Sleeping in a vehicle in winter tips

[Stephen M]

Hi,

I have a couple of trips planned  with 3 buddies who are not setup for winter backpacking and will be towing in a pop up  camper to rustic campsite.

We will then day hike, snow shoe or xc ski from that location.

Rather than setup a tent I am thinking of just sleeping in the back of my Ford Expedition 4×4.

Anyone have any tips for this?

I do plan to crack a window to help with condensation and have a well tested winter sleep system, but may get a more thicker pad

Thanks,

 

 

[John S.]

Put a closed cell foam pad under whatever other pad you use..guessing inflatable. If inflatable it is best to not be totally a summer one with lowest R rating. Even with the window cracked, expect some freezing condensation on the inside..may or may not happen depending on low temps.

[Stephen M]

Thanks John for the reply.

I will be using a Thermrest Ridge rest under an Exped Synmat UL 9 with a Western mountaineering Puma -25f bag and a 40f synth over quilt.

I am.thinking of getting a wider plusher pad though.

 

[David Thomas]

I sleep in vehicles a lot.  Like a lot a lot.  I’ve road-tripped through all 50 states 6+ times each.  Have slept in my car 3 times in the last week.

I just sit in the front seat, recline it, and run the climate control for warmth or cooling.  I have lots of data that a 4-cylinder car consumes 1/4 gallon per hour idling so 2 gallons over 8 hours (except a Prius is half of that).  I’d expect a 6-cyclinder is 50% more.  A lot less cost than a hotel room in any case.

BRING A PILLOW – a full-sized one off your bed at home.

Duffle bags or more pillows can fill the space behind the folded-forward front seats and in front of the folded-down rear seat backs for a full 6+ feet of flat space in small wagons and SUVs.

I’ve got some 2-inch-thick, 25″-wide, 78″-long CampRest self-inflating pads that never go backpacking but work well for that sort of “car camping”.  Or just add a few more BPing pads to the ones you’d normally bring and stack them up.

In the back of a SUV or Subaru Outback, the cabin heat does just fine.  And it finds it way out, somewhere somehow without the windows open.  That’s handy in summer with bugs outside.

If I think about it, I park pointing upwind so the exhaust is on the downwind end.

The only engineering issue I ever had was after 6 hours of -5F outside Denali in a Corolla, I could hear liquid water sloshing around in the muffler – it had condensed that far down the tailpipe but it all blew out as a cloud of moisture at higher revs once I drove away.

The only legal challenges I’ve ever had were all addressed by, “I’m sorry officer, I was getting too sleepy to feel safe driving so I pulled over to get some rest.”  I rehearse that speech in urban areas and what are they going to say to that?  IME, “Well, there’s a rest area another 5 miles ahead” or “The nearest hotel is 2 miles down this road.” and then they leave.

Hitchhiker’s Guide’s recommendation to bring a towel isn’t wrong, but BRING A FULL-SIZED PILLOW for each person on the trip is more important, IME.

[Monte Masterson]

The Jackery Power System is used by many who car camp, whether it’s outdoor adventurers or people who just live in their automobiles. It will recharge from your car/truck/van while running or from solar panels, however it puts out 110 AC power. They come in 4 sizes from a 240 watt up to a 1500 watt with of course the stronger ones being more expensive. The 1000 and 1500 will even power small ceramic electric heaters, but for what you are describing just an electric blanket would do the trick and it wouldn’t be much of a power drain. The 500 would probably be best for your situation. There are a plethora of YouTube reviews on the Jackery power banks. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SM5HBK1/ref=sspa_dk_detail_4?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B07SM5HBK1&pd_rd_w=6cSzl&pf_rd_p=9fd3ea7c-b77c-42ac-b43b-c872d3f37c38&pd_rd_wg=5zGIO&pf_rd_r=GBKX8VG6Y2AB8DQ90GF3&pd_rd_r=d7a176be-8882-4a6d-9cf4-d16433b9ce79&smid=AZF6YB7UVA7OU&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyR0dRSUJVTVBFSVFTJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMDI4NzA0Mk5PT0VKWUJNM0FYWSZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwODg5Mzk0OTlWQ0FWUzVMUVdHJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfZGV0YWlsJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

[AK Granola]

Get a big piece of thick eggshell crate-type foam that covers the entire truck bed. I’d skip thermarests and the like, because you’re not carrying it anywhere and no reason to risk puncturing it. That way too, when you crawl in your knees will be cushioned. A heap of blankets or down quilts, plus some hot water bottles to fill before bed for a low-tech solution. Also a large thermos that really holds heat filled with hot water for quick drinks, and wrap it in foam too.

[AK Granola]

And bring the dog – they’re better than any heater!

[Stephen M]

Thanks all, absolutely great replies. Great to hear from everyone :-)
<p style=”text-align: left;”>I would love to bring the dog but she stays at home with my wife when I am away :-(</p>
I did not think of using a battery pack or heated blanket but definitely an option.

I had it down to -27f on aren’t with my setup and it worked great. The Puma and an overwuilt are a great combo.

