I have a 1996 4 door with 235/75/15 (about 29") tires & no tow package (yet?). I'm 5'10", 190 lbs.

I would LIKE to take a few months off and tour the country (2-6). I have $4000 I've set aside for vehicle budget. Any ideas? I was thinking a tow package & small pop-up trailer? Maybe even going on the super-cheap and figuring out how to fabricate a cot setup over passenger side of vehicle? Make something to block out the windows while I'm stopped? Take showers in hostels, truck stops and occasional 'real' hotels?

The down side is, I don't think I could pull in and take power naps at the rest stops / parking lots / neighborhoods along between destinations with a pop-up. I think I could only get away with it in a Van or RV... but they get expensive fast.

I welcome ideas from those of you who are well traveled.

I have crossed the country several times and never with a van or rv. The smallest vehicle I have seriously travelled in would be my Grand Cherokee with my g/f and son. We do a lot of camping when we travel. We have a tent and air matresses and usually hit KOA campgrounds, as well as state and national park campgrounds. The lest expensive route is definately the park campgrounds. I've never spent more than $18/night at even the biggest of national parks, and some of them have showers as well. If it's just you alone, you could very easily carry a tent, sleeping bag and air matress inside a 4door and have plenty of room for food, clothes and such. Get one of those rechargeable quick pumps and the air matress blows up in a couple minutes. Make sure your seat is comfy, for driving and the occasional roadside nap, just recline it back and grab a smallish pillow and you'll be all set.

Interesting loophole that's worked for me.  I'm actually crazy.
I've done a 6 month road trip around the country...all in my Samurai.

I did what you were saying hit the showers at Truck stops, hostels and what not.  But i'd do combo sleeping 1/2 in Sammy - 1/2 in campgrounds.  If i got somewhere and there was a campground i'd do it.  If i got tired and was out in the middle of nowhere i'd get off the highway off ramp, then get on the same highway's on-ramp and park there to nap.

Usually truckers do this too, so your pretty safe since you'll usually come up on 3 or more trucks doing the same thing. No hassels from the local PD, or weird looks from people looking at you sleeping in your car.  The 4-door is a dream for this.  Take off the head rest and push the frnt seat as far forward as it go, then recline the seat back and it lines up with the back seat almost perfectly.  Throw a sleeping bag over it or a puffy blanket and it's a bed!  Also use some of that $4000 in travel cash and i'd seriously invest in limo tint for the back half of the truck. and a medium depth tint for the 2 front windows.  This will keep the contents of the back of your truck from being cased by prying eyes.  And the entire cabin of your truck a lot cooler.
The best part is with your windows tinted that dark, all you need to do is throw up a good pair of sun screens in the front window and you have privacy at night.

The trick with campgrounds that never ceases to amaze me. Is you can actually sleep there for free.
That's right.  Free.
most campgrounds registeration booths close about 9 to 10pm.  Pull in around 10, check to see when they open, pitch your tent and sleep till about an hour before the office/booth opens and hit the road.

You pay nothing and get a full nights sleep...not in your car.  And if your lucky you end up in a campground that has a shower in it...an extra bonus.  It's a great trick if you get low on funds...or on a tight budget.  If you plan to stay a awhile then by all means pay for your lot...but if you just need a place to crash over night it's the best way to go.

Make sure your fuel filter is brand new and your rig is fully tuned up before you hit the road.

I am a bit over 6" and 195, I can move the seat, headrest and rear seats of a 2 door and sleep, but I learned to sleep anywhere anytime. I would get a good tent and use the rear space as needed, but not for the mjority of the trip.

buy a hennesey backpacking hammock and sleep anywhere for free!  pick dirt road, park and walk in the bush a few feet and find two trees to setup in 5mins and your good to go!  $125 is all you need!  maybe spend a little of that extra money on a small winch in the event you take things too far looking for a private free sleeping spot..  anyway have fun!

Come and visit me in Utah and I can show you some cool stuff in this state... I am an adventure guide... So I know a few cool spots!!!


Jerry!!!

Those sound like great ideas. Other than truck stops & camp grounds, any other places I can take a shower in-route? For those of you that slept in your trucks - did you do it during the day? How'd you stay cool / warm as needed?

For the shower bit, they sell propane and 12v powered heated shower units.  You just have to carry a 5 gallon bucker to put the water in.

Something kind of like this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Zodi-Portable-Propane-Instant-Hot-Shower-Camping-NIB_W0QQitemZ140222500247QQcmdZViewItem

Truckers get coupons for free showers when they purchase fuel so pull into a truckstop, get on the CB radio ( the CB radio you bought for your cross country trip!) and ask if anyone has an extra shower coupon you can have, most times someone will have an extra and give it to you.