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desertgirl
Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 3350 Location: Chandler, AZ
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Posted: 6/2/2008, 4:25 pm Post subject: Let's talk gear: Car Camping Bedding ? |
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I think I am getting old (I can't believe I actually said that)
I am looking for a comfy "in-back of the truck/SUV" bed. I have seen a few folks have some nifty setup that makes me jealous as I sit and huff n puff at my InsulMat ( quite comfortable once I catch my breath).
I'd love for some inputs so I can figure out what will be best for me.
_________________ Photos: http://www.pbase.com/desertgirl/galleries
Life is but a dream ...there is no end to what you can dream! |
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evenstar
Joined: 03 Jan 2003 Posts: 5548 Location: SCW by way of CA
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Posted: 6/2/2008, 4:40 pm Post subject: Re: Let's talk gear: Car Camping Bedding ? |
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desertgirl wrote: |
I think I am getting old (I can't believe I actually said that)
I am looking for a comfy "in-back of the truck/SUV" bed. I have seen a few folks have some nifty setup that makes me jealous as I sit and huff n puff at my InsulMat ( quite comfortable once I catch my breath).
I'd love for some inputs so I can figure out what will be best for me.
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What is the length of your SUV's bed with all the rear seats down? _________________ John Richardson and Richie Rich, El Perro de Playero
http://members.tripod.com/~evenstar/index.html
http://www.arizonahikers.com
When the Man waked up he said, "What is Wild Dog doing here?" And the Woman said, "His name is not Wild Dog anymore, but the First Friend, because he will be our friend for always and always and always. Take him with you when you go hunting."
--Rudyard Kipling, from Just So Stories, 1902 |
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MikeInFHAZ
Joined: 15 Feb 2004 Posts: 1401 Location: location location
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IGO
Joined: 08 Feb 2005 Posts: 4144 Location: Las Vegas
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Posted: 6/2/2008, 5:46 pm Post subject: |
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Therma Rest big'ol Camp Rest makes a fine in car car camper. _________________ "Surely all God's people, however serious or savage, great or small, like to play. Whales and elephants, dancing, humming gnats, and invisibly small mischievous microbes - all are warm with divine radium and must have lots of fun in them." John Muir |
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Suz
Joined: 27 Nov 2005 Posts: 3186
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Posted: 6/2/2008, 5:50 pm Post subject: |
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I like the big ole thick foam pad with a sheet over it. Not sure where you store it when you're not using it but it seems like a good option. I think you can go to a fabric store for this....or an upholstery shop and get it fit to the exact size. |
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IGO
Joined: 08 Feb 2005 Posts: 4144 Location: Las Vegas
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Posted: 6/2/2008, 5:59 pm Post subject: |
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SUZ, I had a 1985 Nissan pick up truck I bought new. I put a fortified aluminum/plywood sheet across the bed then mounted an oversized shell on it. I bought a cheap twin mattress for a kids bed and and cut the cloth skin off of it and simply trimmed the mattress to fit the interior of the truck. My wife and I spent every night on the road in the back of that rig. It worked perfectly except during a hale storm in Tahoe (it was an aluminum camper shell, kinda loud). When we got home, stuffed it in a spare room we used as a big closet. Ice chest and all car camping slid nicely under the aluminum bed _________________ "Surely all God's people, however serious or savage, great or small, like to play. Whales and elephants, dancing, humming gnats, and invisibly small mischievous microbes - all are warm with divine radium and must have lots of fun in them." John Muir |
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RedRoxx44 Queen of the Walkabout
Joined: 15 Jan 2004 Posts: 1167
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Posted: 6/2/2008, 6:04 pm Post subject: |
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4 inch memory foam full or twin size mattress. Brian is building a deck for the FJ complete with storage access since the back seats are out. Unfortunately it's bulky to store but I have never slept so well, and you can crawl around on it and not disturb anything ( like a cup of coffee) sitting on it. _________________ You can rest when you're dead |
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evenstar
Joined: 03 Jan 2003 Posts: 5548 Location: SCW by way of CA
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Posted: 6/2/2008, 6:15 pm Post subject: |
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Check with Todd; I sold him one of those 2" think memory foam pads about three years ago. Don't know if he still has it or uses it. _________________ John Richardson and Richie Rich, El Perro de Playero
http://members.tripod.com/~evenstar/index.html
http://www.arizonahikers.com
When the Man waked up he said, "What is Wild Dog doing here?" And the Woman said, "His name is not Wild Dog anymore, but the First Friend, because he will be our friend for always and always and always. Take him with you when you go hunting."
--Rudyard Kipling, from Just So Stories, 1902 |
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Davis2001R6
Joined: 12 Dec 2003 Posts: 5591 Location: Italy
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Posted: 6/2/2008, 6:24 pm Post subject: Re: Let's talk gear: Car Camping Bedding ? |
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evenstar wrote: |
What is the length of your SUV's bed with all the rear seats down? |
Come on were talking about Ambika hear, I think she could sleep across the back seat of my Honda.
Ambika, sorry about the short joke, just saying the 4 runner is plenty long enough.
