Sleeping in the car in the winter?

**iscariot** · 10-01-2009, 11:02 PM

Hotel parking lots are good too.

**Spats** · 10-01-2009, 11:12 PM

Originally Posted by Sinfield

Has anybody used the coleman black cat propane tent heater inside a van? I've been piecing together my van camping setup in preparation for the winter.

Yes. They work great, with two caveats:
1) The built-in ignitor DOES NOT WORK in sub-freezing temperatures. You'll need a lighter. Trust me on this.
2) If you do not leave a window cracked you will die (as with any heater that burns fuel). However, it doesn't get nearly as hot as a flame heater: it'll melt plastic and nylon, but it won't set paper on fire AFAIK.

I take mine on car camping trips, whether in a tent or in the car. When you wake up, roll over, light the heater, crack the window, and in a few minutes it'll be nice and toasty so you can roll out of your sleeping bag and dress in comfort. It's also nice for undressing at night so you don't have to get into a freezing sleeping bag.

Do NOT use air mattresses in the winter: you'll lose all your heat through them. Use foam of some sort: a Therma-Rest is fine if you already have one. If your sleeping bag isn't thick enough, just add a couple blankets: it's not like you have to lug them around in a backpack.

**sftc** · 10-01-2009, 11:15 PM

When I'm sleeping in really cold conditions I keep a few packets of hand warmers close by, then if I wake up freezing in the middle of the night I break one or two open and toss them into my bag, down by my feet. I've only had to do it a couple of times, but it feels real good!

**Steepdeepnlong** · 10-01-2009, 11:31 PM

If you got a little money to spend, a buck at a laundromat will dry your ski clothes. Or, just suck it up and rent a cheap room.

**Gunder** · 10-01-2009, 11:39 PM

Fuck this reminds me of HIGH-school in more ways than one.

Here is what I Learned over the years.

Old futon mattresses are clutch. Warm as hell and next to free. A zero degree bag is worth its weight in gold ( I use an Exped 0 degree down goretex bag) By a old cheap generator..... yeah there loud, but even a small one puts out enough power to run a small electric space heter( no chances to die).... other options is that my friends with convered F350 vans run RV heaters in them.... you go to plumb them, but they are safe and warm.

Finally, be smart about where you park. Avoid the wind, make friends with locals and use there dryers in the am to dry your wet gear.... BTW lots of beer will (buy) you dryness.

**legallyillegal** · 10-02-2009, 05:30 AM

Originally Posted by fish

i want one of these

**trainnvain** · 10-02-2009, 05:55 AM

I used to use the coleman heater that went in the cup holder and cracked the sunroof ( had netting taped over it) , -30 bag with a thermarest. Coleman 2 burner for breakfast.
Loved that Legacy

**Marius** · 10-02-2009, 06:14 AM

i sleep for about ~50days each winter in my van (plus several in the summer)

before i got that van and a heating i also slept in my car. possible, but for me, the extra costs of a heating is worth the extra-comfort.
you can buy a heating working with fuel: http://www.webasto-reisemobil.de/hei...p-2000-st.html (german)
or with gaz. i use gaz, this one here: http://www.truma.com/truma05/en/prod..._en_80227.html
both systems are about 1000 euros(new, used about 300-500euros). for me it works great. you just need 1-2euros per night for the gaz and everything else gets cheaper the more you use it...

the coldest temp was -25° Celcius (~ -8F ?). i use a very cheap 10-euro-sleeping bag, a inlet, ski-underwear, and i never had to get the heating on the strong of the 2 levels

without heating its also possible, depends on you personal comfort zone. go to a restaurant an stay there from skiing-sleeping time. this gets your clothes,skiboots dry and feet warm enough. the following morning ist not problem at all imho. just get up, jump in your clothes and ski. theres only 1 problem: get into your frozen hardcore skiboots. i hate this and i love the warm feeling.
and i'd buy a good sleeping bag, wich is around the costs of a heating (300-500euros).

so i decided for the heating.

or get yourself a girlfriend. be "active" = warm

anyway: have fun.

btw: for running the heating, you need a second battery in the inroom. ~150-200euros incl. cabels an several other tecnical stuff which makes it get charged by your engine while driving.

**Tuckerman** · 10-02-2009, 06:43 AM

Don't defrost your windshield in the AM with a propane torch.

**Dromond** · 10-02-2009, 07:31 AM

First off: Have fun. I've done a fair bit of car camping myself.

However, whenever I read these threads and think back upon cold, damp nights, interior frost, car headlights waking me up, etc. I remember that to get a really comfortable sleeping setup do have to spend enough time and money that sometimes finding a place to stay can be not much more expensive, way more comfortable and leave you with more time and energy for skiing. Just my two cents.

