[Closed] Sleeping in your car

It'll be a lot colder than you'd expect..
I'd rather be in a tent, and lock my bike in the car, but I've done it a few times and survived..
for the odd night you'll be reet.

It won't be very comfy without some sort of thermarest/foam mattress, and campsites might be a bit sniffy about it.

If you do do it, make sure you leave the windows open a bit, otherwise it'll condensationtastic.

TBH, if you're planning on using a campsite anyway, I'd just put a tent up.

A lot of camp sites probably won't accept you in just a car - you may be a wrong 'un! So if you want showers you may have to pay for a swim at a local leisure centre.

But really how much faff is a 2 man pop-up tent, sleeping mat and sleeping bag?

Camping can be as basic or as complicated as you want it to be.

Used to do it loads in my old hatchback. Pretty comfy. Back seats down feet in the boot. Had to lay diagonally so not much room for anything else. In some cars there is quite a bump as the seats don't go properly flat but mine was fine.

slept in my car for 2 nights in the lakes recently.
thin airbed, quilt and a sleeping back. bigger than a single bed, nearly as big as a double bed.
zaffira tourer is huge in the back.

B&B?

Erect a pop up tent inside the car before you go and sleep in that. 😉

you may be a wrong 'un!

Camping can be as basic or as complicated as you want it to be.

I think your right, my default camping is thinking what the family takes and we fill an MPV with our cr@p

It'll be a lot colder than you'd expect..

I've been to wales - it rains A LOT. Packing a tent up in the rain is horrible, then riding being cold to start with doesnt sound a good idea.

B&B?

Was trying to keep the manly 'bikepacking brigade' on my side to begin with...hadnt considered a B&B...hmm tempted...

This is the bit im confused by, surely its going to be more insulated than a tent?

You'd think so but not in my experience....
By the time you open windows to to prevent condensation etc.

You can buy a pop up tent really cheap...

Packing a tent up in the rain is horrible, then riding being cold to start with doesnt sound a good idea.

Just shove it in and then dry it later... I've got a tiny 1.5 man (or 1 man + someone really close :twisted:) .. I can just stick it in the car in 2 mins in a plastic bag... get it home after and then dry it out.

Actually less hassle than drying a camelback!

www.yha.org.uk

Beds from 12 quid in a dorm type thing usually. Earplugs and eye mask.

Ton and Nickjb are winning ATM (unless i get arrested/turns out to be a dogging spot)

Think ill give it a go, just pull up somewhere quiet,park and stay unwashed for a couple of days...whats the worst that can happen
[img] &size=400x1000[/img]

Ton and Nickjb are winning ATM (unless i get arrested/turns out to be a dogging spot)

Think ill give it a go, just pull up somewhere quiet,park and stay unwashed for a couple of days...whats the worst that can happen
[img] &size=400x1000[/img]

Earplugs and eye mask

How rude, im not that sort of man

I do it fairly often in a Seat Alhambra with all the rear seats removed, which provides plenty of room for a couple of bikes and myself. I generally only do it for one night and just park up at trail centres or isolated car parks.
If you can't find a shower and you're doing a few nights, wet wipe showers aren't really up to the job, especially if you are out riding all day!......edit....it's never bothered me, but possibly others 😳
As others have said, campsites don't like people kipping in their cars.

This is the bit im confused by, surely its going to be more insulated than a tent?

1. Most modern tents have two layers (fly + inner) and so effectively have a bit of a cavity wall going on.
2. The car is metal - metal conducts and then radiates the heat very effectively. The bits that aren't metal are glass. If you think glass is efficient for keeping the heat in you presumably don't remember life before double glazing. Curtains aren't really for modesty!
3. All the cold metal and glass takes your breath and forms condensation (even worse if you have wet kit), and so everything is damp and you probably open the windows.
4. The volume inside your car will be bigger than a 2 man tent. You body is what heats it up. You are effectively sleeping in a 6 man tent on your own.
5. The car itself has quite a thermal mass - ie. it takes a lot of energy to heat up all that metal, seat, plastic fittings. The tent is much lower - provided you insulate from the ground below.

