Bill’s Setup for Sleeping/Camping in a Jeep Patriot

SUV RVing reader/viewer Bill sent me some photos and details about his great SUV camping/sleeping setup. He’s got a 2016 Jeep Patriot Latitude. He bought it this year as certified pre-owned rental. From Bill:

“When I originally starting looking at cars I was thinking of getting something large like a Ford Expedition, I had one before and like it. Ultimately, I chose the Jeep Patriot for pricing and gas mileage considerations. I haven’t  done much or spent any money beyond buying screen and some dollar store items.”

And here are the pics of Bill’s setup. All text in quotes is directly from Bill:

Bill's camping gear stored in the back of his Patriot before the sleeping platform is set up.
Bill’s camping gear stored in the back of his Patriot before the sleeping setup is set up.
Another look at Bill's gear. The green bin is the pantry and holds kitchen supplies.
Another look at Bill’s gear. The green bin is the pantry and holds kitchen supplies. Regarding dealing with his stuff when it’s time for bed: “I usually leave the stuff outside of the jeep next to it or on the roof. I can put everything in the jeep and still sleep in there but it is a little cramped and messy. I’ve done it a couple of times, once when it was raining and I slept at a rest stop one night on the way to the beach.”
The bed and platform.
The bed and platform. “I had a piece of pressboard in the garage so I have been using that [as a sleeping platform]. I push the passenger seat all the way forward and put the pressboard on the armrest. There is a bit of a slope but not too bad. I generally sleep slightly elevated at home for snoring issues. You can’t see it, but there is a self inflating backing mattress under the sleeping bag. I have a warmer (winter) bag as well. The lows were in the 70s on my last trip.”
A side look at the sleeping platform.
A side look at the sleeping platform.
"I bought screen for less than $10 at Walmart and cut them to fit my four windows. I sealed the edges with black duct tape. I am currently using painters tape to put them on the windows but will probably get some magnates eventually."
“I bought screen for less than $10 at Walmart and cut them to fit my four windows. I sealed the edges with black duct tape. I am currently using painters tape to put them on the windows but will probably get some magnets eventually. I haven’t had any problems with the tape sticking to the jeep but I didn’t try to put them on when it was raining. I imagine it wouldn’t stick them. I don’t like the tape because of the bright blue color. I would prefer not to attract to much attention.”
“Behind the passenger seat I stow a Coleman stove (my parents bought it around the time I was born), fuel, charcoal (I buy aluminum pans from the dollar store for a makeshift barbeque), and a propane canister (I have a backpacking type burner in the green tub).”
"My kitchen setup and my dollar store makeshift barbeque. I am on the lookout for a cheep non messy portable barbeque."
“My dollar store makeshift barbeque. I am on the lookout for a cheap non messy portable barbeque.”
Bill's stove
Bill’s stove
Home sweet home
Home sweet home

And Bill added one more thing:

“I have found the bottom part of the back seat removes easily. I may do this for longer trips. I allows for a lot more storage. I believe I could put my ice chest or green tub in the space.”

Thanks for sharing your setup with everyone, Bill!

5 thoughts on “Bill’s Setup for Sleeping/Camping in a Jeep Patriot

  1. For sleeping in my 2016 Patriot, I take out the rear seat cushion and replace it with a 2×4 with a 1×4 on top. The cushion is only held in by two bolts. You can take it out or put it back in, in a few minutes. The seatbacks will fold flat and level. Plus you will have some extra storage space.

      1. I don’t know how to send a picture. But just the bottom cushions are taken out.
        The backs stay in and are folded down just like when the cushions are in only they fold flat.
        /media/hidmeid/backup/Pictures/2017/08/05/SAM_0260.jpg

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