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Recently introduced GMC Sierra AT4X is an impressive combination of off-roading and luxury. But can you sleep in it?
Pickup trucks are a great choice for towing campers or as a platform to build land-based rigs, but from the factory they’re usually not as useful as SUVs for sleeping, because of half the length. of the car is occupied by the bed. Let’s see how the AT4X fares.
Space
The biggest thing to consider when camping in your car is whether there is enough space in it for you and possibly a partner to lie down comfortably. This is tricky when it comes to pickup trucks, hampered by the fact that half (or more) of the vehicle’s length is occupied by the truck’s bed. Some trucks have added features like flatbeds that make sleeping in them a little easier, though it’s still not a perfect solution. Unfortunately, the AT4X is not one of those trucks. Although the recliners are quite good, I couldn’t feel comfortable leaning on them for a good night’s sleep. Towards the back, we go.
If you’re vertically challenged, you might be in luck, especially if you haven’t slept for a long time. The Sierra 1500 is a wide truck, almost 7 feet wide, in fact. The rear bench measures 56 inches wide, which isn’t a great option for most adults unless you really like sleeping in the fetal position. It will do the hard work but I wouldn’t expect to get a good night’s sleep over and over again.
Beneath the bench, which can be folded and slanted outwards, is a relatively flat deck that can provide a bit of extra length. At 63″, I’m still not good enough for lounging with doors closed, but it’s much less cramped than spending the night on a bench. A small bump in the center of the floor, much less severe than bed ridges, can easily be remedied with an inflatable sleeping pad like the Sea to Summit Ether Light XT, or even better, an air mattress. Walmart’s bargains.
Bed
The AT4X’s bed seems to be the most logical place to sleep. After all, it was named bed for a reason, right? If you have an inflatable mattress that’s for sure, but due to the ridges in the floor, a simple mattress and sleeping bag won’t suffice here. In addition, the length of the bed leaves something to be desired. Although longer than the bed in the similarly priced F-150 Raptor and Ram TRX, its length is no more than 6 feet, just 70 inches. Laying flat and stretching out is simply too short for many people, but that can be solved by lying diagonally (the diagonal limit when closing the back door is 90 inches) or simply lying with The back door opens, helping to stretch the bed out approx. 8 sets.
At its widest point, the bed is 71 inches, so only 6 feet, so sleeping squarely may be an option, depending on your height. At its narrowest, the bed is 50 inches, about 4 inches over the width of a full-size mattress.
The biggest pitfall of sleeping in a truck’s open bed is that you’re not shielded from the elements, whether it’s the weather, animals, or other people.
The AT4X comes with GMC’s MultiPro Tailgate which, out of all the tuners on the market, is my favorite. It can be used as a ladder or a seat, and even comes with built-in speakers, which can be an entertaining addition at a campsite. For more on MultiPro Tailgate, check out the video above.
Warehouse
In terms of interior space, the AT4X is average for a full-size pickup, with a good amount of stuff and a sizable center console. While a refrigerator is not a factory option, a safe is important to you. If you’re a Nalgene user, you’re out of luck when it comes to cups that are big enough, although you can find an extender online to make it work. I especially like the cup holders in the back row which are also easily accessible from the front row, in case you’re like me and want to have a spare drink on hand.
The bed itself, while not a true 6-foot bed, is still large enough to carry weeks’ worth of camping and climbing gear, although this truck doesn’t come with any kind of cover. Whichever wrap, the device will be open to the elements as well as potential thieves (hairy or otherwise). In the past, I’ve made that work by tying my devices together with a cable bike lock and always leaving the cooler nearby overnight. If you’re sleeping somewhere, this is much less of a concern.
Greenhouse
With large windows all around, the AT4X’s interior feels light and airy, plus the vehicle’s height gives you some privacy, especially if you choose to sleep on the floor. Someone has to get on the truck to see you. The windows also allow a good amount of circulation which, when combined with the window screens, always increases the quality of my sleep.
Identify
Like I mentioned above, pickups are much better as a starting point for building an offshore rig than for sleeping stock, especially if you’re talking about interiors. The AT4X, despite having off-road items from the factory, isn’t something I would consider when it comes to off-roading, especially given its nearly $80,000 price tag. The interior, while a great place to spend a few hours driving, doesn’t have flat seats or cold storage that you might find in other vehicles like the F-150 or Defender and a bed, while not as short as the bed in the F-150 Raptor or the Ram TRX, still doesn’t quite hit the 6′ mark, which is why I rate it 2.4 out of 5 Zs.
Device I used:
