In your camping experiences, what have you found to be the best air mattress to buy? I want to get one for the E. There seem to be a lot on the store shelves with little way to compare one with another except for the photos on the boxes. I remember sleeping on these things years ago and having to get up during the night to pump them up, or freezing to death because they were so cold. I imagine the newer ones are of better quality. Anyone have experience they can share or recommendations about what to buy?
music&dogs
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I've been car camping using my cot setup in the images above, and using those plastic bins seen in the background as props to level out the legs.
It has worked out superbly. Have not had an uncomfortable night's sleep yet, with over 12-15 nights already and more to come.
The lids on those bins are getting a bit beat up, so something more durable would be preferred. Even just a flat board might help even out the load.
Well worth the $65 investment, and a massive improvement over sleeping on the stock seats flattened out.
It has worked out superbly. Have not had an uncomfortable night's sleep yet, with over 12-15 nights already and more to come.
The lids on those bins are getting a bit beat up, so something more durable would be preferred. Even just a flat board might help even out the load.
Well worth the $65 investment, and a massive improvement over sleeping on the stock seats flattened out.
Honda Element RV setup (interior + canopy)
Element Sleep Setup
A collage of the actual in-use setup after a few weeks on the road (please pardon the clutter):
![Image]()
Sleeping
Cot legs are propped up on the Hefty containers in the rear and middle, and the front legs are on the folded-down passenger seat. I slept with my head at the rear of the Element.
This setup was very comfortable to sleep in. By the end of the 35-day trip, the cot legs had begin to deform the plastic bin lids in the middle and rear, and that made the sleeping the last couple of days not so great. A small panel of plywood on top of the bins would have fixed that easily and cheaply.
Reflectix panels cut to size and stuffed in the windows. Primarily for privacy, but worked superbly for keeping the Sun from turning the Element into an oven in the Southwest.
I do not have a photo of it, but I bought a 9" USB fan which was worth the investment. Already had a large USB battery pack, and it barely drained the 10k-mAh battery levels — even running all night.
Storage
Any gear I used frequently was stored in the bins under the cot and on top of the folder-back front passenger seat. As well as in the passenger-side footwell.
Food, water, eating, drinking, adventure gear, cooler and so on. You want all this stuff easily accessible without having to dig around in the back. Trust me.
Ventilation & Bugs
I also built mosquito screens for all the windows. But ended up only using the ones for the pop-out windows. I usually kept the Reflectix panels in all the windows for privacy and Sun-blocking, so the mosquito net panels were useless on the main door windows. However, I could use both the Relfectix and the mosquito net panels on the pop-out windows. I also preferred the security of sleeping with all the doors and main windows closed and the vehicle locked up.
The mosquito net panels were merely mosquito screening cut a few inches larger than each window opening, with small round magnets duct taped to the edges by folding a piece of tape around the edge and sandwiching the magnet in-between. Attached them using the magnets to the outside of the vehicle to the body panels surrounding the window openings.
I highly recommend making the mosquito screens. Keeping windows open for ventilation is a must, and so is keeping out the bugs — especially while you sleep.
Canopy
Here is a collage of the custom canopy setup I devised:
![Image]()
Marine tarp suction cup bungees, a quality 8'x10' camping tarp, REI 8' tarp poles, and some good tarp cordage and tent stakes.
The tarp was more for emergencies, so I could hang out outside the vehicle in case of rain. That never happened on this trip. But I still set it up a few times for practice and to fine-tune the placement.
In hindsight, I would probably set up the canopy free-standing at any places I was planning on being at for a few days. That way, I could keep the canopy set up at camp, but still easily drive around to sight-see or go on daytime adventures.
At the least, a tarp set up that can be easily removed from the vehicle. I think another guyline on each pole in the setup in the photos would suffice. Then I could just pop off the suction cups, and reattach when back at camp.
I am parked in an odd spot at the campsite because it's essential to find the most level spot you can to sleep well.
Element Sleep Setup
A collage of the actual in-use setup after a few weeks on the road (please pardon the clutter):
Sleeping
Cot legs are propped up on the Hefty containers in the rear and middle, and the front legs are on the folded-down passenger seat. I slept with my head at the rear of the Element.
