Sleeping in my Galaxy – make me comfortable

Got a galaxy last year a 2009 plate. Planning on sleeping in myself this year at a few races. The seats fold flat and Iv installed a fork holder so bike wheels in and clamps with front wheel placed I beside frame. Leaves enough room for me to crash.

What do I need to make me comfortable and make breakfast etc…. How’s best to Insulate and ventilate ? Any useful tools equipment etc?

(Still thinking of a cheapish ford transit

I sleep in my pug 306 all the time. I use a roll mat, a good sleeping bag and a duvet over that. Never underestimate how cold it can get in a car. The glass windows transfer heat amazingly well. Small camp stove and a pan for porridge.

Thick mat, poss blow-up, pillow from your bed at home. Plus nuff covers per temperature.

And no stoves on without the tailgate open. No point being comfy if you never wake up!

Turn the interior alarm off.

I used to use a little Colman petrol stove but would probably go gas now, just for coffee, you never too far from food.

I used to sleep in a Mondeo at events. Fleece blanket pegged to the handles above the door provided a bit of light reduction (which I found to be the main problem) and a window was always left open a little. I used to recline the passenger seat and sleep in that – but then I wasmt competing for the win the next day.

Canvas tarpaulin over the top

Gives light reduction, big thermal improvement and allows you to leave window open to stop condensation (takes ages to dry out properly once it’s gone into all the fabric and all your dry kit etc)

Can also be pegged out as a tarp/awning to give you somewhere to cook, fettle bike etc

I take it this canvas tarpaulin is pegged down over the car?

In case you missed it, cook outside. Even a small stove will kill you quick enough in a reasonably airtight box. Windows open a decent crack for sleeping to help with the condensation.

I take it this canvas tarpaulin is pegged down over the car?

Yeah, laid over the roof and covering the windows at the sides works best where there are rails on the roof IME as it gives a thermal gap – you can experiment with how far out you peg it for warmth or airflow, or to act as a proper tarp – bungee cords are your friend.

I’ve seen people throw a pop-up tent into the back of vans and people carriers, seems to work pretty well- gets a bit squeezed but it looks like you still get the full length.

Ninfan’s idea sounds perfect tbh

If you use a pop up tent I side would that eliminate / minimise the condensation ?

I don’t think it would TBH

Sit inside the car for half an hour on a wet day and you know how it gets, I’m sure we’ve all played the game of trying to leave the window open a bit to stop it steaming up while not letting the rain in

It’s a heat and light thing, i think, I can’t see it doing anything for condensation

I sleep in my galaxy all the time. It contains my home tar system so it works out well.

^ any photos of your set ups

Make some blinds now – best ‘mod’ I ever did

Buy a couple of cheap foam camping mats (mine were decathlon). Make some templates in card of the inside of the glass windows. Cut the foam a mm or 2 bigger and the mat should just hold in place (depending on the window trim inside you may even be able to wedge the mat in.
Did this on my old berlingo and made a big difference for sleeping.

The other thing I did was buy a Fiamma f35 awning which you can attache with brackets to roof bars. Make a fantastic space if its wet for cooking/eating under before bed.

Happy camping!

Your car camping so luxury items are allowed, leave windows open a little, use a duvet under & over you, air mat (sheep skin rugs if you can), boil water for hot water bottle prior to bed. Sorted.

I did the same with the camping mats cut down to insulate the windows. Works pretty well, I got mine from the range and have one side foil. I wouldn’t go inflatable mattress. I did and it’s super uncomfortable. A proper fold up camp bed would be better. If you want to run a lot of power from the battery I.e. Phone, go pro, lights etc might be worth getting a solar panel charger too that you plug into cigarette lighter to trickle charge during the day.

I used to sleep in my Hyundai Trajet, it was fine. But the Transit I have now is so much better, in every respect. You should definitely get one OP!
To answer your other question, the thing which made the most difference was curtains, simple, just run a bungee from the rearmost seatbelt to the sun visor and hang some sheets on it, thermal and light insulation.

I sleep in my galaxy all the time. It contains my home star system so it works out well.

^ any photos of your set ups

Only once slept in a car, bloody freezing. So just switched it on and went back to sleep.

Old diesel and a full tank…

Take a tent and camp next to it.

I used to sleep in my Sharan at Mayhem, took all the seats out airbed one side bikes the other, use the seat mountings to lash the bike to.

You could always use a hammock. Here’s an interesting video

Use the car to carry a tent, much much warmer and far more comfortable.

Some plywood, a few old battons and a tasteful caravan mattress 🙂

OK so not a Galaxy but probably a similar, if not smaller, interior volume.