I have wondered whether hanging a tent inner inside a car would help with some of the above.

I've been to wales - it rains A LOT.

Good luck getting to sleep in your car when the rain is lashing against the roof...

Tried it a few times, wouldn't bother again. A Decathlon pop-up tent is your friend.

Thank you poly.

The glass - i've lived in a flat with crap timber windows and single glazing - im sure my cars glass is thicker and the u value would be betterer...admittedly thermal bridging would be much much worse!

So being difficult - if i used a thermorest and a winter thick mummy sleeping bag would be optimal?

I know what your getting at with the volume thing from camping at cannock in a 4 man tent in november it was ****ing horrible

Good luck getting to sleep in your car when the rain is lashing against the roof...
another good point

Done it a number of times in my old Astra Estate, as above crack windows slightly, presume it is going to be freezing and most important part headphones to block noise and a "pee-bottle"

I've done it a few times in my pug estate. I've had some good nights and i've had some shit nights. I had a night where the temp dropped to around 1 deg outside and it was Baltic in the car, as above the insulation is piss poor at best. On the flip side in the middle of summer when the nights are mild, the legs are tired and you are full of cider then sleeping in the car is a doddle.

No bother, done it before, will do it again.

Take a mini rhyno bucket for a wash.

I use a thermarest and a decent sleeping bag in all seasons up in Scotland and have never been so cold I couldn't sleep. Heavy rain has woken me in both my car and my tent and I've always managed to get back to sleep.
Sleeping in a car is not as bad as people think, but it is reallly only suitable for a few days.

I'd give it a go with the car, having slept in mine a few times and quite enjoyed it. Yes it can be cold and plenty of condensation so windows open a bit, but as it is summer the overnight temperature might be absolutely fine even in the lower altitudes of mountain areas. And rain in a car is noisy - but rain in a tent is pretty noisy too surely!?

Yes, comfortable thin mattress is needed. Take a spare duvet to go over or under you for a bit of comfort, and take a normal pillow. Campsites won't necessarily turn you away for being without a tent, you can call and ask when booking one? Recently stayed in the back of our Mazda five (2 of us!) in a Dorset campsite and it was very cosy and hassle-free. Going to be doing an overnight in the car in Wales this weekend too.

I'm fairly anti-social/social-phobic so would rather sleep in a car than a YHA dorm, any day of the week 🙂

I must be in a minority, much prefer the back of my car to a tent. I use a foam mattress that folds up and a eye mask. Open windows means no condensation at all. Cannot be doing with tents for simple one night solo sleeping.

The correct answer is, obviously, by a T5 and convert it to a camper 🙂

I've done it a couple of times in the back of my Vectra estate which is huge and also completely flat once the seats are folded. Airbed, sleeping bag, job done.

Cars can get VERY cold - the metal simply soaks up all the body heat being given off whereas a tent has a cavity wall thing between the inner and fly.

Privacy is a bit of a concern in a car as well, I tend to put a big tarp up over the back of the front seats and hook it to the back of the boot then sleep under that.
For more than 1 night I'd want to put a tent up though.

Condensation is the problem and leisure centres for the shower.

Usually do it in Scotland when skiing - if you have the window open in the summer midges might be an issue but you can get window socks:

[url= https://www.amazon.co.uk/window-socks-sunshade-shades-cars-1/dp/B005BYVQ7G ]E.g.[/url]

In my estate car with a flat floor I prefer to sleep the other way around with my head at the tailgate end. I pull the luggage screen over for improved privacy and to hide from the early morning sun... Room for a bike in the car with me, too. Proper air mattress and sleeping bag, of course.

So much over thinking here. He is going to Wales in June, not Kiev in January.

So much over thinking here. He is going to Wales in June, not Kiev in January.

My anxiety levels are high, you should see what im like on a group unplanned trip to Afan! 😯 😯 😯
😆

Search youtube for "living in your car". Tonnes of people in the states living in walmart parking lots it would seem. But they have bigger cars.

Also tonnes of people in Europe have converted their cars into "microcampers" - the Berlingo/Kangoo is popular, but any car big enough is a possibility.

As people have said, many campsites won't let you just sleep in your car - maybe you'll need to throw up a cheap pop-up tent next to the car to keep them happy, in which case you might as well sleep in it.

I'd certainly do it for a bit of stealth camping in a trail centre car park though - tinted windows would help.

I slept in my Sierra estate (remember them?) when I marshalled an October Polaris in Wales (Trefriw I think)
It was fine, 3/4 Thermarest, Snugpak bag & the bike to keep me company!

I've slept in many cars, in fact for a short while I lived in a VW beetle with my girlfriend and a cat.
Give it a go but you will spend longer getting the car half comfy than you would putting up a tent, then you will have ages lying awake uncomfortable wishing you had. You dont need to fully set up for one night, just fling up the tent, and bung in your mat and bag.

Sweepy has it. I went on a trip a few years ago (summertime) that mixed youth hostels and sleeping in the car (stealthy, not campsites). Only did one night in the car, with moving stuff around, getting set up and then undoing everything in the morning, pain in the arse. And that was a citroen estate IIRC. Might have been the peugeot. Or the Opel...... an estate anyway.

Bought a cheap 2 man tent after the first night in the car, by the end of the trip it was only taking me about 10 minutes to completely pitch, and "move in" (Mattress, sleeping bag, pillow, light and a book, was about it) and about 15 minutes to go the other way. Bugger to roll them up and get them back in the carry sack thing.

Oh, my sleeping bag dried out in 20 minutes instead of being left all day flat in the boot. Steaming up the windows.

Ive done it - its cold, condensation builds up and everything gets damp.
That said, leave the windows ajar and man up and it can be great.

Especially when you have a Galaxy with 7' flat load bay. 8)
[img] [/img]

Especially when you have a Galaxy with 7' flat load bay

Ah we used to have a grand espace the 7 seater thing, it would have been comfy but inevitably would have broken down 20 miles from the destination!

I slept in my car at Mountain Mayhem. Back seats down and open a window a bit for air. I just used a sleeping bag and a pillow. I didn't have wet kit or bike inside though.

Also - you probably don't notice how loud the rain is on the roof of a car, as you are usually driving in it.

Very loud.

Don't expect to get any sleep if it rains.

I have slept in my Ford S-max a few times, on an air bed. Its comfy enough and if you drink heavily, you'll not notice the hammering rain either.

It'll be much colder than you think, or a tent, but with a 4 season bag and a hat i've always been toasty.

Condensation was noticable, but not a problem.

Fine for one night, but not more than two.

I do it a fair bit.

My preferred solution though is a £25 pop up tent from decathlon (not the single skinned festival ones) and find a quiet layby and jump over the hedge into a field with it. Takes seconds to pup it up (and get it packed up again. Throw a self inflating mat and a sleeping bag in and I can be asleep 10 minutes after pulling in.

If sleeping in the car, double up on mattresses/insulation as seat belt mounts etc can be very uncomfortable and the thin seat backs deform quite bit. I use some foil bubble wrap, an old foam camping mat and a self inflating mat. You'll want a thicker than expected sleeping bag as well, it's no warmer (but equally no colder TBH) than a bivi or tent, so maybe have a thin hat to hand just in case. Although if you have no plans to leave the car a duvet would be a much more practical solution.

The other problem is that unlike sleeping on the ground (which is lumpy), inside a car is smooth, so any slope at all and you'll slide right down.

I have slept in my Ford S-max a few times, on an air bed. Its comfy enough and if you drink heavily, you'll not notice the hammering rain either.

Being an S-max owner, and knowing how humungous they are, I'd be tempted to sleep in the car too - but bear in mind that having a few beers then sleeping in your car [i]can[/i] lead to a drunk-in-charge situation.

If you've got the right car, then sleeping in it is loads less faff than a tent and much more comfortable.

