Boondocking/Stealth Camping in a Bronco II

[BroncLander]

It's day 4 of owning this Bronco II and I've slept in it every night so far.

It's a bit cramped, but so far, nobody has known I was even in it. The mirrored windows are great. There's enough room for me to stretch out if I'm at a bit of an angle, room for all my camp gear, fishing gear, cooler, tools.

Tonight I'm taking advantage of the Walmart parking lot again, like my first night in it. But this time, I'm staging for an early morning departure to one of my favorite fishing holes just an hour and a half West.

The previous 2 nights I stealth camped in very public locations, but just tucked out of view. The only thing that bothered me was a black bear. So, I'm impressed so far.

I guess nobody expects an 84 Bronco II to have a middle aged empty nester snoring away in it while he figures out what to do with no kids at home anymore.

Anyone else stealth camp in their Bronco/Ranger?

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Stealth is perhaps not the correct word... but mine will sleep two without popping up the camper.

A single air mattress will fit in the back of my Ranger, my gf (currently wife) and I did sleep under the stars one night parked behind the chickenhouse in the back of my Ranger.

 

[tw205]

It's day 4 of owning this Bronco II and I've slept in it every night so far.

It's a bit cramped, but so far, nobody has known I was even in it. The mirrored windows are great. There's enough room for me to stretch out if I'm at a bit of an angle, room for all my camp gear, fishing gear, cooler, tools.

Tonight I'm taking advantage of the Walmart parking lot again, like my first night in it. But this time, I'm staging for an early morning departure to one of my favorite fishing holes just an hour and a half West.

The previous 2 nights I stealth camped in very public locations, but just tucked out of view. The only thing that bothered me was a black bear. So, I'm impressed so far.

I guess nobody expects an 84 Bronco II to have a middle aged empty nester snoring away in it while he figures out what to do with no kids at home anymore.

Anyone else stealth camp in their Bronco/Ranger?

Never stealthy but I have camped in the back a couple times. But hell I’ve slept on the hood of my 71 Mach I parked in a dry riverbed in a Mexican desert but that’s a story for another time. I recall the bronco being ok but felt like I was in an aquarium.

 

[Curious Hound]

It's day 4 of owning this Bronco II and I've slept in it every night so far.

It's a bit cramped, but so far, nobody has known I was even in it. The mirrored windows are great. There's enough room for me to stretch out if I'm at a bit of an angle, room for all my camp gear, fishing gear, cooler, tools.

Tonight I'm taking advantage of the Walmart parking lot again, like my first night in it. But this time, I'm staging for an early morning departure to one of my favorite fishing holes just an hour and a half West.

The previous 2 nights I stealth camped in very public locations, but just tucked out of view. The only thing that bothered me was a black bear. So, I'm impressed so far.

I guess nobody expects an 84 Bronco II to have a middle aged empty nester snoring away in it while he figures out what to do with no kids at home anymore.

Anyone else stealth camp in their Bronco/Ranger?

I don't fit in my Ranger for sleeping. I guess I could sleep under it. But I'd roll over and bump something greasy or knock dry mud down in my face. It wouldn't be very restful.

 

[BroncLander]

Stealth is perhaps not the correct word... but mine will sleep two without popping up the camper.

A single air mattress will fit in the back of my Ranger, my gf (currently wife) and I did sleep under the stars one night parked behind the chickenhouse in the back of my Ranger.

Ah the sound of clucking to drown out the...

 

[BroncLander]

Never stealthy but I have camped in the back a couple times. But hell I’ve slept on the hood of my 71 Mach I parked in a dry riverbed in a Mexican desert but that’s a story for another time. I recall the bronco being ok but felt like I was in an aquarium.

Ohhhh man... That's a hood long enough for anyone to stretch out on. What a sweet car. My favorite era.

