The Best SUV Bed Platform For Camping - Maps Over Coffee (2023)

FAQs

How do you sleep in the back of an SUV? ›

A basic conversion of an SUV only requires you to add a mattress for sleeping and some bedding. In addition, a cooler, portable battery, and camp stove would make traveling more comfortable and give you more independence. Blackout curtains or screens will give you both daytime and nighttime privacy.

Sleep with your head toward the front of the car

If you find yourself at an angle, make sure to position the car so your head is above your feet. Sleeping with your head to the front of the car will also give you more elbow room generally, since most cars have wheel wells at the back that take up precious space.

If you need to, use the AC to cool down your car first, ensuring you turn it off before sleeping. You can also heat up your car prior to sleeping, provided you turn off the engine afterwards. Cracking a window open to allow fresh air in is OK, but not required for safe breathing as outlined above.

Add insulation.

Cars lose most of their heat through their windows. Trap warmth by putting a thick reflective sun shield in your front windshield, and cutting insets out of Reflectix wrap (available at most hardware stores) for your other windows. Push the insets into the windows before getting ready for bed.

Most SUVs Can Be Used for Sleeping

While full-size SUVs offer the most room for car camping, most SUVs can accommodate one or two people in the back for sleeping. Again, seats would need to be removed or completely folded down to accommodate a sleeping area, but even smaller models can make it work.

Sleeping in a car is warmer- Vehicles have built-in insulation that traps some heat inside. When the sun goes down, your car interior won't cool off as fast as the inside of a tent. The insulation also traps some of your body heat as you sleep.

Some also refer to car camping as "base camping" or “tent camping”. The beauty of car camping is the accessibility of your tent site. Since your tent site is so close to your vehicle, there's no reason to skimp on “luxury” items that make your camping experience enjoyable.

A fan near a window that is slightly open will pull in cool air from the outside and circulate it through the vehicle. If you have windows cracked open on both sides this can allow hot air to escape and cooler air to enter. This heavy-duty car air fan is a good choice to keep your cool.

As you can see, sleeping pads are almost always necessary. Sleeping pads not only provide a cushioned sleeping surface to keep you comfortable, but they also provide critical insulation from cold ground temperatures.

What is an SUV conversion package? ›

​ One of the biggest advantages of owning a SUV is that it can easily be converted into a mobile living space. An RV camper conversion kit usually includes everything you need to make your vehicle livable including full kitchen with drawers, beds, storage compartments, and more.

Turning an SUV into a camper is a great option that allows you to use your daily driver for a camper conversion, and even for full time nomadic living. SUVs are also much easier to find than full-sized vans, so an SUV camper is an easier and cheaper way to get out there on the road.

The Sprinter Van is by far the most popular van for camper van conversions. Sprinter vans are durable, versatile, and most are built as cargo vans so their interiors are highly customizable.

Wood. Wood is one of the most popular materials for these frames. When made with high-quality wood, a platform bed can generate a stable, heavy-duty feel. Wood also offers a range of styles based on the type of wood and choice of stain.

A bunkie board is generally a thin, flat wood board that is placed between a mattress and its base. Essentially, a bunkie board is used in addition to or on top of a box spring or foundation to provide more substantial support for a mattress.

Platform beds are known for their modern and sleek look, and the absence of side panels in these bed frames often causes the mattresses to slide. Users can place non-slip rugs or rubber mats between the mattress and the frame to prevent them from sliding off the platform beds.

The policy of Walmart welcomes RVers to spend a night in their parking lot, as long as you have the individual location's permission. In some places, city zoning laws or ordinances will prohibit overnight stays in parking lots. Typically, larger cities are most likely to have these types of restrictions in place.

The primary cause of death while sleeping in a car is carbon monoxide. This gas is a colourless, odourless gas released when burning fuels, such as coal, wood, charcoal, natural gas, and fuel oil. It usually dissipates quickly in the open air but is harmful to human health when it accumulates in enclosed areas.

If you're going to be sitting in your car for more than 10 seconds, then turn off your engine. If you are sitting near a school, hospital, or heavily populated area then turn off your engine as these are the areas that are most likely to be policed with fines.

The good news is that twin mattresses can fit in an SUV as the vehicle is wide enough to accommodate up to 8 passengers with leg space and storage. Many branded SUVs can fit a twin mattress with a little squeeze.

Can a mattress fit in the back of an SUV? ›

If you wonder if a full-size mattress fit in an SUV, then the answer is likely yes. As we see above, a standard full-size mattress is 54” x 75”, so it is highly possible to be able to lay it flat inside a SUV (if the 2^nd and 3^rd row of seats are lowered).

Yes, it is safe to drive with a mattress strapped to your car's roof as long it's secured in a safe manner. Just like many things in life, there is a right way to do it and a wrong way. Believe it or not, the wrong way is to use rope or twine and secure the mattress to the roof of the car, but we'll get to that later.

Most experts agree, an outside temperature below -30°F is too cold to sleep in your car, period. But in reality, any temps lower than 32°F involve some level of danger. In fact, hypothermia can occur anywhere between 30 and 50°F with prolonged exposure, especially if you get wet.

A candle produces a great deal of heat, Mann said. It can be used to help keep the inside of the car warm, but Mann cautioned to burn the candle inside of the coffee can and to open one window slightly.