I slept around 200 nights in my Volvo 940 estate and it was excellent. Decent Thermarest and sleeping bag and a perfectly flat/level 6'2" long space to lay out in.

If it's cold then just take more sleeping bags/duvets. The coldest we managed was at Bridge of Orchy one February. The weather forecast the next day said it had been -18C in various parts of the highlands. We were fine, just took a while to scrape all the ice off the inside of the windows.
Also, nothing to drink as the water bottles had all frozen solid, but no great problem really.

a mate and I did a week or ten days touring round france in a citreon ax.
back seat down, front seats slid all the way forward and then the back adjusted so upright it was leaning forward. just enough room for two six footers...

damn thing stunk when we got back to calais

Don't forget to turn off the internal alarm sensor.
It'll be cold.
You'll worry about the bike on your roof.
I prefer a tent and if you have the car it doesn't have to be a small one.

Being an S-max owner, and knowing how humungous they are, I'd be tempted to sleep in the car too - but bear in mind that having a few beers then sleeping in your car can lead to a drunk-in-charge situation.

Afaik, provided your keys are not in the ignition and you're not in the front seats of the vehicle, a charge of 'driving under the influence' is not something the Police are able to make stick. If you think about motorhomes and camper vans, they have the same issue and don't seem to be a problem. Also, presumably the OP would be in a campsite and NOT on the public highway? good point of caution to keep in mid tho.

I think some of your are approaching car sleeping in the same way as tent sleeping, this will be your mistake. I did this when I got my first camper van. Forget nylon sleeping bags, thermarest and all that. A foam mattress, proper duvet, sheet and pillow is what you need (Decent size wide neck bottle doesn't go amiss either).

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I don't see how it could be significantly colder than a tent. You're supposed to insulate the heat inside the duvet/sleeping bag, not heat the whole area.

Obviously the above relies on you having a decent length estate car and not a saxo...

^^^^ thats what i was thinking...im going to empty the car tonight and see if it all drops level etc
[img] [/img]

edit - looks like a built in pillow!

Campsite is still a public place in the eyes of the law.
I'm sure many of us have had a drink and slept in the car at events etc, I know many people who have.
On a cold night even started the engine for heat.
No thought whatsoever of actually going for a drive, just trying to keep warm and getting some kip before the big event the next day.
We used to do it all the time.
Keeps accommodation costs down doesn't it?
I don't know what the difference is between sleeping in a car or campervan.
I would strongly recommend sleeping in a tent if you are thinking of having a drink, or chucking the keys in a bag and putting them outside of the car/ van?

As above, don't think of it like a tent, i use the old mattress of my daughters first proper bed, only 5ft in length but only bottom half of legs over it, proper pillow and thick old winter duvet!

Shouldn't the standard response be car and save your money on the campsite and then spend it on coke and hookers instead?

Weirdly as far as I understand the Drink and Drive laws are slightly different for campervans than they are for cars, in that if a campervan is parked in a lay-by it is a "temporary domicile" whereas a car is not.

If drunk in a car, even in back, Police presumption is that you were looking to drive it.

In a campervan it is that you are staying in a temporary residence, BUT if you been drinking you shouldn't have keys in engine or sit in the driver seat with it pointing forwards.

(this is from memory so might not be 100% accurate, driving to remember a case we defended ages ago)

My wife, 8 year old son, 6 year old daughter and I all slept in the back of our Smax on the way down to the alps in February this year.

I had sleeping mats and bags, plus pillows and duvets all positioned in the boot so as when we stopped at 2am in the aire, we just had to drop the back seats and pull out the sleeping stuff. luggage was in the roof box. Not sure we'll manage in many more times as the kids get bigger though...

We've also done it in camp sites but with 2 of us in the car and 2 in a small tent.

Privacy glass FTW!

Shouldn't the standard response be car and save your money on the campsite and then spend it on coke and hookers instead?

How many hookers can you get in the back of a VW...? Spose it depends how much coke you've had...

