Duct taping all edges will keep the abrasive edge of the wood off the interior plastic. "Loose" taping the edge with little space between the edge of the wood and the tape also helps. The "beds" look perfect btw but wow the plywood and 1" foam must eat up a lot of space. The loose mosquito netting is brilliant!
It didn't take up all that much space - I was able to sit up fully against the back of the front seats. Great idea with taping the edge of the wood - especially if you're buying the cheap stuff like I did! They actually make mosquito nets made just for this purpose now, check those out.
they make window screen sleeves so that it fits over the entire door frame and window area without worrying about any mosquitos coming in or wind blowing your screen material around while the window is down...also use piano hinges to fold the boards into a more compact storage spot so you can put the seat back up
Nice idea. I sleep in my car alone so a twin air mattress works perfectly and no board is needed. That still gives easy access to the back seat floor space.
i cut my boards in the similar way about 2 yrs ago, still using them.. works great!! Use thinner boards.. use sealant to protect from weather.. I have covered the edges of my board with cheap leather and i dint need the heavy wooden foundation under the board either.. just strap the boards to the front seat headrest.. I find it more sturdy and comfortable than air mattress. Also use magnets to hold the bud net on the window down, when windy.. nice video overall.. happy camping!
I'm really excited to do this. I have an Impreza and when camping I use a foam pad similar to yours with a sleeping pad and it was still uncomfortable since the seats have so many uneven spots when they are folded down. This will eliminate that issue for me!
Ditto "brilliant" i wish the car companies who design hatchbacks think about the modification you made. It would enhance and improve the marketability of every model designed each year.
I was thinking of this with my mazda 3i sedan. There is a 2” drop from the folded down seat to the trunk area. I think I will have to raise the back board up with spacers to make it even. Also, I saw a rav4 “conversion” where they drilled 2 holes in the plywood and put a rope over the headrest instead of the lil platform on the back floor. I’m 5’11 and with passenger seat pulled all the way up, I should fit.
Very very nice, simple and convenient idea. You can make those bigger in length platforms hinged with 2-3 pcs to get them accommodated in a trunk. Just it came to mind while watching. Really Good work. The simplest I have seen so far.....
Brilliant! I have a 2014 mazda 3 hatchback ! Me and the wife are like hobbits! I'm 5'4 the wife 5'!! This is awesome! Thank you bro 👍👍👍. Cheap camping.
i use a four inch piece of high density foam in the back of my Crosstrek....it eliminates the discomfort of the hump where the seats fold down. it has to be the better quality stuff that won't compress easily....
Nice, I have bed on passenger side with bottom part of bigger section of rear seat removed, back folded down & a piece of ply on top that gives a bed of about 5 feet 7 inches in a Kia Rio MKII. Leaves the smaller rear seat in place for sitting & with the two front seats as far forward as they'll go & flipped forward there's a surprising amount of space. Video of it on my channel...
The only issue Id have is it doesnt look like you could store those boards in the back, so you’d have to keep the back seats folded down the entire time. Otherwise Id totally consider this for road trips and city hopping as well.
Very cool - thanks for explaining the platform in detail. From watching your video and looking at the dimensions on your blog, it occurred to me that maybe if you made the foot board take up the entirety of the trunk's floor, you could shrink the main platform pieces enough so that all 3 could lay flat in the trunk with the back seats up. I don't know the exact dimensions of your trunk, but I'm thinking something like 42"x27" for the footboard and 41"x21-25" for the main platforms.
Eric Not a bad idea! I'd have to go back and measure. I made the main platforms long enough so that they would cover a gap that opens when the seat is folded down. I also figured that I'd fold the seats down anyway when car camping, just to fit our stuff. It would be nice to keep the pieces in the car at all times though!
Yeah, being able to keep in in the trunk all the time would be awesome. I think the supports could also be redesigned to save even more space. If they could just be taken apart (like using rough mortise/tenon joints instead of screws), then it would be able to collapse to a small bundle of 2x4s. You'd be able to keep it in your trunk all the time AND it would hardly take up any space. You could even put a trunk liner over the plywoods and it'd be practically hidden as well.
