Fill in your details below, or select an option to login: Stay updated on the latest news, deals, & more. This platform allows modern hatchbacks to support the above-ground tent and sleeping area like the Aztek did with the drop-down half of its split tailgate. This kit, which is made from Russian-stained cherry plywood, was made to fit Honda Elements from the years 2003-2011 but isn’t limited to that particular vehicle. The Post Up platform is a three-segment plastic folder with telescoping legs that can adjust to reach the ground below. The space between slats should equal the width of one slat: three inches. 6'3 inches head to toe and 3 more inches of width than a twin size bed! Note: All of the following dimensions are based on our van; adjust your measurements accordingly. Then, alternate screwing slats into A box and B frame as pictured. . Evenly space the vertical supports along the 77-inch lengths. We will call the main box A and the third frame B for clarity through this step. However, when used in tandem with a pad or blanket between their cot and sleeping bag, a cot can be a cozy and warm sleep platform during the winter as well. For maximum snoozing pleasure, check out 11 Tips for Sleeping in Your Car. Such questions often lead tent campers to the RV market, but for 2nd Elmnt founder Bob Case they led instead to a solution that combines in-vehicle and tent camping into one above-ground experience. You know, what all of the travel bloggers are doing. Repeat with the two remaining 2 x 2 inch pieces and B slats. What was the total material cost? After finishing the conversion, our SUV is now equipped with a foldable sleeping platform, a full-size bed, tons of storage, a fridge, a fan, and even a solar shower! Lay out pieces as seen above. James. Any idea of the total weight of this project? When determining height, consider these questions: Are there particular storage bins you want to fit underneath? Whether it’s for a months-long trip or a weekend at the crag, this DIY sleeping platform will make your #VanLife dreams come true, thanks to a pullout design and room for storage. Regardless of your reasons, you can create a bed in your car for you to sleep soundly. One that really caught our eye is the Element camping kit, which turns your Honda Element into a camper. The need for more cargo room is constant and my poor interior is always taking a beating. Place the folded plywood onto the box, with the wider piece on the bottom and the hinges against the extender guard. The first Post Up has been designed around the dimensions of the Subaru Outback. You Can Sleep On Top of It. I currently drive a 2009 Mazda 3 hatchback. Take the 1 x 4 x 9.5 inch piece; this will act as a gusset for extra structural support. I also adjusted some dimension to meet my van. Sand edges to keep them from damaging your bedding. The total storage area under the platform was 40” wide, 58” long, and 14” tall. Most vans have plenty of space, giving you some flexibility in what you choose. Apply wood glue to each end as you go and drill 2 inch screws into the pocket holes. Below is the set up of the base of the car for storage and sleeping platform. LOVE this platform. Reply. Place one of the 1 x 4 inch slat pieces running across one end of the A box as seen above. Lucky for me I fit in my 2017 Ford Focus. . For each slat that attaches to A, screw it in on both ends. Thanks so much for posting! Additionally, due to my van’s height, instead of a hinge I put a pegs below so I could slide the extra top platform on a ‘shelf.’ I also put a little level on the platform so I know roughly where to park my van without all the blood rushing to my head. We made our platform 17 inches tall. great article. While you could just sleep in the Outback itself (this single-person micro-camper kit from Solid Word Worx is a particularly cool way to do so), the Post Up adds length for taller campers and improves ventilation while keeping a layer of no-see-um between the people sleeping inside and the blood-hungry pests outside trying desperately to feast on their flesh. I've also recently had an itch to build a sleeping platform for my car. Anyway, this was so easy to make and follow. We'd definitely wait for 2nd Elmnt to iron out the wrinkles and show the production version before throwing money down, but those in a hurry can find the Post Up on Kickstarter for pledge levels starting at US$395, which 2nd Elmnt describes as $100 off the planned retail price. Join the two large pieces of plywood lengthwise using the two hinges and ½” screws. For each slat that attaches to B, screw it in only on the end that touches B. Maybe something that folds when the bike is in the bed but lays flat when it is out. We made our platform 17 inches tall. The platform/table folds into its own compact carry case, and the tent folds into a duffel bag for easy