 

[BroncLander]

I don't fit in my Ranger for sleeping. I guess I could sleep under it. But I'd roll over and bump something greasy or knock dry mud down in my face. It wouldn't be very restful.

Maybe a rooftop tent and a frame thingy that holds it up over the box?

 

[4x4junkie]

Same here for me... Not quite "stealth" camping, but camping (sleeping in it) nonetheless.
At 5'11½" I had to make an extension that sticks out of the back somewhat. I incorporated storage spaces for some of my camping gear into the extension:

More here:

4x4Junkie's 1990 Ford Bronco II 4x4 - Bronco Corral

If you're in to overlanding and wanted to build an overlander out of a Ford Bronco II, then you need to check out this one of 4x4junkie.

www.broncocorral.com

 

[scotts90ranger]

I've spent a couple nights in the front passenger seat of the '90 before but I was 30 at the time... I do have the Explorer buckets and short legs so I moved the seat forward a couple clicks then reclined as much as it would... wasn't great but wasn't bad, the bolsters hold you upright... but then again I can sleep about anywhere...

 

[BroncLander]

Same here for me... Not quite "stealth" camping, but camping (sleeping in it) nonetheless.
At 5'11½" I had to make an extension that sticks out of the back somewhat. I incorporated storage spaces for some of my camping gear into the extension:

More here:

4x4Junkie's 1990 Ford Bronco II 4x4 - Bronco Corral

If you're in to overlanding and wanted to build an overlander out of a Ford Bronco II, then you need to check out this one of 4x4junkie.

www.broncocorral.com

When I wake up, well you know Im gonna be, Im gonna be the man who wakes up getting his toenails chewed by squirrels. Haha that's a decent setup tbh

 

[BroncLander]

I've spent a couple nights in the front passenger seat of the '90 before but I was 30 at the time... I do have the Explorer buckets and short legs so I moved the seat forward a couple clicks then reclined as much as it would... wasn't great but wasn't bad, the bolsters hold you upright... but then again I can sleep about anywhere...

It's sleeps like that which makes one appreciate a bunk of any size anywhere.

When I had my YJ it had a stinger front bumper and I'd hang my hammock from it to a tree.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

I don’t really fit well in the back of a BII, but I have slept in the back before. Also slept in the cab of my extended cab Rangers (put the seat back and down as far as it goes), across the bench seat in my F-150, and in the bed of a couple of my Rangers under a cap (depending on the weather, that doesn’t work so well, aluminum caps like to collect moisture from breathing and drip on you).

Also slept in my one folding chair more than a couple times.

I’m getting too old for some of those shenanigans though

 

[Curious Hound]

I don’t really fit well in the back of a BII, but I have slept in the back before. Also slept in the cab of my extended cab Rangers (put the seat back and down as far as it goes), across the bench seat in my F-150, and in the bed of a couple of my Rangers under a cap (depending on the weather, that doesn’t work so well, aluminum caps like to collect moisture from breathing and drip on you).

Also slept in my one folding chair more than a couple times.

I’m getting too old for some of those shenanigans though

Yeah. It takes about 3 minutes to set up my tent and I have a 12v blower to fill my air mattress. No reason to fold myself into a pretzel to try to get some sleep. I’m old. I want comfort or else I’ll be old & GRUMPY.

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

Yeah. It takes about 3 minutes to set up my tent and I have a 12v blower to fill my air mattress. No reason to fold myself into a pretzel to try to get some sleep. I’m old. I want comfort or else I’ll be old & GRUMPY.

Yup, tent and air mattress is way more comfy.

I’m actually at the point where I’d like to start looking for a small RV that I can tow my Choptop behind. Or build something like Matt had at the last TRS ride, straight Redneck toy hauler, 40’ 5th wheel with a slide in camper on the front, truggy, side by side and quad on the back. An actual bed to sleep in.

 

[superj]

i slept in the front seats of my karmann ghia a bunch. if you can sleep in that, you can sleep anywhere (and i have).