I suspect that even if you couldn't make the footboard as long as 27", you could probably get away with shortening the length of the platform a few inches without sacrificing usability, since your head isn't being supported at the end of the board. For example 42"x24" footboard with 42"x21-25" main platforms.
Heh sorry - just the engineer in me going overboard. Thanks again for taking the time to make the video/instructions! I'll show you some pictures when I get around to making my own.
I built mine for my impreza and im 6'4. Just made a piece of wood on a hinge that connects and plops down where the shotgun seat is when it is moved all the way forward, gave me enough room to lay flat.
I’m 6’4”. I see that I won’t fit lengthwise and straight, but would someone my height fit diagonally? Just thinking about a couple of nights of camping. Thanks for the helpful video.
If the make an extension over the bumper and leave the hatch up/open. You could tie a tarp over the opening. Of course might feel safer with the car locked up. Maybe modify the front seats so they can be popped in and out easily and put on top for the 🌙. Random thoughts.
Your great for making a vid of this, i have a ford focus hatch and when i put down rear seats , their not even with the truck bed, so i would something like this 👍 , i love camping and i do sleep in the car alot when i and wife dont get along
You can fold the back singel seat so it comes flat if you lean front right chair max (and max forward). For the double back seat you have to remove the ses bottom with two screws, easy (torx 40). Leave it att home. Then it en be about 195 cm and flat 😊
I’m five 11 but my Focus is just not long enough for me to lay flat because of the way the seats fold down. Sucks. Would love to do something like this
Ok I saw all the measurements and the drawing, do you know if a forester 2014 has the same measurements? If it is I will do exactly what you did, I am a camper too. But because the quarantine I started to make videos of places for my channel, and travel more often and I sleep in my 🚗 Subaru. And I love your ideas....thank you I hope you can answer my question. I have no idea how to measure it inside my car.
I like to use a couple of clear rubbermade bins with leak-proof lids. You can see what you are looking for easily and take them out when you arrive at your site.
Wow, innovative but I feel so bad because in my Ford escape all I gotta do is put the seats back and boom even bed space enough for three men. Feels good
The one thing I'd be paranoid about using an unsecured piece of wood or any type of platform that doesnt break, is what might happen in a serious rear end crash where you crash into a car in front of you. Where does that platform go? Yipes! Sliced!
Just take off the seats and don't put wood, it will be heavier and if you do it you'll have more space, that's what i did 👍 (sorry for my bad English).
Good question! There is about a 12 in. gap between the back of the driver's seat and the folded down back row of seats. The wood bridges that gap, extending the flattening the sleeping area.
It is incredibly uncomfortable sleeping without any modifications in the back of a hatchback with folded rear seats because there are different surfaces at slightly different levels, and after some hours your back will feel the pain. Having the uniform surface of the wooden platforms is far more comfortable for the back as all the imperfections of the different surfaces are smoothed out.
I must say, after watching thousands of these videos, this is the best and the most practical set up that I have seen yet! :)
Super simple! Consider me imprezed.
Loving it! So much cheaper/simpler than a lot of the "sleeping platform in my car" videos I've seen but equally as effective.
Thanks Michael! Yes that was exactly my goal, simple yet effective.
Duct taping all edges will keep the abrasive edge of the wood off the interior plastic. "Loose" taping the edge with little space between the edge of the wood and the tape also helps. The "beds" look perfect btw but wow the plywood and 1" foam must eat up a lot of space. The loose mosquito netting is brilliant!
It didn't take up all that much space - I was able to sit up fully against the back of the front seats. Great idea with taping the edge of the wood - especially if you're buying the cheap stuff like I did! They actually make mosquito nets made just for this purpose now, check those out.
I think any hatchback with backseats that fold down flat will work. I like the simple setup.
they make window screen sleeves so that it fits over the entire door frame and window area without worrying about any mosquitos coming in or wind blowing your screen material around while the window is down...also use piano hinges to fold the boards into a more compact storage spot so you can put the seat back up
I have some of those sleeves now, and they work GREAT!
Nice idea. I sleep in my car alone so a twin air mattress works perfectly and no board is needed. That still gives easy access to the back seat floor space.
