Doomscrolling Instagram one night, I stumbled upon the Hele Box – an innovative SUV sleeping platform/storage solution – and shortly thereafter, a plush air mattress by Luno Life. Is this the perfect sleep system I was looking for?
So, last year I bought a 2013 Land Cruiser, a vehicle I would use for regular long-distance commutes as well as adventuring off-road in pursuit of spectacular locations to photograph. It would serve as my home on the road for short trips, and as such I needed to figure out the perfect sleep system to comfortably camp out of it. I gave myself a budget of $1,000, with the additional requirement that the solution had to be simple to use, lightweight, and easily removeable for those times when I needed to use the rig for non-overlanding things. Luckily, it didn’t take long to develop a system that checked all the right boxes.
My Land Cruiser has third row seats that fold up and somewhat out of the way but still consume a good chunk of space in the rear cargo area when stowed. The second-row seats fold forward, leaving just enough room for me to lay my 5’9” frame diagonally and stretch out, but a small hump just behind the rear seats made it uncomfortable and awkward.
The Hele Box Solo is packaged in a large zippered soft case with adjustable dividers that can be used for storage under the platform; a two-for-one! The Hele Box uses six adjustable legs to create a 24” x 72” level platform inside your rig, regardless of how oddly shaped the space may be. At the front, long legs extend to the floorboard behind the front seats, with the platform hovering just above the folded second row seats and extending rearward to the liftgate. In the middle and rear of the platform, short legs support the rest of the frame. A dual-locking system on the legs creates a stable and wobble-free platform. Wooden slats that roll up for storage are laid horizontally across the frame and secure at both ends to create a solid platform for your air mattress. The included storage case fits under the platform and has plenty of room for camp essentials like a stove, cookware, food and more. The Hele Box can be setup or taken down in about five minutes, getting your rig camp-ready in no time. My one complaint is that the wooden slats rattle against the metal frame on rough roads. I haven’t tested it yet, but I suspect bungee cords or a couple small ratchet straps could mitigate this issue. The Hele Box is available in a solo or double size, and the solo I have retails for $499. There are other, similar products on the market, but I haven’t seen anything at this price point.
There was a time when I could sleep soundly in a sleeping bag laid on top of an emergency blanket on the cold, hard ground. Those days are long gone. I now require a certain level of comfort and the Luno Life AIR+FOAM Camping Mattress supplies it in spades. As the name suggests, this 4” thick mattress combines air with memory foam for a truly decadent camping experience. It inflates quickly with the included stuff sack pump and can remain inflated for the duration of your trip. Mine has been inflated in the back of my rig for over a month and hasn’t lost any noticeable amount of air. Available in short, regular and tall, all mattresses are 25” wide and my regular is 72” long. While it’s too heavy and bulky to backpack with, it can be used in a ground tent while car camping and if you spring for the fitted sheet(!), it feels that much more luxurious. The Luno Life AIR+FOAM mattress is, hands down, the most comfortable camping mattress I have ever used. At $279.99, it isn’t inexpensive but it’s also not much more than a quality backpacking air mattress and provides an unparalleled level of comfort. Luno Life also makes car window screens that allow you to leave a pair of windows open for ventilation without bugs ruining the experience, and a fan that suction cups to any smooth surface, plugs into a power bank, and moves a surprising amount of air to keep things cool at night.
The Hele Box and Luno Life mattress are a perfect combo to turn any truck or SUV into a comfortable place to snooze in the wilderness, without having to make any permanent or difficult to reverse vehicle modifications.
In-field contributor: Bret Edge – 2021 F250/Four Wheel Campers Hawk UTE and 2013 Land Cruiser
Bret is a professional adventure and nature photographer in Moab, Utah. He, his wife Melissa, son Jackson, and adventure pug travel frequently throughout the West in search of the best trails to mountain bike and hike, and the most epic campsites for their 2021 F250 and Four Wheel Campers Hawk UTE or Land Cruiser 200. Some of his favorite places include the Sonoran Desert, Oregon Coast, Northern Rockies and the Cascades.
