Should I get a cot or air mattress?

[5Runner]

Trying to lock in my sleep setup before the REI sale ends today, and I keep going back and forth. Would love some input from people who've actually lived with these setups.


Some context on how I'll actually use the truck:

• I'm always solo — never need to carry more than one passenger, so I don't need the back seats functional for people.
• I'm keeping this simple on purpose. I'm in Dallas, and if anything looks like "gear" is visible inside, the car's getting broken into. So no built-out drawer systems or anything visible — I'm planning to just use large plastic tubs for storage, since they're easy to load/unload between trips and don't scream "camping gear inside."

The actual question — three options I'm weighing for sleeping:

1. Fold the rear seat down (without flipping/tumbling it over) and put a cot on top of it
2. Get an air mattress
3. Fully delete the rear seats and use a cot in that space

My hesitation on the air mattress: I know it'd probably be the most comfortable of the three, but I've already had one fail on me — got a hernia-like bulge in it — and I'm guessing the heat inside a parked car in Texas isn't doing them any favors long-term.


Anyone running a cot-over-folded-seat setup, or gone the full seat-delete route? Trying to figure out which holds up better and actually fits before I miss today's sale.

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[JU235]

I "got both." This cot + this mat.

https://www.rei.com/product/229078/rei-co-op-campwell-folding-cot?redirect-pup=false

https://www.rei.com/product/228267/rei-co-op-campwell-sleeping-pad?redirect-pup=false


But I'm also tenting it, not sleeping in the back.

 

[5Runner]

is the cot alone too uncomfortable? Also, does this cot fit into the back with back seats folded, if u have tried it?

 

[JU235]

The cot alone is very stiff. I haven't tried it in the back.

 

[5Runner]

The cot alone is very stiff. I haven't tried it in the back.

Thank you.

 

[shine]

I have an older version of this cot, and it does fit inside - sort of. It will take most of the space in the rear, so you'll need to either move your other stuff or not bring much. Then again, it's REI so you can always return it if it doesn't work out...

I decided to get a drawer system and tinted windows (20% up front, slightly darker in the rear) so the drawers aren't easy to see from the outside. And if I was worried about it, I'd pull the cargo cover over it.

Have you looked at somethink like the Hele Box? That would have been my choice if I didn't want the drawers.

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