Expy / SUV Camping set-up

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HawkX66

HawkX66

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I got a roll of screen and some very thin wood material (called screen trim or something).

Just stuffed the sticks in the window track over the screen.

It's pictured in my avatar pic, but it's impossible to see due to picture quality.
Great inexpensive solution. I wanted something that was also able to be open when it was raining. I might use your idea for the other side for cross ventilation.
I know I wasn't clear, but I didn't want to tow anything. I meant to start the thread for sleeping in the Expy. I'd get a full on tag along if I were going to tow something.
 
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HawkX66

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Yep, I live in SOCAL so rain isn't really a consideration for my setup haha
Come on now... I was stationed on Pendleton for a few years. It still rains once in a while lol. Marine layer might as well be rain half the time too.
 

SomeENG

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As you can see I'm new to this forum and am unsure of how to link a picture...

Added the remainder of the screen to the rear hatch window. Just peeled off the gasket and stuffed screen in.

It wasn't quite enough material so I added falloff to the sides and superglued. If the glue fails I can just use a needle and thread to attach the pieces.
 

Plati

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I can live in my EL for a week easily, just did in Glacier actually! Youve probably seen my interior, most rear seats removed and a platform bed installed. Heres the addition i built on the side. Nice dry area out side door.
57A13650-CE9E-48AB-80D3-CBC0F7614D84.jpeg
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Takes up almost no space to transport , sets up and tears down in minutes. Sheds all rainwater without pooling. Noah's Tarp & Kelty adjustable collapsible tent poles. I normally tie one corner to roof rack but this was tied to tree so can drive Expy through like a garage.
 
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Adieu

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I can live in my EL for a week easily, just did in Glacier actually! Youve probably seen my interior, most rear seats removed and a platform bed installed. Heres the addition i built on the side. Nice dry area out side door.
View attachment 32115
View attachment 32116

Takes up almost no space to transport , sets up and tears down in minutes. Sheds all rainwater without pooling. Noah's Tarp & Kelty adjustable collapsible tent poles. I normally tie one corner to roof rack but this was tied to tree so can drive Expy through like a garage.

Saw that post but never understood the point

Wasn't the loading floor plenty flat for a mattress or airbed anyway?

I've camped in the Expy and Navi plenty, quite comfortable as long as external temperatures are 60-90 F.... 100+ gets pretty gnarly, although you can get a nice breeze going to help if you pop the rear glass and a front window.

Deflectors are a must. So's tint. Still gonna need a hood or cap pulled over your face if it's daylight in sunny places

For temps in the 40s and 50s, wear heavy clothing. Sweats and hoodies and stuff.

For temps in the 10s and 20s.... have a full-ish tank, button her up, and run the dang heater. Oh and set an alarm so you don't run yourself out of fuel. Idle consumption was ~0.7 gal/hour iirc, but don't hold me to that and have enough for if it's twice that AND you manage to oversleep by +4 hours.

Wouldn't wanna be stuck up on a frozen mountain with an empty tank and no way down
 
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Adieu

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Actually, if it's truly good and freezing outside, set MULTIPLE alarms every couple hours to check/adjust heat... wouldn't wanna accidentally wake up deas and frozen if it stalls out and you don't notice
 

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Saw that post but never understood the point

Wasn't the loading floor plenty flat for a mattress or airbed anyway?

I've camped in the Expy and Navi plenty, quite comfortable as long as external temperatures are 60-90 F.... 100+ gets pretty gnarly, although you can get a nice breeze going to help if you pop the rear glass and a front window.

Deflectors are a must.

For temps in the 40s and 50s, wear heavy clothing.

For temps in the 10s and 20s.... have a full-ish tank, button her up, and run the dang heater. Oh and set an alarm so you don't run yourself out of fuel. Idle consumption was ~0.7 gal/hour iirc, but don't hold me to that and have enough for if it's twice that AND you manage to oversleep by +4 hours.

Wouldn't wanna be stuck up on a frozen mountain with an empty tank and no way down
By taking the seats out I get rid of a lot of weight and gain a lot of cargo space. I also removed the wasteful plastic bin crap in rear. Entire area under Bed platform is storage space (hidden from view). Bed is now much lower from ceiling so I can crawl around and sit up in bed comfortably. Not for everyone but it works for me on my multiple long trips every year. Its more like a small 4WD van now. Sort of a poor man's Sportsmobile. Where tire change tools were stored before is now a large compartment full of tools and emergency & camping equipment.

The Canadian border guards seemed quite puzzled when searched it for 2 hours couple weeks ago.
 
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HawkX66

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By taking the seats out I get rid of a lot of weight and gain a lot of cargo space. I also removed the wasteful plastic bin crap in rear. Entire area under Bed platform is storage space (hidden from view). Bed is now much lower from ceiling so I can crawl around and sit up in bed comfortably. Not for everyone but it works for me on my multiple long trips every year. Its more like a small 4WD van now. Sort of a poor man's Sportsmobile. Where tire change tools were stored before is now a large compartment full of tools and emergency & camping equipment.

The Canadian border guards seemed quite puzzled when searched it for 2 hours couple weeks ago.
Nice functional set up. What do you mean by the wasteful plastic bin in the rear?
 
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