Camping in your SUV

"Hooker" (Hooker) 09/24/2018 at 11:05 • Filed to: None

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A couple weeks ago, before I traded the Equinox for the Acadia, I camped in it. A friend of mine bought mountain land here in NC and there’s no house. Or bathroom. But besides that, it’s beautiful. I am no camper. Never have been. But sleeping in my car wasn’t bad at all. Except for I wanted more space and fresh air. I solved the space problem by trading the car. However, I have been looking into screens for the windows so I can have some fresh air. Thoughts? Anyone ever use this thing?

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HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > Hooker 09/24/2018 at 11:21

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that is a good idea. I’ve slept in station wagons, and SUVs when there wasn’t room any where else (big family problems) and always hated the “I’ m either not getting any fresh air or letting bugs in” part.

nerd_racing > Hooker 09/24/2018 at 11:26

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I’d like to get something like this for my Mazda 3.  I bought it because When the seats fold down you can fit a double sized air mattress in the back.  I get hot fairly fast though and I’d rather not fire up the AC to cool down. 

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Hooker 09/24/2018 at 11:42

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https://theskeeterbeater.com/

Hooker > nerd_racing 09/24/2018 at 11:50

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Same. I checked out the magnetic ones but with all the plastic on doors now, I didn’t think that was viable. Sealing wise.

Hooker > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 09/24/2018 at 11:51

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Haha. I hear you! I think this is a worthwhile thing. Just hesitant based on some of the earlier reviews.

Hooker > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 09/24/2018 at 11:52

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I looked into that. The only concern I have is the division between the front door and the rear door (b-pillar) is plastic. Which could invite bugs to still come in.

MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig > Hooker 09/24/2018 at 11:53

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I got a cheap mosquito net on amazon  that I throw over the car and close in the doors (avoiding the latches obviously) and worked great for me. It’s ugly but it’s cheap and effective. 

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Hooker 09/24/2018 at 12:06

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I’m not a huge fan of the design myself because the spacing of the magnets doesn’t guarantee that the screen is held tight to the body... I’d much rather a weather stripping type magnet. I like the general concept though.

BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind > Hooker 09/24/2018 at 12:21

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You can buy, or make, something like this:

Basically just some metal with screen slapped on it. 

Tekamul > Hooker 09/24/2018 at 12:45

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Not for camping, but for drive in movies, I made screened window covers for my minivan. Just window screen and painters tape. Cut to size/shape, and taped on. Worked perfectly, dirt cheap.

Hooker > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 09/24/2018 at 13:08

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I wonder if that type of thing exists? Or maybe I should make something?

Hooker > BrianGriffin thinks “reliable” is just a state of mind 09/24/2018 at 13:08

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I like this. Any idea where I would go to buy something like that? I haven’t seen it.

I Want To Make A Car > Hooker 09/24/2018 at 13:13

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For the window section,   consider using s pring loaded clamps? ( muslin clamps-they use rubber or similar to protect the object )

Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW! > Hooker 09/24/2018 at 13:16

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I've come really closer to buying those and I still might for my Outback.

Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW! > Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW! 09/24/2018 at 13:17

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I did just car camp and I went and bought nylon screen and no residue duct tape and went to town with that. Cost like $ 10.

Hooker > Tekamul 09/24/2018 at 13:28

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I hadn’t thought of painters tape! That’s a great idea! Thank you!

Hooker > MR2_FTW - Group J's resident Stig 09/24/2018 at 13:29

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I like cheap. Very much. This thing is 45 bucks and free shipping which isn’t terribad. But cheaper would be nice.

Hooker > Duck Duck Grey Duck FTMFW! 09/24/2018 at 13:30

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I think I’m going to pull the trigger! To be honest, I want something I can use over and over again. Car camping is my kind of camping. Tents are no bueno.

Hooker > I Want To Make A Car 09/24/2018 at 13:30

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I’ll check this out. Thank you!

Ash78, voting early and often > Hooker 09/24/2018 at 14:09

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Great thread...I was just visualizing something like this for our camping this past weekend. I hate “car camping” (in a tent) because it always just seemed to ironic to walk 50' from your expensive, safe enclosure just to spend hours unloading crap to sleep on the ground. Going backpacking is a different story, it’s an adventure, and it’s your only choice.

For a bunch of different reasons I won’t go into, my son and I ended up bailing at 8:30pm and just driving 90 minutes home rather than tent camp again. So sick of it, especially in stuffy, humid weather. This would have changed the game — my Passat wagon can fit an inflated twin mattress in the back, no problem. More than I can say for my little tent...

Ash78, voting early and often > Hooker 09/24/2018 at 14:10

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That actually looks to be a gutter guard -- you cut them to size and they have a lip on them. This is ingenious.

Ash78, voting early and often > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 09/24/2018 at 14:12

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This is the exact “invention” I was pondering while camping this weekend -- exactly what you’re saying, using strip magnets instead of round ones.

Dusty Ventures > Hooker 09/24/2018 at 14:29

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This is highly relevant to my interests. When I drove the Outback across the country I slept in it every night and it was awesome. Didn’t have to pay for lodging, didn’t have to set up a tent, just park up, roll out the sleeping bag in the back, and go to sleep. The only problem was if I wasn’t up too long after sunrise the sun on the closed windows would cook me.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Hooker 09/24/2018 at 14:40

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I’ve been considering making something, but that said I haven’t exactly done a lot of looking around to see what’s already available

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Ash78, voting early and often 09/24/2018 at 14:43

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I had a need this summer—3 people sleeping in a Colorado cab with the windows up because you couldn’t spit without hitting a mosquito isn’t exactly pleasant--and was considering making something myself. The general idea was something that would fit into the window track rather than magnetic, but I think these guys have it figured better than me

Ash78, voting early and often > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer 09/24/2018 at 14:57

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With the external mount (eg magnet), you’d have more freedom to roll the windows up and down at will, which is nice.

I’m still thinking a giant net draped over the car would be the best of all...

Hooker > Dusty Ventures 09/24/2018 at 19:55

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I ordered it. Will be here in two days (thanks prime!) I will review and post in the coming weeks. Not sure when my next camping trip is but it will be soon!

Hooker > Ash78, voting early and often 09/24/2018 at 19:58

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The site swears it’s not for wagons or crossovers. So YMMV. However, it seems like it should work.  An Explorer that they show in pictures can’t be THAT much larger than a Passat wagon. This will be a game changer. And if it works, I’ll buy a second for the cross breeze in the summer months. Nice to see other like minded folks out there.

Ash78, voting early and often > Hooker 09/25/2018 at 09:16

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This particular solution seems like it might be a little finicky to set up, plus since it tucks inside the door, you also could have water intrusion issues. I’m thinking that some of the other, simpler designs might be better (magnetic screen on the outside; or mosquito net over the whole car).

Another thing I had envisioned was building a screen large enough — and cut just right — to fit over the entire rear opening of the car so you could just leave it open all night, then use the side doors just for occasional entry/exit . I know there are flexible screen materials made now, but I think on a mass scale you’d have to design one for every car or just DIY.

Hooker > Ash78, voting early and often 09/25/2018 at 10:05

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I guess you’d still have water intrusion with a screen because no hood type thing to protect the screen from rain? I didn’t even think about the water intrusion thing. And now I’m concerned. To be sure, the door still closes tight enough to prevent leakage?

I’ve seen tents that attach to the back of cars/suv’s. I’m unsure of how they attach, but they come  highly recommended by people who have camped a lot more than I. But they’re likely costly.

Ash78, voting early and often > Hooker 09/25/2018 at 10:09

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Maybe just a rooftop tent like the overlanders do...I’m too scared of falling out of bed in the middle of the night, though!

With the screen, I was imagining you just roll the window up to keep the rain out, but that would be miserable. I guess those window louver “smoker shades” could come in pretty handy there.

I’ve seen those tents and they always seem like they’d be really expensive, like you say.