Turning the car into a camper?

[Sara_H]

[QUOTE 3308030, member: 45"]I'm really interested in the idea, as you can lie flat in our car. Presumably the sleeping platform could be pretty high, so you would have a far bit of room underneath to put things.[/QUOTE]
Yep. The height of the platform will depend if we're going to take the rear seats out or not, which we're undecided on.

Seats out will give more storage underneath and more head room above, but will obviously be a faff removing and reinstalling every time it's used in stealth camper mode. Once we've decided about the seats I'm going to get my carpenter mate to come and design the platform.

It's going to be my winter project.

 

[Ganymede]

This is a great thread! Just bookmarkin'

Good luck with the project @Sara_H!

 

[Stephen Piper]

I use a folding aluminium gazebo to make a large instant outside sheltered space, Would not enjoy being restricted to the confined space of a car, or even a van.

 

[Sara_H]

I use a folding aluminium gazebo to make a large instant outside sheltered space, Would not enjoy being restricted to the confined space of a car, or even a van.

The two of us were quite comfy in the Bongo, seemed ideal camper for two adults who like each other a lot.

The car will be cosier, much cosier. But we've decided to give it a try as we're both a bit tight with the money and like the idea of saving the £500 it cost us to hire the camper for the week!

 

[sgl5gjr]

http://www2.whitehouse.co.jp/camper/newcar/kei/neo/interior/

Might give you some ideas....... if the japs can do it in a small space.....

 

[Sara_H]

http://www2.whitehouse.co.jp/camper/newcar/kei/neo/interior/

Might give you some ideas....... if the japs can do it in a small space.....

In my minds eye, the CRV will be a bit like that by the time I've finished it

 

[Sara_H]

Thought I'd post this link for anyone interested as it seems like a really simple option.
Involves removing rear seats then putting in some big plastic lidded storage boxes which you can lay self inflating mats on and obviously have very useful accessible storage.

It's the option I'm considering at the moment.

http://campfiremag.co.uk/wordpress/mini-campervan/

 

[Amanda P]

I've just seen this. Years ago when I was a student I did this with my Fiesta. It only slept one, but I took it hillwalking in all sorts of remote areas and managed to sleep in it. I took the front passenger seat and the back seat back out, then had a plywood bed which ran from the tailgate right through to the dash - just exactly 6' long (cos I'm exactly 6' long too). There needed to be a notch cut out for the gearstick, but only a little one.

Condensation was a problem, as was privacy - anywhere I wanted to 'stealth' camp, there'd be other walkers sooner or later and I didn't always want to be on display. Fortunately the rampant condensation in anything less than bone dry, warm weather, usually solved that one. And it was cold at night - probably colder than being outside at times.

I moved onto one of these

and then saved up for one of these - which we still have and use (although it's on a newer and redder pickup these days. And the canoe is optional):

For summer trips, and if you've got a bigger car, no reason you can't camp in that. It's probably quicker than setting up a tent, you can do it in more places, and most cars are more waterproof and comfier than tents.

But they can't half be cold...

 

[Sara_H]

I've just seen this. Years ago when I was a student I did this with my Fiesta. It only slept one, but I took it hillwalking in all sorts of remote areas and managed to sleep in it. I took the front passenger seat and the back seat back out, then had a plywood bed which ran from the tailgate right through to the dash - just exactly 6' long (cos I'm exactly 6' long too). There needed to be a notch cut out for the gearstick, but only a little one.

Condensation was a problem, as was privacy - anywhere I wanted to 'stealth' camp, there'd be other walkers sooner or later and I didn't always want to be on display. Fortunately the rampant condensation in anything less than bone dry, warm weather, usually solved that one. And it was cold at night - probably colder than being outside at times.

I moved onto one of these

and then saved up for one of these - which we still have and use (although it's on a newer and redder pickup these days. And the canoe is optional):

For summer trips, and if you've got a bigger car, no reason you can't camp in that. It's probably quicker than setting up a tent, you can do it in more places, and most cars are more waterproof and comfier than tents.

But they can't half be cold...

Sounds brilliant. I used to have a friend who used to go out into the peak for days at a time, sleeping in his fiesta van wihich sounds like a similar set up to yours.
The windows in our CRV have got a dark tint and we'll definitely be getting some thermal window pads.
Can't wait!

 

[hedder2212]

Have a friend who goes away on trips in his car pretty much every other weekend,
has a Toyota previa, he took out the rear seats completely.
took almost all the panels off and put stick on insulation sheet stuff that people use in camper conversions, put all the panels back on and its lovely and toasty in there... rear windows have got the darkest tint he could get on them and has curtains that simply Velcro up so nobody can peek inside. theres a curtain that he puts inbetween the cab section and the "living quarters" so he can stealth camp if needed (has been known to kip in Tesco car park when his mrs has booted him out for the night) has a single matress in the back and has a plastic tub with his stove etc in.. fairly simple set up and if needs be he can take almost everything out and put the seats back in within a hour.
everyone thinks hes nuts but its quite clever but simple how its done.

 

[Sara_H]

Car camper plan coming along slowly.
I've made a set of thermal window blinds using a roll of multi purpose insulation, duct tape and thumb tack suckers. Grand total about £20 and they've turned out really well.

I got the idea here if anyone is interested. http://m.instructables.com/id/Camper-Van-Thermal-Window-blinds/

Other than that, we haven't done anything other than but a few bits and pieces, a new electric cool box, cargo net for ceiling storage, Jerry can plus pump tap.

Major things still to do - build the sleeping platform (carpenter friend on board even though he thinks we're bonkers!), fabricate a shelter/tent for the hatch and sort out a leisure battery.

 

[Fubar]

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!

This might be of interest to give you additional space: http://www.packashack.co.uk/standard-shack.html

Says it fits Honda CRV. Just to declare I know the owner of the company (and would be happy to put you in touch) but have no vested interest at all.

 

[Sara_H]

This might be of interest to give you additional space: http://www.packashack.co.uk/standard-shack.html

Says it fits Honda CRV. Just to declare I know the owner of the company (and would be happy to put you in touch) but have no vested interest at all.

I'll keep it in mind.
We have considered the packashack as its the closest commercially available thing to what we're looking for, but it is quite pricey.
I'm going to see what I can fabricate myself from some bits and pieces of old shelters and tents, but if it all goes tits up I think we will be back to the packashack.

 

[Richard A Thackeray]

Used to be able to quite easily with the 110s (I've had a Hard-Top, & a Station Wagon)

In the Hard-Top (van body, to most people), you could board over between the wheel-boxes & use the space underneath for storage, then a decent sheet of plywood gave you practically a double-bed on top
A cooker could be fitted, on a 'flip-down' table onto the rear door, as seen here on a 89-95 Discovery (200/300Tdi body shape)

Land Rover even offer, on new vehicles, through 'Special Vehicles Operations', such delights as sinks/hot-water!!!
However..................

CaraWagon offered on their Range Rover conversions, in the early 70's

Other niceties from 'SVO' (digressing)
Air-Brakes, to push the legal towing weight up to 4 tons (3.5 ton max allowed, with 'over-run' brakes)

Half-Track ('Centaur', designed in conjunction with Cammel-Laird, in the 80's)

6x6 'Cherry-Picker' (regular production vehicle, but generally as 4x4)

 

[DiddlyDodds]

I used to have a small trailer, everything fitted in that and i slept in the back of the car.

This is not the one but very similar to the one i