Can’t quite justify that van?
While many of us lust after a dedicated bike tripping van, not everyone can justify the cost or the day-to-day challenges of relying on a brick for transport. Invented by ’90s mountain bike hero Philippe Perakis, the swissRoomBox FreeTech is said to be the world’s smallest car-to-camper conversion. A large, flat suitcase, the device deploys to become in-car scaffolding, supporting sleeping pads 7in or thicker.
With the front and rear seats folded flat (and, in this case, headrests removed), a swissRoomBox bed is created that runs from the steering wheel to tailgate. Adjustable to fit different makes and models, the platform runs from 180-200cm long and 100-14ocm wide. Rather than resting on the seats or armrests, the swissRoomBox is suspended at the front from the car’s seatbelts- quite clever if it can be made stable. The arrangement is tapered to clear rear wheel wells and the whole arrangement can be leveled front-to-back and side-to-side for sloping sites. 
The sides of the case transform into a pair of tables, which attach to the rear of the bed and provide dining or working space under the raised hatch. Made in Switzerland of renewable compressed paper, the swissRoomBox weighs 29kg (~65lb) and has wheels for easy transport. Pricing is 2,000 Swiss Francs (£1,315)- not cheap, but less expensive than maintenance and tax would run on even the least expensive second vehicle. A few nights in a waterlogged tent could make this seem like a very good idea indeed.
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Absolutely fantastic, if it was sub 500 it would be a winner
Not to knock a good idea, but if I was camping, I would probably be looking to lock the bike in the car for security overnight. That would be a bit tricky if I was in the car too! I suppose if you have a roof rack that the bike locks to this might be more of a goer.
I used to use a futon matress in the back of the Volvo estate. Did not even touch the front seats…
Or spend less than 1/3 of that price on a tent for arctic/mountain conditions, with more room inside and still have the ability to lock your bike in the car:
http://www.cave-crag.co.uk/vango-force-ten-spindrift-300-tent
I got a roll up bed (slats tied together) from Ikea for about a tenner and used the plastic boxes I carry the junk round in as supports with an airbed and sleeping bag. A folding table wouldn’t cost much over that.
interesting, but it looks to use up a lot of height in the car. I may be wrong but is that a Honda Jazz? fairly short, but fairly high cabin?
I’ve slept in a 3 series touring (e46) with just* an airbed and sleeping bag and its not got a lot of manoeuvring height to lose out to a bed structure such as this imo. Especially when getting into the car, which has to be done through the side door as there’s no internal boot latch
*oh and the bike (wheels, seatpost out) laid at diagonal angle, wasn’t room to go vertical
Have a look at the Amdro Boot Jump camper conversion for cars like a Berlingo. Even more cramed in to a small space.
http://www.amdro.co.uk
you could almost buy a basic t4 for that money 😉
i suppose so, if you put it with about another 2k, then threw in another 500 quid a year for mot, tax and insurance….
😉
Yay, Honda Jazz, at least you know it wouldn’t break down 😉
Amdro made a similar conversion for a Jazz a few years back. Solo option with space down the side for stuff, maybe even a bike!
Looks like a solution to a problem that doesn’t exist. If you want to sleep in you car, then just buy a kipmat