For those that have slept in the back of their 80s

[dixie_cragger]

Sorry if this has been asked before but i not able to find an answer to this in my search in the 80s and camping forums.

For those that have setup sleeping platforms in the back of your 80s, what did you guys do to keep cool during warm nights? Did any of you use camping/portable fans? If so, battery or 12V? i was thinking a clip on fan with a rechargeable battery would be ideal (can clip on the "oh sh*t" handles). Or if there are folks that use a 12V plug in into an inverter, does the fan draw much juice?

 

[IdahoDoug]

A couple weeks ago I used a 12v fan for about 12 hours of a 24 hour period the Cruiser sat while my daughter and I used it as a camper. It's a powerful one and has a suction cup and I placed it on the sunroof facing rearward. The sound was a nice mask white noise for the campground noise and the truck did not seem to even notice the energy loss when I started it after 24 hours of sitting. It's a 2 speed with rubber blades and pushes a lot of air so it's not a miserly type.

I thought of tilting the moonroof so it would suck fresh/cold air in but having the cargo windows cracked seemed to do the cooling.

DougM

 

[landcruisers4ever]

I made window screens, here in Florida we cant just roll our windows down or we get eaten apart by flys the size of your hand, heres a pic

 

[NLXTACY]

I pretty much have the same thing. Just worried about keeping out the bugs so I have the screens now from MOT:

https://forum.ih8mud.com/camping-outdoor-gear/282458-80-series-bug-defense-systems-|.html

I really like the idea of the fan.

 

[UCBerzerkeley]

you with the bed! do you throw other junk on top? or how does that work?

 

[Truckasaurus]

Cargo Net

Awwww, man (Landcruisers4ever)!

Just when I think I've got the drop on a solid idea, I see someone else already has it installed.

Which cargo net did you put up there? I was thinking the exact same thing, for the various bits of stuff that would be out of the way up there. Just don't have the right sized net to strap in!

Great minds...

 

[dixie_cragger]

The screens are already in the works (i was torn apart last weekend) and so is the cargo net on the headliner. My main concern is the warm weather. Being in the truck eliminates a lot of cross breeze you would normally get in your tent. I know a lot of you guys must sleep in your truck in the summer. What do you guys use to stay cool or am i just a weenie for not liking sleeping and sweating?!?!?

 

[mainemike]

Gotta open the windows... I have Mots screens for the back seats and they are sweet. I have a homemade low-buck screen for the sunroof. Got some netting at Army surplus and a roll of 1/2 inch magnetic tape. Used epoxy to glue the mag strip to the netting. It's ugly but it works. I haven't made screens for the sliding windows but there are a few threads on options. There is also this option:

The Skeeter Beater - Magnetic Screen for your car, truck or SUV.

I don't have a link but there are simple tent fly style attachments that seal off the rear so you can sleep with the tailgate down and hatch up.

 

[Driley]

A few years ago my son and I slept in the LC at a Cub Scout campout. The temperature forecast was for a low of ~12 degrees F at night so we borrowed a Little Buddy propane heater from a co-worker. I strapped it to the front seat headrests and fired it up before we went to sleep. It warmed the cabin of the vehicle nicely and I shut it down.

Due to my inexperience, I did not crack a window (it was cold outside!!!). I woke up at ~ 3:00 AM to find all of the plastic parts covered in moisture and the cabin freezing cold. I decided to fire up the Little Buddy. I pushed that damn igniter about a hundred times but it would not start. I finally gave up and layed back down.

Around 6:00 AM it started to get light out so I tried the igniter again. Still no start and my thumb was killing me from pushing the button so many times. I decided to open one of the doors to see if anyone was up yet. After opening the door and seeing no one, I decided to try the igniter one last time. The heater fired right up!

Since I did not crack a window, the oxygen level must have dropped during the night and the safety feature on the heater stopped me from getting even closer to killing both of us. We were very fortunate to have not been harmed or killed by asphyxiation that night!

