Best in cab sleep setup?

[BobCape]

OK. I received my Hele Box Solo platform and the sleeping pad system. I really like it. It is well built, very adjustable and does not rattle or squeak. I am a Wildlife & Landscape Photographer. I do a lot of 2 to 4-night solo trips, this entire setup works well for me. Here are the details.

The Sleep system is the Hele Box Solo platform and mattress pad - https://heleoutdoors.com/products/hele-box-carcamping

I use a BougeRV dual-zone fridge/freezer with internal battery. Either side can be a fridge or freezer or both. The internal battery will run the unit for 6-9 hours depending on the outside temp. https://www.bougerv.com/products/dual-zone-portable-fridge-freezer?variant=44890320109784

I use a Bluetti AC180 battery to run the fridge, my CPAP, charge batteries, phone and run a 12V electric blanket if needed. The Bluetti AC180 is an older model, I would look for something newer. I charge the Bluetti as I drive from the 4Runner's inverter. Here is where the iForce MAX Hybrid has a huge advantage. It has a 2,400W inverter. It charges the Bluetti back to 100% very quickly. Since the BougeRV fridge is plugged into the Bluetti, its internal battery gets charged via the Bluetti. So I only have one item connected to my inverter. If I run the fridge, CPAP, charge my phone and camera batteries over night, the Bluetti will drop to about 66% charge in one night. If I run the CPAP, charge phone and batteries and use the 12V electric blanket (the fridge will run off of its internal battery) the Bluetti will drop to about 59%.

With only the BougeRV fridge drawing from the Bluetti, my 4Runner's 2,400W inverter will charge at a rate of about 520W. During the course of my day the Bluetti gets topped off to 100%. As long as I REMEMBER to turn the dang inverter on! This is a system that works great for my needs. Here are a few cellphone snaps of my setup.

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[porkyfly]

Neat! I got one too, very comfortable with the Hest mattress. Only complaint is that for thicker mattresses I don't have enough headroom to sit upright comfortably.

 

[Nodak]

i wonder if you have thought of removing the rear seats ???

you could get some storage space under the bed and more room for storage on the other side.

or do you need them for the times you are not out in the wilderness for those 2-4 days ??

 

[Furrypanda1121]

I went with a pretty cheap cot from Amazon that I saw here. Sits level over the rear seat in the hybrid (clears it by about an inch). Front legs sit on the second row cushion. Gonna be testing it out in a few weeks on a 5-day trip, we will see how it goes.

Amazon.com: ONETIGRIS SUPRAGRIS Camping Cot, Ultralight & Compact, Support Up to 400lbs | Portable, Lightweight, Comfortable Backpacking Cot with Pillow Case for Camping, Hiking, Backpacking, Car Trips, Office Nap : Sports & Outdoors

 

[Nodak]

I went with a pretty cheap cot from Amazon that I saw here. Sits level over the rear seat in the hybrid (clears it by about an inch). Front legs sit on the second row cushion. Gonna be testing it out in a few weeks on a 5-day trip, we will see how it goes.

Amazon.com: ONETIGRIS SUPRAGRIS Camping Cot, Ultralight & Compact, Support Up to 400lbs | Portable, Lightweight, Comfortable Backpacking Cot with Pillow Case for Camping, Hiking, Backpacking, Car Trips, Office Nap : Sports & Outdoors

i would be leary of having legs sitting on the seat cushion with that much weight concentrated in a small area over a span of typical sleep duration vs the typical american fat a$$

 

[Furrypanda1121]

i would be leary of having legs sitting on the seat cushion with that much weight concentrated in a small area vs the typical american fat a$$

Luckily it is a bar that goes across, but I do have it sitting on a piece of plywood to spread the pressure and it’s just my fat head towards that side so not too worried

 

[Nodak]

Luckily it is a bar that goes across, but I do have it sitting on a piece of plywood to spread the pressure and it’s just my fat head towards that side so not too worried

ah ok, i though you had typical peg legs sitting on the cushion, disregard.

 

[sscarter]

My solution is very different. For the occasions when I'm not near a real bed in a hotel (always preferred), and a tent is not practical, I sleep in the passenger seat. I'm 6'4" and I don't fit in the back, even if the back wasn't full of gear, which it always is. If I run the passenger seat all the way back and recline it fully, I can stretch out fully with my feet up under the dash and a camping pillow for my head and I sleep well enough. In colder weather I double up on sleeping bags to stay warm (as I get older I feel the cold more), with knit hat and even long underwear if needed. Definitely not the preferred way to sleep, but if it's pouring rain or high winds or rocky ground, it gets the job done and I get a decent night's sleep.

In a pinch, I've even done this with two people, but I'm really not comfortable sleeping in the driver's seat because the pedals prevent stretching out fully. Only did that once when extreme thunderstorm winds in AZ were blowing tents away and we had to retreat inside.

 

[js_panda_rnr]

Just popping back into this thread to add a pic of our Hele Box Duo platform setup.

This is with the rear seats still in. I have taken the rear seats out for a four day trip which allows me to use the "stubbies" legs and make the platform much lower. I can pretty much sit up without touching the roof in that configuration.

 

[porkyfly]

i wonder if you have thought of removing the rear seats ???

you could get some storage space under the bed and more room for storage on the other side.

or do you need them for the times you are not out in the wilderness for those 2-4 days ??

Yes I have removed the rear seats. The smaller one is very easy to remove, but the larger one is very cumbersome with 1 person to put back. For longer trips I'd remove the smaller one but not the larger.

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