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Sleeping in the bed...anyone?

25K views 38 replies 27 participants last post by  scosol  
#1 ·
I am planning a trip this spring and plan on sleeping in the bed of the truck for a few nights. Never done this before and wanted to hear other's experiences. What's the best padding? I have a ridgerest now but would like something a little thicker/softer since weight is not an issue, but at the same time don't want to go all out blow up matress.

Thanks

...I have a long bed and I'm getting a softopper next month and will remove the bed extender for the trip.
 
#2 ·
the bed tent from what i've seen at diffrent runs is nice (my bed is too short for me to sleep in) but i would get an air mattress personally they dont take long to blow up or deflate and are very comfortable
 
#3 ·
I use a thermal mat on the bed and then an air mattress on top. I sleep in my truck bed all the time this way when we got camping. My friends are envious as I'm always toasty warm. I use my tent just to store stuff in. hehe. Air mattress only takes 2 minutes to inflate with a powered pump.
 
#5 ·
I'd consider a airmatress anyways...
Goto Wal-Mart and buy a 20 dollar blow up matress + some sort of pump for it. A double fits in out bed (long bet), but it has to be slightly pinched at the wheel wells. (who cares). They are also pretty durable these days.

The only other option I would do, buy a egg-crate matress or 2. They are much thicker than others, soft and warm.

Honestly, an egg-crate would take up more room than a air matress, once deflated, they can be folded up and put behind your seats or just leave it inflated and put stuff ontop of it.

Let us know what you decide and post a pic lol.
 
#9 ·
Go to Butler Army Navy store get rubber raft like you use in a pool.

I'm from Mars PA originally, now a rebel.:hi:
 
#13 · (Edited)
. Now I just have a foam pad with the bumps on one side.
That was one of the options I was referring to when I said "egg crate mattress". I think that is what they are called, but I could be wrong. none the less, those are super soft and will provide a comfortable bed in your truck.
 
#14 ·
I have a 5" thick foam pad for truck camping.
Cozy, lived in a tent for 11 weeks on the northern California coast with it, a couple years ago. The joys of my line of work:)
 
#15 ·
that sounds like an awesome line of work...

but if i were to sleep in the bed of my truck, i would want something to at least keep me from having the ridges imprinted onto my back. when i went camping in the scouts i had this cheap roll up foam pad that i used sometimes but then again that was on the ground in a tent.

i think i would go with the air mattress myself, especially since you have a vehicle instead of having to carry it in for several miles.
 
#16 ·
air mattress. i considered this option + the bed tent for my upcoming trip to moab, but i decided in favor of a traditional backpacking (i.e. freestanding) test since i dont really wanna knock the tent down every day to wheel. plus, it will be more versatile for me in the long run, but i still think thats a viable option.
 
#17 ·
i've got a truck bed tent and it's really nice, it's not the nissan brand that Plow has but it's the same idea, mine has an awning on the front of it tho which is nice. i have a blow up coleman air mattress to go along with it and it works fine tho it's a full size air mattress which means when i lay on it the thing surrounds me in a \ me / shape lol
 
#20 ·
sleep with your head towards the higher part of the tilt or you may wake up with a headache.
 
#21 ·
Foam mattress. And no, not those thin egg crate style liners you use to make your bed a bit more comfy. I'm talking about a thick *** foam pad. It'll be way more comfortable than an air mattress.
 
#23 ·
There Is Some Guy On Here That Cut Some 2x6's And Set In The Pockets On The Sides. Then Cut A Sheet Of 3/8" Ply And Set On The 4 Boards. Then Gear Can Stow Under The Ply Bed. It Gives You A Bigger Bed Platform. What Ever Its Worth. Im Gonna Try That Route.
 
#24 ·
That sounds cool

I have a friend who did something similar to his Suburban so that he can sleep in there and he stores guns under there when he's on hunting trips.

However, I don't think I'll be building anything like that just to sleep in the back 4 nights out of the year.
 
#27 ·
I'm taking a camping trip myself. I need to find an air mattress for a 2007 Crew Cab SHORT BED. Any suggestions???
SPECS: 59.5 X 61.4
 
#28 ·
I have camped out the backend of my trucks for years!

My preferred method is slats of wood cut to fit into the grooves of the bed, then plywood laid on top to form a flat surface. Then a thick carpet pad, and a carpet over that, and then my sleeping bag. I hate a soft matress, so this is a nice flat firm setup and I get very restful sleep.

For the Frontier, I'm saving up so I can buy another Softopper.

I loved my Hardbody KC!

2001, US F1 GP at Indy
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#30 · (Edited)
Air mattress + egg crate (for little extra comfort) + good thick blanket + you wrapped up inside a good warm sleeping bag = Good nights sleep. Done it many times at the racetracks in my old truck.

We did something similar to Triple S except we staked out a tarp and backed our trucks together leaving about a foot between the tailgates. Looked like a half assed M*A*S*H unit.
 
#31 ·
I sleep in my truck on these types of occassions.
 
#35 ·
#36 ·
I have always looked at those tents and worried like hell that during a windy night I'll have the side of my truck scratched all to hell from a bad strap.

I had a Softopper for the Titan, and loved it!
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#37 ·
I have one of the tents that Nissan makes and I really like it. I just put a piece of 5" thick foam down and use a sleeping bag.

What I really want is an ARB rooftop tent.

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