That's what I do also. I don't have these boards. I just put the back seat down, and put the air mattress in there.
Nice, i think that would work great with 1 person. I found these boards maximized the space for 2 people
i cut my boards in the similar way about 2 yrs ago, still using them.. works great!! Use thinner boards.. use sealant to protect from weather.. I have covered the edges of my board with cheap leather and i dint need the heavy wooden foundation under the board either.. just strap the boards to the front seat headrest.. I find it more sturdy and comfortable than air mattress. Also use magnets to hold the bud net on the window down, when windy.. nice video overall.. happy camping!
Thanks for the kind words! Happy camping to you as well
Great tips, thanks!
The mosquito netting idea is genius. Going to have to steal that. Thanks 👍
Thanks for sharing. I like that you keep the rear seats in. I like there's not a lot of hardware going on. Happy travels!
I'm going to do something like this with my 2012 Outback. Thanks for the video.
Right on, more space there. Cheers
just cut at the head of the rear passenger seats and add a swinging hinge you can open up to move the seat back
Huh? Pls explain
Lol I was skimming thru and thought you were saying to cut off the head of your passenger! lol
I'm really excited to do this. I have an Impreza and when camping I use a foam pad similar to yours with a sleeping pad and it was still uncomfortable since the seats have so many uneven spots when they are folded down. This will eliminate that issue for me!
That's exactly why I made this, and why it didn't need to be complicated! Just needed to level out a few spots
Just cover the wood with contact paper for splinters. U dont have to worry about leaving any splinters on the back of the seats.
Mate you totally inspired me to do what I’ve always wanted to do… thank you for making it look achievable :)
Jane, Australia
A great video and a great idea . I'm going to do the same thing with my Impreza. Well done !
Ditto "brilliant" i wish the car companies who design hatchbacks think about the modification you made. It would enhance and improve the marketability of every model designed each year.
amazon has tents that have elastic that connects to the hatchback area as you enter the tent space...
I wouldn't be surprised if we see more of that soon, thanks for watching
I was thinking of this with my mazda 3i sedan. There is a 2” drop from the folded down seat to the trunk area. I think I will have to raise the back board up with spacers to make it even. Also, I saw a rav4 “conversion” where they drilled 2 holes in the plywood and put a rope over the headrest instead of the lil platform on the back floor. I’m 5’11 and with passenger seat pulled all the way up, I should fit.
Nice idea. You might want to protect the upholstery and headrests against the rough wood.
Agreed, some commentors have offered great suggestions such as paint and tape.
Very very nice, simple and convenient idea. You can make those bigger in length platforms hinged with 2-3 pcs to get them accommodated in a trunk. Just it came to mind while watching. Really Good work. The simplest I have seen so far.....
Definitely! Plenty of ways to tweak this platform. Like you said it's about as simple as it gets! Thanks for watching/commenting
Wow no need to take off the back seat, I'm impressed, you deserved likes and subcribes keep the good work
Hey! Great video! Thanks for a lot og inspiration to my Skoda Superb build that I’m about to start soon! I love the simplicity of your build.
I want to try to do something like this for my 1995 Integra ls.
Brilliant! I have a 2014 mazda 3 hatchback ! Me and the wife are like hobbits! I'm 5'4 the wife 5'!! This is awesome! Thank you bro 👍👍👍. Cheap camping.
Joe Garagozzo best comment I’ve ever read! Ahaha love it! Good on ya mate, go get camping!
Joe Garagozzo did you try this in the Mazda? I would love to know how your experience compared
Cheers man! One of the few perks of being under 6 foot ha!
did you end up doing it? how did it turn out?
Two lucky persons!
Please let us know your car living situation
i use a four inch piece of high density foam in the back of my Crosstrek....it eliminates the discomfort of the hump where the seats fold down. it has to be the better quality stuff that won't compress easily....
Nice, I have bed on passenger side with bottom part of bigger section of rear seat removed, back folded down & a piece of ply on top that gives a bed of about 5 feet 7 inches in a Kia Rio MKII. Leaves the smaller rear seat in place for sitting & with the two front seats as far forward as they'll go & flipped forward there's a surprising amount of space. Video of it on my channel...