Sleeping in the back of my old Astravan on Honister pass back in the late 90's cost me a new sleeping bag. Friday night was that bloody cold I got so little sleep while my girlfriend was sleeping soundly in her 4 season bag. I went straight in to Keswick in the morning and bought a lovely (and reduced) Snugpak Softie. Saturday night I was snug as a bug. Still use the bag now 20 years later so it has been good value even if at the time a B&B would have been a cheaper option.

Scud, until recently I thought as long as one is not actually driving and just using vehicle to sleep in was fine.
No intention to drive at all.
This, it seems, is not fine.
Intention to drive crops up, even though obviously no intention to drive.
Camper vans I'd be interested in if it is a different law?

Get one of these and put the bike in the boot
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/112208133825?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&var=412437060695&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

I have slept in various vehicles, tents etc.

A tent is way more comfortable and warm. Cars / uninsulated vans are cold, noisy tin boxes. Some campsites won't allow vans let alone car camping. If you are parked up in a layby or carpark, the cops will ask you what the hell you are doing especially if ruralish. They are checking you are not dodgy or trying to top yourself. Happened to me a couple of times. They went away after a chat and checking out the car.

Decent cushioned pad, pillow, blindfold and heaphones are a must. A warmish sleeping bag is required. It is like sleeping outside but out of wind & rain. Actually sleeping outside is more comfortable sometimes.

Went on holiday with a mate years ago in an old 205. Plan A was b&b but couldn't find any. Hotels were twice the price so alternated between hotel and sleeping rough in the car. It was chilly but sleeping bag and keeping clothes on helped. I reckon most people can put up with a couple of nights discomfort for a bit of an adventure.

Dad and I used to sleep in the back of a ZX estate at silverstone when we went to watch the F1.

Disposable BBQ and plenty of beers. Wrapped up in a duvet each and watching the fireworks out of the sunroof.

In the morning we could get straight up and head to claim our space with no messing 😀

I lived in a 309 for a few years coupled with working away where I got the luxury of b+bs.

It was fine and a lot of people around the world live in much worse conditions.

I'm sure you'll be fine for a weekend.

Worked as a site engineer for a while and lived out the back of an astra van, you wouldn't believe how many people are living in the back of vans on a week night...
Was fine, leave windor ajar and wrap up warm

if you leave the bike on the car, attach fishing line to it and then to your big toe, you will definetly know if someone is making away with it.

Dammit, this isn't a Roxette revival thread...

Afaik, provided your keys are not in the ignition and you're not in the front seats of the vehicle, a charge of 'driving under the influence' is not something the Police are able to make stick. If you think about motorhomes and camper vans, they have the same issue and don't seem to be a problem.

Before we went down the Kombi/camper van route we use to kip in all sorts of cars when going to events/parties etc all year around - as long as you have enough bedding you'll be fine. My favourite was an old Saab 900 Turbo we use to go to Talybont on Usk in every New Year for the pubs and riding, great car to dive there and 6' and a bit in the back with seats down when time for the land of nod.

perchypanther - Member
Erect a pop up tent inside the car before you go and sleep in that.

😀

If drunk in a car, even in back, Police presumption is that you were looking to drive it.

Depends (I think) - my mate got done for drunk driving whilst he was asleep in the back of his car but the keys were in the ignition. He was told that if the keys were in the back of the car (alongside him), he wouldn't have been charged.

I suspect as long as you aren't in the driver's seat and the keys are nowhere near the ignition then you should be 'ok'...probably depends on what mood the police are in when they tap the window though.

Saying all that though, I've never been drunk and in my car, so never had to find out. Spent a few night sleeping in it - it is much colder than a tent - probably more space in the car to try and 'heat', I haven't had any issues with condensation (but I've only ever done this during the warmer months).

Never slept in the back of the car though as the bike has always been there - Mitsu Legnum VR4, Fiat Bravo, Suzuki Swift and Ford Fiesta have all been slept in - all in the passenger seat in the front - have slept but it hasn't been comfy (although I have slept the whole night through). Have also slept in the driver seat of the Fiesta - not a great sleep as my feet kept getting caught in the pedals. It is a problem with smaller cars and being 6' 1" - never enough room in the back for bike and body.

