I lost my job while the Transporter was mid-conversion and I've got some multi-day riding excursions planned. The van (which should have been finished by now) was a key ingredient of the plan being both transport and accomodation.
Anyway, I do not have any camping gear. Tragic I know.
I know from experience that an airbed on a sheet of ply wood on the floor of a van is bloody freezing. Would a proper roll mat be any better? like an Alpkit Dozer? I've never used one. Would it be just as cold as a big fat airbed or are they somehow magic?
It seems like a good idea to get off the floor so I was wondering if anyone has tried those folding camp beds? Lots of generic designs available at similar prices. Are they nice to get a goods nights sleep on or are they fragile crap? [url= http://www.amazon.co.uk/Yellowstone-Aluminium-Folding-Camp-Bed/dp/B0037CF6EI/ref=pd_sxp_f_pt ]this kind of thing[/url]
Any recommendation on sleeping bags? Sorry. I have never had a sleeping bag in my adult life. Again, I'm drawn to the Alpkit site just because they seem to do everything you need at reasonable prices. I'm working on the assumption that a big metal van is much colder than a fabric tent during the night.
Any opinions, as always, appreciated!
If it's for car camping, Decathlon do some pretty good bags- they're bulky so not ideal for backpacking/bikepacking, but good value.
Mats vary- some household airbeds are basically cold conductors, terrible for camping. But good ones will keep you warmer.
My folks are getting on a bit and we camp a lot.. they decided that the camp beds would be a good idea as they are easier to get out of than getting up off the floor. They found them very cold and now have the camp beds with a cheap self inflating mat on top of that, with a down bag. Alpkit stuff is good.
1 layer underneath is 2 on top. Thermarest thingy jobby 4" mattress & a decent winter rated sleeping bag shouldn't take you over a ton, could put one of those survival foil blankets underneath too.
Oh & a good bobble hat 😀 always taken a pillow from home too.
But as you've never owned a sleeping bag in your life, there's no hope you will die...
rig a hammock up in the van, loads more comfortable than on the floor, although make sure you have some insulation underneath the hammock.
I'd look on ebay for the mattress / cushions from a caravan. Seems daft to be in a van then sleep on something designed to be carried on your back.
As a cheapy cheapo though, if you can find a supplier locally, I use stuff called 'Stratocell' for packing artworks and exhibitions, its a stiff, shock absorbing closed cell foam. If you have a supplier of foams and packing materials locally its much, much cheaper than upholstery foam, it doesn't absorb damp or go smelly, its easy to clean and if i'm bushed on a long drive I climb into the back of the van and sleep on it. Its warm, comfy, you can roll it up (to an extent) you can score it so that it folds up and its and about £10 for an 2mx1m sheet. The stuff I use is about 1" thick and is as comfier than a thermarest, but you can spec it any thickness you like.
Airbed will be good insulation at reasonable cost, I've also used a hammock in a LWB Landrover, insulation is nice, but it doesn't need as much as being on the floor.
Why not just get a cheap mattress?
Loads of info already, thanks. Lots to think about.
Funny how you mention hammocks as I've got one and it was my first thought. All the walls of the van have been sound proofed, insulated, covered in ply and carpeted so it's smooth and fuzzy. Nowhere left to mount a hammock. Looks nice though, like sleeping inside a big, grey peach.
EDIT:
Why not just get a cheap mattress?
Ideally wanted something a bit more compact/deflateable/collapsable so I can still have room to tie a couple of bikes down. Transporters look tiny as soon as you put ANYTHING in the back.
i got cushions made for my van.
i've got 25mm firm foam & 50mm memory foam, mattress size.it'd be cheaper and maybe better the other way round. so comfy, rolls up perfect for in the van. put it in an old sheet/ duvet for cheapness.
Get off the floor
2 boxes and a plank of wood works well
Never been so cold in all my life as on the floor of my van in march...,,
Bivyed in the same sleeping bag at strathpuffer in the january of 2009
Why not just get a cheap mattress?
its not common to find ones that are narrow enough . A regular single mattress will pretty much take up all the floor in a van and you end up cursing not being able to stand anywhere. And they get dank.
Austin Maxi. All the seats fold flat to make a proper double bed!
And my Dad never figured out why I, when a frisky young fellow, was happy to borrow is car...
I made a fold down bed for my transporter that was in two pieces. Very cheap and quite easy. It hinged off a baton on the side without a door in, folded up against the side for storage and legs folded back. It was all secured with Velcro so it didn't bang about when driving. It was in 2 pieces so I could fold one down and use it like an armchair, or get to storage underneath. It was narrow enough to get 2, possibly 3 dh bikes alongside when folded down. I used this and mates went in a tent.
A couple of closed cell camping maps and a thermarest were all I used with my down bag and pillow from home. Must have done over 50 nights, probably more, in it over a few years racing dh - unfortunately not got any good photos but you can almost see it here
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I would also recommend a pair of wheel levelling ramps if you are going to be parking off the flat, and make a thermal blackout blind for the front if you don't have a bulkhead.
