Sleep solo in my JKU next to ARB fridge? Or buy a nice tent?

zimm17

Observer
I'm heading up to the Vermont Overland Rally in October. I'll be travelling solo and I'm going to be going with my new ARB 50QT fridge and a few rubbermaids full of camping gear. I have a 3" self inflating mattress and nice sleeping bag. I'm 5' 10". Will I be comfy with the rear seats down and laying in there next to the fridge? Will it be not flat enough? I figure I'd need to find some screens for the rear windows for ventilation as well. Or go out and by a nice car camping tent. It's only 3 nights and I'll have beer to help out too.
 

kojackJKU

Autism Family Travellers!
I think just buy a tent, get a good air mattress, and have the extra space. You will be much more comfy. I never understood sleeping inside a rig when a good big tent is cheap, and you have room to move then!
 
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zimm17

Observer
Yup, that's part of my thinking. I don't want to built a platform or other "system" because the JKU is my daily driver and normally does duty hauling 2 kids to school and I use the back more often that not to haul stuff around.

My two expensive tents are ultralight "tarptents" made for ultralight backpacking- no rain fly and they use hiking poles for, uh... poles. I think they're a little too high speed for what I have planned. My 4 person "family" tent is a cheapo box store one with tiny rain fly and fiberglass poles. If I'm buying a new tent, I should go whole hog and get something big enough for the whole family to use after this trip.
 

kojackJKU

Autism Family Travellers!
I would just use the "family Tent" no shame in that game. I use them...If you look after them, they will look after you.
 

daveh

Adventurer
The event is a bit earlier this year, but if nighttime temps are anywhere near where they have been previous years, plan for low 40s. Sleeping inside the jeep might not be too bad.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

tarditi

Explorer
I wouldn't sleep inside unless it was really set up to do so. The fridge motor does make some noise and does give off a little warm air.

If you've got a tent then use it - could hang in a hammock with a tarp, too - especially if going solo.
 

Comanche Scott

Expedition Leader
Sleeping in, versus out of the Jeep from my experiences

Omar Branston (sp?) has some great pictures of how his JKU is setup to sleep in the back. He can even watch movies while chilling out back there. :)

I/m about 5'-11" depending on the time of day, and have the Jeep setup to sleep in the back with an air mattress on a raised floor. I think you'll find the fridge is plenty quiet, and may not even turn on during the night due to the cooler temps.

What I like about sleeping in the Jeep:

1). Security
2). Auto start on the key fob with the heater turned max hot, for those really cold mornings
3). The view is better
4). The speed of setting up and breaking down camp (although my buddy with his roof top tent is just as fast)
5). Wind, rain, snow, etc. makes no difference to comfort and security.
6). Built in radio, lighting, power port for laptop
7). No bumps or rocks poking me in the back, in the middle of the night

What I like better about setting up a tent
1). Room inside
2). Ease of getting in and out (for those inevitable bathroom runs in the middle of the night
3). No getting kicked out for eating cookies while in the sleeping bag. ;)
4). Did I mention room inside?

First picture shows rocks under rear tires to level Jeep for "maximum comfort". :elkgrin:
Second picture shows raised platform for sleeping. When the driver's seat is all the way forward and tilted max forward, there is more than enough room for a twin sized air mattress. If the fridge wasn't so tall, it could sleep two people fairly comfortable on a full size air matress.

Picture three, four. and five. The raised floor allows loading everything underneath, so there is no "unloading" needed to make room in the back. This also gives Super-Mutt the entire rear of the Jeep to move around, and lie down in during travel.
Hope this is helpful.
 

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Septu

Explorer
I'm heading up to the Vermont Overland Rally in October. I'll be travelling solo and I'm going to be going with my new ARB 50QT fridge and a few rubbermaids full of camping gear. I have a 3" self inflating mattress and nice sleeping bag. I'm 5' 10". Will I be comfy with the rear seats down and laying in there next to the fridge? Will it be not flat enough? I figure I'd need to find some screens for the rear windows for ventilation as well. Or go out and by a nice car camping tent. It's only 3 nights and I'll have beer to help out too.

I spent a week camping like that in Alaska while waiting for my trailer to be ready. Is a little tight but I was quite comfy overall. One suggestion... make (or buy) a couple of mesh nets to cover the windows so you can sleep with the windows open without having to deal with bugs. Having slept and camped from the back of my JKU for several years before getting an RTT, that made a huge difference. Some mesh and magnets, or just make a sleeve that goes over the entire door/window then just close the door giving you a damn good seal against bugs. If it's really hot, I'd make one with velcro or something so you can leave the rear window open yet still have a bug screen there. But definitely make 2 screens to cover the rear door windows. That will at least give you some air flow.

An RTT is nice - especially if you're in one place for multiple days... but honestly? You can kit out the back of your JKU rather well to the point that sleeping solo in there (especially if you're 5-10 - I'm 5-9 and had lots of room) isn't an issue at all. Fold the seats down and stuff a couple towels or something in the crack so it's reasonably flat. When I used an air mattress (I haven't in years), I didn't even bother doing that. When I did my trip to Alaska and camped in the back for a week, I had my 25L fridge, all my camping gear, all my tools I normally take and a bunch of other crap for when I grabbed my Little Guy trailer. And while I had to be creative in packing stuff, I had (with a little work) a very comfortable sleeping setup. While the fridge makes some noise when it's running (perhaps your ARB makes more), I've never ever heard it while sleeping - even when taking an afternoon nap and it's hot out. My fridge is a 25L Waeco.
 
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kojackJKU

Autism Family Travellers!
Im a puss, I am sitting in my tent now....a 10ft skamper pop up. All the comforts of home, and easily towed by my JK! We love it. I just need to get a portable hot spot for computing!
 

Septu

Explorer
Im a puss, I am sitting in my tent now....a 10ft skamper pop up. All the comforts of home, and easily towed by my JK! We love it. I just need to get a portable hot spot for computing!

I don't disagree. I love my little trailer and my RTT. But I'd sleep in my JK before sleeping in a ground tent - especially if it's on a solo trip.
 

Jeff Patterson

Observer
Always in the Jeep for me in the past, I find it quite convenient/safe/comfortable - however, I have never slept next to a fridge...
 

Rutdigger

Watch This!
Put the fridge in the jeep along with your other gear, grab your bag and climb inside for the night in your driveway; then you will have your answer.....
 
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IPA

Observer
Put the fridge in the jeep along with your other gear, grab your bag and climb inside for the night in your driveway; then you will have your answer.....

This.

I have yet to actually sleep in my JKU because I haven't been camping since I've owned it, but I've put my Big Agnes air mattress in it a couple times to see how I fit, and while definitely not perfect I'm pretty sure it'd be better than sleeping on the ground, especially if it's really cold or very windy and rainy.

If I'm gonna be in one place for a few nights, and/or if I have my family with me, I'll set up a large tent with cots and all the other glamping stuff that you need to have when you travel with a wife and 3 daughters. But If I'm solo and especially if I'm sleeping somewhere different every night, I think sleeping in the Jeep will be a great option.

I've also always thought the tent cots from KampRite and Cabela's looked pretty cool for solo overnights.
 

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