Whatever the case may be, people do sleep under their tonneau covers. So, yes, you are free to sleep under your tonneau cover though with some considerations and of course, with a sleeping pad
The need to sleep under a tonneau cover becomes necessary if you consider the fact that some people do go camping with their trucks and obviously, they will have to sleep.
This could be because they either don’t have a tent or that for whatever reason, they do not wish to pay for accommodation. Read on to learn more about which bed truck you can sleep under and what to keep in mind.
What Tonneau Covers Can You Sleep Under?
You can sleep under virtually all kinds of tonneau covers, but certain things must be put into consideration.
First off, you need to provide yourself with avenues through which air can enter the tonneau cover while you are sleeping since you can’t do without air, can you?
Providing yourselves with air while sleeping under truck bed covers will require some adjustments in their setting.
On What Occasions Should You Sleep Under A Tonneau Cover?
Another reason is when one takes his/her truck along on a camping expedition and happens not to have a tent or the tent has become so compromised that sleeping under it is either not possible or even unacceptable, and hence the truck cover has become the only option.
There are several other reasons why people sleep under their truck covers, but those mentioned above are some of the commonest.
Are There Precautions I Need To Take If I Intend Sleeping Under My Bed Cover?
Of course, there are several precautions one must take before they sleep under a tonneau cover. To start with, if you are on a journey and you unavoidably have to sleep under your tonneau cover, you should find a safe place to park and doze off.
Nobody would want to sleep in a place that is not safe, at least that’s what I think. Secondly, if you must park and sleep, you shouldn’t do so at any place where such practice is not allowed.
Campers that must sleep in their trucks under the bed covers, they should carefully choose where they do so. It is not advisable for anyone to sleep under a tree where heavy branches can fall off and come down hard onto the truck without any hint.
While camping, it is equally not advisable to pitch a tent and sleep in your truck at any place where there is the likelihood of being attacked.
Since breathing is a prerequisite to existence, you must also make sure that there would be enough air inflow to allow you to breathe properly while sleeping.
Do not also park your truck and sleep in it at places where you are likely to come to some harm from wildlife, such as in clumps of bushes or sites overtaken by grasses. You can’t always be alone in such places, can you? I guess so too. That’s it.
Do I Need To Put A Pad Down Before I Can Sleep On The Bed Floor?
Certainly, you do. If for nothing else, sleeping on the bare metallic truck floor may not be advisable particularly when the temperature becomes so cold at night or in the summer.
On the other hand, by sleeping on the hard metallic truck floor, you may get landed with severe and generalized body aches. These are all very good reasons why you should get a sleeping pad (or an inflatable mattress to sleep on.
What Size Of Mattress Will Fit In A Truck Bed?
To make a more agreeable choice of a sleeping pad, you should know its features, which are bound to affect your comfort and performance.
The best choice of any sleeping pad is that which will fit in conveniently into your truck bed. Though most truck beds measure about eight feet in length and can thus take a full queen-size mattress, you are still advised to use a smaller mattress.
This is simply because fitting a queen size sleeping pad in your truck will force you to bend it due to the wheels. For the fact that it can get cold at night, you will do well to choose a warm pad to sleep in.
Your selection of a pad should primarily be based on the lowest weather temperatures you expect in your camping trip. For winter camping, you need a pad with higher R-value.
Most sleeping pads have R-values of between 1 to 10, though some can exceed this range. For convenience, sleeping pads with R- values between 2 to 5 are recommended in the spring, summer or autumn, while for winter camping, you may choose one with a higher value.
What Features Should I be Looking Out For When Buying A Sleeping Pad?
1. Sleeping Pads Inflation And Cushioning
To get the best here, go for sleeping pads that have closed-cell foams. Their cell shapes also matter a lot, for maximum comfort, choose those with hexagonal patterns.
In the case of inflatable pads, the amount of air in them also matters in how cushioned they are, which you can adjust to your convenience. This provision is not available in solid types of sleeping pads.
2. Weight
The weight of your sleeping pad is also very important, particularly if you are backpacking. Generally, closed-cell foam pads are a bit lighter and also very compact, which is a stand-out quality for inflatable pads.
3. Sleeping Pad sizes
All truck tent sleeping pads should be big enough to fit your body from head to toe and for that, a size of about six feet in length is suggested.
Though regular XL pads might measure up to 6’6″ or even 78 inches. Their standard sizes are almost 20 inches wide, though smaller varieties are also available.
4. Sleeping Pads Materials
The natures of these materials affect their R-values directly. An index known as the denier factor assists consumers to understand this rating.
This factor takes into account the thickness of the fibers in the sleeping pads. The higher it is, the higher its durability. The commonest preferable range for most campers is between 30 to 70, anything above 40 is good.
These sleeping pads are made from nylon or polyester fabrics, which are very durable, but nylon has a slight edge over polyester here.
Inflatable pads use a tear-resistant material known as ripstop. For inflatable pads, multiple air chambers are preferred to a single air chamber because of the possibility of a puncture.
Are There Rooms For Airflow To Come In?
The main problem associated with sleeping under a tonneau cover is actually that of air inflow and in such situations, the only option is to improvise.
Tonneau covers are for the most part not designed to be slept in, which is a function people devised due to unavoidable needs. For that reason, provision is not made for air inflow or sleeping in.
However, since people have found they most sleep in them occasionally, they devised how to go around the problem on their own.
In such situations, some people pull down the tonneau covers down completely to allow air in or alternatively, leave the tailgate down. When they do this, air finds its way into the truck bed to allow for regular breathing.
Hot Searches
- How Do You Open A Tonneau Cover When Tailgate Won’t Open?
- Lomax Tonneau Cover Vs Bakflip: Which Is Better?
How Do I Safely Keep My Pads When I’m Done Using Them
Keeping your pads isn’t much of a big deal once you’re done using them. If you buy a pad that is inflatable, all you need do is to deflate it before keeping it inside the bag. If its one that came without a bag, simply roll it over then secure it with a rope.
Can I Just Park My Truck Anywhere To Sleep Or Do I Need To Find Local Overnight Parking Spots?
You are not advised to park your truck anywhere to sleep for many good reasons, for the obvious risks that may portend to you, the truck, or any cargo you may be carrying.
For example, if you park on the side of the road, other vehicles may stray and run into your truck with harm to both you and your vehicle and again, if you park in a secluded or deserted place, you stand the risk of getting attacked by hoodlums.
Advisedly, therefore, you should find a local parking spot where people are around and you have some company or security.
You can also try to locate any popular tenting spots where you can park and sleep it off at peace. Where all these places are not found, you may park near a village or any worshipping center that people use constantly.
At least, you have the solace of knowing that villages are dotted all along the way and you can very easily find one, which may happily welcome you.
Your safety is the primary concern here and to do everything to safeguard it is of paramount importance, but don’t just park anywhere you wish, lest you get mugged.
Final Thoughts
Tonneau covers are primarily manufactured to safeguard and protect the cargo in truck beds during conveyance, however, people have designed or improvised other uses for which they can put them. Or, what do you make of sleeping in your truck bed?
This is most definitely important if one considers the plight of campers or travelers on long journeys. They obviously have a need for sleep every so often. Well, truck tents are there to satisfy the need.
However, it is imperative to be aware of the dos and donts, since necessary precautions must be taken. For example, do not park and sleep in your truck bed at places where the security of your truck and cargo cannot be guaranteed.
Similarly, you have every reason to look after yourself too. So, park only in such places where there are people around.
Enough information had been given to you with regard to what tonneau covers you can use with these truck tents and the benefits you stand to reap from them. So, put everything into perspective and you will be glad you did.
