds. Usually this would mean people using RVs in the paddock or camping areas. But with it being so much cheaper than any hotel, I was thinking setting up a sleeper area in the rear of my T4R, with a matress pad down across the flipped down seats, ipad utilizing the power outlets for nighttime entertainment, gear stored on the roof, racebike locked on the trailer, ect. ect. I would be there from Sunday to Wed.

If anyone has had this type of experience, pics, whatever, i would love to hear about it, and if this would be a good idea...to not only save money, but also to enjoy 'roughing it' in what is, basically, a huge park that has a racetrack running thru it.

thanks for any reaponses...
Click to expand...
while not a 5th gen..

last year I went to a 24hour paintball game. I wasn't about to pay to sleep, so I slept 2 nights in the back of the 4runner. I just used a couple heavy sleeping bags. it worked well. moving all my gear to lay the seats down was the biggest issue.

I have previously slept in the back of my 1st gen many times. it was my preferred method for camping for many years.
 
The only concern aside from padding would be sleeping in a vehicle in southern VA in June. You might get lucky with the weather but it's usually pretty hot and humid by then. I guess you could leave it running and turn on the a/c but you'd idle some fuel away.
 
the back of my 4R makes for a fairly comfy bed.. which had been used for sleeping and not only sleeping purposes.. ;)
 
I'd either make some magnetic window screens or buy them. Even in cold weather, I'd keep opposite windows cracked a bit. This will keep fresh air moving to cut down on the funky smell and keep condensation to a minimum. If it's warm, all 5 windows opened with screens should keep it nice and dry inside.

You don't want to wake up in a moist, stinky car. It'll make the following day miserable if you can't drive around with the windows down.
 
Plenty of room to sleep in the back. I have done this at least half a dozen times and some comments below

*Weather and Bug conditions will determine what/how many windows you leave open and if you need screens
*The hump is not horrible with a 4" foam mattress but unless I had a thick air mattress (not the back packing type) I would recommend building a level platform. There are threads on here and its <$40 in wood and carpet and I plan to build one my next free weekend to level the floor as I said it is not horrible with the foam its still noticeable
*Remove the second row seat bottoms to gain a lot of storage in the foot wells for stuff.
*If you are packing light you may not have this issue but I am normally with my wife and have a ARB fridge and gear so when we sleep the gear and fridge go outside or in a tent (yes I set a tent up for stuff and slept in the 4runner but now just leave the stuff outside in the action packers)
*You can not open the rear hatch from the inside without modification so plan on going out through the rear doors
**** If you lock the truck at night while inside and open the door from the inside (without unlocking first) the alarm will go off****
 
Bilbo said:
You undoubtedly speak from experience! I'll bet that was a lot of fun.
Click to expand...

I love that sense of panic when your alarm goes off and you're fumbling for your keys, pushing every button, wondering "WHY WON'T IT SHUT OFF?!?!?!" and feeling a genuine sense of embarrassment when everyone is looking at you as you try to figure out how your truck works.

Admit it......we've all been there......
 
Sleeping in the T4R

At $50 per night I have to assume the place has showers, bathrooms, tables and fire rings. Otherwise the price is too high. $15 per night would be more reasonable for car camping.

For car camping you need a lot of gear in addition to the above campground basics. Water jugs, stove, lantern, ice chest, dry food box, cups, utensils and dishes, soap and wash tub for the dishes, drinking water, sleeping bags or blankets, sleeping pad etc. It's a lot of gear to fit in the car without having to sleep in it. I prefer a tent for camping. Leave all the gear in the car at night.

With the motor bike I assume you have tools and spare parts. You want someplace secure to store it at night, like inside the car.

Lots of people like the roof top tents. I have a good ground tent I like to use. With the ground tent you can easily go out for dinner or a food shopping run without taking down the tent.

Have fun and get a good night's sleep.
 
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