Will check back in tomorrow :-)

 

 

[Stephen M]

I tried my Symmat 9 UL which was fine but purchased an Exped Megamat 10 to try out. That should work better at 30 inches and it’s mainly foam. The other one bottoms out on me l.

[BlackHatGuy]

I was going to suggest an exped megamat. I’ve used one numerous times both sleeping in the back of the Rav and in a large tent sleeping on the ground while car camping. IIRC (which is always a challenge) it got down somewhere near 0 on one trip last November while car camping, and I was cozy in my tent on my megamat (I have the LW) and WM bag. I’ve even used it at home in a pinch and it’s damn comfy even then.

And as David said: “BRING A PILLOW – a full-sized one off your bed at home.” Definitely.

[BlackHatGuy]

Another thing I’ve done for condensation release: I bought some screen door screen material and some magnets, cut a piece of the screen that was about 3″ wider/longer than my moonroof, and used the magnets to hold the screen material in place over the open moonroof. So I had an open top ‘window’ for heat to escape without letting any bugs in (though you probably don’t have to worry about bugs in super cold temps, this was mainly for 3-season car camping), and it also helped stop any small branches/acorns and such from falling on me at night.

[Stephen M]

Thanks Rubmybelly,

I will definitely be bringing a decent pillow.  Good call on the bug screen.

My buddy has a megamat and swears by it. I ordered the long wide one. I will use it at home for guests and in my camper (don’t use the camper in winter as too dodgy on wintery roads roads).

 

 

 

[Kevin Babione]

I have a buddy who sleeps in his Nissan Pathfinder “RV” fairly often.  A couple of tips from him:

• Try it at home before you go – he’s found that, because of the way his rear seats fold (he sleeps with his head behind the driver’s seat), he’s more comfortable if the front of the car is parked a little lower than the rear
• Bring a pee bottle!  Your friends in the pop-up (or tents/hammocks in our case) don’t want to hear car doors opening and closing in the middle of the night
• He usually does sleep with the windows cracked about 1″ to help with ventilation and condensation, but this is spring/fall camping, not winter

[Stephen M]

Thanks Kevin,

Great advice from your friend, especially the try it at home part.

I do use a pee bottle but for this may go with something larger like a closeable wide mouth jug

I do have some leveling blocks from my camper I can use if needs be.

[Kevin Babione]

Be careful with leveling blocks in the winter – the pressure of a vehicle’s weight on the blocks generates heat which causes ice/snow to melt and then it refreezes.  Bring a crowbar (or be prepared to use your tire iron) if you want to take your leveling blocks home with you.

[Stephen M]

Good call Kevin. I had forgotten they would freeze. Will not bother with them so.

[Iago Vazquez]

Personally, one of the concerns I have sleeping in the car is water entry when leaving the windows open. I love using window visors, so that way, even if I sleep through rain, no water enters the car.

I also love to use them to reduce moisture build up in spring and fall in the Northeast, both when getting in the car in the morning and while driving. 

[Stephen M]

Hi Iago,

My last SUV had them but not this one need to order some. I don’t know why they do not come as standard

[Jerry Adams]

I’ve slept in my car recliner a few times but don’t sleep well.  Better to sleep on a flat surface.

Staying warm in a car when it’s cold is a lot easier than sleeping outside.  Wind, rain, snow protection.  Take an extra comforter or whatever.

[Jon Fong / Flat Cat Gear]

I did a van conversion a few years back.  Before add insulation and venting, this is what you should expect.

Every cold surface in your car will get wet due to condensation.  In particular, windows.  Humans emit a lot of water at night and that moisture will condense on cold surfaces.  Cracking a window helps, cracking 2 windows to get a cross breeze even better.  Purchasing a small 12 v to clamp onto your window, even better.   Good luck.

[Stephen M]

Hi Jerry,
I have lots of space to lay out flat in the back with enough room for my gear, good call on the extra comforter.

 

Hi Jon,

I just ordered 4 rain and wind deflectors for each windows so can crack each an inch or so and keep rain and snow out.  I also made cut up some reflectix for each window and gave a snow cover for the windshield.

Do you mean a 12v fan?

Do please some photos of your van conversion.

[Jon Fong / Flat Cat Gear]

Yep,  Sorry, a 12 volt fan.  I have one installed in my roof with a PWM controller.  I converted a Nissan NV200 micro van.

Fan – https://www.amazon.com/Ventline-Dex-VP543-Powered-Round/dp/B00R6M2UPS/ref=asc_df_B00R6M2UPS/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312192374842&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=11223564784477306956&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031022&hvtargid=pla-571897167795&psc=1

 

PWM was bought on eBay for under $5.

[Stephen M]

Thanks Jon,

I often thought the Nissan would make a nice conversion van.

I would love a van at some stage :-)

 

 

[Stephen M]

Jerry,

Do you still have your RV?

 

[Stephen M]

I think I am all set now.

I have ordered the rain deflectors for each window and crack them an inch.  I have cut up some old reflectix foil insulation for the windows,  a 30 inch Exped Megamat 10 is ordered.

I have spent multiple dozens of nights in tents in winter and will be interested to see how sleeping in the Expedition works, it certainly has more space than most tents I have slept in.

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