This setup was very comfortable to sleep in. By the end of the 35-day trip, the cot legs had begin to deform the plastic bin lids in the middle and rear, and that made the sleeping the last couple of days not so great. A small panel of plywood on top of the bins would have fixed that easily and cheaply.
Reflectix panels cut to size and stuffed in the windows. Primarily for privacy, but worked superbly for keeping the Sun from turning the Element into an oven in the Southwest.
I do not have a photo of it, but I bought a 9" USB fan which was worth the investment. Already had a large USB battery pack, and it barely drained the 10k-mAh battery levels — even running all night.
Storage
Any gear I used frequently was stored in the bins under the cot and on top of the folder-back front passenger seat. As well as in the passenger-side footwell.
Food, water, eating, drinking, adventure gear, cooler and so on. You want all this stuff easily accessible without having to dig around in the back. Trust me.
Ventilation & Bugs
I also built mosquito screens for all the windows. But ended up only using the ones for the pop-out windows. I usually kept the Reflectix panels in all the windows for privacy and Sun-blocking, so the mosquito net panels were useless on the main door windows. However, I could use both the Relfectix and the mosquito net panels on the pop-out windows. I also preferred the security of sleeping with all the doors and main windows closed and the vehicle locked up.
The mosquito net panels were merely mosquito screening cut a few inches larger than each window opening, with small round magnets duct taped to the edges by folding a piece of tape around the edge and sandwiching the magnet in-between. Attached them using the magnets to the outside of the vehicle to the body panels surrounding the window openings.
I highly recommend making the mosquito screens. Keeping windows open for ventilation is a must, and so is keeping out the bugs — especially while you sleep.
Canopy
Here is a collage of the custom canopy setup I devised:
Marine tarp suction cup bungees, a quality 8'x10' camping tarp, REI 8' tarp poles, and some good tarp cordage and tent stakes.
The tarp was more for emergencies, so I could hang out outside the vehicle in case of rain. That never happened on this trip. But I still set it up a few times for practice and to fine-tune the placement.
In hindsight, I would probably set up the canopy free-standing at any places I was planning on being at for a few days. That way, I could keep the canopy set up at camp, but still easily drive around to sight-see or go on daytime adventures.
At the least, a tarp set up that can be easily removed from the vehicle. I think another guyline on each pole in the setup in the photos would suffice. Then I could just pop off the suction cups, and reattach when back at camp.
I am parked in an odd spot at the campsite because it's essential to find the most level spot you can to sleep well.
Great job on everything....any pics or instructions of the bug screens?Element Sleep Setup
A collage of the actual in-use setup after a few weeks on the road (please pardon the clutter):
![Image]()
Sleeping
Cot legs are propped up on the Hefty containers in the rear and middle, and the front legs are on the folded-down passenger seat. I slept with my head at the rear of the Element.
This setup was very comfortable to sleep in. By the end of the 35-day trip, the cot legs had begin to deform the plastic bin lids in the middle and rear, and that made the sleeping the last couple of days not so great. A small panel of plywood on top of the bins would have fixed that easily and cheaply.
Reflectix panels cut to size and stuffed in the windows. Primarily for privacy, but worked superbly for keeping the Sun from turning the Element into an oven in the Southwest.
I do not have a photo of it, but I bought a 9" USB fan which was worth the investment. Already had a large USB battery pack, and it barely drained the 10k-mAh battery levels — even running all night.
Storage
Any gear I used frequently was stored in the bins under the cot and on top of the folder-back front passenger seat. As well as in the passenger-side footwell.
Food, water, eating, drinking, adventure gear, cooler and so on. You want all this stuff easily accessible without having to dig around in the back. Trust me.
Ventilation & Bugs
I also built mosquito screens for all the windows. But ended up only using the ones for the pop-out windows. I usually kept the Reflectix panels in all the windows for privacy and Sun-blocking, so the mosquito net panels were useless on the main door windows. However, I could use both the Relfectix and the mosquito net panels on the pop-out windows. I also preferred the security of sleeping with all the doors and main windows closed and the vehicle locked up.
The mosquito net panels were merely mosquito screening cut a few inches larger than each window opening, with small round magnets duct taped to the edges by folding a piece of tape around the edge and sandwiching the magnet in-between. Attached them using the magnets to the outside of the vehicle to the body panels surrounding the window openings.