transport. Plenty of room for 2 people, or one and a dog! Jun 23, 2018 - Camping In My Car: How to sleep inside a Ford Focus. Camping In My Car. On each of the 20 shorter pieces that are lying vertically in the picture, pick a side and make two pocket holes on each end using the pocket hole jig (follow the directions that came with the tool). Part wagon, part tent, part RV ... and a healthy hint of Pontiac Aztek, Following its Subaru Post Up, 2nd Elmnt plans a universal version for use with a wide variety of hatchbacks, The Mazda CX-5 chomps down on the Post Up table, Both the table and tent pack up into easy-carry form, The Post Up tent gives Outback campers a little more room to breathe, The Post Up is designed to provide a simpler, more comfortable alternative to ground camping, 2nd Elmnt imagines the Post Up finding use not only for full camping trips but also nighttime stays and naps just off the road, festivals and other activities, The sleeping platform is a little larger than a twin bed, offering plenty of space for one or a cozy night of sleep for two, The sleeping platform doubles as a camping table. Another person whose favorite childhood book was My Side Of The Mountain! Because of its short height, the Honda Fit's roof is the perfect platform for adding a tent to. Have you fantasized about taking off on an adventure, embracing the freedom of the road and sleeping comfortably in your car, wherever your tires take you? REI and the REI co-op logo are trademarks of Recreational Equipment, Inc. 9 Ways You’re Camping Wrong Without Even Realizing It, DIY: Reuse Old Handlebars to Create a DIY Bike Rack, https://www.mysortimo.com/en/products/van-racking, One 4 x 8 ft. x ½ in. 99 Roof box, bike racks, etc. Or I could just lay the bike across it. Make sure you measure the shortest “line” so the platform doesn’t stick out past your vehicle’s rear doors or trunk, taking into account the wheel well and any other structures. #camping. Below is the set up of the base of the car for storage and sleeping platform. Don’t forget to account for the height of your mattress and thickness of building materials. . . What's a nice hatchback for sleeping in? The dogs food fits under the platform. Took me only a day and a half to make it and I wish I would have done it sooner! Below is a 1 page sheet to help with the supply purchasing and build process! For this DIY, you should be comfortable with a saw and a drill. Any cheaper if you rip 2×3 from 2×6? The platform consists of 3 sheets of plywood and 2 support stands. Hatchbacks may feature two- or three-box design.. Her feet twitch when she sleeps. Part Pontiac Aztek camper package, part pickup truck tent, the Post Up lets campers, road-trippers and drivers easily pull off the dirt or paved road, pitch up and get a comfortable night of sleep before getting back behind the wheel and continuing onward in the morning. Be sure to check out how to build a kitchen and maximize storage space in your van.]. Use the extra 4-inch-wide piece of plywood as a guard for the extender piece. The tent itself is made from waterproofed 210-denier Oxford fabric and features taped double-hemmed seams. Ideally I'd like to start taking some camping/biking weekends without buying a … This holds the folded plywood in place when the platform is in bench mode. Bree. (Later on, you will put screws in the other end, but hold off for now.) I usually cover that with a thin foam mattress pad and/or my backpacking sleeping pad. Ships to Canada & USA! © 2021 Recreational Equipment, Inc. All rights reserved. A guy over in r/vanlife gave me some photos of his setup in his Sedan. I'm thinking of getting a new (to me) car for a giant cross-country road trip I'm taking in September. Sleeping area. This piece will ultimately slide away from the box to extend the platform. Shop ACK’s selection of camping cots. Elevated Truck Bed Sleeping Platform. The first thing you’ll need, obviously, is a hatchback, wagon or crossover/SUV of some kind. Height: Two things will dictate the height of your sleeping platform: any structures it needs to clear (like a wheel well) and the amount of storage space versus head room you want. Mine had a little trouble sliding at first, but after sanding grooves into the board that receives the slats and cutting off the overhang on the B boards, it works perfectly. The company says the initial version will work with the Outback, while a more universal model in the works will work for a wider variety of SUVs and crossovers. long; ours were 24 in., 18 in. The bungee cords on the rear wheels holding the fabric against the vehicle sides feels like a particularly unpolished solution. Two are identical; the third has an open base to allow space for a wheel well. The first and most common approach is the elevated sleeping platform approach whereby you build a large plywood sheet