sleeping in vehicles; ventilation, temperature control, bedding choices, power source
Hello all
I have some questions for those of you who sleep in your vehicle, van or SUV
First off, what do you do for ventilation? How do you allow airflow but still keep bugs out?
What temp range are you comfortable at?
Do you use a seperate stand alone structure to supplement the sleeping space?
I know there's are dozens of different ways. I'm mainly curious how people are maintaining decent ventilation and still keeping the critters out.
I've been known to sleep in my vehicles a time or two (actually a lot) over the past 40 years or so. It started in the '70s, with my '73 Volvo 142, the first car I owned with reclining seats. I would go hunting or fishing with a few of the guys at work, some of whom had full campers on their pickups, others tented. I just slept in my car, reclined, with or w/o a sleeping bag, and if the weather was warm enough, with a 12v fan, and insect screening over the opened window.
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drape screen over door, close, tuck material into window sill
Good for one night or two, as I was in my twenties. My trunk was always stocked with canned goods (Spam), and water, and usually a beer cooler. Later, in the '80s, I used an aluminum camper shell on my '81 Ford Courier pickup. I had two inches of foam over a thick rubber mat, and I slept in an army surplus mummy-style bag (was good down to zero). I also had a 12v fan (and jump box, to power it), if needed, and cross-ventilation thru screened side-windows. Carried the same supplies (minus the beer-
I quit). I also quit camping, hunting, fishing in the mid '80s (never seemed to have time for myself), and I didn't need to sleep in my vehicles for awhile (only in the doghouse, at times!). But, in the early '00s, I bought a '75 Chevy pickup, and immediately added a used ($10) matching color aluminum shell, not for camping, but to haul my racing supplies and tools (I wouldn't have to load/unload them between races), and I would occasionally use it to sleep in, when I knew I would become stranded at work during ice storms (I commuted 120 miles round-trip, and sometimes- with my 12-16 hour days- I couldn't even try to travel). So, I used the same set-up as in the earlier truck. In '08, I bought a '09 Chevy HHR Panel, and started to sleep in it during ice season. This time, I used a Lasko My Heat, and comforters, on top of some insulating layers on the floor. I was good down to 8 degrees (lowest I observed). I always parked next to a power plug, in the under-building parking area at work (still open-air at both ends), so I could run the heater all night. I have to say this, the older I got, the less comfortable I was, sleeping in the confined spaces. I also became more "privacy conscious", as I started to use screens or shades to cover my windows,as I slept. When I wanted to get back to limited outdoors, as I neared retirement, I built a teardrop/squareback trailer, and outfitted it based on my car-sleeping experiences. Much more comfortable, and all contingencies are covered (including off-grid power for heat and A/C), including the Spam supply. I haven't used the trailer as much as I wanted to, yet, but as a retired old guy, I really prefer the comfort level given by the extra room and conveniences of my little 4x8 trailer. I wish all you car-campers well!