The only issue Id have is it doesnt look like you could store those boards in the back, so you’d have to keep the back seats folded down the entire time. Otherwise Id totally consider this for road trips and city hopping as well.
Correct, works great for 2 people on a road trip, but that's about all we used it for so it was perfect!
great vid thank you .... i am 6'1 will i fit sleeping
Very cool - thanks for explaining the platform in detail. From watching your video and looking at the dimensions on your blog, it occurred to me that maybe if you made the foot board take up the entirety of the trunk's floor, you could shrink the main platform pieces enough so that all 3 could lay flat in the trunk with the back seats up. I don't know the exact dimensions of your trunk, but I'm thinking something like 42"x27" for the footboard and 41"x21-25" for the main platforms.
Eric Not a bad idea! I'd have to go back and measure. I made the main platforms long enough so that they would cover a gap that opens when the seat is folded down. I also figured that I'd fold the seats down anyway when car camping, just to fit our stuff. It would be nice to keep the pieces in the car at all times though!
Yeah, being able to keep in in the trunk all the time would be awesome. I think the supports could also be redesigned to save even more space. If they could just be taken apart (like using rough mortise/tenon joints instead of screws), then it would be able to collapse to a small bundle of 2x4s. You'd be able to keep it in your trunk all the time AND it would hardly take up any space. You could even put a trunk liner over the plywoods and it'd be practically hidden as well.
I suspect that even if you couldn't make the footboard as long as 27", you could probably get away with shortening the length of the platform a few inches without sacrificing usability, since your head isn't being supported at the end of the board. For example 42"x24" footboard with 42"x21-25" main platforms.
Yeah i like that idea. I was more going for a platform that is super easy and anyone with any skill level could make!
Heh sorry - just the engineer in me going overboard. Thanks again for taking the time to make the video/instructions! I'll show you some pictures when I get around to making my own.
As a 6ft 1'' guy I am super jealous, I wish I could fit in my Mazda 3 hatchback.
I built mine for my impreza and im 6'4. Just made a piece of wood on a hinge that connects and plops down where the shotgun seat is when it is moved all the way forward, gave me enough room to lay flat.
You think I could fit in my 2019 Subaru cross trek?
@@jackson.denzler. no doubt
Luca Piscitello I’m 6’2
Great video! Did u ever make the prices hinges like mine for packing purposes or removing them for ease ?
I didn't, I would have liked to but my main goal was simplicity. I've since sold my Impreza for a 4runner
This is awesome. I'm planning something similar with my VW Sportwagon.
I’m 6’4”. I see that I won’t fit lengthwise and straight, but would someone my height fit diagonally? Just thinking about a couple of nights of camping. Thanks for the helpful video.
If the make an extension over the bumper and leave the hatch up/open. You could tie a tarp over the opening. Of course might feel safer with the car locked up. Maybe modify the front seats so they can be popped in and out easily and put on top for the 🌙. Random thoughts.
@@cynthiagustafson2507 Great advice. Thank you.
Did you need to fill the trunk with something? How is the board in the trunk at the right height?
Nope the board is just sitting on the floor of the trunk!
I’m going to screw some 1 or 2” thick boards to the bottom of my back board.
I love it keep it up I use to camp in my dodge caravan
Nice, serious space there!
Wow! This is amazing! Thank you for sharing!!!
Paint that board to keep splinters from going into foam
Great suggestion!
That's too much work. Just buy some duct tape and tape the whole thing up. It's gonna be smoother.
Might consider shelving material, since it comes in big, wide rolls.
Why bother? What are splinters gonna do to the foam?
Me Me or varnish..👍or a tarp underneath ?
are either of you able to sit up at all? mine looks like it'll be a similar size : )
Very cool idea can u help me i need to convince my girl to sleep there
So many beautiful places out there, let them do the convincing!
Ok, I may be overlooking something but is this overengineered with 3 pieces? Couldn't you have one that is 50x34.5 and one that is 48x34.25 inches?