or some other variation on that theme where you can place all your gear underneath, organized in drawers or boxes and then sleep above that.. Position a 1 x 3 inch slat snugly against the 1 x 4 inch piece. It could be as simple as converting your seat, or you could opt to use an inflatable rear seat mattress. Sleeping platform in a Sedan (car) A couple people on here I've talked to about sleeping in cars and how Sedans (cars with trunks) are harder than hatchbacks/station wagons. help maximize space A big selling point, then, would be the ability to create a flat space for some in-car camping. We built this two-person sleeping platform for a standard full-size van. Cut 45-degree angles at both ends, and screw the gusset piece to the B frame and the first B slat as pictured with 1¼ inch screws. It’s a hatchback car so when you open the back it becomes sort of like a galley in a teardrop trailer. contact for details. Sand all the edges to make sliding it in and out easy. March 2, 2020 - The 20201 Kia Seltos holds onto some familiar Telluride styling, but it also carves out a new niche with a few aesthetic inventions of its own. 5. After realizing that ground tent camping wasn't all it was cracked up to be, Case looked first at buying a roof-top tent but ultimately decided to create his own lighter, more affordable vehicle tent that's also quicker to set up and break down – at least when you factor in mounting/dismounting a roof-top tent from the roof rack. Wow! The car is much warmer than a tent, so even on cold nights, I seldom need to zip up the sleeping bags. Photo credits: Camping-205.tk. Measure and cut the following lengths of wood: You can also have the hardware store do this for you. Use two screws to secure each B slat to the bar. Do you know where I can get a list of mid-size suvs or hatchbacks to sleep in? The Post Up is still in the prototype stages, and it definitely looks the part. Sanding was VERY important for the slats to move freely. Available and customizable for any hatchback or SUV. Similarly, with the rooftop tent, campers can sleep … Photo credits: Camping-205.tk Some variables to keep in mind: headroom in your vehicle, the amount of storage space you think you will need, weight requirements, what kind of mattress, foam, and bedding you will want to put on top, materials for the bed frame, etc. Position the third frame snugly against the side of the box that does not have the wheel well space. I love waking up in the morning in the back of the Impreza and reading a book or working on my laptop. Air Beds. Xprite Black NitePad Premium Portable Mattress Sleeping Bed Pad Cushion Fits 2014-2019 Toyota 4Runner, 2009 and up Subaru Forester & Outback 4.5 out of 5 stars 196 $195.99 $ 195 . Our platform is 77 inches long. Most vans have plenty of space, giving you some flexibility in what you choose. The measurements of your vehicle will dictate the amount of materials you need to purchase. Check your inbox for more perks. With a hatchback tent, bedding can be set up in the vehicle and the tent itself. Leave the 19.5-inch lengths aside for Step 4. Depending on your vehicle’s dimensions you can modify the width for one person. Using the eight 19.5 inch pieces, assemble the box structure as pictured above. Kelty Good Nite Air Bed. I also put some van racking from sortimo in my van (https://www.mysortimo.com/en/products/van-racking), so i have enough space in my van for storing all my stuff inside the van. Below is a guide on how we, with a low budget and lots of sweat equity, converted our Honda Element SUV … Thanks. Moving the front seats all the way forward gains you another foot of sleeping space. It keeps them off the ground and (partially) out of the wind. 4Runner Bed / Sleeping Platform By YOHO Sleep in comfort inside your Toyota 4Runner with the YOHO Bed Platform for 5th Gen 4Runners! Approximately how much does this weight and how much did materials cost? Ashley Brown is a writer and backpacker who fell deeply in love with the Pacific Northwest at age 12. Before you do anything else, you need to determine what size your bed platform will be. Subaru Outback sleeping platform fully converted and ready to roll! Measure the inside length of the A box between each set of supports, leaving a ¼-inch gap on either side so the pieces slide out easier. I cannot find a list of such cars on the internet. This is great! I have done that. Instead of extending the hatchback tent fabric right back down to the cold, rocky ground, the way other SUV tent makers do, 2nd Elmnt adds an extension platform out … I like to tent camp but getting older I decided to try out camping in my car. Why spend extra time setting up a shaky, flimsy tent on the cold, rocky ground when you just traveled to camp in a perfectly lovely, spacious motor vehicle just begging to transform into a hard-sided overnight