Turning the car into a camper?

[Sara_H]

Me and the OH have just come back from a grown ups only camper van tour of the Highlands, mostly spending the nights in forestry commission car parks etc.

Loved the Camper, ultimately would like my own, but until then I had the idea that we could turn the OH's car into a camper of sorts.

Has anyone camped in their car? Got any top tips? I'm not talking major conversion, it has to work as a car for the most part, but just any little adaptations that could help. For example, I was thinking of putting a cargo net across th e ceiling for storing maps etc.

It's a Honda CRV, so big enough, though not entirely sure where my wee bucket will go!

 

[Archie_tect]

Depends how flat the load area is with the rear seats folded.... you could stick memory foam onto a ply sheet cut to fit the load area which you can turn foam side up to sleep on with sleeping bags... then, with a couple of folding chairs or with the tailgate up sit on cushions on the rear bumper, you can use the plywood side as a table on 2 trestles... small toilet tent with a 'porta-potty' copes with 'rest stops'... . Jack the ply board on crates and you have useful storage space around and in the crates to contain loose things. Plus then you can get a gas hob unit and small gaz canister in with a washing up bowl etc...
OK for starters?

 

[Saluki]

We used to regularly camp in our Trooper as the rear seats went nice and flat. Then we had the bright idea of taking them out all together as we never took passengers anyway. We did have to move the driver and passenger seats as far forward as poss to get a bit more length as we had a 3 door Trooper.
We used a memory foam matress topper to sleep on as it rolled up nicely. We had a cargo net on the ceiling for bits and bobs and a camping pouch hanger thing with lots of pockets in which we hung from the rear door. The pockets contained wet-wipes, toothbrushes and paste, water bottle for the night time, other various bits and bobs. We would camp in it for up to a week.
We did have a wee bucket. Literally a bucket with a loo seat on it and as we mostly wild camped in our car, we popped it by a bush nearby and just gave it a good old clean every morning before we decamped.
We worked out a small awning thingy so we could sit and cook in the evenings. Just a little 2 ring stove thingy, small kettle and a billy can and we were pretty much sorted out. We took a couple of old cheapy foldable seats and we were comfy.
When we were travelling, stuff stored under the seats nicely. It just takes a bit of organisation really but we would be OK in it for up to a week at a time. For washing we would try and find a local swimming pool or gym and use their showers.

 

[Archie_tect]

CRV load area: 1420mm deep and 950mm between wheel arches + about a metre high so a bit small... just have to try it out!

 

[Beebo]

We used to regularly camp in our Trooper as the rear seats went nice and flat. Then .

I've slept a couple of night in an Isuzu Trooper, plenty of room, but I found the condensation on the windows was a PITA and the lack of curtains is a big issue if it gets light early.

 

[Saluki]

I've slept a couple of night in an Isuzu Trooper, plenty of room, but I found the condensation on the windows was a PITA and the lack of curtains is a big issue if it gets light early.

We had that reflective film stuff on the rear windows. It was there when we bought the car and someone had done a great job of putting it on. The film stuff really helped with the early morning light. We just left a window open a crack and that sorted out the condensation issues for us.
I really miss that Trooper. It was bombproof. Nothing ever went wrong on it and it would regularly sail through it's MOT. Loved that tatty old thing.

 

[Sara_H]

We used to regularly camp in our Trooper as the rear seats went nice and flat. Then we had the bright idea of taking them out all together as we never took passengers anyway. We did have to move the driver and passenger seats as far forward as poss to get a bit more length as we had a 3 door Trooper.
We used a memory foam mattress topper to sleep on as it rolled up nicely. We had a cargo net on the ceiling for bits and bobs and a camping pouch hanger thing with lots of pockets in which we hung from the rear door. The pockets contained wet-wipes, toothbrushes and paste, water bottle for the night time, other various bits and bobs. We would camp in it for up to a week.
We did have a wee bucket. Literally a bucket with a loo seat on it and as we mostly wild camped in our car, we popped it by a bush nearby and just gave it a good old clean every morning before we decamped.
We worked out a small awning thingy so we could sit and cook in the evenings. Just a little 2 ring stove thingy, small kettle and a billy can and we were pretty much sorted out. We took a couple of old cheapy foldable seats and we were comfy.
When we were travelling, stuff stored under the seats nicely. It just takes a bit of organisation really but we would be OK in it for up to a week at a time. For washing we would try and find a local swimming pool or gym and use their showers.

