Sleeping in Truck Bed with Topper - Warmth/Heat?

Hi All,

Looking for feedback on a couple of safe heating solutions I am considering for warmth when sleeping in the truck bed in colder temps. Lowest I typically see is about 20 degrees. Also note that I am not looking to run this all night, really just for 15 minutes or so before kicking in for the night to pre-warm things up a little.

Also please note, on the solutions where I suggest running off the 120v outlet in the back, I do not plan to be in the bed when doing so, I am aware of the CO2 risk of being in the bed with a topper and truck running.

My sleeping bag is rated to 30 degrees. Yes I could get one down to 20 or 10 or 0 but the one I have is super comfortable and warm enough under 80% of the time I use it. In the past I have just dressed in warmer sleeping clothes when it is going to go below 30.

OK, my 4 ideas are:

• 250 Watt personal ceramic space heater
• Twin Size electric blanket that I would drap over my cot and sleeping bag to warm up the entire bed area
• Electric Heating pad that I would stick inside my sleeping bag to warm up the inside
• A USB powered, 2 AMP electric heating pad that can run on a power pack inside sleeping bag. CON here is not as warm as electric, Pro is I can turn it back on in the AM or middle of the night for a quick warm up.

These solution range from $20 to $40.

At some point in the future I'd like to get a large 500W+ battery backup where I could run an electric blanket longer but I cannot swing that investment right now.

Anyone try any of the above? Pros, Cons, Likes, Dislikes?

I aslo considered a Mr. Heater Buddy Heater but I am a bit leary of fire. I know the risk is low, but have read a few stories of a flare up or it catching fire if the gas tubes are blocked or say the canister gets cross-threaded.

Edit - I am also buying a 20 pack of the HOT Hands Hand Warmers - those packets that heat up? I am likely to try that first and I would wear boxer shorts with pockets and put them inside the pockets.

 

I just close everything up before sunset. Traps the heat fairly well. Then when I’m ready for bed it takes all of 30 seconds to be warm

I use a two quilt system so I’m set from -10 all the way up to 60

https://support.enlightenedequipmen...0588-How-to-layer-quilts-for-sub-zero-camping

biggest thing for cold weather is making sure you have something insulated you are laying on

 

i know this doesnt answer your question about a heater but if you get 2 Nalgene 1 liter bottles and boil water and put the hot water in there, then put a giant wool sock over each one, put them in your sleeping bag and they will be nice little heat packs and stay warm all night / most of the night

 

Ugh, go ahead and throw the electric heater idea out the window unless you have shore power or a generator. You can do the research on that but it's not practical, especially off the inverter- remember the truck has to be running for it to work.

Firstly, insulation. Both of the previous posters are correct. You need insulation under you and preferably around you. There's a reason bums sleep on cardboard; it'll work but there is much better if you're not a bum. Something like closed cell foam between you and the bed is the first step. If you are going to use an air mattress, make sure it is one of the insulated types.

Insulate over the glass; single pane glass suck as far as heat loss- a roll of Reflectix is cheap. You can tent a large blanket over you- think kid's blanket fort.

Blankets and comforters are inexpensive, buy as many as you like; I keep a couple of military surplus wool blankets in my truck during the winter and when traveling (the Italian officer's blankets were an amazing buy when they were like $15/each). Even cheap fleece blankets from walmart are better than nothing. The "wool" blankets and moving blankets from Harbor Freight suck, don't waste your money- I'd sooner buy used blankets from Goodwill and launder them than buy those stinky near worthless things from HF (yes, I own some of each that I bought to try and they suck). Be sure to air out your sleeping bags and blankets in the morning since we put off a lot of moisture just through respiration, even more if you cook in the back.

The water bottle in the sleeping bag is an old trick that is very effective, just make sure that your bottle doesn't leak. It also ensures that you have liquid water in the morning so you don't waste fuel melting ice. We used to use hand warmers (the lighter fluid or charcoal stick type) when I was younger but they seem to have fallen out of favor with the younger crowd; light it and toss it in your sleeping bag before climbing in. The Thermacare heated pads work very well; especially the back ones. Put it over your kidneys and it'll warm the blood circulating through them. The newer version last a lot longer then they used to.

