Does anyone sleep in their vehicle?

[David Williams]

So, I just got back from a month long National Parks tour of North America and Canada. At one point in Glacier National Park my wife and I had to sleep in the back of our Ford Ranger. I thought to myself that sleeping in my truck would be a great way to do a chase session for a few days and only have to pay for gas. You could go to camp grounds to sleep if I wanted a shower, etc. But basically, I could sleep in my truck.

So, I'm wondering if anyone else out there sleeps in there vehicles to make their chasecations cheaper or just more interesting. If you do, do you have any advice, suggestions, or stories?

Thanks

 

[Wes Carter]

When I chase with my chase buddies we stay in hotels, but when I go out by myself I sleep in the back of my wagon. It's not bad in the springtime, but in the summer it can get a bit sticky.

I like to shower every day, so I'll hit truck stops and pay $5.00 to $7.50 to take a shower.

As far as places to park goes, I've never been run off from a Wal-Mart but the ones that are open 24 hours can be a bit too noisy for sleeping. One place that I've stopped is at those little roadside picnic areas. I have had a state trooper check on me, I just told him that I got sleepy and decided to pull off and catch a nap. He didn't hassle me and seemed to appreciate that I wasn't on the road sleepy.

What I do find unusual is that interstate rest stops in many states don't want you sleeping in your vehicle.

 

[Skip Talbot]

I spent about 20 nights in my van this season, and it worked really well. You can check out this thread here where people have discussed it:

http://www.stormtrack.org/forum/showthread.php?t=23568&highlight=sleep

I've got quite the routine down now for doing it. First of all, I have a minivan with the backseats out and a twin mattress in the back. Its pretty cozy. When I look for a spot for the night I like to find a gravel dead end on the unpaved road grid, at least a mile back from a major highway or interstate, or a farmer's turn out. Some of the best spots are where interstates force a dead end in the grid because they didn't want to build a bridge. There is nothing down those roads and they are real quiet, and close to the interstate so you can be back on the road in the morning quickly, and usually have good cell signal. The dead ends and turn outs don't see any traffic overnight and the only people who travel on those unpaved grid roads are the farmers. They might come up and see why you're stopped from time to time, but I'd rather deal with that instead of some weirdo at a rest stop or Walmart parking lot. A smile, handshake and friendly explanation of what you're doing out there goes a long way, and they're usually pretty interested. I've never had a problem stopping overnight on those farm roads.

I have a process to make sure I can boogie in a hurry if I need to as well. First, I lock the doors (common sense). I leave the keys in the ignition (so they aren't missing when I need them in a hurry). I leave my shoes by the pedals so that I can jump right into them. I have my glasses and cell phone next to the bed, and I sleep in shorts and a shirt. If something happens, be it some drunken rednecks find me and decide to make trouble or an unexpected tornado, I can just jump right into the driver's seat and start driving. I've only had to leave in a hurry once but that was just because a utility truck was trying to get around me so they could repair a road that was washing away in a flood.

Its a great way to chase if you don't mind camping in your vehicle. I even carry a couple gallons of water so that I can clean myself up to without having to stop at a truck stop for showers. I only paid for one hotel room the entire season, and only because I was chasing with multiple people. Its saved me hundreds of dollars and its super convenient. I just pull off as soon as I'm tired. There is no driving around for another hour to get to your hotel room (or trying to find vacancy). After the June 10 chase in CO I literally pulled off 5 minutes from where I ended the chase, and where there had been a huge chase convergence just minutes before.

 

[Robert Edmonds]

When I chase with my chase buddies we stay in hotels, but when I go out by myself I sleep in the back of my wagon. It's not bad in the springtime, but in the summer it can get a bit sticky.

I like to shower every day, so I'll hit truck stops and pay $5.00 to $7.50 to take a shower.

As far as places to park goes, I've never been run off from a Wal-Mart but the ones that are open 24 hours can be a bit too noisy for sleeping. One place that I've stopped is at those little roadside picnic areas. I have had a state trooper check on me, I just told him that I got sleepy and decided to pull off and catch a nap. He didn't hassle me and seemed to appreciate that I wasn't on the road sleepy.

What I do find unusual is that interstate rest stops in many states don't want you sleeping in your vehicle.

I do about the same... except I usually end up sleeping at the 'big' truck stops (something like loves). Everyone I've been to has straight out told me they don't care if you sleep in your car there. I usually sleep where it is lighted, but bring something to cover the eyes. I usually do this at the start of the season, but break down getting hotels as the season progresses. BTW I have an x-terra, only complaint is that I have to sleep sideways, being too tall for the back (and I'm 5'8").