Thanks Saluki. I just checked out the car (got strange looks from a man painting the neighbours house!). There's enough room for me to lay straight, though may not be for OH.
I'm not sure if OH will allow me to remove the rear seats, would be better if I could as it will allow more storage space, but if its a bugger to get them in and out I might not bother. Was thinking of building a ply platform that will lay over the seats and somehow rest on stilts behind the front driver and passenger seats, I'm quite lucky as I have a good friend who's a carpenter who'll do me mates rates on building it. Then just pop on our existing self inflating mats.

Had planned to get some thermal window mats (same as you see in camper vans) for inside. Quick and easy to put up and take down, good for privacy and blocking light.

Was thinking of making some kind of tent to fit on the hatchback, even if it's just a curtain that hangs down so I can stand to get dressed.

And, I already own one of these:

http://www.completecareshop.co.uk/t...-view-large/?gclid=CNeVqojTi8ECFazItAodyzwApQ

Should be easier than balancing on the bucket!!!!

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

When we were camping in Norway, one car owner came into the campsite and used the doors on one side of the car to trap a tarp into and pegged the other end into the ground (they did go on to sleep under the tarp, not in the car but...) just as an idea, it could be a useful area to sit out under with 2 poles and for the wee pot at night with the ends pegged into the ground... (though personally I would be under the tarp but that's not what you asked for...)

 

[Sara_H]

When we were camping in Norway, one car owner came into the campsite and used the doors on one side of the car to trap a tarp into and pegged the other end into the ground (they did go on to sleep under the tarp, not in the car but...) just as an idea, it could be a useful area to sit out under with 2 poles and for the wee pot at night with the ends pegged into the ground... (though personally I would be under the tarp but that's not what you asked for...)

Good idea. I'm fairly happy using the contraption in the link above for weeing in (which I originally had for when I was tent camping alone with my son when he was little, didn't want to leave him alone when I needed a wee in the night).
More of a problem would be having somewhere to stand up to get dressed. The camper we hired had a pop up top, which was great as we could stand upright in it.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Good idea. I'm fairly happy using the contraption in the link above for weeing in (which I originally had for when I was tent camping alone with my son when he was little, didn't want to leave him alone when I needed a wee in the night).
More of a problem would be having somewhere to stand up to get dressed. The camper we hired had a pop up top, which was great as we could stand upright in it.

one of those walk in loo tents? you know the ones that they use for kids on DoE etc...

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

?

don't know how much they cost mind you...

 

[Sara_H]

one of those walk in loo tents? you know the ones that they use for kids on DoE etc...

View attachment 57886 ?

don't know how much they cost mind you...

I was thinking of something much simpler tbh, something that I can vey quicly put in place, get dressed and then remove. As we'll be mostly stealth camping, I'd like to be in a position where I can just drive away if need be without having to dismantle too much stuff.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

I was thinking of something much simpler tbh, something that I can vey quicly put in place, get dressed and then remove. As we'll be mostly stealth camping, I'd like to be in a position where I can just drive away if need be without having to dismantle too much stuff.

tarp is probably the best answer and kneel behind the car (under it) for getting dressed...

 

[Dayvo]

Don't waste your time trying to squeeze into a Honda!

This is all you need to be able to see the wild west. And a BIG fistful of dollars!


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEMULF2J808

 

[Fnaar]

I've slept a couple of night in an Isuzu Trooper, plenty of room, but I found the condensation on the windows was a PITA and the lack of curtains is a big issue if it gets light early.

Use a buff as a blindfold