Thread: Sleeping in your hunting vehicle

I'm 6,3, sleep in my the hilux sr5 double cab from time to time. Drop the tail gate, and tie a tarp off the back t bar of the roof rack. Drop the window down. Takes a bit of finessing but it's proven a a good option for me and my boy. Dog sleeps under the tailgate in her crate or bed. Sorted!!

Those 4WD Mitsubishi vans

One life hack I discovered recently is that if you’re sleeping in a car passenger seat, stacking up the foot well so that it’s level with the seat makes a huge difference.
Granted it’s still not as comfortable as a proper bed, but it’s far better than wet feet and mosquitoes.

I sleep in my 2009 Nissan Pathfinder. I'm 182cm and can lie down without touching the ends - just. The seats fold completely flat down into the floor. I think the Pathfinders turned to rubbish after around 2010.

Originally Posted by Ducksnchips

I sleep in my 2009 Nissan Pathfinder. I'm 182cm and can lie down without touching the ends - just. The seats fold completely flat down into the floor. I think the Pathfinders turned to rubbish after around 2010.

Try taking the rear seat base out.only two bolts each... Gives another 150-200mm at front. I regularly take one out on the driver's side n just leave it out.gives more room for dogs but still got passenger side rear seat.

Regularly sleep in the mighty bighorn. Heappsss of space.

Toyota and Nissan both do 4wd vans. I have a 2wd van that I have slept in at road ends. Have a double self inflating mattress we use for camping, just chuck it in the back, sorted. Tail gate lifts up nice and high and acts as canopy of sorts while you sort dinner or breakfast. Get a tradies one without windows and a false floor even better. Hide shit under the floor, and even more room for 2 if need be.

I am 178 and can sleep in my 2022x jimny with front seats folded foward

I am of similar stature to 9staggo ( probably on tippy toes ) but there are advantages to being a short cunt, Use to love my old Sube Outback - seats lay fulla flat in plenty of room plus they go anywhere

If going station wagon, ya def need a something whos seats down

Someone mentioned a "RAM" mine has a short deck but has rear fold up seats n a fold down tray that is bang on for a therarest laying sideways ( couldn't do that in the Wildtrak )

I realise you said you’re not really looking at a rooftop tent but is there a reason why? I borrowed my sons one this Easter and had an awesome time down south for a week . I put it on hardlid of ute and super easy to set up / take down . Did have a wild night at Lake Tennyson in the wind though . I thought it was bloody good .

[QUOTE=300Shortmag;1595754]I realise you said you’re not really looking at a rooftop tent but is there a reason why? I borrowed my sons one this Easter and had an awesome time down south for a week . I put it on hardlid of ute and super easy to set up / take down . Did have a wild night at Lake Tennyson in the wind though . I thought it was bloody good .

Hi there,

A few reasons why I'm not looking at a rooftop tent however I do think they are an awesome product in the right circumstances.

Extra cost. Roof top tents especially the better well made ones are reasonably expensive and as I'm retired I don't have the discretionary income anymore like my working days.

Increased centre of gravity although in your sons setup not so much of an issue.

More likely to get caught up and damaged on the tight narrow tracks I sometimes venture down.

Security. Unfortunately in the central North Island areas that I frequent there's an increased lowlife element and being able to have everything locked inside and hidden behind tinted windows and under a blanket just makes life easier.

Simplicity of a sleeping bag and mattress in a vehicle.

Toyota Surf.
I regularly sleep in mine with the rear seats flat when hunting or fishing. I made a tray for one side that gear + 10L water goes under and I can cook or sort food on the top of.

I was going to suggest with the double cab a set of awning clips fitted up inside under the opening for the canopy, and modify an old truck tarp or curtainside type PVC material (not the heavy as hell one) to fit to the canopy opening and be watertight. Then a fold out timber frame to make a bed and be able to fold up inside the tray when you are driving - it will allow you to use what you have until you decide on a replacement ride.

I'm thinking of doing this on the ranger double cab if I get it squared away from it's canbus system glitches and reverting it back into private instead of in the business. It has a ute drawer from Camco in it currently so I'm looking at that as the basis for something to be able to flip over onto the tailgate to sleep on. The canopy I have is a Fleetline with water channels on all the openings, which means it doesn't leak open or closed... A rooftop tent would be unnecessary if that could be made to work and without one it looks like a standard vehicle as you've noted...

Originally Posted by No.3

I was going to suggest with the double cab a set of awning clips fitted up inside under the opening for the canopy, and modify an old truck tarp or curtainside type PVC material (not the heavy as hell one) to fit to the canopy opening and be watertight. Then a fold out timber frame to make a bed and be able to fold up inside the tray when you are driving - it will allow you to use what you have until you decide on a replacement ride.

I'm thinking of doing this on the ranger double cab if I get it squared away from it's canbus system glitches and reverting it back into private instead of in the business. It has a ute drawer from Camco in it currently so I'm looking at that as the basis for something to be able to flip over onto the tailgate to sleep on. The canopy I have is a Fleetline with water channels on all the openings, which means it doesn't leak open or closed... A rooftop tent would be unnecessary if that could be made to work and without one it looks like a standard vehicle as you've noted...

Thanks for the reply No 3, however I should of made it a bit clearer in my opening post that I no longer own the Hilux.

I sold it about 3 years ago and am only now looking at getting back into another off road capable vehicle.

Your reply does have merit though and a setup like you've described would definitely be a good option if a ute type vehicle is the option I go for.

Cheers.

Short-deck (double-cab) ute with tailgate down & canopy door up, tarp stretched over rear opening and pinned down. Works fine, sheds rain, but hard to bug-proof.

Actually I'm about your size @9STAGS and I'm usually happy enough curled up on the back seat.