Sleeping in a truck?

[BigWormin]

So this might be a stupid question or not but thought it was worth asking. If a guys has a few too many beverages and decided not to leave the lake some night can a guy sleep in his truck without worrying about asphyxiating himself? Either way running or not running?

thanks for any input.

[Nate McVey]

I've slept in my truck on drives to CO, but never after a few too many. I just wrapped up in a sleeping bag and cracked the window a bit for some fresh air. If it got cold I would let the enging run for a bit and then shut it off and go back to sleep. The thing you have to be carefull of is DUI's. They can get you for one if the keys are in the ignition (running or not) if you are in the drivers seat (too my knowledge anyway).

[Chester-MN]

If you have had too many to drink and you are in your truck and it is running, you will more than likely get cited for DWI if checked by a CO. Despite the fact that you are making the best choice possible if you can sleep in a fish house.

That said you should park facing the wind and only run the truck for 10 minutes per hour. Crack the window when the truck is running . You will be just fine.

[BigWormin]

Yeah i'm aware of the DWI stuff, I do alot of my fishing on remote lakes up north so i'm not too worried about the police coming on the lake to check me. I just don't like driving with even 1 or 2 beverages in me.

So drinking aside, sounds like I have to have the windows down a crack when running. If the truck wasn't running do they still have to be down a crack or can they be shut to kind of seal it in abit better? Just want to make sure if I ever do this that I do it the right way so I wake up in the morning.

thanks

[Nate McVey]

I crack mine the whole time.....mainly because the air gets a little stale in the truck after a few hours and the windows get pretty frosty. I use the sliding back window so the wind isn't blowing directly on me.

[Sandmannd]

I had a buddy get a DWI with is keys in his pocket and standing a hundred yards from his vehicle. That said, I would do what others say and run the engine minimal and keep a window cracked. My feeling is you are making the right choice to nap and not drive.

[BigWadeS]

or just don't drink out there?

[Eric Wettschreck]

I've slept in my truck on URL. Not from having too many cold ones, pretty much cuz it was snowin and blowin so bad I couldn't see. Honestly, I had no idea where I was at. I cracked the window a tad and left the truck running with the heat on. If you park into the wind then the exhaust should blow away from the cab.

I lived to fish another day. You should be fine if you have a tight exhaust and crack a window.

[brady_d]

 Originally Posted By: BigWadeS

or just don't drink out there?

Yea...right

[David Kasten]

iv slept.. or more like passed out in the truck with it running more times then i can count and as far as i know am still alive.

[BigWormin]

 Quote:

or just don't drink out there?

This was more of a hypathetical question on if it's safe to spend the night in a vehicle or not if the situation presented itself, whether it be impared to drive, snowstorm, blown tire, ect. Stuff happens sometimes unexpected when out on the lake in the winter. Drinking was the example I gave on a reason to spend the night, i'm sorry I should have probably used a different example. I did say "drinking aside" in the previous post, but I guess you're stuck on that.

thanks for your thoughts guys!

[icehousebob]

I've hunted and fished alone a few times and planned on sleeping in my truck. I've slept in the back (with a topper) and been reasonably comfortable. I used a thick foam pad, large sleeping bag, a second bag unzipped as a blanket, and a fur lined bomber cap that I could buckle under my chin. Woke up every time with all my fingers and toes feeling warm, but it takes a lot of effort to crawl out into the cooooldd morning and put on cold boots. I've also passed a few nights in the cab as described by the others but at my age, I don't bend as well as I used to in a cab.I knew one guy who slept off a drunk in a cab, wrapped in a blanket with his feet out, and almost lost his toes.

[rockman]

Just to clarify it for everybody,conservation officers are sworn peace officers in the state of Minnesota.They have the same enforcement power that police officers, and deputy sheriffs have.You can get busted for DUI/DWI by a CO on the lake/ice.Having the keys in the ignition,even if the vehicle is not running,is considered being in physical control of the vehicle.Having the keys in the pocket if your BAC (blood alcohol content) is above .08 can result in a physical control-DWI charge.Most folks are already aware of this stuff,but don't get the false impression that you can't be arrested and charged for DWI while sleeping off a few beers/drinks,in your vehicle on the ice.Would a guy be better off staying put on the lake,rather than tooling around on the road after a few cocktails? I would say yeah,but that is a matter of personal interpretation.Not advocating drinking and driving at all,but everyone has choices to make on their own.

[GoFish4]

If you have a newer veh and face the wind you should be fine. Some of the old vehicles leak more exhaust and can cause you problems. This is magnified if you have a topper that could trap the fumes. A cracked window will help and keep fresh air in there.

[NDL]

A buddy and I slept in my truck when we were hunting at Fort Ripley. It was in October so not as cold as now, we used sleeping bags and were fine. Left the windows cracked to allow a little air flow and we are both still alive.

[Bassman55]

If you do use a sleeping bag throw a hand warmer in the bottom of the bag. It will keep you warm all night. I've tented when it was snowing and it is still comfortable, until you have to change clothes.

[fishermn]

Crack the window open a little, bring a warm sleeping bag and you will be fine. If you get cold stay awake and run the vehicle/heater for a bit. Personally, I think its kinda foolish to risk asphyxiating yourself by sleeping in a running vehicle, regardles of the age of that vehicle or weather you point it into the wind or anything else. Things can and do go wrong and sometimes... Not worth the risk!

[WyoChris]

I've slept in my truck many times. I will often dress really warm, then go to sleep. However, i'll wake up every 30 minutes freezing, then have to start the truck for a few minutes to warm it back go to sleep again and repeat. A police officer with common sense should have no problem letting you sleep in your vehicle instead of driving. However, there are some police that will have small man syndrome and give you a DUI if you have the keys anywhere near you.

[SM1]

 Originally Posted By: WyoChris

A police officer with common sense should have no problem letting you sleep in your vehicle instead of driving. However, there are some police that will have small man syndrome and give you a DUI if you have the keys anywhere near you.

Seems better to me to sleep it off in a vehicle that will be parked on the ice all night than to try and drive home. I think its ridiculous that a guy could still get a dui for that.

[shamrock7]

Gotta remember that police are just regular people also, No I am not one. There are good ones and there are bad ones. Fortunately, most have common sense and are not going to pinch you unless you deserve to be pinched.

[Doop]

I drug my cousin to LOTW once several years ago....and had the brillant idea that we would save money and just sleep in the back of my explorer on the ice. That was the coldest night of sleep in my entire life!!!!!