How to camp when sleeping in the Bronco…

[Fezzik]

Hello! I just came back from a 2-day trip where I wanted to see if sleeping in the Bronco could work. I have a couple of sleeping pads, pillows, and blankets and stayed overnight at a campsite on my way to my destination and the way back. I found that sleeping in my 4-door was very comfortable. However, it became obvious very quickly that I would need a better way to store my camping kit.

While the sleeping itself was much more comfortable than I expected, keeping all my camping gear in the Bronco with me at night wasn’t a good long term solution. Now I’m thinking about an SUV tent to act as a living room while the Bronco serves as the bedroom or maybe a full stand-alone tent for traditional camping.

What does anyone here who sleeps in their Bronco while camping do to handle all the gear they haul? You can’t leave it outside at night….can/should you? If I need to bring a tent regardless, is there a benefit to sleeping in the Bronco and using an SUV tent over a traditional stand-alone tent?

I’m very curious how you handle this? Thoughts/ideas?

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[HalfmuleFarmer]

I sleep in a regular tent. Leave gear (that I’m not using) in the Bronco. Old school, easy.

 

[Deadpool392]

I bought this to use so that my gear is covered and stays dry.

GEERTOP Large Car Awning Camping... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CSSMMT1H?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

I have the airbedz xuv blowup mattress, with the seats folded down I just lay out the mattress and then fold it in half towards the seats. Gear goes in the back, so it’s easy to load/unload. I now have the BroAddict TrailDeck, but haven’t been out solo in the Bronco since installing it.

 

[crzyhawk]

I've only slept in the Bronco when I was on the road, and would pull into a rest stop for a few hours. If I was actually camping, it's use a ground tent. I may look into one of those hammocks though, because sleeping the two door isn't very comfy. It needs a few extra inches, or a longer rail so I can move the passenger seat farther forward.

 

[HighVelocity]

I sleep in a regular tent. Leave gear (that I’m not using) in the Bronco. Old school, easy.

This is the way.

 

[simplejack]

Shifted stuff to 1 side and put mattress down on other side. Only pic I could find

 

[Fezzik]

Shifted stuff to 1 side and put mattress down on other side. Only pic I could find

This is exactly how I was doing it, however it was raining both nights so everything had to come in. Was tight…but still comfortable.

 

[simplejack]

Yeah basically anything that I didn’t care if it got wet I put under Bronco. Ground tents definitely a solid option but in my old age I prefer being inside and not hearing rain hit tent all night long. May sound odd but could throw stuff inside a cheap tent and sleep in the Bronco

 

[DaddyO]

I started out sleeping in the Bronco first couple of trips using the Deep Sleep mattress. Moved my refrigerator, storage boxes outside on ground. Decided would be more comfy sleeping in a RTT so I installed an OpenRoad hard shell roof top tent. Figured the wife would be more comfy in it too but she hasn’t gone out with me yet.

 

[HalfmuleFarmer]

I get that the question is about sleeping IN the vehicle, but … key consideration is are you alone or not. I’ve got a significant other who *loves* camping, so sleeping two comfortably is a must.

But the other question is WHY sleep inside? Even sleeping in or on the vehicle there’s still set up time. The only reasons I can understand are 1) BAD weather, and 2) safety (maybe?). I just tend to pay attention to the forecast and not camp in urban areas. ;-) A decent old-school tent might not be sexy, but it’s easy. Inexpensive, flexible, lots of options. Camp mattresses are now very comfy. Here in Utah, there’s rarely chance of meaningful rain, the wind is more of a serious enemy.

I do understand the appeal of a RTT, but I’d have to be going out every weekend to want something that big and heavy on my vehicle all the time. And I actually like the tent setup process. It’s traditional. I get a full campsite going. And it allows me the option to be a bit further into the wild, 50-100 yards from the vehicle.

 

[Beach_Bum]

I've only slept in the Bronco when I was on the road, and would pull into a rest stop for a few hours. If I was actually camping, it's use a ground tent. I may look into one of those hammocks though, because sleeping the two door isn't very comfy. It needs a few extra inches, or a longer rail so I can move the passenger seat farther forward.

Just remove the passenger seat and build a platform.

 

[crzyhawk]

I'm not interested in removing the passenger's seat. That would solve the problem, but not a compromise I am willing to accept.

 

[RideClimbNJ]

I use the Deep Sleep pads in the Bronco and store all my gear I waterproof bins that I leave outside when I sleep. Not ideal but works just fine.

 

[RC Bronco]

Over the last 3.5 years with my Bronco, I’ve slept out of it for 156 nights

I first started with a bunch of blankets and pillows, a day cooler, water, and clothes - that was my first trip

Fast forward a couple of months and I had purchased a DeepSleep Solo + Leveling Mat. I have used this for ~120 nights now, and I am very confident that there is no better option for sleeping inside the Bronco than a DeepSleep without removing the rear seats and building a custom drawer+platform setup. The main advantages here are: additional storage space & (potentially) more headroom (depending on height of your drawers)… the only reason I haven’t done this yet is because of cost and time… nothing on the market ticks enough of my boxes, and i haven’t had the time to build something custom

With my setup, I am able to live (comfortably, with all of the amenities) out of the Bronco for long travels. The longest I’ve done thus far is just over 3 weeks (and I’ve done multiple of these now)

I have organized and reconfigured my set up many times, but where it’s at now is (I think) as close as you can get to “solo travel perfection” without a custom build or buying a premade “sleep+kitchen” product

I could list everything I have in here, but it would take a while. Multiple things serve multiple purposes. I don’t carry junk - space is far too precious, and I have a requirement of keeping my bed and driver seat unobstructed both while driving and at camp, for various reasons. While it doesn’t look like a ton of stuff, this is how I thrive while living out of my Bronco on 2 and 3 week long trips

 

[HalfmuleFarmer]

Over the last 3.5 years with my Bronco, I’ve slept out of it for 156 nights

I first started with a bunch of blankets and pillows, a day cooler, water, and clothes - that was my first trip

Fast forward a couple of months and I had purchased a DeepSleep Solo + Leveling Mat. I have used this for ~120 nights now, and I am very confident that there is no better option for sleeping inside the Bronco than a DeepSleep without removing the rear seats and building a custom drawer+platform setup. The main advantages here are: additional storage space & (potentially) more headroom (depending on height of your drawers)… the only reason I haven’t done this yet is because of cost and time… nothing on the market ticks enough of my boxes, and i haven’t had the time to build something custom

With my setup, I am able to live (comfortably, with all of the amenities) out of the Bronco for long travels. The longest I’ve done thus far is just over 3 weeks (and I’ve done multiple of these now)

I have organized and reconfigured my set up many times, but where it’s at now is (I think) as close as you can get to “solo travel perfection” without a custom build or buying a premade “sleep+kitchen” product

I could list everything I have in here, but it would take a while. Multiple things serve multiple purposes. I don’t carry junk - space is far too precious, and I have a requirement of keeping my bed and driver seat unobstructed both while driving and at camp, for various reasons. While it doesn’t look like a ton of stuff, this is how I thrive while living out of my Bronco on 2 and 3 week long trips

I’m deeply impressed that you can go three weeks without a shower.

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