After realizing what had occured, I turned off the heater and started the LC and turned the heat and fan on high. It took a while for the cabin to heat up. After getting dressed, I got out of the LC and closed the door. Walking around the rear of the vehicle, I heard air blowing. The vents located rear of the sliding windows were blowing air out like a dryer vent! I was amazed by the force of the air. As soon as I opened a door, the air stopped blowing so forcefully.

Moral of the story... crack a window if sleeping in your vehicle (common sense to most of you... but it was damn cold outside)!!! I was just amazed at how airtight the cabin is on a 15 year old vehicle!

Riley

 

[retrofive]

I like Mot's rear passenger window screens and these homebrewed ones for the slider windows in the cargo area

https://forum.ih8mud.com/80-series-tech/283999-built-some-window-screens-80-a.html

 

[Brentbba]

Driley, started reading your post and what you did...my heart sunk - you truely are damn lucky you and your son are alive.

I sleep back there all the time. Cold nights = warmer sleeping bag and a blanket. Like both the wood frame and perhaps the hot glue/magnets idea floated. Read a couple of reviews on the Skeeter Beater online - ok if winds are perfectly calm, otherwise both reviewers said the product wasn't worth a damn.

 

[landcruisers4ever]

Thanks, the one I used was the origional LX450 one that came in the 96 I just bought. You can find them at the Lexus dealer, Im looking for one that will cover the entire third row ceiling, if I find one ill let you know.

Thanks again

Awwww, man (Landcruisers4ever)!

Just when I think I've got the drop on a solid idea, I see someone else already has it installed.

Which cargo net did you put up there? I was thinking the exact same thing, for the various bits of stuff that would be out of the way up there. Just don't have the right sized net to strap in!

Great minds...

 

[landcruisers4ever]

you with the bed! do you throw other junk on top? or how does that work?

I use that net and my roof rack for that, its an air bed so its easy to set up and take down

 

[alvarorb]

Hot weather has not been a problem here. However, one thing that has worked for me on cold nights is to throw a tarp over the Cruiser. It not only keep things warmer, but it makes thing a little darker in the morning.

I used to use an air mattress and I found out that if I placed a thermarest on top of the air mattress, I wouldn't be as cold. Now I use a foam pad from Cabelas. I got sick and tired of air mattress going flat in the middle of the night.

Regards

Alvaro

 

[xprmntl]

Sleeping in you rigs? I seem to recall that when I looked into sleeping in my 80 when I first got it, with my 2nd row seats folded forward, I don't fit unless I go corner to corner. I'm only 5'11". Are you all taking out your seats?

 

[Driley]

Sleeping in you rigs? I seem to recall that when I looked into sleeping in my 80 when I first got it, with my 2nd row seats folded forward, I don't fit unless I go corner to corner. I'm only 5'11". Are you all taking out your seats?

I unbolt and remove the second row when sleeping inside the LC. I am 6'1" and there is plenty of room if you remove the middle row (just remember to crack a window...).

Riley

 

[retrofive]

Here is another method for camping in your 80. I'd love to try one of these out sometime.

https://forum.ih8mud.com/ca-jefferson-state-cruisers/272084-camping-80-a.html

 

[mot]

I'm in the process of getting the screens for the 3rd-row sliding windows right now.

I should have the prototype sometime next week...

It should look fairly close to the OEM ones seen below, except it'll be secured the same way (with velcro) as the 2nd-row windows.


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[Brentbba]

Super - Just replied in your 2nd row seats thread about whether you have any of those left. I'll wait on these for the 3rd row and perhaps do both.

 

[Brentbba]

Sleeping in you rigs? I seem to recall that when I looked into sleeping in my 80 when I first got it, with my 2nd row seats folded forward, I don't fit unless I go corner to corner. I'm only 5'11". Are you all taking out your seats?

Same height. I do remove my second row seats and have an extension to my drawer system in the rear of the truck that gives me a 75-76" sleeping platform. It goes right to the back of the driver's seat. I do move the driver's seat all the way forward for a little extra room, but I fit just fine.