Thank you for your response. I guess I will start from the floor and work my way up. I, too thank headroom is important. I appreciate all of the input!
Do you camp IN your 200?
- Thread starter damdifino
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I've camped out of my rig a few years before moving to rtt setup on a trailer, mostly during hunting season. At 6'4" that wakeup at 0400 for hunting can be brutal in the 200. Frt pass seat moved forward for leg room.
Most drawer system take away 10 to 12 inches of height. I was at 10.5 with my first set. Building a new system at 12" to lay flatter over 2nd row pass seat as I removed the 60 section.
RTT or tent in general is fine but in high winds or bad weather, I'll be sleeping in the 200. The sound deadening alone is worth it. Cold is managed better as well.
Ive thought a sweet spot would be a 6" to 8" tall drawer system. Still can give storage area and not kill the use of the interior for sleeping. Between the wheel wells is approximately 42" of width.
When my college kid decides to not come on trips anymore, that remaining seat is coming out and I'll probably reduce overall height of storage system. My overland trailer is great for a base camp setup but it's not great on mpg and overkill for 1 or 2 nights.
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I am 5'8" and I've thrown my backpacking mattress in the back with the second row folded up. It's not quite enough room, but it sort of works on a diagonal and after enough whiskey I can sleep pretty much anywhere. 
I've always hated the tumble-up construction of the 2nd row seat (as in the 80 and the 200), though right now as I type this, I realize that it's probably necessary for 3rd row access. I much prefer the 2nd row seat bottom that folds up/forward and then the seat back lowers into a cargo deck extension (like a fj60 or a 5th gen 4runner). In those two vehicles, I can lay flat and fully stretched out without unbolting anything or cutting into headroom with a platform.
I've always hated the tumble-up construction of the 2nd row seat (as in the 80 and the 200), though right now as I type this, I realize that it's probably necessary for 3rd row access. I much prefer the 2nd row seat bottom that folds up/forward and then the seat back lowers into a cargo deck extension (like a fj60 or a 5th gen 4runner). In those two vehicles, I can lay flat and fully stretched out without unbolting anything or cutting into headroom with a platform.
Man this is the perfect thread as I'm planning to do a few nights in Alabama hills / dv this March inside the lx570. I've never tried doing a setup yet but this thread is gold.
Bright side is I'm only 5'8 so I'm hoping I can make it work without removing seats
Bright side is I'm only 5'8 so I'm hoping I can make it work without removing seats
I was thinking exactly the same on the sweet spot. I punted my RTT because I didn’t see anything in front of me that was going to allow me to get away in it. I know car camping won’t be perfect, but hitting the road and being somewhat stealthy will be! I have a small trailer that I will outfit when it fits my agenda. Thank you so much for helping me clarify my thoughts!
Sure thing. I did a 5 week tound trip to Montana with my rtt on truck. Great but then you are somewhat land locked if you wanna explore during day. I can close up my rtt in 5 mins but doing that repeatedly then coming back and setting up again lost charm quickly. Modified trip to include more dispersed spots and only staying one night in a given spot.
All setups have their pos and neg in various scenarios. I use all 3...truck camping, rtt on truck, or pulling my trailer w/ rtt depending on everything from is it solo trip, weather, length of stay, activities ill be doing, can i get a trailer up the path, etc. Keep it as super simple as you can. I.e. don't let wife or gf pack for the trip...lol
bloc
SILVER Star
It's also because the floor of the vehicle needs to be high up to make room for fuel tank, suspension links, AC ducting under the carpet (yes really), etc. This allows them to keep the belly of the vehicle between the frame rails much flatter and better protected than a 4runner..
I got a foldable cot. I fold down the rearmost and middle seats and lay out the cot on top of them. This cot is perfect except that it doesn't have a wooden base. The three legs sit perfectly between the gaps of the rear and middle seats. I used this setup many times. I can directly get onto the cot from driver's seat without getting out of the car so it worked for me.
I hit the manual door lock button on the driver's door before getting to bed to avoid the alarm setting off. This way doors can't be opened from outside.
I don't have a fridge or draws. Is like stock condition with all seats in place but can become my camper when I want. I can carry my basic coffee-making set up, stove, cylinder and other basic camping/touring
stuff.
I hit the manual door lock button on the driver's door before getting to bed to avoid the alarm setting off. This way doors can't be opened from outside.
I don't have a fridge or draws. Is like stock condition with all seats in place but can become my camper when I want. I can carry my basic coffee-making set up, stove, cylinder and other basic camping/touring
Awesome setup! Thank you for sharing. Any idea where your cot came from or how long it is?
