Car sleeping

[Rick]

Ford Ranger pickup with 6.5 foot bed and a fiberglass cap. Was my trailhead domain for almost a decade. I now have a Dodge Dakota and have slept under the tonneau cover that came with it, but it is a little too low for me.
Warning!!!! Thread Drift!!!!!!
I would have bought a cap for it by now, but I got a Hennessy Hammock this spring and it has exponentially increased the trailhead stealth camping opportunites. No matter where the trailhead is. People just don't see a brown hammock hanging from the trees 50 feet into the woods. (I think it has something to do with the fact that they might also be looking for a tent shape rather than a hanging shape.

 

[skiguy]

Saab 900 worked great for me back in the 80's. Dont know if there are still any good ones left though.

 

[Mike P.]

Because of the heater issue, I personally opt for Hostels these days, if the $60 or so dollars don't break me to get to NH from CT, $24 isn't going to add much more.

This decision also come from a few nights in cars over the course of many years.

1979 Sr. Prom, drivers seat of 1970 Camaro unreclinced because girlfriend in back, maybe worst night sleep ever & no, two people don't fit in back

1980 Sr. prom (hers) back of 1972 Ford Country Squire Wagon (more room than a Hostel or lean-To odd - even gas rationing for 10 MPH for 400 CI)

1992 - trying to sleep at rest top on I-95 in ME on way to BSP after 2 liters of Mt. Dew - no sleep 1990 Mazda b2600 regular cab

1995 - same PU outside gate to Mt. Davis in the rain, this may be worse night sleep, worse than Camaro

 

[bignslow]

I have a Hyundai Elantra hatchback that i've been able to sleep in the back of (only diagonally). I'm 6' and I barely fit. My wife and I have both slept in the front seats, but that doesn't really work for me. I might try setting up the back seats differently next time so that it leads to a "chaise lounge" type configuration so both of us can fit in the back.

I would love to find an older 4wd 4cyl pickup (Ranger, S10, Mazda, Toyota etc...) that I could put a cap on, it would give me "sleep in the back" versatility in summer, and "don't get stuck" versatility in the winter.

 

[BorealChickadee]

07 Honda CRV recline the front passenger seat all the way, push back the back seat, use a blanket to level the back seat, lay down an Exped mat and crawl into the sleeping bag. Very comfy. But not long enough for someone 6 feet. Great gas mileage as long as I don't have the canoe on top.

I also use noseeum netting and plastic window screen to keep out the mice. I have a piece big enough to just wrap aoruond the frame of the door and shut the door on the screen. I've often thougth about custom cutting it to the size of the winodw and putting on magnets put it's just one more thing.

 

[una_dogger]

Subaru Outback Limited. AWD and fits two adults comfortably plus one dog in back with back seats folded down. Moonroof for ventilation and stargazing. Lots of interior lights for late night map reading. Heated leather seats for a comfy ride home after a long hike.
Gas mileage could be better but for an AWD that I can sleep in? Saves $$ on hotel/hostel.

 

[Pete_Hickey]

Yeah but think of the money you save on motels.

Does it equal out? Do the math. Lets say that you get 30 mpg, and you'll put 120,000 miles on the car. That means that you'll use 40,000 gallons of gas for the life of the car (use your numbers. I picked these so that I could do the math in my head.)

Now, assume you go for something that saves you 10% of your gas. That's a savings of 4,000 gallons. Assuming gas costs $2.50/gallon, the savings is $10,000.

Now that's a good 2 weeks staying at motels.... the kind I stay at. If you stay at less fancy ones, it is even more.

Note: I've seen BC's set-up. push this, move that, fold this, and presto! It looks like a real bed.

 

[dRitter]

A '71 Satellite Sebring with the bench front seat sleeps 2 comfortably for hours. Hey, WTF, worked in high school

 

[skiguy]

Does it equal out? Do the math. Lets say that you get 30 mpg, and you'll put 120,000 miles on the car. That means that you'll use 40,000 gallons of gas for the life of the car (use your numbers. I picked these so that I could do the math in my head.)

Now, assume you go for something that saves you 10% of your gas. That's a savings of 4,000 gallons. Assuming gas costs $2.50/gallon, the savings is $10,000.

Now that's a good 2 weeks staying at motels.... the kind I stay at. If you stay at less fancy ones, it is even more.

Note: I've seen BC's set-up. push this, move that, fold this, and presto! It looks like a real bed.

This is some interesting Math that I agree with as far as out of pocket expense. But how do we put a price on trailhead experience and actually getting there. Is it not the comfort of travel and the experience before and after the hike worth something? IMO before and after hike experience is worth some sacrifice of gas just to possibly meet some folks like stinkyfeet and Pete Hiickey even if I have to slum it at some trailhead with a gas sucking auto.

 

[Nadine]

Subaru Forester. 2 adults, one 5'5" the other 6'0 and one 85 pound dog. Cozy, but very doable.

I haven't slept in my Scion xA yet. It''s much shorter than the Forester though. I'm sure it will be more of a challenge.