How about the 3 or 4 inch egg shaped pads? I think they are pretty cheap too.
Maybe something like this: link With a large queen/king size you could fold it in half for twice the padding.
Can't beat the cheap or free shipping on overstock either. |
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desertgirl
Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 3350 Location: Chandler, AZ
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Posted: 6/2/2008, 10:03 pm Post subject: |
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being short has its advantages from time to time!
I am liking the memory foam option but I think I will need to have some thing underlaying part of the area since there is a noticable slope and a small ledge that just finds the sweet spot to give you a kink in the back!
Letty are you rigging up 4 in memory foram + a twin bed ? _________________ Photos: http://www.pbase.com/desertgirl/galleries
Life is but a dream ...there is no end to what you can dream! |
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Davis2001R6
Joined: 12 Dec 2003 Posts: 5591 Location: Italy
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Posted: 6/2/2008, 10:17 pm Post subject: |
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I don't know why they design SUV with bends or slopes in the seats. It makes no sense to me.
I went to the Chicago Auto show in the spring and that was the first thing I looked at with every SUV, does the back fold down flat, most of them didn't. MY GC is just the right size for me, if I was over 6' I would have to open the tailgate, but under 6' and I can stretch out fine, only 1 small little bump where the seats fold down, don't even feel it through the air mattress. |
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evenstar
Joined: 03 Jan 2003 Posts: 5548 Location: SCW by way of CA
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Posted: 6/2/2008, 11:08 pm Post subject: |
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I'm 6' feet tall and with the rear seats down fully flat and the front passenger seat down on my '05 Xterra (only available on the off road model) I slept just fine on the first El Camino Diablo run. The front passenger seat doesn't go quite flat, so made a perfect place for a pillow. Had I been 2'' shorter I wouldn't have had to even put the front passenger seat down. Slept on my big Agnes on top of my Thermarest. Also cut a screen just a little bigger than one of the rear windows, glued it to magnetic tape and was able to sleep with it covering the driver's side rear window without worrying about bugs, flies, etc getting in. _________________ John Richardson and Richie Rich, El Perro de Playero
http://members.tripod.com/~evenstar/index.html
http://www.arizonahikers.com
When the Man waked up he said, "What is Wild Dog doing here?" And the Woman said, "His name is not Wild Dog anymore, but the First Friend, because he will be our friend for always and always and always. Take him with you when you go hunting."
--Rudyard Kipling, from Just So Stories, 1902 |
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desertgirl
Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 3350 Location: Chandler, AZ
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Posted: 6/2/2008, 11:16 pm Post subject: |
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evenstar wrote: |
Also cut a screen just a little bigger than one of the rear windows, glued it to magnetic tape and was able to sleep with it covering the driver's side rear window without worrying about bugs, flies, etc getting in. |
Great idea Hooli _________________ Photos: http://www.pbase.com/desertgirl/galleries
Life is but a dream ...there is no end to what you can dream! |
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MikeInFHAZ
Joined: 15 Feb 2004 Posts: 1401 Location: location location
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Posted: 6/2/2008, 11:59 pm Post subject: |
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my montero sport is really neat that way. although i never use it and didnt even care to look into flat seats for camping. i guess maybe i will?
basically you move both headrests then fold down the front seat, fold down the rear seat and you have a totally flat bed about 4x9 feet. only thing in the way is the center console but thats a great place to hold a drink while you watch a DVD.
like I said tho, ive never used it. _________________ http://www.arizonahikers.com/board/albums/albwb18/BRIDGE.sized.jpg
bridge hammock, quilts and tarp (all DIY)
what i do |
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RedRoxx44 Queen of the Walkabout
Joined: 15 Jan 2004 Posts: 1167
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Posted: 6/3/2008, 4:59 am Post subject: |
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No, just the memory foam. Used heavy cardboard from moving boxes to build up around a ramp the FJ has. However when back seats totally removed the area actually ended up with more room and a slight depression in the floor. The deck will have a hatch and small things can be stored there, such as tools or a tow rope etc, things that don't have to be accessed normally. It also gives more headroom, and room enough for two people to move around comfortably.
I went to a fabric store and got a large piece of stiff perforated cloth and use magnets to secure it to rear hatch area of FJ in case it is hot can sleep with back door open and fully screened against bugs and still get in and out. Planning on getting some pieces for windows too. Cost maybe 2 bucks for fabric and got magnets at 99 cent store.
I too wanted the comfort but if I am solo I usually have foam bed spread out, so if I drive somewhere and want to just pull over and sleep, I can find a place, park, crawl in back and push cargo aside, stretch out and I'm out in just a few minutes versus pull out a sleeping bag and inflate mattress, or even have to put up a tent if it's raining. Plus a little more security if you're just parking down some dirt road in the middle of the night, in the vehicle.
Also with gas prices can look at it two ways--have a capable to the TH vehicle and the ability to sleep in it, thus saving cost of hotel room. I rarely stay in a motel/hotel on any trips, and after long trips can chose to stay in a motel for the shower or do a KOA campground shower, if I want something better than my solar rig shower, which I use too. _________________ You can rest when you're dead |
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