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Thread: Sleeping in the back of your truck?

  1. #31
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    Prince George
    Posts
    1,087

    Re: Sleeping in the back of your truck?

    Most of my November deer hunting is solo and I’ve been sleeping in a truck canopy for at least 15 years. If the box is long enough I’ll use a cot with a foamy on top. One of my trucks the box was short so I made a plywood bed on top of milk crates that went from corner to corner with a foam on top of that. I used that truck for 10 years, now I’m back into a longer box so I use a cot. My heat source is an RV furnace that I took out of an old camper 15 years ago. Take the bug screen out of one window, then when you’re setting up, slide the window open and pop in a piece of sheet metal with the proper size hole for the furnace vent. The furnace is bolted onto a shortened milk crate that stacked on top of another milk crate is just the right height for the vent pipe to slide through the hole in the sheet metal. Run a hose outside to a propane bottle and I have vented and thermostat controlled convection heat.
    I’ve spent many November nights in down to -25 C temps with this setup. In those temps the bottom of the box is frozen but from about mid level up is warm. I started using some insulated tarps on the box floor for cold temps.
    Last edited by mod7rem; 08-01-2020 at 04:36 PM.

  2. #32
    Join Date
    Nov 2019
    Posts
    180

    Re: Sleeping in the back of your truck?

    Quote Originally Posted by BRvalley View Post
    I use either a single air mattress (cheap one from walmart) or will use my backpacking air pad with few layers of foam, taped together so it doesn't separate as you roll around.....both work well, I think the cheap air mattress is more comfortable, but not as durable with punctures

    I keep my gear in a two large tupperware containers, 150L i think from costco...so they go on the ground beside the truck and i'm in bed in a few minutes

    propane heater will cause a lot of condensation, even with the insulated/carpeted roof, condensation is still there just doesn't drip down, i've turned the roof carpet to ice in my last canopy.....i only use the buddy heater to heat for 10-15 mins at a time, usually going to bed or waking up

    through the night I burn candles to help take the edge off, I like the double size tea candles and will burn 4-6 of them (always light 2 fresh ones just before I fall asleep so they will last almost to morning), space them out and prop up my boiling pot over them, so it helps radiate the heat a bit and cuts down the light while sleeping....the candles keep it just above zero, coffee water doesn't freeze....I can truck camp comfortably down to around -10, after that I'll take the time to setup the tent and wood stove

    I have considered using a cot, or building a plywood platform, but I prefer to have the extra head room (my canopy is flush with cab height) and my system works well enough with the large tupperware, one for hunting gear, one for camping gear, quick and easy when I want to sleep

    lots of ideas in the overland truck forums/groups if you are thinking of building a deck system of some sort










    Thanks for the candle tip. Never thought of that.

  3. #33
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Kamloops
    Posts
    4,309

    Re: Sleeping in the back of your truck?

    Quote Originally Posted by warnniklz View Post
    Worst part about sleeping in the back of a truck when you're 6' 2"... well you know how hard it is to find 6' boxes on pickups these days.

    Slept across the back seat of more than one truck. From Dodge Dakotas to 2019 F250s... but for a night or two, it's pretty hard to beat this option.

    I've played around with different canopy options when I had one on the Ol Dodge Turbo POS...

    This was in deer camp hitting -30s. Made sure there was windows vented. It was turn propane heater on to warm up. Turn off heater and sleep. Repeat until morning.
    You just need to get a better bag!
    amazon...Military Outdoor Clothing Previously Issued U.S. G.I. Modular Sleeping Bag System (4-Piece)

    This bag Ive slept in -20 np, haven't tried -30 yet but I bet Im fine, system is rated to -45. Break it apart for summer hunts or use the full system for winter. Weighs 10lbs but if your just truck hunting who cares. Green liner (0 rated) is just over 3lbs, black (-20 rated) is 5lbs bivy is 2lbs, advertised
    WSSBC Monarch
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  4. #34
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    N. Okanagan
    Posts
    14,182

    Re: Sleeping in the back of your truck?