I have got a 1/2 inch sheet of ply suspended across the wheel arch boxes, underneath are storage boxes from b&q to provide extra support and easy storage, the mattress is made from foam from dun elm homes shop. Works fine
We have an ikea foam mattress that fold into thirds. Much comfier than an airbed or roll mat. As for warmth, I've never understood the need to use a sleeping bag when car/van camping. We take a duvet (or two if it's cold) and proper pillows. If we are just camping the mattress goes on the floor, if we are taking the bikes I have a plywood shelf that pretty much fills the back. We sleep on the top, bikes go underneath. If funds are tight an old door would do, or if look in the bins at ikea, I get loads of 12mm chipboard from there. Not the best, but it's free.
nickjb +1. I had a zip together ikea foam mattress from (I think) a futon, but was available as a seperate item. Warm, cheap and I used it as a seat when not sleeping.
I made a fold down bed for my transporter that was in two pieces. Very cheap and quite easy. It hinged off a baton on the side without a door in, folded up against the side for storage and legs folded back. It was all secured with Velcro so it didn't bang about when driving. It was in 2 pieces so I could fold one down and use it like an armchair, or get to storage underneath. It was narrow enough to get 2, possibly 3 dh bikes alongside when folded down. I used this and mates went in a tent.
I like this idea, I can see it now!
We have an ikea foam mattress that fold into thirds
I think I've seen these in the Argos catalogue or something similar. They fold up into a mini-armchair then open up flat? I'll keep an eye out, I seem to remember the ones I saw were too expensive to buy as an experiment.
EDIT: [url= http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/0670155.htm ]like this[/url]
That's the sort of thing. Can't remember what I paid but it was less than that.like this
for years i just used the mattress off my bed, and put it on a pair of pallets donated from the skips of various local businesses and the use the proper bedding i use at home.
maybe chuck in an extra blanket just in case.
whatever you do, it has to be much comfier then anything anyone has in a tent so you can gloat
top tip though, string up a blanket covering the ceiling or else the condensation will cause it to rain slowly indoors
Spent 10 days in Scotland and lakes on a fat Coleman air bed in my otherwise standard Renault master
Was warm enough with a good 3-4 season bag but the condensation was the worst problem.
Aldi and Lidl do foldable guest matresses. Only problem is you will have to wait for them to come in stock
[url= http://www.lidl-ni.co.uk/cps/rde/xchg/SID-C3D90116-8AC8310B/lidl_ni_ie/hs.xsl/index_21275.htm ]Guest matress[/url]
Insulate the walls of the van. cheap insulation, couple o sheets o plywood and thats all it takes.
and roof for that matter.
or spray adhesive some tin foil bubble wrap to the sides and roof - condensation gone no wood required thats all i did with mine and its been excellent 😀
Couple of good longer term options for perm beds and floor space are done by Amdro, no connection to them just like what they do:
In the short term I would just buy some foam and strap it to the side when not in use
Cheap as chips http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gelert-Mini-Hammock-Olive-Stuffsack/dp/B001WR57IA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1357751388&sr=8-1
Carp fishing bedchair with an inflatable rollmat from decathlon like this
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With this
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And a nice 3 season bag
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Toastie
An airbed with a cheap foam camping mat between me and it has always been warm enough. I do, if necessary, raise it up on boxes (which hold various items) with a couple of slats to support a £10 Ikea slatted rollup bed base.
Couple of good longer term options for perm beds and floor space are done by Amdro, no connection to them just like what they do:
Excellent link, thanks for that. They look really good.
This is what the van currently looks like;
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All the panels were flashbanded for noise reduction. Then layers of foil bubble wrap and rockwool stuffed in all the nooks and crannys. Topped off with carpeted ply panels.
There was a drastic reduction in noise as soon as I applied the flashbanding and it retains interior heat for a much extended period. It should have had a leisure battery, power points and diesel powered heater by now but as I said I was unexpectedly shown the door at work. So I'm stuck with a noisy, rattly, 3 piece, ply wood floor on top of bare metal.
Did just by one of these today though. [url= http://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/rab-genesis-3-sleeping-bag-82410102?id_colour=3599 ]Rab Genesis 3[/url]
Haven't seen anything anywhere near that good for £90 quid so it seemed like a safe bet.
Loads of potential beds ideas mentioned above. I'll have something sorted within a week I reckon, then off to the Lakes.
I'm on my third converted can now.
1. Insulate if it's not already. I use silver bubble wrap on all surfaces. Then plastic loft insulation. Ply kit then carpet.do floor and roof as well.
2. 4 season synthetic sleeping bag. £100 well spent. Happily did -16 a few winters back on a snowboard trip.
3. Plan a layout. Even in swb transporter you can make a small bike boot for a few bike then you have room for a bed. Sheet of ply on batons if you want to keep it simple.
You need to put a bit of effort into the basics to make it warm and comfortable. If its cold or a mess with no storage you simply won't use it and it's a waste of time.
A blind or curtains to seperately cab area from back makes it cosier and warmer too!
O and buy trim fix high temp glue for everything or all your insulation and carpet will come off in the summer!
Just seen your latest picture! Sleeping bag and fixed bed will sort it. Go outdoors do some good synthetic ones for £100