I don't remember its measurements. I will measure and update. I got it from Amazon a year ago. I looked at different models, measured height from floor and gap between the folded seats and selected this one. It was not expensive (less than 50£) so thought of experimenting. Height is a bit less for the gap between the middle and front seats but I keep small wooden logs and other stuff to support so that weight is not on the folded seats entirely. My next plan is to get a carpenter and screw two wooden boards to the frame.
bloc
SILVER Star
Assuming you weren’t talking to me.. but in case you were, it’s an exped megamat 10 in XLW I think. 77x30. I’ve since moved to a megamat 15 which is two inches thicker and amazing to sleep on.. but same length/width
“I know car camping won’t be perfect, but hitting the road and being somewhat stealthy will be!“
My sentiments exactly, and one of the main reasons I stay inside my LC. Other reasons being security, comfort, and not being a vehicle the “looks like someone is camping.”
I’ve found state park and private campgrounds to be not only expensive, but total overkill for one guy and a normal-sized (I.e. not a big camper van, etc. SUV. I simply pay the park entrance fee, part in an out-of—the-way spot, and sleep inside. Also saves a cg space that someone who with a RV and who needs it) can use.
I usually only do this when there are no other options. Like when traveling cross-country. Not a big fan of rest areas, truckers, etc.
Otherwise I stay on National Forest or BLM land, as far away from others as possible.
I can’t wait to figure out what this looks like. It’s funny….some would never understand traveling like that.
I sleep inside my 200 which I bought in 2020. Once I year in the winter for the first 2 years on my annual trip to Maine. After I retired at the end of 2022, I’ve made almost a dozen 2-3 week trips from MN out west to camp, hike, and look for rocks (I make jewelry and other stuff). My wife still works, so I’m lucky enough to have the space of a solo traveler. Still, I removed both my second and third rows and have a nice big bed on top of the drawer unit I made. Before I got the cruiser, I was sleeping in a similar setup in my 4th gen 4Runner for almost 8 years.
I’m actually on the last day of a 3-week trip to MT and WY. Here are some things that help a lot if you sleep in your truck.
+1 on the fan. I opted for a full-on electric fan about the size of a grapefruit. It’s made by Vornado, plugs into my 2000 watt inverter, which runs from the EcoFlow battery. I used a Ram mount to mount it behind the passenger seat and it blows right on me, plus moves the air around to help inhibit any bugs.
I also use a Thermacell bug repeller, which works great in the enclosed space of a vehicle. No screens necessary.
I rigged up a shower attachment for my scepter cans buy buying a spare cap, drilling a hole in it, and using some plastic tubing and connectors I bought at Menard’s. Works great.
By sleeping inside, you get all the benefits that have been previously mentioned like security. Also, no one can tell you’re “camping” unless they look very closely. I’m actually starting to see posted signs at rest areas announcing time limits. A few here in SD have gone far enough to add paper signs to the door of the rest area. This may be because of the “camping season,” but also maybe because of these camper vans that are becoming so common. When I stop at rest areas at night, I usually see at least one or more.
I try to find public land that’s designed for multi-use purposes - BLM, USFS, state forests, etc. I try to avoid parks, as there are usually a lot of rules. One great option is any public trailhead, whether for hiking, ORV’s, or even horses. I drive a lot at night, so i try to arrive in a spot at 2:00 or 3:00 am. Within a half hour, I’m bedded down and by the time it’s light, anyone else showing up thinks I’m out on the trail. I also have a free app called “Ultimate Campground” which lists federal, state municipal and even county campgrounds, how long they’re open, costs (if any), whether there’s water, and other key info like whether an RV will fit, if the road is meant for 4x4’s only, etc.
Wal-mart allows people to camp in their parking lots. However, I’ve only done it once and it was in a rural area. I’d never do it in a big city - too much dicey stuff going on.
I made window shades for all four doors and the back hatch. I initially had them made from coroplast (plastic cardboard), but now I’m using 1/4” birch paneling on the inside with black coroplast on the outside and a thin insulation layer in between.
I have only been rousted twice. Once in a NF when they were doing a controlled burn and obviously needed me to move. And once by two cops in NH at a USFS trailhead because my truck looked “suspicious” (so they said: didn’t check any of the other cars, which were all NH vehicles. I asked them if they really thought out-of-state plates gave them probable cause to check me if push came to shove. I don’t think they liked that very much. Quick check and they left.
).
I’m actually on the last day of a 3-week trip to MT and WY. Here are some things that help a lot if you sleep in your truck.
+1 on the fan. I opted for a full-on electric fan about the size of a grapefruit. It’s made by Vornado, plugs into my 2000 watt inverter, which runs from the EcoFlow battery. I used a Ram mount to mount it behind the passenger seat and it blows right on me, plus moves the air around to help inhibit any bugs.
I also use a Thermacell bug repeller, which works great in the enclosed space of a vehicle. No screens necessary.
I rigged up a shower attachment for my scepter cans buy buying a spare cap, drilling a hole in it, and using some plastic tubing and connectors I bought at Menard’s. Works great.