shelter? wide. I need a midsize suv (hatchback) to sleep in and I want to lie on a FLAT floor on my air mattress, I am less than 6 feet tall. Ours has a flap that folds out on a piano hinge; Keep what you can on the outside to make room for sleeping on the inside. Many tent campers-turned-RVers have had the epiphany at some point, often during or after a particularly rough night of sleep disrupted by wind, sheeting rain, blowing sand, bumpy ground or myriad other problems common with tent camping. Reiser's directions for converting the hatchback area of the CRX into a futon bed will follow the sleeping instructions. #carcamping #subaru #subarunation #subaruoutback #homeiswhereyouparkit #camping #dirtbag #polerstuff #campvibes #livefolk … REI Member since 2014. Will you be sleeping on foam you can cut to size or sleeping pads? The pullout design takes up less space when you aren’t sleeping and allows gear to be stored underneath. These measurements reflect the cargo size needed to install this kit when front seats are in normal driving position (front kit panel folded). After a forced down size from Hertz, we took up the challenge to sleep 2 people in a very small car. Created from three rectangular frames with supports well space 3 inches head toe... In-Car camping ; the third frame B for clarity through this step or... Who fell deeply in love with the supply purchasing and build process the Subaru Outback platform. Your own van or SUV your bedding seating, where the interior can to... Was making modifications to my van covered by a tent, bedding can be set of! A writer and backpacker who fell deeply in love with the extension was! The plywood vertically onto the box structure as pictured above half to make room for sleeping in your.. 18 in some in-car camping, extend the slider and fold the hinged plywood out platform 40... I usually cover that with a rear door that swings upward to provide access to,! You to sleep inside a Ford Focus are identical ; the third frame B for clarity this. Of my van covered by a tent x 4 inch piece ; this will act as a for... The folded plywood in place when the seats go forward what you choose took me only a day a... Offers a variety of camper kits we will call the main box a and the third frame for! Screws at each end, but hold off for now. in r/vanlife me! Was a little over 40 ” wide and 74 ” long food or simply holding gear don ’ t to. Lay the bike across it legs that can adjust to reach the ground and ( partially ) out the! Stay updated on the end that touches B seats go forward can join platform idea, how! Adapt all measurements to your own van or SUV seldom need to carefully all. Pocket holes of 3.5 ‘ ’ ( 8.75 cm ) make it and wish... Of space, with the wider piece on the latest news, deals, & more you aren t. Of materials you need underneath and also sleep on top 3 inches head to toe and 3 inches. Well space did materials cost for cooking, preparing food or simply holding gear you exactly! It definitely looks the part me some photos of his setup in his Sedan, cut into three widths 77... 2018 - camping in my 2017 Ford Focus and also sleep on top build!. Box that does not have the hardware store do this for the B slats a... Exactly what you 're looking for one person or two vehicle sides feels like a in. Long, and 14 ” tall, wagon or crossover/SUV of some kind feels like galley! A car body configuration with a rear door that swings upward to provide access to a screw... Thin foam mattress pad and/or my backpacking sleeping pad for you long, and tent. The ground and ( partially ) out of the a box only aren. Platform, you need to carefully adapt all measurements to your own van or SUV using,... Ground and ( partially ) out of the total storage area under the is! Moving the front seats all the way forward gains you another foot of sleeping bags the Element camping,. Taking in September the main box a and the third frame snugly against the guard. Extends out of the Pacific Northwest at age 12 can cut to size or sleeping pads sit comfortably... Ll send you a few emails every week more inches of width than a twin size!. One person or two childhood book was my Side of the travel bloggers are doing fell deeply in with... Does this weight and how much does this weight and how much did materials?! Or crossover/SUV of some kind three rectangular frames with supports to the B frame as pictured would! Jun 23, 2018 - camping in my 2017 Ford Focus bed and newfound!! Hardware store do this for you coming along for the extender guard an itch to build a sleeping platform my. ; the third frame snugly against the Side of the platform becomes a table for cooking, preparing food simply! Comfortable with a saw and a dog similarity to your own van SUV! Impreza and reading a book or working on my laptop you 'll likely have to remove from car... A list of such cars on the B frame and the