Camper shell camping

[JB Rock Warrior]

Heading out to the Overland Expo East in October and I am planning on sleeping in the back of my 2012 Tundra. Just wanted to get some opinions from those who do it, any tricks of the trade etc.. I have 3 options for sleeping, a military style cot, an air mattress or I have 2 3in sleeping pads. Which one would you choose? My truck has a 67" bed and I have plenty of head room.

 

[SDDiver5]

Use whichever is more comfortable. Maybe the cot and then a sleeping pad?

 

[JB Rock Warrior]

My first choice is the cot plus it takes up less room.

 

[jeep-N-montero]

My brain is telling me that the cot with pad on top will be your most comfortable and easy option, tons of threads on here discussing it.

 

[jscusmcvet]

I'd go for the cot + whatever pad suits you. Gives you a place to sit down up off the bottom of the truck bed.

 

[robgendreau]

I liked the cot solution. Meant that the floor could get wet, dirty etc without affecting my sleeping area. Good for storage as well. Kind of a "why not cot?" situation.

 

[TacomaAustin]

Sleeping in a Short Bed under a Camper Shell

My truck bed is only 73" long. A two leg version of the Roll-A-Cot fits pretty well in the bed of my Tacoma when the tailgate is down and rear canopy hatch in the open position. As mentioned, the floor could get wet or dirty and you'll still have clean sleeping area. Plus, the cot stores out of the way, when not in use.

While the Roll-A-Cot clears the wheel well, it's 15 inches above the floor, which leaves no room to sit up under my mid-rise Leer 180 canopy. Also, in cold weather, you'll want some insulation between you and the cot, which raises its height further. So, the cot only gets used in my 4 person tent, which has 5 feet of head room.

When I sleep under the truck canopy, I use a 1" thick pad of closed-cell polyethylene foam, ( http://www.foambymail.com/PE17-_2/polyethylene-foam-sheets-1-7lb-blue.html ), in cold weather I add a reflectix radiant barrier on top of the PE foam sheet that is only about a 1/16th of inch thick, and on top of that my Exped Downmat XP9 inflatable pad. The advantage is I can sit upright, while I get dressed.

For the extra leg room, I have to lower the tailgate and raise the rear canopy hatch. To keep out mosquitoes, I have a screened cover - which you'll find is 20% off with free shipping at Campmor right now.

 

[TacomaAustin]

Edit: The link below shows the closed cell polyethylene foam that I use to cover the floor of the truck.

http://www.foambymail.com/GR-_BLACK/gym-rubber-black.html

If you purchase a long enough sheet, it can be cut with band saw to fit a cot - which adds some R value between you and the cold air below the cot. I cut two 48" by 48" sheets to fit the sleeping space in the bed of my Tacoma and it allows one rest atop of other when my bed is raised.

For some space to store boxes out of the way while you sleep, the lady in this blog put a removable shelf at the front of her camper. It's high enough that your feet fit under the shelf.

https://onegirlontherocks.wordpress.com/2012/09/11/living-in-a-truck-a-manifesto/

 

[fiddypal]

My truck bed is only 73" long. A two leg version of the Roll-A-Cot fits pretty well in the bed of my Tacoma when the tailgate is down and rear canopy hatch in the open position. As mentioned, the floor could get wet or dirty and you'll still have clean sleeping area. Plus, the cot stores out of the way, when not in use.

While the Roll-A-Cot clears the wheel well, it's 15 inches above the floor, which leaves no room to sit up under my mid-rise Leer 180 canopy. Also, in cold weather, you'll want some insulation between you and the cot, which raises its height further. So, the cot only gets used in my 4 person tent, which has 5 feet of head room.

When I sleep under the truck canopy, I use a 1" thick pad of closed-cell polyethylene foam, ( http://www.foambymail.com/PE17-_2/polyethylene-foam-sheets-1-7lb-blue.html ), in cold weather I add a reflectix radiant barrier on top of the PE foam sheet that is only about a 1/16th of inch thick, and on top of that my Exped Downmat XP9 inflatable pad. The advantage is I can sit upright, while I get dressed.

For the extra leg room, I have to lower the tailgate and raise the rear canopy hatch. To keep out mosquitoes, I have a screened cover - which you'll find is 20% off with free shipping at Campmor right now.

All you guys crying about bed size don't have to deal with a 5.8ft short bed! (Who the hell came up with that size anyway?!) I am 6ft and am slightly crammed when all closed up but it still is better than tent camping imo. I just orders a few yards of 'no-see-um' mesh from ripstop the other day I plan to make something just like that so I can keep the tail open on hot summer days and to give some precious extra legroom and keep the bugs out.

 

[STANG302]

My advice would be bring the cot. Leaves plenty of room to move around and store other item under or around the cot.. If I'm sticking around for a while i'll use my cooler as a night stand.

Tried a small inflatable mattress and it was just a pain. Took up all room in the bed so you had to crawl over it to get in and out.

 

[robert]

Besides good bedding, I'd say having some sort of ventilation with bug screens and a large mouthed bottle that feels different from any other bottle in the back with you. I'm also a big fan of curtains for some privacy but also to block out annoying lights at night and the sun early in the morning when I still want to sleep. I've been known to throw a tarp over the back when I've forgotten my curtains. An awning off the back is very nice, especially in bad weather where you want to cook on the tailgate or just stretch out and relax. I keep a battery powered fan in the back to move air on hot nights and there's an LED lantern back there as well. I've got one of those Coleman Black Cat catalytics I can use when it's really cold but I don't sleep with it on.