By sleeping inside, you get all the benefits that have been previously mentioned like security. Also, no one can tell you’re “camping” unless they look very closely. I’m actually starting to see posted signs at rest areas announcing time limits. A few here in SD have gone far enough to add paper signs to the door of the rest area. This may be because of the “camping season,” but also maybe because of these camper vans that are becoming so common. When I stop at rest areas at night, I usually see at least one or more.
I try to find public land that’s designed for multi-use purposes - BLM, USFS, state forests, etc. I try to avoid parks, as there are usually a lot of rules. One great option is any public trailhead, whether for hiking, ORV’s, or even horses. I drive a lot at night, so i try to arrive in a spot at 2:00 or 3:00 am. Within a half hour, I’m bedded down and by the time it’s light, anyone else showing up thinks I’m out on the trail. I also have a free app called “Ultimate Campground” which lists federal, state municipal and even county campgrounds, how long they’re open, costs (if any), whether there’s water, and other key info like whether an RV will fit, if the road is meant for 4x4’s only, etc.
Wal-mart allows people to camp in their parking lots. However, I’ve only done it once and it was in a rural area. I’d never do it in a big city - too much dicey stuff going on.
I made window shades for all four doors and the back hatch. I initially had them made from coroplast (plastic cardboard), but now I’m using 1/4” birch paneling on the inside with black coroplast on the outside and a thin insulation layer in between.
I have only been rousted twice. Once in a NF when they were doing a controlled burn and obviously needed me to move. And once by two cops in NH at a USFS trailhead because my truck looked “suspicious” (so they said: didn’t check any of the other cars, which were all NH vehicles. I asked them if they really thought out-of-state plates gave them probable cause to check me if push came to shove. I don’t think they liked that very much. Quick check and they left.
).
I sleep inside my 200 which I bought in 2020. Once I year in the winter for the first 2 years on my annual trip to Maine. After I retired at the end of 2022, I’ve made almost a dozen 2-3 week trips from MN out west to camp, hike, and look for rocks (I make jewelry and other stuff). My wife still works, so I’m lucky enough to have the space of a solo traveler. Still, I removed both my second and third rows and have a nice big bed on top of the drawer unit I made. Before I got the cruiser, I was sleeping in a similar setup in my 4th gen 4Runner for almost 8 years.
I’m actually on the last day of a 3-week trip to MT and WY. Here are some things that help a lot if you sleep in your truck.
+1 on the fan. I opted for a full-on electric fan about the size of a grapefruit. It’s made by Vornado, plugs into my 2000 watt inverter, which runs from the EcoFlow battery. I used a Ram mount to mount it behind the passenger seat and it blows right on me, plus moves the air around to help inhibit any bugs.
I also use a Thermacell bug repeller, which works great in the enclosed space of a vehicle. No screens necessary.
I rigged up a shower attachment for my scepter cans buy buying a spare cap, drilling a hole in it, and using some plastic tubing and connectors I bought at Menard’s. Works great.
By sleeping inside, you get all the benefits that have been previously mentioned like security. Also, no one can tell you’re “camping” unless they look very closely. I’m actually starting to see posted signs at rest areas announcing time limits. A few here in SD have gone far enough to add paper signs to the door of the rest area. This may be because of the “camping season,” but also maybe because of these camper vans that are becoming so common. When I stop at rest areas at night, I usually see at least one or more.
I try to find public land that’s designed for multi-use purposes - BLM, USFS, state forests, etc. I try to avoid parks, as there are usually a lot of rules. One great option is any public trailhead, whether for hiking, ORV’s, or even horses. I drive a lot at night, so i try to arrive in a spot at 2:00 or 3:00 am. Within a half hour, I’m bedded down and by the time it’s light, anyone else showing up thinks I’m out on the trail. I also have a free app called “Ultimate Campground” which lists federal, state municipal and even county campgrounds, how long they’re open, costs (if any), whether there’s water, and other key info like whether an RV will fit, if the road is meant for 4x4’s only, etc.
Wal-mart allows people to camp in their parking lots. However, I’ve only done it once and it was in a rural area. I’d never do it in a big city - too much dicey stuff going on.
I made window shades for all four doors and the back hatch. I initially had them made from coroplast (plastic cardboard), but now I’m using 1/4” birch paneling on the inside with black coroplast on the outside and a thin insulation layer in between.
I have only been rousted twice. Once in a NF when they were doing a controlled burn and obviously needed me to move. And once by two cops in NH at a USFS trailhead because my truck looked “suspicious” (so they said: didn’t check any of the other cars, which were all NH vehicles. I asked them if they really thought out-of-state plates gave them probable cause to check me if push came to shove. I don’t think they liked that very much. Quick check and they left.
Excuse the accumulated mess of almost 3 weeks. Here’s my setup:
Wow. I didn’t realize my phos were that bad! I’ll try to get some better ones.
I have, but I carry lots of tools, etc. inside, and all of it has to be unloaded (and then reloaded) each night and morning. So I've ordered an ARB side awning and a "room" that attaches to it so all that work doesn't have to occur.
