The thread on Best Fly Fishing Vehicles got me thinking that I too ought to take advantage of my vehicle (Explorer) for simple sleeping quarters once in a while, but also brought me to a rookie question on the matter: I’m assuming you guys crack the windows and/or sunroofs in those situations for ventilation. What do you do about mosquitos during the warmer months? I’m one of those guys that seem to be a magnet for those God-forsaken insects, and I know it would be the case with windows open even a little bit on a balmy night. Can’t say I relish the idea of slathering up with bug dope right before turning in, but obviously a vehicle like mine doesn’t have screens to keep them out. Has anybody figured out a way to stay cool without the windows cracked and/or to keep the bugs out when they are? Thanks in advance.
You can buy the fine mesh net material like what some ladies dresses has or a tootoo has in it fairly cheap… cut it to the size you you need, glue some thin flexable strip magnets around the edges… place the magnetic net whereyou need it such as on a sunroof, a window or whatever… i built one that will fit a front side window & a rear side window that way i can roll down the windows & dont have to beat myself silly swatin buggs… it can also be rolled up when i dont need it… i dont camp in my vehicle but when im travelin long sistances ill pull over & take a 30 minute nap every 5 hours or so with the windows rolled down part way…
their are tents available for the explorer that attach to thhe back to allow for ventlation nd even give you screenroom/ living room. but you can also buy mosqueto netting for camping and fit it to one of thouse widow vents for dogs.
I haven’t figured out a good way to keep the mozzies away without bug dope. Weighing the odds of getting West Nile over the chance Deet might do me harm after already using it for most of my life… well…Deet wins, because it works. I can’t invision myself spending all day and night behind a bug screen to avoid mozzies. What fun is that.
As for what I sleep in. NOT MY CAR. When I’m by myself I use this when its buggy or when it’s going to get wet:
It’s got a single pole and four pegs and goes up in about one minute. Two if I don’t want to rush. They don’t make this one anymore but I’m sure there are others out there. I sleep on a self inflating mat in a sleeping bag. It can’t get much simpler than that. I don’t bother with the tent if the bugs are light. I often use a hammock if there are good trees about, but to put the bug net and fly up…it takes some time. I don’t have one of these but it’s on my list of what to look for in the future. http://www.hennessyhammock.com/
OH WAIT!!! If you really don’t want to use deet… this works and I use it in Ontario black fly country. (If you want big brookies…you have to put up with bad things.) If anyone has ever been to Northern Michigan, Northern Ontario, Quebec, Algonquin Park or that general area in late May - early July…you’ll know what I’m talking about. Deet does not work for black flies (or deer flies or any kind of fly) and the mozzies are so bad in this area, they drive the moose insane.
as bug dope goes, deet makes me really ill as do many of the bug repellants… what i use is what i make myself and works better than all that stinky spray… i mix 3 or 6 drops of pure citronella oil with a small 1 or 2 oz bottle os skin lotion like skin so soft… smells like oranges…
I sleep in my vehicle only in non-mosquito/fly situations. Otherwise, I’m using the tent. Usually, when I choose to just sleep in the vehicle is one of these situations (or combo):
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Arrived after dark or in heavy rain.
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Rest area, park, or in town…too broke to spring for motel room.
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Changing base camp every day, but operating from vehicle vs. float trip, pack mules, or backpacking.
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No friends will let me stay with them.
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No strangers will let me stay with them.
Well thought out…
uumm why not just close the window 
Fly fishermen? :shock: No way! :rolleyes: That isn’t nearly complicated, scientific, or gear-intensive enough. 
:lol:
Obviously you haven’t spent time in the South in the Summer 
cant be any worse than the heat and humidity we get in new england
I slept in the shell on my truck one time. In the morning the condensation was dripping off the ceiling. Even my sleeping bag was wet from it. And that’s in Colorado, which as you know isn’t that humid.
Haven’t slept in the suv yet, which is somewhat insulated.
but in a truck with a shell, there are sliding windows on each side with screens that you can open
I sleep out at our wood lot in the back of my truck fairly regularly all year long
Even with the side windows open I still get condensation on the cap ceiling
Sometimes enough so that it snows… inside :lol:
I’ve slept in the back of my trucks hundreds of times over the years in the NE and NW, and never once recall having so much condensation that it caused any undue problems like you guys claim.
I’ve always had fiberglass caps (I suspect aluminum caps would get much more condensation) and rarely felt the need to open a window for added ventilation since there was alway some air that would circulate around the tailgate even when it was closed.
Maybe you guys that have a lot of condensation problems are just full of hot air!
A few year ago I did sleep in the front seat (reclined) of a small rental car for a week in mid-October in and around Yellowstone country, including a couple nights when I stayed just outside West Yellowstone and the temperature got down to 17 degrees. When I woke up in the morning the entire inside of the car’s windows were so frosted from condensation that I had to run the car for sometime until the heater defrosted them enough to drive.
John