Merino wool long underwear and socks are great stuff. Make sure you wear a hat/beenie/whatever you want to call it. Remember the old Boy Scouting adage (before they went woke and full retard)- if your toes are cold put on a hat. Do not wear tight, restrictive clothing.

Make sure that you are hydrated before going to bed; alcohol sucks for cold weather, even though you think it makes you feel better. Make sure you have some fat in your evening meal. Have a pee bottle; having to get out of your bag sucks and you lose the warmth in the bag when you open it. Pro-tip, make sure your pee bottle is different from your water bottle- I use a Gatorade bottle and since I don't drink the stuff it's easy to tell in the dark that it's not my water bottle.

I've got a Buddy heater from when I had VW buses (I've also got older Coleman fuel heaters that work very well but are far too large for the back of the truck). I'd fire it up while I was awake and/or before going to bed then again when I'd wake up. My opinion is that it's too large for the back of the truck, it gets too hot too fast and it takes up a lot of room (side note, the Buddy heaters have a low O2 sensor, not a CO detector). I grabbed a small butane heater off ebay that screws onto the same tanks as my Jetboil (example of the style I have https://www.ebay.com/itm/255062701937) . I use it for the same purpose and it's smaller and easier to carry. CO2 (carbon dioxide) is what you exhale, CO (carbon monoxide) is the silent killer given off by gas type heaters. If you're going to use a gas style heater, a smoke/CO detector is cheap insurance but you still need to make sure you have adequate ventilation. A candle lantern, ex. UCO, will give off a bit of heat and sometimes that's enough to help take the edge off. I've tried the flower pot heaters and didn't find them worth the effort or space.

Best bang for the buck- blankets or comforters. It's a truck, they can be had inexpensively so carry as many as you want. Better to have them and not need them than to need them and not have them.

 

I do a lot of steelhead fishing in the winter where I'll sleep in the back of my truck in the middle of January so I get first crack at the fishing hole lol. I also used to be a ski bum in my younger years and would sleep in the parking lot of Timberline lodge to get first runs on the slopes. Dude above gives some very solid advice - just grab a few down comforters or old military wool blankets, couple that with your sleeping bag & an insulated sleeping pad (I use a Thermorest MondoKing w/ it's 8.0 R value) and you're set. Wear some long johns, wool socks and put up some reflective bubble-foil over your windows. You can also grab a Mr. Buddy heater to pre-heat your truck before going to bed. I've gotten down to 0 deg F or less with this set up and slept like a baby all night. Good luck OP!

 

An electric blanket on low running off a 12 volt deep cycle battery will run 2 nights on low. Obviously you will need an inverter clamped to the battery.

Charge the battery during your next 100 mile excursion.

 

One thing I do is get some canned heat and a terra cotta pot and saucer. Light the canned heat and put it on the saucer then flip the pot upside down and place over the canned heat. It doesn’t create a ton of warmth but it definitely cuts the edge off and burns for hours.

 

I third the hot water trick or you can use a hot rock wrapped in a towel. Those hand warmers are kinda garbage, they will heat your hands for about four hours with direct contact but don’t really radiate a whole lot of heat. Plus they’re kinda wasteful.

 

Very interesting idea!

 

If you boil hot water you can search around and find the Nalgene covers made by Outdoor Research (The new style are garbage for this technique).

If you sleep really cold use the small Nalgene bottles (4 of them) this gives you the option to move them around (2 at your feet, 1 at your groin, and 1 near your chest). Be certain the lids are on securely and leak check before putting them in your bag.

Word of caution, don't use any flexible style (too include the white Nalgene) to much pressure and you will push liquid or blow the container (speaking from experience)

 

Jackery or goal zero and a 12v blanket

 

diesel heater from Amazon maybe? runs on 12V...you just need another jerry can for diesel

 

Just thought I'd throw in this: There are these things called catalytic heaters which can "burn" propane without actually burning them.

$64 Mr. Heater F215100 MH4B Little Buddy 3800-BTU Indoor Safe Propane Heater With Portable|Low-Oxygen Safety Shutoff|Tip-Over Protection|Lightweight, Medium , Black/Red

https://www.amazon.com/Mr-Heater-F215100-3800-BTU-Propane/dp/B001CFRF7I/
I'm not sure if they have a carbon monoxide problem, but they're certified for indoor use.