Whether it's your first Bonnaroo or you’re a music festival veteran, we welcome you to Inforoo.
Here you'll find info about artists, rumors, camping tips, and the infamous Roo Clues. Have a look around then create an account and join in the fun. See you at Bonnaroo!!
Hey y'all. This year will be my first time going to Bonnaroo and I have a few questions regarding my sleeping situation.
I plan on sleeping in the bed of my Ford Ranger which is covered by an ARE camper shell. My truck and shell are black which makes me worry about the heat. I've been thinking about covering the shell with a sun reflective tarp to ward off the Tennessee sun which I know is pretty brutal in June.
Does anyone have any advice for me on how I can keep my sleeping quarters cool? Would a reflective tarp help block the heat? If so, how would I set it up?
I have a 98 GMC with an ARE shell and I know that a air mattress in the back sounds quick, easy and weather proof. I would avoid sleeping in there if at all possible. You would need to rig up tarps that hang over your truck, don't drape them over. You need a buffer of air between the tarp and topper shell for any noticeable difference in temps. You would also need to tarp pretty much your whole vehicle. The inside of a vehicle can quickly reach 20-30 degrees hotter than the outside temp and can climb even higher. This also applies to any surface of the vehicle not covered and ventilated. Now if we get some nasty rains, take shelter in there as the clouds and rain will help cool off the truck, that would be my only exception. Sleeping in the bed with a topper is like sleeping in an oven, except you don't control the heat.
Figure in the cost of tarps and poles/rigging plus ventilation via fans & batteries, generator, inverter off your truck battery, plus the time of setup and breakdown. An easy-up and simple cot will be much more comfortable and allow for a much more ventilation. Use the truck bed for storage, tailgate as a table or for seating, etc.
Post by Dave Maynar on Jan 24, 2012 17:05:51 GMT -5
We drove an SUV last year, and we set up an EZ-Up then ran a tarp between it and the top of the SUV. We then slept on the ground under it. It was easily the best sleep I have had at Roo. A friend tried sleeping in the car one night the first year I went in '09, and he gave up about halfway through the night because he said it was crazy hot in the car.
I've been to two Roo's and slept in a vehicle and out. . .
YEAR ONE My gf and I set an EZup over my Scion XB and slept inside. Even with the windows cracked and fans running it got pretty dank in there, especially at 8:00 am when the sun started heating things up. Plus it was impossible to keep flies out of there no matter how much bug-spray we used.
Our shower tent helped save us and is one of the best things to bring. You'll thank yourself at 10:00 am when you see the lines of people waiting to use public showers, or the people walking back who skipped the shower because of the line and are cursing the world.
YEAR TWO My gf and I set our EZup behind my car. We brought a camp cot and a blow-up mattress and slept under the EZup. Sleep was great (with ear plugs) and this was a million times more cool and comfortable in the morning than the inside of an ventilated car. We did a pretty nice job with drapes to block the sun, and again, the shower tent was a life saver.
CONCLUSION Sleep under an EZup where the air can flow through. Do not sleep in an auto. Bring an air mattress, shower tent, ear plugs, and lots of water, soda, tea, etc. . . Lock your cooler and valuables in the back of your truck. Bring some clip lights for the top of your EZup and shower tent.
Btw, in spite of poor sleeping conditions my first year I still had an amazing and wonderful experience at Bonnaroo.
Post by klimfactor on Jan 25, 2012 13:52:31 GMT -5
Last year we put a tarp down on the ground like you have in your pic, and we had to pic it up after a bit because it felt like it was trapping the heat between the ground and the EZ up. You have the same experience?
Post by Cosby-Bukowski on Jan 25, 2012 14:12:34 GMT -5
My advice is the same as the others, don't plan on sleeping under the camper shell.
I tried this last year with my full size Chevy pickup. Even with fans blowing and the windows open, it was like a coffin in there. Just way too stuffy and miserable.
We ended up throwing our mattress on the ground under our EZ up and it was great.
If I were to use a shower tent, where would be a good place to dispose of the grey water?
This is something I'd like some feedback on. I've spent years thinking about bringing a shower tent and never have because I was always so afraid of flooding a neighbor's camp.
If I were to use a shower tent, where would be a good place to dispose of the grey water?
This is something I'd like some feedback on. I've spent years thinking about bringing a shower tent and never have because I was always so afraid of flooding a neighbor's camp.
i am also curious about this - i would imagine it could vary based upon location? we were way out past pod 11 last year and could have easily disposed of grey water in the trees nearby.
to OP: my advice is the same as the others --- do not sleep in the camper! i only have a car, so sleeping inside it was never a consideration, but it is also black and let me tell you, it was sooo hot inside. i already have very darkly tinted windows, but i still put up reflective shades, towels, cracked the windows, etc, and even with all of that it was completely unbearable inside.
last year we slept inside a tent that is almost completely netted on top (but with the rainfly off, of course) so that it kept the bugs out but allowed for airflow. we had it under a canopy shade/EZ-UP with tapestries on the sides for moderate privacy and made sure they were hung high enough to allow for air flow at the bottom. the only thing we are changing about the set-up this year will be the addition of cots (above the ground, less hot!) and a second shade. we kept pushing our tent out into the sun during the day so we had more room for ourselves and it got really hot.
Last Edit: Jan 25, 2012 19:04:32 GMT -5 by daytripperr - Back to Top
Bite the bullet. Get a quickshade and a cot. You'll thank me later.
This really is the best option. Seeing all the tents is a mirage. Nobody really spends much time in those tents that you see scattered across the field. I brought one and was only in it to change clothes.
Post by spacecadet on Jan 25, 2012 22:33:50 GMT -5
Not to steal the thread but grey water is not an issue. That old farm land is so dry it soaks the water up. I had anywhere from 6-12 people taking a shower at camp last year and with in 30 minutes the ground was bone dry, and never "flooded'' anything.
Providing an outlet and a voice for music lovers to unite under the common theme of music for all. Join The Pondo Army to show your allegiance to musical freedom! Fighting for no censorship of the arts & music education in schools, The Pondo Army will triumph! The Pondo Army Movement
Follow me on twitter@Pondoknowsbest
If I were to use a shower tent, where would be a good place to dispose of the grey water?
This is something I'd like some feedback on. I've spent years thinking about bringing a shower tent and never have because I was always so afraid of flooding a neighbor's camp.
We always bring a sun shower bag. The 5 gallon one. We fill it up on Thursday morning and set it on top of the car. That water is used through out the week for hand washing before eating, and brushing teeth and washing face before bed. The 5 gallon bag is enough to last our group the entire time there. Also not a lot of water is hitting the ground at once so flooding is never a problem.
I've also never had a problem waiting for a place to wash up in the morning. I've been fine with using the water trucks with 25 of my new best friends for the past 6 years.
As far as the car sleeping. I only did this one night. In 06 Sunday night after all the music was over, and it was still raining. I was COLD. Like colder than I ever remember being in my life. I think it was a combination of 4 days in the heat, a tiny sunburn, and the constant party going on in my head. But once that sun went down and it rained I was done. By the time we got back to camp I was shaking uncontrollably. My friends dried me off and wrapped me up in a blanket and put me in the car. My friend Greg and I watched The Big Lebowski on one of those portable DVD players. I was fine by the morning and I never needed a car again.
I use a tent though. Just something about having a small amount of privacy at Bonnaroo that is very comforting.
Plus, I don't sleep much past 8 no matter what I was doing the night before anyways so the heat in a tent has never been a problem.