I highly recommend making the mosquito screens. Keeping windows open for ventilation is a must, and so is keeping out the bugs — especially while you sleep.
Canopy
Here is a collage of the custom canopy setup I devised:
![Image]()
Marine tarp suction cup bungees, a quality 8'x10' camping tarp, REI 8' tarp poles, and some good tarp cordage and tent stakes.
The tarp was more for emergencies, so I could hang out outside the vehicle in case of rain. That never happened on this trip. But I still set it up a few times for practice and to fine-tune the placement.
In hindsight, I would probably set up the canopy free-standing at any places I was planning on being at for a few days. That way, I could keep the canopy set up at camp, but still easily drive around to sight-see or go on daytime adventures.
At the least, a tarp set up that can be easily removed from the vehicle. I think another guyline on each pole in the setup in the photos would suffice. Then I could just pop off the suction cups, and reattach when back at camp.
I am parked in an odd spot at the campsite because it's essential to find the most level spot you can to sleep well.
Honda Element RV setup (interior + canopy)
![Image]()
Marine tarp suction cup bungees, a quality 8'x10' camping tarp, REI 8' tarp poles, and some good tarp cordage and tent stakes.
This is awesome. Thinking of doing something similar when camping for an extended period.
Do these look good?
REI Co-op Adjustable Tarp Pole - Single | REI Co-op
The single REI Co-op Adjustable Tarp Pole is a handy extendable pole for use with compatible awnings, tarps and shelters. Get the length that suits your gear!
www.rei.com
Those are the exact poles I bought. I got the larger version, since I am 6'2". But I think the taller ones in general are a good idea so you can get them high enough for the pitch of the tarp to run water towards the opposite side of the vehicle. I think the shorter version of the poles wasn't tall enough for that.This is awesome. Thinking of doing something similar when camping for an extended period.
Do these look good?
REI Co-op Adjustable Tarp Pole - Single | REI Co-op
The single REI Co-op Adjustable Tarp Pole is a handy extendable pole for use with compatible awnings, tarps and shelters. Get the length that suits your gear!
And while you can use a tarp from the home improvement store, I invested in a tarp normally used for backpacking or hammock setups. It's much more compact and lightweight, and just more well-built in general. But a generic tarp works fine too. My tarp is from DD Tarps, and I got a rectangular version; however in hindsight I wish I had gotten the standard square version.
I also picked up the cordage used in this setup after extensive research (and knot self-education via YouTube) from Lawson Equipment. It's the orange reflective guy line, so I don't trip on them in the dark or the daytime. Teach yourself the Taut Line Hitch and/or the Adjustable Grip Hitch, great for guy lines and just handy knots to know in general. The Trucker's Hitch is a good companion to those, and another all-around useful knot along with the classic Bowline.
After I got a few samples, I went with the no-see-um netting from Mosquito Nets USA. It was the right balance of weight, durability and airflow. Also the customer service was good (samples, asking questions, etc).
I bought 4.5 ft x 15 ft, and it was enough to cover all of the windows individually. But as I said, I ended up mostly using the netting on the roof window for venting. I used the mesh on the side pop-out windows too. I would skip building nets for the passenger windows, and also the main double-door area (I built these). Unless you plan to actually hang out in the car when not sleeping. Or want to sleep with the doors and windows open. Me, I wanted the doors and windows shut when I slept for safety/privacy. And I was never in the car when not sleeping. The double-door net actually made going in/out of the vehicle a big PITA (which I did constantly for food, supplies, gear, etc), so I never used that large net.
I bought these small but powerful magnets for attaching the nets to the metallic body of the car. The magnets were attached to the net using duct tape strips, wrapped over the outer edge with the magnet sandwiched in-between. That kept the finish from being affected, and of course made attachment/removal of the nets way easier than applying the magnets each time.
I bought cheapo craft magnets initially, but they are heavy and weak, and while they worked OK, I wanted something more ideal. The industrial magnets were far superior.
The duct tape was not the most ideal solution, and in the warmer temps it loosened up. I would probably coat and embed the magnets in some sort of plastic or something with the mesh embedded into the plastic material to make it more permanent, but for my needs it worked fine for a long trip with many attach/remove cycles.
I will try to get some photos posted, but all that gear is packed deep away in the garage and I have ben too lazy to dig it out
But nudge me, and I'll make it happen eventually.I'm getting closer to actually going for this tarp set up now. What tarp do you recommend (and size?) hard to tell from the picture.
