Hi, All,

KateL said:

Thanks. Yes, layering is a good tip. I'm probably going to invest in a couple of good quality layers. The blankets I have were from thrift stores. They're in surprisingly good condition. One thing I've noticed is that I tend to get colder if I've sweated and haven't showered, then try to sleep like that. I'm need to do some more research about showering options.

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All you need to do between showers is get some micro fiber wash cloths and take a sponge bath. But not with a sloppy wet wash cloth, that is too messy and uses too much water. Micro fiber cloths are pretty amazing, they hold plenty of moisture and really grab onto dirt and dead skill cells compared to standard cotton terry cloth toweling. Even a regular size one will dry you off after a sponge bath.

On hot days I do a rubbing alcohol rub down with a microfiber cloth. It is very cooling, removes salt, sweat and odors plus is antibacterial.

Microfiber wash cloths are also good for cleaning and mopping up spills. They are excellent for removing dust as they really grab onto it. I have around a dozen of them in my supplies. Some dedicated for cleaning chores, others for washing myself. They weigh very little and do not take up a lot of space. For bath towels I use a microfiber beach towel. They dry off after use super fast compared to a cotton towel. I fbuy them at a thrift store. Otherwise they have to be purchased in spring or from Amazon as the stores such as Walmart do not stock them in fall and winter.

KateL said:

Thank you. That's good to hear. I was hoping an insulated sleeping bag and some good blankets would be enough. And maybe running the car for a few minutes and turning the heat on.

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This is our 8th year at LTVA South.............You NEED some form of heat...............there will be cold, windy days that stretch on for a week............when the wind is blowing 20 MPH you don't have a CampFire to warm you...........YMMV

abnorm said:

You NEED some form of heat

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And yet myself and many other people don't feel the need...

maki2 said:

All you need to do between showers is get some micro fiber wash cloths and take a sponge bath.

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I usually use a long exfoliating cloth dipped in a small pan of diluted vinegar. The cloth is a plastic mesh and is long enough to do my back. Of course with the vinegar, I smell like a salad for awhile, but that quickly dissipates.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/TSV-6pcs...s-for-Body-Deep-Clean-Random-Color/1423753071
https://www.amazon.com/Exfoliating-...cb-a43d-d1a73582b6d7&pd_rd_i=B0BZGN7D1L&psc=1

I do have a diesel heater for those the low 30s mornings. It is a nice luxury!

I'll put in a good word for minimalism and not bothering with plywood anything. I've never done that in my 2 cars. In a car, it's much more obviously a waste of space, although some people do it anyways because they feel compelled to. Sleeping comfort isn't really about generating lots of hard flat surfaces. On the bottom of a van you probably already have a hard flat surface available, or near enough to it.

Also you may not need the length of surface you're imagining, without experience. Side sleeping in something of a curl is a strategy, that trades length for width. Works wonders in the back of a hatchback. As does bracing your limbs or head against various things, especially according to the slight tilt of a car. Wadded up cushioned padding, things that serve a double purpose like your clothes bag, can help a lot here.

The main thing driving people to do all this woodworking, is the misguided belief that somehow they have to recreate the storage conditions of a home, to live on the road. They think there needs to be cabinets and cubbies. They think they want to store lots of stuff underneath them when they sleep. Well, you know, you might not actually need all that stuff. You might even learn not to want the stuff. It's one of these experiential things, that I'd advise someone to actually be on the road for a bit, before saying "This is a problem and I gotta have all these cabinets and storage spaces".

Even when you do want to store some things, and I've certainly maxed the space of my 2007 Toyota Matrix, there are other ways to do it. Soft-sided luggage is to be preferred, because it can shove into irregular spaces better. You can do a certain amount of shifting items from occupied to unoccupied space, when you sleep and when you wake up. You're not sitting in your front driver's seat at night, and there's a lot of space up there.

Basically I'm saying just wait and see, before you say you gotta build this, you gotta build that. You're gonna want to insulate a cold metal floor somehow, like not sleep directly on that. But there are lots of ways to do that, none of them involving plywood.

The cargo van I used to own did not have a near as to flat floor. The metal was corrugated. Putting down a layer of plywood provided a level
platform and it reduced road noise.

There is no one best option solution for all vehicles. It is a case by case situation for what will work best.

maki2 said:

I do have a diesel heater for those the low 30s mornings. It is a nice luxury!

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Some sort of heat is necessary to be comfortable during the winter in most parts of the US. Diesel heaters are cheap and effective. Even a bare bones build can accommodate it. There is no reason to endure being cold, unless one enjoys that kind of thing.

My $70 heater can keep my uninsulated 22' van 50F above the ambient temperature overnight using $1 worth of fuel.

afblangley said:

My $70 heater can keep my uninsulated 22' van 50F above the ambient temperature overnight using $1 worth of fuel.

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My body heat keeps my insulated camper ~15F above ambient. Imagine if I had a roommate and a couple big dogs... it'd be downright balmy!