Car Camping

[GladeDuchess]

I know at least one other Diva does this, but curious if any others do as well.

In this I'm referring to actually camping in your car, like setting it up like a mini RV. I discovered this a few years ago when I found a special cot from REI that has adjustable legs and fits in the back of small SUVs. I also got special screens with magnets that go over the windows so they can be rolled down without resulting in getting eaten alive by insects.

I always liked camping, but this sort of allowed me to get out more since I'm often traveling, and rather lazy at times, and I was much more motivated to camp if I didn't have to actually set up a whole camp, and then take it all down and go home and dry things out etc., if I only had a night or two. Don't get me wrong, I still adore setting up a proper camp if traveling by water, or I have time, but the car camping set up allows me to roll into camp and just focus on the activities at hand or arrive the night before and be ready in the morning.

If you ever look this up, some get right creative with sleeping platforms, storage drawers, and all sorts of things.

Now that I look, I don't actually have any pictures of my set up. I'll have to do that next time I go.
A bit more expensive than my REI cot, but this link shows what I'm referring to:

Car Camping Sleeping Platforms | Pacific Adventure Works

Shop Hideaway car camping sleeping platforms backed by 90+ 5‑star reviews. No‑build, modular, lightweight, and easy to swap between people mover and micro camper.

pacificadventureworks.com

These actually look a bit better and more sturdy than my REI cot.

These are the screens I have though:

Car, SUV, RV Window Bug Screen / Camper Van Bug Screens

The Skeeter BeaterTM is a magnetic vehicle window screen and van door bug screen designed to keep the mosquitos and other pesky bugs out so you can enjoy the outdoors in comfort. Enjoy the outdoors when using our van insect screens.

theskeeterbeater.com

Anyway, just curious if any others do this?

 

[HappyPlace]

Yes. I have a Honda Pilot that I have car camped with. I just have a thick air mattress that I use, and made my own bug screen for the sunroof. I like the skeeter beaters though. Same idea as the one I made.

 

[teppaz]

The woman next to me at the Delaware Sojourn last year was camping in her car. She had a great setup that included a vestibule area attached to the back. Someone set up a tent on a platform on their car roof.

 

[Aerlind]

Technically, that’s how I spend my summers…though I have a truck camper, because I have a truck, because I have a horse….so it’s not a “pure” as traditional car camping. But we occasionally take trips without the horse, and my camper is fairly primitive.

Pictured is us camping in Northern California. It was very hot and there were a lot of bugs, which is why my horse is wearing a silly coat! It keeps the bugs off of her.

And while the idea of camping at the ski slopes is appealing, my truck is terrifying to drive on icy roads, and the camper isn’t very well insulated…so it’s not a great option! (Not to mention fuel efficiency is horribly, the truck gets 12mpg with the camper on and diesel is expensive!)

 

[TNtoTaos]

I know at least one other Diva does this, but curious if any others do as well.

In this I'm referring to actually camping in your car, like setting it up like a mini RV. I discovered this a few years ago when I found a special cot from REI that has adjustable legs and fits in the back of small SUVs.

Anyway, just curious if any others do this?

Several people car-camp at the Sojourn; I , too, was impressed with Andrea's setup that @teppaz mentioned -- she really had a luxury car-camping setup!

I have a 2001 Ford E-350 that I converted to a camper, and for the past 7-8 yrs or so I've been taking it to the Sojourn. A few other folks also take campers or vans now -- none of us are getting any younger, LOL. I've also taken my van to Taos and camped out in their RV lot during ski season. It's fully insulated, and I have a propane heater and stove, and 200Ah lithium batteries with solar panels, so it did great, despite the -15° weather at night. Amazingly enough, the sun alone often heated it to over 60° in the afternoons!

Check out this thread: https://www.theskidiva.com/forums/index.php?threads/show-off-your-camping-setup-camper-van.25256/

 

[TNtoTaos]

Just discovered this article in my inbox this AM, LOL! 16 Car Camping Upgrades That Make Camp Way Better

 

[GladeDuchess]

Yes. I have a Honda Pilot that I have car camped with. I just have a thick air mattress that I use, and made my own bug screen for the sunroof. I like the skeeter beaters though. Same idea as the one I made.

The car cot was a work around for my CRV, in which the seats did not fold flat.
I do have a Honda Passport now though, and it was not lost on me that the seats fold flat, and has a right bit more length, so a straight air mattress works. Having the cot already though, the extra storage underneath is a bonus. : )

An add on last season was a cheapie fan from TJ Maxx of all places. It was rechargeable via USB and has a flexible tripod base and wraps perfectly around the handles above the doors. Keeps a bit of air moving on a still and muggy night.