Guy wire - Reflective Glowire
This stuff I think right? What length and diameter?
These look like the suction cups:
Amazon.com: Suction Cup Tie Downs, 6", 4 pack: Sports & Outdoors
Buy Suction Cup Tie Downs, 6", 4 pack: Ratcheting - Amazon.com âś“ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases
www.amazon.com
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New camper build in progress. I'm still using a rear seat + camp bin (with sleep pad) as my bed for now but the new bed is under construction. The plan for the drawers is of course storage but also an extension for the bed. I'm planning a 24" cushion for the bed with a rear, rigid back cushion that will fit across the drawers. I'm re-configuring the drawer faces to take the weight when extended. I'm mostly a solo camper so it's more of a place to stretch an arm and an extra pillow than a 2 person configuration. I haven't decided on slats or a solid, hinged top for the bed just yet. All materials other than hardware are from salvaged home cabinets.
![203277]( "203277")
![203278]( "203278")
![203279]( "203279")
![203280]( "203280")
Yep those are the suctions cups I used, and that's the guy line cordage as well. I got the 2mm thickness and was happy with that.
I picked up the DD Tarp M. As mentioned, I think I'd go with the DD Tarp 3x3 instead of the 2.5x3.5 of the Tarp M. The extra length of the M made it difficult at times to find the distance to set it all up. I ended up attaching the tarp to the far side of the roof. Although to be fair, that helped with rain run-off.
But I like having multi-purpose gear, and I think the square tarp would be more useful for general situations (I am not a hammock camper, I just did WAY too much research on tarps and DD seemed to be the way to go; I am very pleased with the quality of the tarp).
I am going to have to dig into the garage and find my cordage lengths. I know I ordered a 50' length, and I think I cut it up into 2x10' and maybe 4x7'. But I know I wish I'd made them all a bit longer, by at least 25% and maybe 50%.
I'd go with a 100' length, and make sure you cut at least 2 lengths for each pole. It will be way easier to stabilize each pole that way. And you'll want to tie down the sides at times, so at least 2 lengths for that (1 per side). If you did 100' and did 12.5' lengths, you'd have 8 lengths of guy line. That might be overkill for the side tie-downs length though. But that should get you started with general lengths to consider. Maybe 4x 14' for the poles, and 4 10' for the sides, with some left over.
Maybe even buy some cheaper rope and do some test setups before you cut your premium cordage. I wasn't that smart.
I found tie-down and stake locations to vary wildly. You do not always get the nice grassy dirt patch like I had when I did my test setups. Might have to tie down some ways away from the vehicle. Or use a rock and a toggle, or tie off on a tree, etc. Often wished I had longer guy-lines, and to be honest I didn't even set up the tarp much on my big trip.
That cordage will not stretch when wet, a big factor in buying it (again, lots of research). That's going to help in keeping your tarp/canopy setup in place. It's also tough and kinda holds it shape, so works great with sliding hitch knots. The cordage is top quality.
And those suctions cups are big and heavy-duty. The ball bungees are also well-made.
Thanks! Went with the 3x3 Tarp and two 50' lengths of cord.
It looks like it wouldn't be hard to rig it up to cover the tailgate area either.
Seems like it could be nice when leaving the trunk hatch open, cooking off the tailgate, etc.
Yeah the suction cups and the multiple tarp attachment points should allow for all sorts of configurations.
Hmm I think I have the right tarp, but this tarp does not have Eyelet holes for the tent pole pins. I suppose it will still be OK but my feeling is it could slip out of the straps if there is not enough tension where as with eyelets there is more forgiveness for less tension. It's kind of hard to tell from the pictures, but I assume you are using the straps there yes?
Edit: I see now how you did it, you just have the straps on the pin with your cord tied over the top of the pin. I really wish this tarp had eyelets + the straps. Maybe I will add a heavy duty staple into the strap, so it will be impossible for it to slip off of the tent pole.
Ah, yeah no eyelets. But never was an issue. Look into tarp clips, the hammock enthusiasts also have tons of alternate ways to attach, clip, knot, etc. I'm sure there is a solution already out there.
But I never had an issue with the straps on the poles. Once you get everything taut, it's pretty solid.
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