Cars to sleep in (not camper vans)

[MDMA .]

My old Subaru Legacy (BP model) was good for fishing trips/sleeping in. Front seat forwards, rears flat, loads of room in the back.

[r3g]

RedWhiteMonkey said:

If you've ever slept overnight in a car you'll quickly realise why campervans have insulation.

This ^^^ . Even in the height of summer, the temperatures overnight drop low enough for you to end up shivvering your nads off, plus the obscene amounts of condensation that also come with it, making your clothes, bedding and everything else soggy and cold unless you leave your windows open. Unless you are already accustomed to sleeping in a tent outside or your vehicle is fitted with a diesel night heater, I would not recommend it.

[Roger Irrelevant]

I've slept in cars loads in connection with various outdoorsy exploits, if you know you're going to be doing it then there's no need for it to be cold or uncomfortable at all as you can take the appropriate gear. Any decent size estate with a properly flat load area with the back seats folded will do, something boxy like a V/XC70 even better. I wouldn't want to try sleeping across the back seats of many cars, though, unless I was Warwick Davis.

[psi310398]

djsmith74 said:

A good number of the JDM people carriers have comfy reclining seats in the middle row, namely the Alphard, Estima and Elgrand. And the Elgrand could be specced with electric curtains that shut at the push of a button.

One hot summer’s evening, I slept in my E52 Elgrand (in my garden) to see how I would fare and very comfortable it was, too.

[Jordie Barretts sock]

My lad has spent a week in his Corsa D when climbing in Glencoe. Was -10° some nights.

[Wacky Racer]

Used to sleep in my Ford Capris (With the back seats down) plenty of times in the late 70's on weekend solo walking trips up to the Lake District on a Saturday night, ready for Sunday.

Couple of pillows, eye mask, plenty of blankets, thermos flask full of hot tea, camping stove and a few tinned cans of food,.... real do.

Saved a fortune on B&B's

[Evanivitch]

r3g said:

This ^^^ . Even in the height of summer, the temperatures overnight drop low enough for you to end up shivvering your nads off, plus the obscene amounts of condensation that also come with it, making your clothes, bedding and everything else soggy and cold unless you leave your windows open. Unless you are already accustomed to sleeping in a tent outside or your vehicle is fitted with a diesel night heater, I would not recommend it.

Just buy an appropriate sleeping bag...

[Silvanus]

SpamDisco said:

Dacia Jogger with a sleep pack
https://www.dacia.co.uk/dacia-news/sleep-pack.html

I use my Dacia Logan, fits a full length memory foam camp bed. Camped in it all year round, never had any issues being cold in winter. Then again I've camped in some pretty cold places including a snow hole.

[RammyMP]

Silvanus said:

SpamDisco said:

Dacia Jogger with a sleep pack
https://www.dacia.co.uk/dacia-news/sleep-pack.html

I use my Dacia Logan, fits a full length memory foam camp bed. Camped in it all year round, never had any issues being cold in winter. Then again I've camped in some pretty cold places including a snow hole.

Is it not a bit awkward if you need a piss in the middle of the night?

Last time I slept in a car it was circa 1996 in my old XR2 in a lay-by near Chester when I was a student. Passenger seat reclined, winter sleeping bag, I wouldn’t recommend it!

[Silvanus]

RammyMP said:

Silvanus said:

SpamDisco said:

Dacia Jogger with a sleep pack
https://www.dacia.co.uk/dacia-news/sleep-pack.html

I use my Dacia Logan, fits a full length memory foam camp bed. Camped in it all year round, never had any issues being cold in winter. Then again I've camped in some pretty cold places including a snow hole.

Is it not a bit awkward if you need a piss in the middle of the night?

Last time I slept in a car it was circa 1996 in my old XR2 in a lay-by near Chester when I was a student. Passenger seat reclined, winter sleeping bag, I wouldn’t recommend it!

I don't need a piss in the middle of the night. That might not last for ever mind.

[ChocolateFrog]

Depends how far you stretch the definition of car.

I'm going to assume you're not considering the likes of JDM MPVs. Loads of options there for an actual comfortable nights sleep.

Of all the normal cars I don't think you can beat a V70. Flat load bay and at 6'1" I could stretch out no problem. Can't think of any other cars this side of an old school US station wagon that could do it better.

[RammyMP]

Silvanus said:

RammyMP said:

Silvanus said:

SpamDisco said:

Dacia Jogger with a sleep pack
https://www.dacia.co.uk/dacia-news/sleep-pack.html

I use my Dacia Logan, fits a full length memory foam camp bed. Camped in it all year round, never had any issues being cold in winter. Then again I've camped in some pretty cold places including a snow hole.

Is it not a bit awkward if you need a piss in the middle of the night?

Last time I slept in a car it was circa 1996 in my old XR2 in a lay-by near Chester when I was a student. Passenger seat reclined, winter sleeping bag, I wouldn’t recommend it!

I don't need a piss in the middle of the night. That might not last for ever mind.

Get to my age and it’ll be an issue!

[seyre1972]

Surprisingly - don’t get a pickup as they’re not long enough (unless you’re < 6 ft) (mate in back of his last weekend)




Then again - neither is an X3 with back seats folded down long (enough even on the diagonal) I speak from experience …..

[RammyMP]

I had an Audi A6 saloon and with the back seats down I could lie flat in the back with my feet in the boot. Never slept in it, just tried it once to see if I could fit.

[Pablo16v]

I slept in our S-Max a couple of times in spring and summer months and it was surprisingly comfortable as it is a relatively flat surface with the seats folded and very roomy too.

[996Type]

An XC90 up to 2014 at least allows all the seats (inc front passenger if required) to drop flat and would probably accommodate a double mattress, the load area being so big.

Not tried to camp in it yet but tempted.

I’d keep the windows cracked to allow air flow and it looks like it could be snug….

[ATG]

Used to use our Hilux Surf as a 4wd tent. Back seats flat and the rear would take a trimmed down foam mattress. Plenty of room for two and I'm 6 foot 4. If we were away for a few days, we'd take an igloo car tent that pulled over the rear hatch. Good setup for hiking or a festival.

[Om]

One of the marketing points of the original Fiat Panda was that the seats folded flat to make a double bed:



An original 4x4 would make a 'fun' option.

Failing that there are no end of inflatable car mattresses available on Amazon - both lengthways and crossways...

[DaveTheRave87]

Slightly leftfield suggestion but what about your current car with a Tentbox?

[Roger Irrelevant]

ChocolateFrog said:

Of all the normal cars I don't think you can beat a V70. Flat load bay and at 6'1" I could stretch out no problem. Can't think of any other cars this side of an old school US station wagon that could do it better.

Yeah my XC70 (which for present purposes is the same thing) is really good for sleeping in. I've got a 3/4 size mattresses that I think was originally from an IKEA day bed that easily fits in the back, then it's just a matter of bunging appropriate bedding in - in the warmer months a normal duvet, in colder months the sleeping bag I'd use if I were out in a tent. I've kipped out in the uplands of northern England and Scotland in temperatures well below zero quite a few times and always snug as a bug in a rug. Since the front passenger seat folds flat too even Dikembe Mutombo would fit.