 

[TNtoTaos]

The car cot was a work around for my CRV, in which the seats did not fold flat.
I do have a Honda Passport now though, and it was not lost on me that the seats fold flat, and has a right bit more length, so a straight air mattress works. Having the cot already though, the extra storage underneath is a bonus. : )

I really like that cot -- I've considered camping in my Subaru Outback on occasions when i don't want to drive the van, and a cot like this would be perfect because of the storage it offers underneath.

 

[RachelV]

...

Check out this thread: https://www.theskidiva.com/forums/index.php?threads/show-off-your-camping-setup-camper-van.25256/

Sadly I no longer own that minivan camper setup, but it was AMAZING and I continue to think that minivans are absolutely the best "regular car" camping setup you can imagine.

I have a CX-5 now and I sleep in the back with just a regular blow up sleeping pad and my sleeping bag. I'm about 5'7" and I am definitely the tallest person that could sleep in the back of a CX-5.

While I do enjoy a good tent sleep when the weather is right, the ease and comfort of sleeping in your car is hard to beat when you're camping imho.

 

[GladeDuchess]

The woman next to me at the Delaware Sojourn last year was camping in her car. She had a great setup that included a vestibule area attached to the back. Someone set up a tent on a platform on their car roof.

Thule, and others, have a fabulous line of roof top tents! I've been toying with thoughts of one, but they are not cheap! Not the lightest or easiest thing to get on and off if needed either, but does make wet and rocky ground a non-issue.
The retractable awnings however do have a lot of appeal, not the least of which is being able to enter and exit on a soggy day without letting a bunch of rain in!

Paging @GirlfriendJustGo . That girl has a hammock that sets up in a Bronco!

 

[TNtoTaos]

Sadly I no longer own that minivan camper setup, but it was AMAZING and I continue to think that minivans are absolutely the best regular car camping setup you can imagine.

I have a CX-5 now and I sleep in the back with just a regular blow up sleeping pad and my sleeping bag. I'm about 5'7" and I am definitely the tallest person that could sleep in the back of a CX-5.

While I do enjoy a good tent sleep when the weather is right, the ease and comfort of sleeping in your car is hard to beat when you're camping imho.

Totally agree, esp when on a road trip that doesn't lend itself to setting up a tent somewhere. And minivans are definitely the way to go if looking for a vehicle that's perfect for car-camping.

 

[TNtoTaos]

Thule, and others, have a fabulous line of roof top tents! I've been toying with thoughts of one, but they are not cheap! Not the lightest or easiest thing to get on and off if needed either, but does make wet and rocky ground a non-issue.
The retractable awnings however do have a lot of appeal, not the least of which is being able to enter and exit on a soggy day without letting a bunch of rain in!

Paging @GirlfriendJustGo . That girl has a hammock that sets up in a Bronco!R

Haha, I've looked at rooftop tents -- they're definitely too expensive, and I'd be afraid of breaking my neck on a sleepy bathroom break, LOL. I actually have a small hammock in my van -- I use it for when I want to take a power-nap at a rest stop without having to drop down my Murphy bed. I just stretch out the hammock and crash for a while.

 

[RachelV]

Rooftop tents are great for a lot of things but must be very hard to get a dog into... that's a bit of a non-starter for me. Also, hard walls let you actually sleep when it's windy. I do think many rooftop tents are firmer than a regular tent, but they can't be as good as a car?

 

[GladeDuchess]

Looks like REI stopped making it, but this is it:

https://www.rei.com/product/202738/rei-co-op-trailgate-vehicle-sleeping-platform?redirect-pup=false

As a bonus, REI gave an extra shorter set of legs so that if you had a truck, or wished to use it in a tent, you could set it up on a level surface. Correctly sized plastic totes fit nicely underneath.

I definitely had similar thoughts as @RachelV and @TNtoTaos with regard to the roof tents. Some set up is involved, and then ladders and such. They definitely fill a niche, but you do get to retain space in the vehicle. I was more inclined to keep the roof rack free for the kayak or paddle board.

Large dogs in the roof top tents would likely be a no go, lol. Even if I could have lifted her, my retriever would have been terrified! No, no, a tent with her own separate cot next to me was her preferred arrangement, little diva that she was. : )

 

[TNtoTaos]

Last yr I bought a roof box for when I take my Outback skiing, and that's the way to go to save space in the vehicle. Store everything you can fit up there, and keep only essentials in the car. I bought an American-made brand, Jeggs, on Amazon that's much less expensive than Thule, and it's shaped better as well:

 

[VickiK]

I have an Outback. If this question is off-topic or better placed elsewhere, I apologize...but do you feel safe sleeping in your car, especially if you're on your own? What makes you feel safe--gun? dog? parking next to the police station?

