Expy / SUV Camping set-up

[HawkX66]

I've camped under the stars, in hasty shelters, dug outs etc. and of course in tents. They all have their benefits, but when my wife and I just want to get away for an overnighter or two with our youngest I'd rather go high speed, low drag and not have to put too much time into the bivouac site. Park and sleep...
What do you guys that camp in your Expy have for set-ups? I was thinking of building a lightweight platform like I've seen so I can throw a full mattress on top and be comfortable with storage underneath. The full fits nicely. We used one for a night in the Outer Banks a couple of weeks ago. The only tricky thing with the platform I want to build is I'll want a hinge so I can leave at least one back seat up while traveling for my youngest. The full is a few inches longer than the distance between the tailgate and the back of the second row seats.
I picked up a couple of different window tents for air circulation. I'm going to give them a test fit this weekend and decide which one I'll keep. I'm leaning towards the one that came as a pair versus the Roadie brand that come as a single for the same price. I don't like how it covers the whole door either. I'll have to see if it's a better design though.

Roadie Overnighter

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XX3H5XL/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_image_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1


Easygo Road Tripper

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KS8GKXH/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[ExplorerTom]

Check out https://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/

 

[Captain Kirk]

https://www.googleadservices.com/pa...HyvS24S2haTd_iMSlSJ2OnGeACpSDaE0aAiC2EALw_wcB

I wonder if you have a towhitch cargo carrier if this will fit over it so you can add some additional space when you stop.

 

[762mm]

I don't know, seems like a pretty useless idea, as the truck is not very secure at night with those big "tent" openings (both from quadrupedal and bipedal predators).


If it were me, I'd get standard window deflectors on all 4 windows (already have them installed) and just roll the windows down 1/3 of the way at night. You can stick on some temporary mosquitoe net with stick on velcro, probably for under $10 from a hardware store...

 

[JExpedition07]

I fold down the rows and use an air mattress in mine when I sleep in it and open the rear quarter ventilation windows.

 

[HawkX66]

Thanks for the suggestions, but just looking at what other guys are doing.
As for security? More secure than a tent wouldn't you say? I'm not worried about the security aspects of this.
Just put the windows down? That's funny... I can hear the buzzing of mosquitoes and rain coming in now with or without my rain deflectors.
Storage isn't an issue. We're talking about just crashing for the night.

 

[Adieu]

Thanks for the suggestions, but just looking at what other guys are doing.
As for security? More secure than a tent wouldn't you say? I'm not worried about the security aspects of this.
Just put the windows down? That's funny... I can hear the buzzing of mosquitoes and rain coming in now with or without my rain deflectors.
Storage isn't an issue. We're talking about just crashing for the night.

Get those silly-looking pantyhose-bag-over-door "window shades" for the mosquitoes issue?

 

[rollinstone]

R-Pod.

 

[HawkX66]

This is what I ended up getting. It's perfect for what I need. It takes 30 seconds to attach if you're going slow and it's made of decent quality tent materials. The only thing I don't like is that it covers the whole door. It's necessary though for sealing.

 

[SomeENG]

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.

 

[HawkX66]

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.

 

[SomeENG]

Yep, I live in SOCAL so rain isn't really a consideration for my setup haha

 

[HawkX66]

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]

<a href="https://ibb.co/Ry79vHz"><img src="https://i.ibb.co/sHt2m3y/20190910-173145.jpg" alt="20190910-173145" border="0"></a>

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]

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.



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.

 

[Adieu]

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

 

[Adieu]

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

 

[Plati]

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.

 

[HawkX66]

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?

 

[Adieu]

Nice functional set up. What do you mean by the wasteful plastic bin in the rear?

The weird spacer thing in the EL's, I take it?