    Quote Originally Posted by Frank grimes View Post
    Some pretty cool set ups here.
    a canopy isn’t in the budget this year. So if it’s not raining I’m probably just throw my thermarest and bag in the back. Still thinking of picking up a bedroll. I seen a guy with one last year, he kept it rolled up in the box. Seemed nice having everything together and kept his sleeping bag and mat clean. Was water proof too. Not cheap though. My thermorest MondoKing should be here today too, I hope it’s a comfy as it looks. Definitely don’t want to pack it though at almost 5lbs.
    A bedroll can be made out of anything, bedsheet, canvas, silnylon, I have one out of a rubberized nylon army poncho
    Our first 'canopy' was a wood frame with a plastic VB tarp
    Never say whoa in the middle of a mud hole

  5. #35
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    williams lake
    Posts
    5,668

    Re: Sleeping in the back of your truck?

    Quote Originally Posted by Darksith View Post
    You just need to get a better bag!
    amazon...Military Outdoor Clothing Previously Issued U.S. G.I. Modular Sleeping Bag System (4-Piece)

    This bag Ive slept in -20 np, haven't tried -30 yet but I bet Im fine, system is rated to -45. Break it apart for summer hunts or use the full system for winter. Weighs 10lbs but if your just truck hunting who cares. Green liner (0 rated) is just over 3lbs, black (-20 rated) is 5lbs bivy is 2lbs, advertised
    I was rocking this bag

    https://www.chinooktec.com/index.php...f-sleeping-bag

    With a down duvet and mexican wool blanket over top. I'm just a wimp.

  6. #36
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Posts
    4,519

    Re: Sleeping in the back of your truck?

    Quote Originally Posted by warnniklz View Post
    I was rocking this bag.
    All by yourself? That is just sick...
    Quote Originally Posted by wetcoastwillie View Post
    In general.... sometimes I may come across as being a prick.... but I'm human.... and cant always express my views as best as I should

  7. #37
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    williams lake
    Posts
    5,668

    Re: Sleeping in the back of your truck?

    Quote Originally Posted by BimmerBob View Post
    All by yourself? That is just sick...
    Better than with family

  8. #38
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    Surrounded by Socialists
    Posts
    7,931

    Re: Sleeping in the back of your truck?

    Quote Originally Posted by Frank grimes View Post
    How many do this when camping/hunting solo instead of pitching a tent? How do you do it? Pros and cons?
    thinking about picking up something like a canvas cutter bedroll, or something and a thermarest MondoKing or Exped megamat 10. And just sleeping in the truck bed. If I put a lid on it I think I could even run a small buddy heater in the colder months if needed. Not sure though.
    You bet that's the only way I do it. Got an ARE taller canopy that I use for work, with no windows and its awesome. Keeps me dry, drains out sound better (which is nice if you're within sound distance of a busy highway like the Coq), saves time on setting up/taking down the tent, and if you want to relocate to an entirely different area to hunt for that evening/next day, super fast to just turn on the truck and drive away.

    Pick up one of those little buddy heaters and you can turn it on in middle of the night if you wake up cold, heats the area up in just a couple minutes. Also, its definitely worth your time making sure that you park in as level a spot as possible so you don't shift up/down while sleeping. Get one of those 4" thick foam mattresses and Bob's Your Uncle. Can't really thing of any cons.

    Good luck Frank
    "It is the first responsibility of every citizen to question authority." - Benjamin Franklin

    "The further a society drifts from truth the more it will hate those who speak it" - George Orwell

  9. #39
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Posts
    3,338

    Re: Sleeping in the back of your truck?

    I've slept in my canopy a couple of times on a cold fall weekend hunts. I used a propane fueled cat heater, but because you have to leave at least a small window opening, I'm not sure that was much of a gain. One time I parked at a Rec site so I had a table. I use a rebuilt camper now for hunting. Much more pleasant.

  10. #40
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Langley & Magna Bay
    Posts
    6,737

    Re: Sleeping in the back of your truck?

    I can provide 1” or 2” neoprene liners for the bed if anyone is interested, PU only in lower mainland
    I like drinking beer and whiskey, shooting guns, jetboating, love a nice rack and a tight line, I am simply a sophisticated redneck...

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