I've got the same car I was wondering if I'd be able to fit out the back
Your great for making a vid of this, i have a ford focus hatch and when i put down rear seats , their not even with the truck bed, so i would something like this 👍 , i love camping and i do sleep in the car alot when i and wife dont get along
You can fold the back singel seat so it comes flat if you lean front right chair max (and max forward). For the double back seat you have to remove the ses bottom with two screws, easy (torx 40). Leave it att home. Then it en be about 195 cm and flat 😊
Good job man. Well done.
Thanks!!
I’m five 11 but my Focus is just not long enough for me to lay flat because of the way the seats fold down. Sucks. Would love to do something like this
where do the boards go after you're done sleeping and you continue to travel?
They stack up in the back, not the fanciest solution - but this was made as simple as possible back when I had minimal tools at my disposal
Ok I saw all the measurements and the drawing, do you know if a forester 2014 has the same measurements? If it is I will do exactly what you did, I am a camper too. But because the quarantine I started to make videos of places for my channel, and travel more often and I sleep in my 🚗 Subaru. And I love your ideas....thank you I hope you can answer my question. I have no idea how to measure it inside my car.
Thanks for watching! I'm not sure on the Forester measurements, but I'm sure there is more space in the Forester than the Impreza
What about you clothes,food, camping and cooking gear
He explains there is storage space behind the driver and passenger seats.
this is good for a night, if more... look into getting a hard shell roof top carrier
I like to use a couple of clear rubbermade bins with leak-proof lids. You can see what you are looking for easily and take them out when you arrive at your site.
The birds sound in the background. .haha..ar ar ar. .great vid..looks cosy..👍
i have Ford Fiesta hatchback about the same i',m 5'7 have NOT converted it yet..?
Dope setup
Wow, innovative but I feel so bad because in my Ford escape all I gotta do is put the seats back and boom even bed space enough for three men. Feels good
wow very nice...thanks folk for sharing your idea .
Thank you!
6'3 and wouldn't work in my Versa ;(
Great video though!
SoapyTaco if you lay diagonal it might work I’m 5’11 and it woks easily with an Impreza
The one thing I'd be paranoid about using an unsecured piece of wood or any type of platform that doesnt break, is what might happen in a serious rear end crash where you crash into a car in front of you. Where does that platform go? Yipes! Sliced!
Just take off the seats and don't put wood, it will be heavier and if you do it you'll have more space, that's what i did 👍 (sorry for my bad English).
You must be kidding. The wood would be stopped the front seats.
Strap it down too if you want. Cut a piece of rooe so that a bunjee will fit tight when wrapped around the folded seat and board. Bubjee it up and go.
How do you take your back seats out?
Mile Lojpur they fold down
Why put in the wood?
Good question! There is about a 12 in. gap between the back of the driver's seat and the folded down back row of seats. The wood bridges that gap, extending the flattening the sleeping area.
Good question.Maybe it's a layer of insulation? Car gets pretty cold underneath. I use my yoga mat under my mattress.
It is incredibly uncomfortable sleeping without any modifications in the back of a hatchback with folded rear seats because there are different surfaces at slightly different levels, and after some hours your back will feel the pain. Having the uniform surface of the wooden platforms is far more comfortable for the back as all the imperfections of the different surfaces are smoothed out.
Perfect explanation! Well said Al
Al Licks not with a 5 inch thick mattress....no pain
Where do you bought the foam? Any links lol 😂 thanks 🙏 great idea!!
good job, minimalist dream..
Why do you even need the wood if you already got sleeping pads?
There is a gap between the front and back seats and the back isn't very flat
Looks good.
Thank you
This is great but there doesn’t seem to be room for anything else like your cooler
Ditch the wood and use your backpacks in the front spaces behind the seats and just buy a decent bed for the space. Done.
I'm gonna do this with my Nissan versa hatchback and hopefully I have room for a portable ac. Vent it out the window and I have a camper! Lol
Hyundai accent hatchback 09 gs i think 🤔? Haha,
You used a very heavy wood pieces.
These imprezas actually get better gas milage with more weight on the rear tires.
What do you do if you need the toilet
cradleygirl men use bottles women use jars
There is a mini toilet, behind the right front seat.
cradleygirl rd camping
Innovative... thanks.
Tint your windows dude
Why don't you save yourself all the hassle and just get yourself a RealDoll?
Nice and flat lol