Sleeping in the cruiser

[LandCruzrNY]

So after breaking up with the girlfriend and being jobless I've been enjoying time in the cruiser. Trying to figure out how to live in the cruiser a little more long term. Is there an inexpensive platform solution that would allow for some comfort? For that matter, I could drop off the 2nd row seats and just come up with a mattress solution. I still need a little storage though for clothes, shower, etc.

I've been doing some consulting work and luckily I had savings but I've got to make this my home for a while and just want to make it as comfortable as possible. Does anyone else live in their cruiser?

 

[jdayment]

Sorry to hear about your situation to help you out I would search for sleeping drawer platforms there are a lot of cheap builds guys have done that incorporate drawers and a sleeping platform you can do with either leaving the seats in or out. I have camped in my 80 with just a cheap inflatable mattress from walmart in the back that worked pretty well but that was with the tailgate down. Reach out to the club in your area as well I am sure someone can help you build something and maybe in another way.

 

[Heckraiser]

That's hard core. I lived outta my volvo for a little while working after hurricanes Katrina & Rita, but frankly the Volvo wagon is a better sleeping arrangement than the 80 just because everything folds completely flat. Big Agnes backpacking mattress on the floor was good enough for me. I slept next to the cooler. If you have a location to store stuff, I'd lose the 2nd row seats until you find a new home.

 

[Brentbba]

Sorry for your circumstances!

Second row seats out and an inexpensive twin blow up or thermarest mattress will make do...assuming you aren't much taller than 6'. It'd get a little tight beyond that height. If you were on the left coast I'd give you an old little platform I used to use to cover the 2nd row foot wells to make a flat platform from front seats to tailgate.

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

Pull the 2nd row and build a simple ~10" platform in the complete area. Purchase an EXPED Megamat 10, costly but you will never find one used and it is as comfortable as your home bed. Next is a fridge and dont go cheap. Then its time to hit the road everything else will develope depending on your personal needs and area.

Tons of info out on simple living out of your cruiser but just not here on mud.

 

[baselfish]

80/20 sleeping platform

Low-budget Gear and Sleeping Platform

bf

 

[sleepycruiser]

I used to have a 4Runner and I built a sleeping platform in the back using these:
1 in. Black Malleable Iron Threaded Floor Flange 521-605HN at The Home Depot - Mobile

You can buy screw in poles ranging from 6" to probably 18". Go to Home Depot and have them cut a 4'x8' piece of plywood to the size you need and screw a flange in each corner (might need to put a few midway top), attach the poles (they screw in), and then put flanges on the bottom of the pole as the 'feet'. Then throw whatever you want on top as a mattress. Very sturdy and easy to take apart. I was actually able to fit a 4x8 piece in my 4Runner and I bought longer flanges for the front part since the floorboards were a little lower. I will see if I can find some pics.

Edit: Here is the thread I based mine off of when I built it.....
Sleeping deck for 4Runner

 

[BILT4ME]

Steal some milk crates from the local grocery store, take out the third row seats, throw an sir mattress on top. May need a piece of 1/2 plywood on top of the crates do you can store stuff in the crates and the mattress wont fall in the holes on top.

If you removed the second row also (and stealore crates) then you have a flatter bed and more storage.

If you need a job, post up here what you do and what you want. Lots of business owners and managers here.

Good luck!

 

[Hornd]

Your a smart man! If you were married, she might have had a crack at the Cruiser.
Milk Crates and twin mattress (will fit with 2nd row) if you really want comfort.
I would order up the Land Cruiser Phil Window Socks now. Cheap and they will help with the condensation.
You might want some blinds too for privacy and to sleep-in.

 

[fj40z]

Slept in my 80 many times, simplest solution is to take out he 3rd and 2nd rows and set a cot up in the back. The tailgate and hatch will still close and there's actually enough headroom to sit on the cot as well. Been doing this for almost 10 years of camping trips.

 

[Chester]

Pull the passenger, rear, and 3rd row seats. 10 + ft. of space to configure.

 

[bigredmachine]

I fold the second and third row down and cut a piece of plywood to lay over both seats. I cut it 24x72 in or so and it fits perfectly, and theres still room to store stuff under and on top when your not in the truck

 

[LandCruisinMy93]

That is a tough break man, I'm sorry you're going through this. As far as sleeping and storage goes. I think you've heard the best options thus far. To get you going immediately you should remove and store the second row seats if you can. Then if it were me I would get a quality twin mattress or a higher quality air mattress and some legitimate bedding. Comfort should be your first priority. If you go with a quality twin mattress you can utilize it when you get a place if you don't already have furniture. That and with a couple sheets of plywood cut at your local Home Depot and some L shaped brackets and screws or you can make a bed frame for the inside of the cruiser yhat has an space below the mattress for some shallow plastic containers like the ones used to store wrapping paper. Those can be used for clothes. The remaining space to the sides can be utilized for more storage and whatever else you plan to have in the cruiser like a cooler or fridge or whatever. I haven't read anyone mentioning it yet, but when sleeping in the cruiser make sure to crack the Windows.

 

[Dragos80]

Is there an inexpensive platform solution that would allow for some comfort?

You could steal them if you really want to go extremely inexpensive. But they are under $15 at home depot.

Milk Crate Sleeping Platform

 

[cruiserpilot]

About 10 mouse clicks, here:
Sleeping-plattforms - how to sleep inside

 

[baldilocks]

The cool thing about your situation is that the next gal you meet will have to love cruisers or she won't hang around. This is a great way to know if she's a keeper.

 

[BILT4ME]

Where's @decavo ? He's probably done this and can offer some first hand advice.

 

[jfz80]

Since we are all different .... whats cheap and what tools do you have access too. Lots of good ideas for you here. And @fj40z made a good point. Headroom.

I made mine for about 300 in wood and fasteners. Not super cheap but cheap compared to $1200 outback drawers that only cover half the avail space

No plan. Kinda made it up as i went. Downside is its just tall enough to make sitting up and entering a little difficult. A lengthwise half platform could be the ticket. Low as you can go. Mine sits on the wheel wells.


Somewhat modular, the front and back halves are separate and the back passenger half of top is removable for running a fridge at floor height. 14 gallon water tank all the way up front behind seats. All made from 1x10" shelving boards and two sheets of plywood. Lived in it for 28 days of may this year

 

[suadero]

Purchase an EXPED Megamat 10

The Expeds are amazing - although you're right, not cheap. May I suggest something that might fit an unemployed person's budget a bit better? I stayed at a Yurt in NM where the bed was a bed-shaped sheet/bag stuffed full of memory foam scraps. For one person it was surprisingly comfortable - for two people it was impossible and I had to get out the Exped, but obviously that's not an issue for OP. Given the construction it will be easy to fit into any amount of space in the back of the truck. And, theoretically, it should be cheap because who wants scraps?

 

[rusty_tlc]

A layer of apple boxes and a sheet of hard board. Watch behind stores they use hard board a lot for packing between layers in semi trailers. Apple boxes are very cool because they pack between the wheel wells of most vehicles, they are free, and they are easy to re-close. Not easy to access with a layer of hard board on top so some planning will be required to keep the stuff you need often in the last row of boxes.

A good mat, as already mentioned will go a long ways for comfort.

The biggest challenge living in a car is condensation, even more so now that the weather is getting cooler.