A standard SUV is larger than a midsize SUV but smaller than a full-size SUV. Avis has a wide variety of standard SUV rentals ready for any adventure you have planned.

The iconic Toyota Land Cruiser earns the top spot on the list of longest-lasting vehicles by a wide margin. This classic off-road SUV debuted in the 1950s, and while it isn't sold in high volumes, Toyota's oldest nameplate has amassed a following of loyal enthusiasts who enjoy racking up miles on their Land Cruisers.

Raise your seat up until your hips are level with your knees. Raise the seat higher if you can't see clearly out the windshield or windows. Don't drive with your hips lower than your knees. If your car doesn't have a control to adjust the seat height, sit on a cushion to help keep your hips level with your knees.

The floor tends to be the coolest area, and with the air conditioner on, the car should be cool enough to get you home before the fresh produce wilts and the ice cream melts. The cabin also tends to be better insulated than the trunk. So you'll have a better chance of avoiding extreme swings in temperature.

Keep it cool

Prime sleep temperatures are somewhere between 60 and 67 degrees, so do what you can to manage the temperature in the car accordingly. That may mean fiddling with the air conditioner, heater, or cracking a window. Dressing in layers will help, and a travel blanket may also be a good idea.

Quick answer: Three-season tents are usually only about 5 degrees F warmer inside than outside. Winter tents are better designed to trap heat and are typically 10-15 degrees warmer inside. Insulated or expedition tents can be over 25F warmer inside.

What is stealth car camping? ›

Stealth camping is sleeping in your vehicle without drawing attention to yourself. This is similar to boondocking which generally refers to sleeping overnight on BLM or free public lands. Is sleeping in your car illegal? In some areas, sleeping in your car overnight is illegal.

Wallydocking. One of the most common examples of the overnight boondock stay is a night spent at a Walmart parking lot while on your way to your campsite–Wallydocking. It's important to know how to boondock because there will almost certainly come a time, as an RVer, when you'll stay at a Walmart.

The only actual difference we've found is that car camping gives you access to your car easily, while tent camping does not. You do camp separately, but everyone is in the same main lot. Tent campers have access to everything car campers do, and you can still hang out in the car camping lots.

The most common methods involve running string around the top of the windows, or using velcro or magnets. Then use blackout curtains horizontally to keep light out. And even though there are DIY window tinting kits, I recommend getting it done professionally.

Our minds and bodies are not doing anything except getting ready for sleep, so they become quiet and calm. So in a moving car, your mind and body can go into the same kind of quiet “daze” as they do at bed time. This is sometimes called highway hypnosis and can happen to drivers too.

People with narcolepsy fall asleep without warning. It can happen anywhere and at any time. It may happen when you're bored or during a task. For example, you may be working or talking with friends and suddenly fall asleep. It can be especially dangerous if you fall asleep while driving.

Yes, you can freeze sleeping in a car. Your vehicle is made of metal and glass. These will do practically nothing to keep your body heat inside on a cold night. Remember, hypothermia can occur between 30 and 50°F with prolonged exposure, especially if you get wet.

It is a risky condition that can lead to severe tissue damage or even death. This can happen when carbon monoxide builds up in your bloodstream. Carbon monoxide can easily poison you, your family, and your pets. This chemical compound is even more hazardous when you are sleeping inside the vehicle.

Invest in a comfortable bed

So, you can splurge on heavier, cushier mats, pillows and blankets. You can go for a compact camping pillow or just bring a full-size pillow. Don't forget that cars can get just as cold as tents at night, so pack an insulated blanket like a Rumpl or a temperature-rated sleeping bag.

Dig a cathole, use a wag bag, or bring along a portable toilet - these are the 3 primary methods for using the bathroom while wild camping or boondocking, at least when it comes to dealing with #2.

How can I make my car sleepable? ›

Wagon: Fold down the rear seats and use the flat space. Hatchback: Fold down the rear seats and use the flat space. Sedan: If the seats do not fold down to create a long surface, use the back seat. Coupe: If it's dry outside, maybe just sleep in the grass.

A large SUV is big enough to carry almost any mattress on the roof, provided that the mattress is properly secured, while a small vehicle may be appropriate for carrying a smaller mattress on the roof.

Put your seat back and get cozy with pillows, blankets, or whatever soft, cushioned items you have on hand. Get a rear-seat mattress for the most comfortable sleeping experience. Create a sleeping platform for your back seat, trunk or hatch area, or truck bed out of plywood and 2 x 4s.

The best thing to do is to avoid sleeping in the car. If you badly need to take a nap in your car, make sure the engine is switched off and the windows are rolled down but first find a safe place where you can park your car and rest.

Keep it cool

Prime sleep temperatures are somewhere between 60 and 67 degrees, so do what you can to manage the temperature in the car accordingly. That may mean fiddling with the air conditioner, heater, or cracking a window. Dressing in layers will help, and a travel blanket may also be a good idea.

However, tying a mattress improperly onto the roof of your car is 100 percent illegal, because you're endangering not just your life, but also the life of other road users. Chances of getting pulled over if you do this are very high.

Double mattresses are full mattresses with 54" x 75" dimensions and can fit inside a standard SUV.

The gentle rocking movement of the car can make us sleepy. Sleep scientists say that rocking or slow, gentle movements can make us fall asleep if we are tired, just like when we are babies and our parents rock us to sleep. It might remind us of when we were in our mother's tummy.