 

[Aerlind]

Sadly I no longer own that minivan camper setup, but it was AMAZING and I continue to think that minivans are absolutely the best "regular car" camping setup you can imagine.

I have a CX-5 now and I sleep in the back with just a regular blow up sleeping pad and my sleeping bag. I'm about 5'7" and I am definitely the tallest person that could sleep in the back of a CX-5.

While I do enjoy a good tent sleep when the weather is right, the ease and comfort of sleeping in your car is hard to beat when you're camping imho.

It literally never occurred to me to try camping in my CX-5, mostly because I have the truck camper….but I may look into that for this summer, because I might be driving out to California, and you know what I don’t want to do? Buy diesel in California!

I have an Outback. If this question is off-topic or better placed elsewhere, I apologize...but do you feel safe sleeping in your car, especially if you're on your own? What makes you feel safe--gun? dog? parking next to the police station?

I think about this a lot as I travel solo with my horse, often across state lines, and I’m a small female. Guns are great, but state laws vary (and change frequently) about if you’re even able to transport your firearm into the state, and how it must be done. Since I’m out west, I only pay attention to the western states, but in short, it’s very difficult to transport a gun into California, Washington, or Oregon. Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and Nevada don’t care. Utah and Colorado seem to change annually, honestly. When overnighting with a horse, I can’t just park at a police station either! I’m often limited to horse hotels (which are usually a privately owned property, kind of like Harvest Hosts or whatever for RVers) or local fairgrounds.

For me, I preferentially stay at privately-owned horse hotels over fairgrounds, as they’re often a bit safer. I also carry bear spray: yes, the kind you get to use in defense against grizzly bears. Fun Fact, it works on more than just bears, and is legal in all of the lower 48 states (Alaska too but it’s not legal on planes, and I haven’t looked into carrying across the border). I usually have it in the door pocket of my truck when I’m driving, and move it to my camper when sleeping. Pro Tip, don’t leave it in a hot vehicle! I also pay attention to my gut: if it feels off, it probably is, so I don’t stop. I always fuel up well before empty so I’m never in a position where I HAVE to stop anywhere.

 

[GladeDuchess]

I have an Outback. If this question is off-topic or better placed elsewhere, I apologize...but do you feel safe sleeping in your car, especially if you're on your own? What makes you feel safe--gun? dog? parking next to the police station?

For me, I utilize car camping as I would regular camping, so I'm in a secluded forest type places, camping venue, etc. I'm not actually traveling and staying at Walmart parking lots or rest areas or other such places overnight. The car locks tighter than a tent too.

I'd just not stop or stay if I felt it was not safe, but I would feel the same with a tent at a dodgey campground or something. Pepper or bear spray is never a bad idea for critters or otherwise though.

A consideration with car camping is it is technically a vehicle, and many states, even if transport is not an issue, do prohibit a loaded firearm in a vehicle, unless you can carry concealed, which is another ball of wax with regards to permits, state reciprocity, national parks, etc.

 

[Aerlind]

A consideration with car camping is it is technically a vehicle, and many states, even if transport is not an issue, do prohibit a loaded firearm in a vehicle, unless you can carry concealed, which is another ball of wax with regards to permits, state reciprocity, national parks, etc.

That’s what I was trying to articulate (and failed, ish) with my post. Most folks with a concealed permit know to at least check the laws where they are travelling, because they teach you that in the CCW classes (at least they do here in Montana), but also not all states require concealed permits to carry a concealed weapon (Montana does not), so not everyone WITH a weapon knows the laws around them. In short, if you plan to carry a firearm for self defense while camping (against humans or bears, LOL, can you tell I camp in bear country?) check the laws where you’ll be very carefully. This, of course, assumes you’re a good, law-abiding firearm owner (Please be one of those, if you choose to carry!)

Anyway, back on topic and to summarize, for safety while camping: if you carry a firearm know your laws, consider pepper or bear spray as an option, and of course, good old fashioned common sense comes in handy too.

 

[TNtoTaos]

I don't carry a gun, either, although I do know how to shoot. In addition to the legality issues mentioned above, the biggest problem with a gun is that you have to be prepared to use it, and once you do, there's no taking it back. The decision might be a split-second one, and hesitation can result in being overpowered and having the gun taken away from you. Then again, what if the person you shoot was not actually trying to harm you, or is a cop? Are you going to shoot through a car door before knowing for sure? So, all of the above. I carry bear spray or pepper spray -- lots more time to make decisions.

And I've parked my van in Walmart lots (many times), and felt perfectly safe, but lately have been parking in Love's Travel Stops, since they're open 24 hrs. The most important thing about feeling safe for me is to be sure that no one can see into the vehicle.