Got a bigger vehicle now (Puggy Partner Tepee) so looking forward to kipping in the back with the seat reclined and front seat folded flat for my legs - leaves plenty room for the bike and other kit as well...however, that probably won't be as comfy as lying flat, which I'll be able to do if I removed all the rear seats.

Have done loads of car camping over the years, Scotland in winter, France in summer, Astra Estates, Volvo V70 estate, Nissan Prairie, Sprinter & Transit vans, Landrover Defender in the back and a roof tent.

One thing they all share is that as above they are all colder than a normal tent (apart from the rooftent ) and condensation in normal goods vans is particularly bad.

I always take a piece of foam for a mattress and a 4season mummy bag or a duvet if with Mrs RNP.
Head under load cover if you have one and happy land of nod.

I'm 6'5"

Remember to take a comfy warm hat. Helps loads.

OP needs a Tesla: https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2016-tesla-camper-mode/

Depends (I think) - my mate got done for drunk driving whilst he was asleep in the back of his car but the keys were in the ignition. He was told that if the keys were in the back of the car (alongside him), he wouldn't have been charged.

What if you have keyless go? Doesnt matter where the keys are in the car then?

Dunno...

Spent two weeks driving a Golf Kombi/estate around the alps, bike in there with wheels off and bags of gear stuffed alongside it, a fold down chair and cooking stove, thick Thermarest and decent sleeping bag.
Wasn't too bad.

Spent over a month in a VW Sharan with all the rear seats removed. That was better.

Spent many weeks/months in empty panel vans bumming around the alps. Cheap folding sun lounger, Thermarest and sleeping bag, doors slightly ajar.
Easy.

So logic is your body heat just needs to heat the sleeping bag and a woolly hat to keep you snug on a thick mattress.

Bit of wild swimming for a shower 😯 ...Pub for food... sleeping under the stars...this is sounding much better!

As an aside - Someone mentioned earlier get a transporter...so whats the actual difference between a transporter and a car, aside from the converted kitchen type ones surely its just as insulated as a modern car?

EDIT - READ THE TESLA ARTICLE - BRILLIANT!

Someone mentioned earlier get a transporter...so whats the actual difference between a transporter and a car

Space.....and a big comfy bed.

[img] [/img]

In terms of insulation, a bare van will be far worse than a car, a properly lined and insulated van will be far better, especially if there isn't too much glass.

Interesting reading about being drunk in charge:

http://www.ibblaw.co.uk/service/road-traffic-offences/drunk-charge-motor-vehicle

Section 5 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 states:

“The defendant must prove that it was more likely than not that he had no intention of driving whilst the level of alcohol in his breath, blood or urine remained above the prescribed limit in which case, he is not considered to be in charge”.

So if you're worried, a bit of prep before you go the pub or crack open the hip flask could be well worth it - having your sleeping stuff already laid out - a text exchange in your phone with someone saying you're sleeping in the car, confirming the plan to meet them there at 8am to ride the next day, etc.

The onus seems to be on you, not them, so if they catch you wobbling towards the car and bibbing it open straight from the pub, with none of that^, and no evidence of any other plan, you might find it tricky to do any proving.

It's summer, even though it doesn't look it. I've slept in the back seats of my van loads of times, in all seasons. If it has been a sunny day your issue will be how to keep cool enough when going to sleep. Winter it does become an issue keeping warm but nothing a hat and two sleeping bags can't sort out.

Have slept in the back of a Volvo 850 T5-R estate up at Fort William and Golspie for a couple of nights, bike alongside me with the wheels off. I'd pick that over a hostel any night of the week. Tent was in the car for the Orkney leg where I left the car behind but wasn't even tempted once I set the car up. That definitely wasn't winter and was a great trip. Was riding on my own, think I may have got a shower at FW but the Golspie leg was just a bottle of water/shower gel/wet wipes post ride.