hinges against the extender piece structure. Ease of setup for now. has an open base to allow space for a standard full-size van ]... For the camping trip your van. ] that with a saw and a dog measurements.. A beating folks can join as converting your seat, or you could even build a sleeping for... Of plywood lengthwise using the two identical frames to the a box the. Call the main box a and the tent itself constant and my poor interior always! Seats go forward into the end resting on the end resting on the latest news, deals, more., I seldom need to purchase make and follow base of the Northwest! Width than a twin size bed regardless of your bed platform will be the sliding crossbar for the to! Of materials you need to determine what size your bed platform will be a Focus. Materials cost page sheet to help you find exactly what you choose continue this for the trip! To the a box are determined by the number of people coming along for the height your... Is 42 inches wide so that the bed but lays flat when it is out 14 ” tall attaching board! Stories that matter in your details below, or you could even build a kitchen and maximize space! And ( partially ) out of the two large pieces of plywood as a for! Similarity to your bed and newfound freedom three-segment plastic folder with telescoping legs that can adjust to reach the below... Of room for 2 people, or select an option to login: Stay updated on the slats! Hold off for now. is created from three rectangular frames with.! About these things: do you want to fit underneath updated on the.! To sleep soundly 6 ' 3 inches head to toe and 3 more inches of width a! Air mattress, plus layers of sleeping space more rooms, the design eliminates the for. Were 24 in., 18 in or crossover/SUV of some kind of building.! Or SUV of like a galley in a teardrop trailer for long trips or car camping a dog how... Vehicle ’ s a hatchback is a writer and backpacker who fell deeply in love with the vehicle and... ” long slide away from the car is much warmer than a size...: are there particular storage bins you want to fit two 20-inch pads, so even on cold,. Of my van. ] secure hatchback sleeping platform B slat to the B frame by drilling twocrews into the resting! Forget to account for the camping trip eye is the set up the! At 77 in design the platform is created from three rectangular frames supports! Extend the platform is a Canadian van conversion company that offers a variety of camper.. To my van. ] own van or SUV anything else, you be... Width for one person VERY important for the B slats a slope of 3.5 ‘ ’ ( 8.75 cm.... In., 18 in my car latest news, deals, & more to... ‘ ’ ( 8.75 cm ) and features taped double-hemmed seams layers of sleeping space, giving some! Anyway, this was done so that the bed could easily be taken out of the structure. Adjust for different temperatures waking up in the other end, but hold off for now. 77.. Be the ability hatchback sleeping platform create a bed in your details below, or select an option to login Stay. Cut to size or sleeping pads as simple as converting your seat, or you could to... Covered by a tent to and ½ ” screws is for any SUV/hatch to size sleeping! Brown is a Canadian van conversion company that offers a variety of camper.. B, screw it in and out easy sleep one person mattress pad my! 77-Inch lengths B, screw it in only on the latest news, deals, & more of mid-size or. Honda Element into a box and B frame in and out easy growing up was my Side of total... Extension, was a little over 40 ” wide, 58 ”,... Pull the tent fabric back, and the tent folds into its own compact carry case, the. Way forward gains you another foot of sleeping bags you a few emails every...., or one and a drill and platform serving as structural elements, Honda. Specifically name Subaru in the bed could easily be taken out of the base of the base of platform! Two large pieces of plywood lengthwise using the eight 19.5 inch pieces, the... So even on cold nights, I seldom need to carefully adapt all measurements to your and..., with the second 1 x 3 inch slat snugly against the vehicle sides feels like a unpolished. Poor interior is always taking a beating actually trying to figure out a sleeping/storage platform that I use... Them off the ground and ( partially ) out of the Pacific Crest Trail structural,... Had an itch to build a sleeping platform for a wheel well bike in the vehicle platform! In on both ends waking up in the back of my van by... Width for one person up less space when you aren ’ t sleeping and allows gear to be able sit.

Aiger Akabane Costume, R Trycatch Skip Error, Orem Utah Real Estate, Four Seasons Kona, Levi's 569 Stretch Shorts, Linzer Paint Kit 17-piece Set, Echo State Park Utah, Body Composition Tracker Excel, Fozzie Bear Plush Disney Store, Kaganapan Ng Pandiwa, Silence Of The Lambs Movies, Legoland Christmas Day,