**daver** · 10-02-2009, 08:51 AM

5% window tint is a life safer, you can sleep pretty much anywhere

and yes, this thread brings up some old high school memories

**Platinum Pete** · 10-02-2009, 09:37 AM

A simple, low cost, way to add a bit of heat to your car camping is to burn a candle or two. REI sells little candle lanterns that make this safer. It is important not to set a bunch of shit on fire with your candle(s), but past that you should be more comfortable and not out too much money. I second the laundrymat idea.

**JONg Doe** · 10-02-2009, 09:43 AM

If you are car camping at Targhee, the night security guy will likely ask you to leave...there is a nice turn out about 1/3 of the way down Ski Hill road that people use for car camping all the time. The Teton Teepee used to rent out cots for about $12 a night too...not sure if they're still operating though(?)

**hutash** · 10-02-2009, 10:01 AM

Don't forget to keep a well marked Nalgene pee bottle handy. It sucks to drink a few beers before bed, and them to have to stagger out into the snow to pee. Just be sure to mark the bottle well, you do not want to make mistakes.

If you have a small stove heat some water before bed and fill a couple of bottles to throw in the foot of your bad. It is not as warm as a woman, but better then sleeping alone.

**skifishbum** · 10-02-2009, 10:02 AM

They aint cheap but a paco pad is a damn good investment for a river rat/ski bum.
Show up in SLC with a sack of cronic and a box of flies and you get the spare bedroom.

**Lawless** · 10-02-2009, 11:11 AM

Originally Posted by Sinfield

Home sweet home...

Are those hardwood floors in your van?

**laseranimal** · 10-02-2009, 11:34 AM

Originally Posted by Steepdeepnlong

If you got a little money to spend, a buck at a laundromat will dry your ski clothes. Or, just suck it up and rent a cheap room.

Ding ding ding

**COsingletrack** · 10-02-2009, 12:50 PM

Awesome ideas that I never thought of! My 2 cents; get a good sleeping bag that goes colder, if your running your truck crack a window and make sure the tailpipe area isn't jacked up with snow (don't die of CO poisoning), and check your local or state laws where ever you are to see if its technically legal to be parking...you may have to find better areas or be more concealed in the truck.

**iscariot** · 10-02-2009, 01:00 PM

Originally Posted by Platinum Pete

A simple, low cost, way to add a bit of heat to your car camping is to burn a candle or two. REI sells little candle lanterns that make this safer. It is important not to set a bunch of shit on fire with your candle(s), but past that you should be more comfortable and not out too much money.

I've used these too...

http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_d...45524441771503

Again crack the windows to avoid toxins. I actually found that these made my pathfinder too warm.

**Southeast Maggot** · 10-02-2009, 04:09 PM

I've spent some cold nights in the back of the Subi in CO the past couple of winters. Here is my layering technique, from the bottom up:

-1 inch Thermarest
-2 layers of egg crate
-1 inch memory foam pad (crucial)
-1 15-degree mummy bag (0 degree would be better, but I'm too cheap to buy one)
-2nd 15 degree mummy bag for nights that are going to drop below -5.
-1 thick down comforter

I've been in the car when it has dropped down to somewhere between -5 and -10 and been just fine, though climbing out of that warm cocoon in the mornings is tough. The most annoying part is condensation freezing on all of your inside windows.

**DoWork** · 10-03-2009, 05:55 AM

I'm writing this via crackberry from the back of my subie which I'm camping in currently.

Check out the cochise bag. It has elastic for thrashers like you aind is uber warm.

Get a remote car starter. Keep the fob in the bag with you. When it gets cold, hit the button and SHAZAM! Its warm. X2 for a stereo with a remotetoo.

As for laundry you can usually scheme your wayinto a hotel with pay appliances or use a laundrymat.

**haydukelives** · 10-03-2009, 07:21 AM

Originally Posted by pesto

My old roommate sleeps in his car every weekend during the winter. I think his trick is to hang blankets across the windows to insulate them some. Warm sleeping bag and more blankets piled on top.

get those windshield sun reflectors that are reflective aluminum on both sides and use velcro or suction cups to hold them to each window. easier and better than blankets.i found a bunch at walmart.

**brannen** · 10-03-2009, 11:54 AM

Originally Posted by Sinfield

Has anybody used the coleman black cat propane tent heater inside a van? I've been piecing together my van camping setup in preparation for the winter.

I've got a wooden platform that i put foam pads on, then an inflatable thermarest matress. I've got a 15 degree big agnes down bag that the thermarest slides into but I figure that when it gets really cold, a heater is a good idea. I just don't know if they are safe to use in a van (I assume maybe since they are made for tents)

Home sweet home...

It should be fine to use that heater. I had one in my truckbed with me, and it worked well, until it started melting the ceiling/roof of the topper. I only had like a ft. of clearance though.

BSS · 10-03-2009, 12:06 PM

Originally Posted by haydukelives

get those windshield sun reflectors that are reflective aluminum on both sides and use velcro or suction cups to hold them to each window. easier and better than blankets.i found a bunch at walmart.

It's called refelectix. You can get entire rolls of it cheap at home depot and cut a piece to fit every window.