Vehicle guide
Car camping in a Toyota FJ Cruiser
Sleeps one inside - no tent needed. Here is the kit: $445, in stock on Amazon today.
The kit: 8 items, ~$445
Amazon prices, checked daily. Affiliate links: we earn a commission on Amazon purchases at no extra cost to you.
No tent in this kit: the FJ Cruiser sleeps one on the folded seats. Two of you, or prefer a tent? Build the couple's tent kit.
Sleeping Bag
Kelty Cosmic 40°F Sleeping Bag
- Comfort to:
- 40°F
- Fill:
- Synthetic
~$80
Check price on AmazonSleeping Pad
Klymit Insulated Static V Sleeping Pad
- Warmth:
- Cool nights (R 4.4)
- Type:
- Inflatable
~$73
Check price on AmazonCooler
Coleman Classic 52-Quart Cooler
- Holds:
- 52 qt
- Keeps ice:
- 3 days
~$55
Check price on AmazonCamp Chair
Coleman Cooler Quad Chair
- Packs:
- Standard quad
- Supports:
- 325 lbs
- Seat:
- Padded
~$35 last checked Jan 30
Check price on AmazonCamp Lighting
Coleman 1000-Lumen LED Lantern (BatteryGuard)
- Brightness:
- 1000 lumens
~$43
Check price on AmazonHeadlamp
Lepro Rechargeable LED Headlamp
- Brightness:
- 300 lumens
- Power:
- Rechargeable
~$10
Check price on AmazonCamp Stove
Coleman Triton 2-Burner Propane Stove
- Burners:
- 2
- Fuel:
- Propane
~$84
Check price on AmazonCook Set
Fire-Maple Feast 12-Piece Camp Cookware Set
- Pieces:
- 12
- Surface:
- Steel
~$65
Check price on AmazonOne press puts the whole kit in your cart; take out anything you already own there.
Stock and prices checked daily (how we pick).
Not quite you? Change who is coming, the quality tier or the season - your FJ Cruiser stays filled in.
Why the FJ Cruiser changes the kit
About 67 cu ft with the seats down and a rubber floor, but short: one adult sleeps straight with the front seat slid forward, two only diagonally. A midsize SUV or wagon, so:
- No tent: you sleep on the folded seats, and the money goes to a better pad.
- Any cooler up to the 52-quart family size fits.
- Standard quad chairs, which pack to a 36-inch bag each.
Discontinued in 2014; the 4Runner is its longer stablemate.
Sleeping inside the vehicle
With the rear seats folded, the Toyota FJ Cruiser is a flat platform.
- On the cargo floor: a 2.5-inch self-inflating pad, or a 4-inch air mattress.
- Camp in it often: a plywood-and-2x4 platform with drawers underneath - a real bed plus gear storage.
- Crack the rear windows with rain deflectors and a 12V fan moves enough air to stop condensation overnight.
Two things this setup needs that the kit does not carry, because they are sized to the car: a 4-inch SUV air mattress for the cargo floor, and Toyota FJ Cruiser window rain guards so the windows can stay cracked in the rain. Both on Amazon.
Common questions
Is the Toyota FJ Cruiser good for car camping?
Yes. It is a midsize SUV or wagon, so a standard car-camping kit fits without a roof box. It sleeps one inside with the seats folded.
Can you sleep inside a Toyota FJ Cruiser?
With the rear seats folded, yes. The cargo area is long enough for a sleeping pad and most adults can stretch out diagonally if not straight. A simple plywood platform turns it into a real bed with under-storage.
What gear should I pack?
The kit above. Change the group, budget or season and it rebuilds.