Used to have a Ford Escort wagon. Could sleep 2 easy. Great on gas too

 

[grog]

Pete, check your figures.

grog

 

[BorealChickadee]

Note: I've seen BC's set-up. push this, move that, fold this, and presto! It looks like a real bed.

Feels like a real bed too!
And I still feel bad that I didn't set up the tent for you!
Pete-an extra zero in that 40,000 but what's a decimal point amongst friends

Most people here will give up all sorts of creature comforts at home in order to still have gas money for the car, including me. My new car has something I get to play around with and that's the gas mpg computer. It's amazing the difference by just driving gently and sticking to 65 on the Thruway. My last trip from Tupper to Syracuse I got over 35 mpg on an all wheel drive car. I keep cars for 15 years so I want to get every mile I can out of it. Well actually I still own the old car but my son drives it now and the old car was getting over 30 mpg on trips to the mountains.

 

[Peakbagr]

I dream of a small pickup with a ventilated cap, or high mileage SUV or wagon long enough for a six footer and a dog to sleep in. With 35 mpg or more.
Gas is going to get more and more expensive and those long drives to trailheads with one person will get more expensive and be less socially responsible.

 

[Rick]

Why not look into a used Diesel Jetta Wagon. You'll get upwards of 45 MPG, a rock solid engine and years of diesel reliability.

I have had 3 diesels so far, a Jetta and 2 golfs, which aresmaller than the Jetta wagon. I can sleep barely in the golf, but I am crumpled and cramped in the morning. It ain't worth braggin about driving from Southern PA to the adirondacks and back on one tank if I can't stand up straight the next day....

 

[Woody]

I can sleep fine in the back of my Ford Escape with the back seats folded down so the cargo area is long enough for me to lie down in. I'm only 5'8" tall though. If there will be two of us, I will take my wife's Explorer.

 

[Frodo]

I have a 2001 4Runner which is awesome for sleeping in (about the size of a double bed with the back seats down). I have slept at many trail heads before/after a hike (and gatherings), in total comfort (except for the last winter gathering at UFC's when I forgot my sleeping bag and froze my A$$ off!)...

Though NOT too "environmently" friendly...(gets 19 miles per the gallon of "oil"..) , they are otherwise fantastic vehicles...

Since I have now put on about 150,000 miles (and now have my own, though small, hole in the ozone layer), I will be looking for a replacement once something major goes wrong, or Al Gore assassinates me (which ever comes first)...

BTW, Pete Hickey, which motels are you staying at that cost 10,000 for 2 weeks? The Bunny Ranch in Vegas????

 

[ALGonquin Bob]

mtnhiker-mobile

I sleep in my older Honda Accord wagon. It fits one 6-foot tall hiker on an angle. It's great to heat up the car on those wintry mornings.

 

[John H Swanson]

I have a 2001 4Runner which is awesome for sleeping in (about the size of a double bed with the back seats down). I have slept at many trail heads before/after a hike (and gatherings), in total comfort (except for the last winter gathering at UFC's when I forgot my sleeping bag and froze my A$$ off!)...

Though NOT too "environmently" friendly...(gets 19 miles per the gallon of "oil"..) , they are otherwise fantastic vehicles...

Since I have now put on about 150,000 miles (and now have my own, though small, hole in the ozone layer), I will be looking for a replacement once something major goes wrong, or Al Gore assassinates me (which ever comes first)...

BTW, Pete Hickey, which motels are you staying at that cost 10,000 for 2 weeks? The Bunny Ranch in Vegas????

Having spend 59 nights in the back of my 4runner in 1995. Most on remote logging roads. I can confirm that it was a great vehicle for sleeping within.

I bought one with manual windows and taped netting over the back two windows. Cross ventilation. I could easily roll them open or closed as the night temp changed.

Plus that extra clearence allowed you to tuck the vehicle into a small wood road off the main route to avoid the car light wake-up calls from the yahoos and smokies.

Now it may be more cush in a motel but they don't make motels anywhere close to where I wanted to be. It was a little more tight than my caravan which offered all the room a person could want though you'd need to carry bridging equipment to get over some of the washouts.

 

[skiguy]

This is some interesting Math that I agree with as far as out of pocket expense. But how do we put a price on trailhead experience and actually getting there. Is it not the comfort of travel and the experience before and after the hike worth something? IMO before and after hike experience is worth some sacrifice of gas just to possibly meet some folks like stinkyfeet and Pete Hiickey even if I have to slum it at some trailhead with a gas sucking auto.

Pete if I ever do run into you at a trailhead I hope I have a calculator in case I offer to buy you a beer afterwards and you offer to pay the tip!

 

[Neil]

Now it may be more cush in a motel but they don't make motels anywhere close to where I wanted to be.

That's the whole point, of course.

Same with pulling a trailer. The trailer won't go where the back roads go.

If organized, getting going in the am. is quicker with car versus motel sleeping.

I must be a wimp because I draw the line at somewhere just shy of 30 degrees. Minus 20? Brrrrr.