Thread: Sleeping in your hunting vehicle

Originally Posted by luckey

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.

Yes that was pretty much the exact setup I had towards the end of my ownership of my Hilux whenever it rained/showered however the mosquitos were really bad in quite a few hunting/camping spots, to the point they drove me crazy and sleep quality was severely diminished. The fly didn't keep the little buggers out even though I had it pretty well sealed.

Originally Posted by 9STAGS

Yes that was pretty much the exact setup I had towards the end of my ownership of my Hilux whenever it rained/showered however the mosquitos were really bad in quite a few hunting/camping spots, to the point they drove me crazy and sleep quality was severely diminished. The fly didn't keep the little buggers out even though I had it pretty well sealed.

Possible solution to this- one of the guys I fished with a lot when I liveddown south, he used to sleep in the back of his truck with the tailgate down and used a mattress that had a mosquito net canopy stitched onto it, and attachments in the truck canopy that he clipped the mosquito net to- it kinda ended up looking like this (https://www.fruugonorge.com/2024-mos...31?language=en) except the netting was stitched round the edges of the mattress, so fully protected, and he had about four attachment points above. Basically like a mattress with a built in tent inner. In bad weather he just added a tarp over the opening to protect the tailgate end.

tilt me driver seat back in my rodeo ,then sleeping bag over top of me and Im as snug as a bum full of farts.istarted this as a security measure for my firearms , when i had my pathfinder /hilux wagons even done it at sis's bach,Much to the amusement of her dorkland mates .mind you being ex TF soldier and having slept amongst many bloody rocks /stumps etc etc idont find it uncomfortable. warm &dry too.

Originally Posted by kotuku

tilt me driver seat back in my rodeo ,then sleeping bag over top of me and Im as snug as a bum full of farts.istarted this as a security measure for my firearms , when i had my pathfinder /hilux wagons even done it at sis's bach,Much to the amusement of her dorkland mates .mind you being ex TF soldier and having slept amongst many bloody rocks /stumps etc etc idont find it uncomfortable. warm &dry too.

Yeah I'm a shitty sleeper and am unable to sleep like that even though I tried on more than a few occasions.
I need to be fully stretched out mostly on my side but occasionally on my back to relieve my hips.
I'm always jealous of you jokers who can sleep anywhere anytime at the drop of a hat.

I sleep in my Subaru Forester all the time. Reasonable amount of space. I'm 5'11". I hate tents, but use them when I have to.

Is the forester at the top of the list of the most stolen cars in nz?

Originally Posted by Friwi

Is the forester at the top of the list of the most stolen cars in nz?

No, but a mate had a very old Impreza stolen.

I should have added to my post that sleeping in-vehicle is the main reason that I didn't get a ute.

Ive done diagonal in the well side of a 2010 hilux and 2020 ranger. Im 6" and its too tight. You cant strech out and the quality of sleep isnt there. Ive wondered if i set a board or set of drawers in the back so im.not governed by the wheel arches. That might give another 100mm.

I think that having the tailgate down is the next option but not ideal when the weather is a bit shit.

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Originally Posted by Rn-85

Ive done diagonal in the well side of a 2010 hilux and 2020 ranger. Im 6" and its too tight. You cant strech out and the quality of sleep isnt there. Ive wondered if i set a board or set of drawers in the back so im.not governed by the wheel arches. That might give another 100mm.

I think that having the tailgate down is the next option but not ideal when the weather is a bit shit.

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I’ve considered this also but reckon you’ll run out of headroom, and it will be a pain not being able to sit upright when needed.

An idea I’m exploring to get around this is making up a cheap cover that fits the back of the canopy when the rear lid is raised and tail gate down. Add a zipped door on one side for access and it will be a poor man’s camper.

Originally Posted by Hayden C

I’ve considered this also but reckon you’ll run out of headroom, and it will be a pain not being able to sit upright when needed.

An idea I’m exploring to get around this is making up a cheap cover that fits the back of the canopy when the rear lid is raised and tail gate down. Add a zipped door on one side for access and it will be a poor man’s camper.

Yep i agree. Ive toyed with the same idea, with a cover over the open tail gate from the canopy.

It would be a great win if you could. For me i want to arrive at the carpark the night before, not worry about the overnight forecast and head out in the morning. I dont want to dry/air out a tent then next day or two at home following a hunt, let alone packing in up in the wee hours.



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Originally Posted by Rn-85

Ive done diagonal in the well side of a 2010 hilux and 2020 ranger. Im 6" and its too tight. You cant strech out and the quality of sleep isnt there. Ive wondered if i set a board or set of drawers in the back so im.not governed by the wheel arches. That might give another 100mm.

I think that having the tailgate down is the next option but not ideal when the weather is a bit shit.

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Yes I agree, it was to tight even for my short legs lol so I had to always have the tailgate down as per the photo I posted on page 2 but then bad weather comes into play as your bottom part is exposed.
The problem with a platform to get you level or above the wheel arches prevents you from sitting upright in bed as your headroom gets diminished by the roof of the canopy.
The struggle is real but doable at a cost to comfort.

The man has too many videos now for me to have time to trawl through them, but years ago, Clay tall stories, did a video showing a sort of coffin thing he had made to go on car roof racks for sleeping in. The ensuite was a plastic bottle.

Can’t beat a surf, I built a platform about 8” above the rear floor and store my rifles and cooker and gear under it. The platform makes it wide enough to sleep me and one of my kids side by side as it goes at the level of the wheel arches. Doesn’t leave a heap of head room but it functions fine. More headroom the prado I had before the surf, but I prefer my surf for a hunting wagon.

@MB how do you sleep in your Forester? Mine the back seats don’t fold down flat and the lump is a pain. I used to sleep in front passenger seat just reclined but never got a good sleep. Last year I decided to whip up a basic platform and now sleep super well. The front section folds back when I’m driving. When I’m parked up to sleep I just slide the driver seat forward and fold out the end section.

I can leave the back left side seat up and that’s where the pup sleeps, chilly bin fits perfectly behind back seat next to the platform. And I made the platform high enough that my rifle cases and/or fishing rods have ample storage. Foam roll and inflatable mattress on this and I sleep amazing. & when I get home the whole platform takes 10seconds to take out so it can be used as family vehicle.

Originally Posted by Pixie Z

@MB how do you sleep in your Forester? Mine the back seats don’t fold down flat and the lump is a pain. I used to sleep in front passenger seat just reclined but never got a good sleep. Last year I decided to whip up a basic platform and now sleep super well. The front section folds back when I’m driving. When I’m parked up to sleep I just slide the driver seat forward and fold out the end section.

I can leave the back left side seat up and that’s where the pup sleeps, chilly bin fits perfectly behind back seat next to the platform. And I made the platform high enough that my rifle cases and/or fishing rods have ample storage. Foam roll and inflatable mattress on this and I sleep amazing. & when I get home the whole platform takes 10seconds to take out so it can be used as family vehicle.

Attachment 255029

I have the same foam mattress shown in #24 which does the job, don't feel the lump. Front seats pushed as far forward and folded down forward as much as possible. It's not perfect, but can't complain about the comfort. I like your setup, nice job! I'll look at a bigger SUV next time, a seven seater with flat fold down seats would be sweet.