 

[Jason Foster]

I have, I will when crunched for funds, or have a good reason too (like I want to stay in the State Park, but pack light and don't have a tent, or weather prevents tent assembly). Like others, I do the hotel thing when with buddies because it really brings the cost down. I still love bragging about only spending ~$1300 total for two weeks of chasing with the Weathervine crew (gas, van rental, hotel, food/grocery). Can't argue that!

Just do the world a favor for those that decide to sleep in the car....find a way to shower every other day at least.

 

[Shane Adams]

I've done it before in extreme cases, usually towards the end of our season when money is much tighter but the chases keep coming (but 99% of the time I just drove straight through back home). But starting this year, we just got hotels. I've done it the hard way for a long time....we treat ourselves nowadays.

 

[chadvia]

If I'm with my traditional chase partner, then he pays for the hotel and I pay for the gas. However...

If I'm chasing solo, I always prefer to sleep in the Expedition. I'm usually so exhausted from a chase day a comfortable bed isn't necessary for me to fall asleep so the hotel cost seems a bit wasteful. Despite most rest stops posting "no overnight parking" I've never encountered a problem staying at one. The only amenities I look for in finding a place to crash are a cellular or wifi signal and a nearby restroom. Read Skips post on here, he brings up some great points about having everything ready in case you'd have to jet in a hurry. It's also nice not having to lug in all your equipment in and out of your vehicle every night and morning.

I guess it depends on the experience you are seeking too. It's interesting to see who you meet up with while chasing. I checked into a hotel around midnight in south west Missouri and coincidentally met up with part of the TVN crew. The next night (22 hours and couple hundred miles later) I walked into a Waffle House in Arkansas and was seated next to the same group. Some of my most notable memories aren't always of "the chase", but instead some of the people I've met at hotels, gas stations, or in misc parking lots waiting for the storms to develop.

So in conclusion, I won't hesitate to stay one or several nights in my vehicle, but I'm glad I don't do it all of the time for I would have missed out on some unexpected (but good) experiences.

 

[Jerry Prsha]

It's funny but I used to sleep in my car all the time. The sound of the rain on the roof is very soothing to me. However, the wife has made me promise that it's a hotel from now on.

 

[Dean Baron]

I slept in my car on quite a few nights this season to save money. After a while I decided to cough up the money for hotels. Showers are nice.

 

[Jason Foster]

I will add: It is nearly a sure bet to sleep in the car during this season's tropical season as I am expecting two to five chases this season....and I need every penny to chase that many times.

 

[Mike Hollingshead]

"Slept" in the trunk/back seat of my Mustang once last year. Only managed maybe 30 minutes as by the time I was tired enough I was then too cold. This was with a sweatshirt as a pillow and no blanket, windows cracked, while up near the badlands. The seats don't go all the way flat thanks to the seat belts or the cushion and there's not a bunch of space to get your back in under the back deal. Nearly impossible to turn sideways and I'm 130lbs.

This year I decided I'd actually set it up better and take a blanket and pillows...*gasp*. When I tried this out in the driveway I found it really really damn comfy. Never did end up doing it this year. Mostly drove back home and only got a room a few times. A room is just so much nicer. The badlands deal was thanks to not finding any rooms open and saying screw it. Wish I'd done the trunk all this year as I'd at least have $400-$500 more in my hand right now.

 

[Wesley Luginbyhl]

I always keep a couple pillows and a blanket in the trunk just in case. I normally just try to find a county road that doesnt do a lot of traffic, but sometimes big hotel parking lots work well too. It normally depends how safe I feel or just how tired I am. I realized in 2008 that once the dewpoint is above 60 (and especially above 65) sleep is near impossible unless the vehicle is running and the a/c on.

The night before the June 5, 2008 event I tried sleeping in my Jeep in Woodward, OK where the dew point was 68 I believe and the temp never went below 70. Most uncomfortable night of my life. Been chasing in my Saturn Ion recently and have found the driver seat to be quite comfortable, with leaving the engine running and the a/c on. It only cost me about $7 in gas (which is about 3 gallons). Not bad when you look at hotel cost, though a shower is always nice. Be sure to keep a few windshield covers in the car as well to block light and have a little privacy.

 

[Jason Foster]

Running the car while sleeping would make me too nervous (carbon monoxide) unless the windows were opened more than half way...which I know defeats the purpose of running the car with A/C. I'm just very cautious in that regards because I've seen too many accidents with that.