Driving cross country and sleeping in my JLU

[ArmyRN]

I'm 63 years old. I'm going to go visit my 92 y/o Mom.

I live in WA; she lives in FL. I'm going to drive there (and back) in my 2023 JLU Willys XR 2.0T. And I plan on sleeping in the back of the Jeep; sometimes stealth camping, and maybe at a campground sometimes (mainly for showers although some truck stops have showers). This'll be an adventure. Not truly overlanding, and not really camping. I'm "cheaping" (did I just make up a new word/term/phrase?).

So here's my setup:

You have to put the front passenger seat all the way forward for the deepsleep mattress to fit. And when you do, there's a gap you need to fill. So I've got a carboard box (actually two; one inside the other) there with a towel on top.

Got a couple grocery store bags there for trash behind the seat.

I've got a small towel to cover the bottom edge of the deepsleep mattress to protect it from any possible harm caused by the fold-down tailgate table. I've also got a couple blankets folded underneath the mattress because with the rear seat folded down, it isn't exactly flat and level compared to the back half of the Jeep's floor.

One of those Deepsleep 1/2 inflatable mattresses and a sleeping bag (front seat is all the way forward). Two Rubbermaid Action Packers (one with food; one with cooking stuff). One small cooler. A single burner dual fuel stove, a cheap folding camp chair, and a small folding table. I've got a small RC drop-down table attached to the tailgate.

Not shown in the pictures are my pillows and duffel bag (those will get tossed in right before I leave).

I've also got some stuff squirreled away in the Jeep (tire plug kit, first aid kit, backpack, 12V tire inflator, shovel, tow strap, tools, etc.).

I've also got a stack of CDs to play on my portable CD player (yes; I've got Pandora and Spotify along with Sirius).

I want a CD player | Jeep Wrangler Forums (JL / JLU) -- Rubicon, 4xe, 392, Sahara, Sport - JLwranglerforums.com

I'm figuring 5-6 nights having to sleep somewhere on the way down there (going direct with minimal screwing around), and more nights coming home (might take my time and do a few detours). Hotels/motels are usually over $100/night (don't want no sketchy places - want my Jeep and stuff to be there in the morning). So I might be saving well over $1,000 over the course of the trip sleeping in the Jeep. This sleeping in the Jeep thing would NOT be an option if I were bringing my wife.

The Jeep is stock except for:

0.5" Terraflex spacer lift all around
0.75" Desert Does It seat lift (more comfortable to drive)
M.O.R.E. dead pedal (more comfortable to drive)
Hot Head's roof headliner panels (it gets hot in Florida, and I'm sure once I leave the PNW it'll be hot too just getting there)

So we'll see how this goes. I'm 6', so we'll see how well I sleep in the Jeep. I'll keep you posted.

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[ArmyRN]

I'm used to overlanding - I raided my overlanding trailer for some of the stuff I'm bringing on this trip to FL. But I've never slept in my Jeep (kinda hard to do in a TJ). This will be interesting.

 

[Bob_N_AZ]

Take the back roads much more enjoyable. no fighting with the semis on the interstates. Visited my son at JBLM last month. Side roads almost all the way except Las Vegas and Olympia to Tacoma. Also went to Nashville, same thing.

 

[DOOKEY]

If you travel through Denver and need to brush the dust off or a bed you're welcome to stop by.

 

[SaintNick]

You will sleep fine. I've done it many times. The DeepSleep is pretty comfortable.

 

[Opus]

Looks like you've got a good setup. I would need a fan and a way to roll down at least one window and put up a screen to allow air in but keep bugs out.

 

[rcadden]

100% snag some window screens off Amazon. Basically a window-shaped mesh bag with elastic on the opening that fits over your door frame. Lets you crack/roll down the window to let air flow through without risking bugs.

Air flow is key, especially as some of what you're traveling through will be quite warm, even at night.

 

[ArmyRN]

Looks like you've got a good setup. I would need a fan and a way to roll down at least one window and put up a screen to allow air in but keep bugs out.

Yeah; I never got around to ordering a window screen. I was afraid a window screen would scream "someone's sleeping in this Jeep" when I was stealth sleeping.

 

[Opus]

Yeah; I never got around to ordering a window screen. I was afraid a window screen would scream "someone's sleeping in this Jeep" when I was stealth sleeping.

It might. I'm just looking at the thermometer at 84 degrees at 9:20pm and thinking I couldn't sleep in the Jeep tonight with all the windows up. But then, I generally keep the house at roughly the same temperature as a meat locker, so...

 

[JJ_WA]

Are you planning on screening/blocking the windows while stealth camping? How will you block from view?

Cabela's and some other stores allow over-nighters in their parking lots. I don't recommend Walmart - they've gotten rather weird.

Sounds like a fun trip! Enjoy.

 

[Thunderjet]

63 and sleeping inside your Jeep?
Pony up for a hotel room dude, you aren't getting any younger. A good nights sleep, fresh shower, and a decent hot breakfast is well worth the price of admission

 

[ArmyRN]

Are you planning on screening/blocking the windows while stealth camping? How will you block from view?

Cabela's and some other stores allow over-nighters in their parking lots. I don't recommend Walmart - they've gotten rather weird.

Sounds like a fun trip! Enjoy.

Thanks. I might sleep in a rest area (not under a light) - no window blockers. Or at Cabela's, or a Cracker Barrel. We'll see. Part of this adventure is the unknown - I don't know exactly when I'll be ready to shut'r down each night.

I'm also a "member" of KOA, so I might check into one of those one night.

Here's me and my TJ & trailer (tent deployed on the trailer) camping at a Cracker Barrel one night. I sure did have a good breakfast that morning.

 

[ArmyRN]

63 and sleeping inside your Jeep?
Pony up for a hotel room dude, you aren't getting any younger.

True. But I'm trying to save some money on this trip. Gas alone will be around $2000 (WA to FL and back to WA) and gotta justify buying the deepsleep mattress. Spouse isn't going, so I can just drive till I'm tired. Don't need to worry about showering everyday either.

And part of doing this is for the adventure/stupidity of doing it. What kind of stories will I have to tell if I stayed at a hotel every night?

We'll see how I'm feeling after the first few nights sleeping in the Jeep - I'll keep ya'll posted.

 

[ArmyRN]

Take the back roads much more enjoyable. no fighting with the semis on the interstates. Visited my son at JBLM last month. Side roads almost all the way except Las Vegas and Olympia to Tacoma. Also went to Nashville, same thing.

Going to Florida I'll pretty much be a man on a mission (Mom's waiting for me). I do plan on a scenic portion in CO vs. taking 70 straight across to 25 on the way to FL. Still don't have my return route planed - I'd like to take the long way home. I don't know of any overlanding shows/rallies or such going on on the way home.

One year when driving across the country heading back to the PNW, I did the Route 66 things. Found out to really enjoy it you need to have a second person acting as navigator (which I didn't have).

I spent two tours/eight years of my life at Ft Lewis (now JBLM). Enjoyed it. Also spent a few years at Ft Carson CO in the early 80's. I did 34 years in the Army (aka ArmyRN). I've been around.

 

[MUD-H2O]

Sounds like a fun trip. I'm working on a sleeping platform for the back on mine. Hoping to gain enough storage underneath to allow for the double DeepSleep mattress. When are starting your trip?

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