Quick, barebones car camper.

[onlyMark]

A short report and update.

I posted a photo several days ago of some boxes I’d made. The idea was to put them together to make a bit of a short term camper in my car - short term meaning just for a few nights. If the trip was any longer I’d alternate with hotels.
Whether I actually get the chance to use this I have no idea, it’d be nice though.
Making it passed the time.
All I require is some storage space, a bed, somewhere to sit and an apparatus to make a coffee or heat up a soup, something simple.

The plan was for something I could chuck in the back of the car in a couple of minutes and take out in the same. If it was too much trouble then I’d never bother to use it. This is the result of why the floor is on a slope - in my old car the back seats could be unlatched and lifted out. This newer model (Citroen Berlingo) doesn’t have that. I’d have to unbolt them from inside and underneath - so nope, not doing that. The seats are folded forwards and don’t lie flat, so it’s a bit of a compromise but as I’m not standing up on the floor, it’s ok.

First, the bare bones showing the storage. I’ve got a stick at the moment holding up the top lid. I need to sort that out better. View from the back -




From the left side and right side. The car is not parked on the flat so along with the angle of the photos, it does all seem a bit tilted. But, when parked on the flat, the ‘table’ sticking out is on the level. That’s where I’d sit with a coffee/computer whilst having a view out of the side or back door -






With “soft furnishings” on the bed and closed up -












Top of the bed lifted up for sitting. The driver’s seat is tilted forward to sleep and brought back up again as a back/siderest when sitting looking out the back or the side -



I’ll let you know how it goes if I ever use it. I’ve got a camping cooker, bedding/sleeping bags, pots and pans, cool box etc anyway.

[breeze]

Very ingenious, Mark, and I bet it was a lot of fun to design and make. I do wonder if the table on hinges will be able to support the weight of a computer and pounding on the keys. Maybe you've already thought of that.

[cheerypeabrain]

The vase of flowers is a nice touch

Looks good. A mate has done something similar with an old Bedford van. More room for a bigger bed obvs.

[kerouac2]

Looking good. Reminds me quite a bit of the vehicle used by the Marioles Trotters on YouTube.

[casimira]

Very clever Mark. No surprise there.

When I saw the first few photos I thought "there is no way" you could fit in that box to sleep in. I am aware that you are a large man and so I was stumped.

Then of course upon scrolling down I saw your bunk.
Very impressive.

COLEMAN makes a two-burner camping stove that we used for many, many years.  Very efficient and portable in size.

[onlyMark]

K2, yes. I saw that as well. In fact there seems to be only a certain amount of permutations.
In many they have a sitting area that converts to a double bed. Many like that, many get fed up with it every night and want a fixed bed. I'll be by myself so I can do a hybrid version easy enough with just altering one cushion on one end. Somewhere to cook is a must but some also want a toilet somewhere. Even a shower.
I won't be living in my version so I'm sure I can find a "toilet" and as for a shower, I only have one every few month whether I need one or not.

breeze, the ram holding it up is rated at eleven kilos. I think/hope that will be enough. My key pounding is featherlight, just like the touch of angels wings.

Cheery, I put the flowers there for the photos for Mrs M. She did remark on it and I told her it's a metal jug, so it won't shatter when I brake sharply and it cracks her at the back of her 'ed. Safety first, that's me.

Casi, I like the diplomatic "you are a large man" and I thank you for it.
The bed is 65cm wide (2ft 2in?) but in reality as wide as I want it at the top, it's just my feet area that is restricted. The length is 193cm (6ft 3in) so plenty long enough.
I've tried various stoves over the years, Coleman and others. I still have a couple of older ones. Always gas though. And usually a two burner when the kids were with us. I've tried sprits, alcohol etc and never rated them. My latest, because I'll hardly be using it anyway, is cheap and simple and effective -

[breeze]

On first viewing I missed seeing the ram. I should have known you'd have thought of that already.

[onlyMark]

I try my best.

[bixaorellana]

Really ingenious idea & use of space, Mark. I really love the color scheme, too, which is cheerful and makes the space look bigger. I can see that all the components are held in place by each other, but have a question about the cabinet with the table part. Will its own weight & the slant of the floor be enough to hold it in case of sudden braking, or is it also held in with something we can't see in the pictures?

Super well done!

[onlyMark]

Good question because I wondered about this, i.e. how much joining together I'd need to do. As it turns out it is only that piece you mention that needs connecting to the bigger one behind it.
I have two clips and two screws hidden between them and the smaller one I just lift and clip down onto the other one.

[questa]

what a jolly vehicle!...love the colours, Will the extra weight cause any issues with driving? S'pose you could up the psi on the back tyres. Most of my cars I have modified by enabling the front seats to turn or raise to allow 2 adult sleepers a comfortable night. No tables or furniture, though. Congratulations!

[onlyMark]

The weight is far from a problem. Consider not only would I be by myself but there are three back seats anyway. So the weight of four people wouldn't be in it. Tyre pressures are fine for normal driving.

I've had a small change of plan. The stick just holding up the lid of the back box needed doing something with -



I was going to put another ram on it but know it'd still catch the inside of the car like it is doing now and I didn't have one. Didn't really consider it when I made it. Too many other things to think of.
So I've took the lid off, cut it in half, put a couple of hinges on it and now the left side folds up underneath the right side (hinge side) of the lid and now folds back altogether to rest on the inside of the car. So now it's just half as high. Job done.
Also now noticed in the photo the shelf doesn't look level. It is though. Maybe it's just come unseated a little as I lifted the box in.

[casimira]

Wise man that you are I knew you would come up with a solution Mark. Innovations that you came up with reflect your ingenuity and creativity.

Well done.

[onlyMark]

Thinking about solutions to these sorts of things is what I do in bed whilst dropping off to sleep. My mind can wander more freely. A sort of, "How can I do....."
Sometimes it can take several days to come up with something and I avoid trying to solve it during the day if it's not urgent. If I'm asleep before I've thought of an answer I just save it until the next night.

[onlyMark]

[casimira]

I wish we had someone like you here to oversee our rebuilding project. Not that I don't have ample confidence in our contractors' skills and ability but a good back up person such as yourself would sure be welcome.

[bixaorellana]

Nice job on the lid for the back box -- better looking, more practical, & probably safer.

[mich64]

Terrific Mark, well done. A lot of storage space you came up with. Agree with Bixa on the color scheme. Great solve on the lid.

[onlyMark]

Casi, I'll be there in the morning. Have the kettle on for about 7.30.
Bixa, safer I think you are right. I could see the other lid cracking me at the back of my head or on my fingers.
Mich, I had help with the colour. I took a daughter with me and kept showing her tins of paint until she said yes.
Now I need to think of something else I can do.

[casimira]

Aug 11, 2022 17:17:06 GMT onlyMark said:

Now I need to think of something else I can do.

Book your flight to NOLA

[onlyMark]

[lugg]

WOW - fantastic job Mark - I do hope you get to travel and use it after all the hard work.

[onlyMark]

Half the fun is just making it but I do hope to use it as some point. Normally you glue the joints but I haven't so it'd be easy enough to strip down to use the wood for something else.