[bwar]

Greetings to everyone :-)

This is my first post on Team BHP since becoming a member earlier this week. Mods , I hope that I am posting in the correct forum. Please feel free to change the same or addon my post to any other relevant thread that exists.

I am contemplating doing the leh ladakh circuit in late august and was wondering if I could camp in my Scorpio. This would mean that I would need some kind of a bed for sleeping in every night as sleeping on the seats would be a tricky proposition.

I was thinking of removing the rear seats and the passenger seat in order to make space for a simple bed. I went this morning and measured the relevant internal dimensions of the scorpio and they are as follows(approximate figures give or take a couple of inches , since I was measuring alone):

Internal Dimensions
Total Length : 7 feet - 84 inches
Total Breadth : 4 feet 10 inches - 58 inches
Length upto front seat : 5 feet - 60 inches
(not completely rolled back)
Width of the front passenger seat : 22inches

The plan right now is very simple . Take a piece of 1/2 inch ply and get it cut according to the requisite dimensions.

I am planning on covering half the width of the scorpio i.e. approximately 2 and half feet. Raise it by 2 and a half feet , so that i can fit in bags and other luggage beneath it. This plank of ply wood would narrow down to 22 inches where the front seat begins. Get it covered with rexine and get some foam matress cut to dimensions.

I would appreciate if some of the others can let me have their thoughts and let me know if there are some things that I am missing / not considering / should be considering/etc. . I also did a google search and looked at some of the many beds being made for jeeps abroad and am posting some of their pictures below.

Thanks a ton.

[bwar]

These are the images of one of the setups that I thought was quite simple to implement.

[bwar]

These are some more samples that I have come across. Looking forward to hearing everyones views before I go ahead with this small DIY project of mine.

Thanks.

[condor]

Interesting project. Couple of questions, though:

1. there does not seem to be much headroom when sleeping, even to be able to get down when you wake up.

2. what is the lower section for ? If for luggage, will you have that much luggage ?

[bwar]

Thanks for the response condor. Please see image attached below.

1. The ply will be at a height of 2 and a half feet which is the same as that of the passenger seat. The scorpio being a tall vehicle , we shouldn't have a problem with headroom at that level. After all it seats passengers pretty comfortably

2. I will just have empty space and will not have any ply in the lower section so that we can dump luggage/ knick knacks, below the bed.

Since all the seats except the drivers seat will be removed , the vehicle will be suitable only for one man expeditions.

The other thing that I have been thinking about is to maybe have a hinge which can fold out for the two feet of space(length) which would enable me to retain both the front seats. This would be somewhat like shown in the 1st set of pictures above where the front passenger seat is folded all the way back when the bed is out . The hinge would then open up and cover the front passenger seat as well at bed time. The only thing here I would have to worry about in this scenario is the hinge being able to open up without getting stuck with the roof.

The whole structure would also need to be easily dismantable . I am thinking of anchoring the bed somewhere, where the jump seats have anchor points/ slots for screws/etc.

Originally Posted by condor

Interesting project. Couple of questions, though:

1. there does not seem to be much headroom when sleeping, even to be able to get down when you wake up.

2. what is the lower section for ? If for luggage, will you have that much luggage ?

[BBR_SHR]

Maybe you can try looking for something like this
http://www.ebay.in/itm/XElectron-Fol...item3ce586a330

[::CMS::]

Just a warning, If the ply is a fixed kind then in case of an accident esp a rear ending (even a minor one) can be very fatal.

[arjithin]

Originally Posted by BBR_SHR

Maybe you can try looking for something like this
http://www.ebay.in/itm/XElectron-Fol...item3ce586a330

This sounds interesting. Any one used this or has got feedback on Indian cars which are much smaller than the one shown the pictures?

[Dodge_Viper]

Interesting idea. But, are you planning to keep windows open a bit? Asked since Ladakh nights would be freezing cold, and I am afraid closing all windows would get a suffocation feeling in that confined space.

[bwar]

Originally Posted by BBR_SHR

Maybe you can try looking for something like this
http://www.ebay.in/itm/XElectron-Fol...item3ce586a330

Thanks for this . I see three problems with this :
1. Air mattresses loose body heat so camping in a cold climate would be difficult.
2. There seem to be children in the 1st picture, and for an adult who is 5 ft 10 this would be uncomfortable having me to sleep in a foetal position. The width of the Scorpio as measured above is only slightly less than 5 feet.
3. Air mattresses from the reviews that I have read have the uncanny knack to get punctured, leaving the occupant touching the ground when he wakes up.

Advantage: Would seem to be a good option while travelling with the kids so that they can relax while the parents are in the front seat.

Originally Posted by ::CMS::

Just a warning, If the ply is a fixed kind then in case of an accident esp a rear ending (even a minor one) can be very fatal.

Thanks for pointing this out. I hadn't considered this.

Another thing that comes to mind could then just get a mattress/foam/bean bag cut to this size/stitched to this size and use it as the bed . This could also be rolled up when not in use as and when extra space is required.


The safety issue would be then be addressed. The disadvantage will be that we loose out on the space below the bed.

Originally Posted by Dodge_Viper

Interesting idea. But, are you planning to keep windows open a bit? Asked since Ladakh nights would be freezing cold, and I am afraid closing all windows would get a suffocation feeling in that confined space.

From what I have managed to make out by reading some of the tips and tricks of sleeping in a car in freezing winter ( europe/ america), people suggest leaving one window open a quarter inch ( they call it slightly cracked) to prevent defogging and to let the fresh air in. If that works in sub zero temperatures, it should work in this season in Ladakh where minimum temperatures are hovering a little above zero.

In case it is raining a plastic can be put over the window to prevent ingress of rain.

The only thing that I may not have considered is the rareified air in ladakh.

Note: According to some of the blogs I have read, a person WILL NOT suffocate & die if he has the windows rolled up. Just in case there is lack of oxygen you will get up feeling suffocated and hot, unlike the case in carbon monoxide poisoning where one would become drowsy and die in their sleep.

The rider of course being that your engine is not on and the exhaust is not covered to produce and let in carbon monoxide .

Mod Note: Please use the EDIT or MULTI-QUOTE buttons instead of typing one post after another on the SAME THREAD!

To know how to multi-quote, click here.

[COUGAR]

You need to leave more headroom IMO. There should be enough space to atleast lounge about. Imagine camping at Hundar or someplace really cold- u want to be able to sit inside nice and cozy with your drink or your book. (Also useful if u plan to get "active"! :P)

Ply is a bad idea. Ideal would be some kind of bunk (like the railway sleepers) fixed to the sidewalls that Folds down and locks into place.

PS: Saw a Bolero Guy camp next to my Gypsy in Solan once. While i camped in my gypsy, he setup his tent, regular one, on the roof of his Jeep! Cool idea IMO!

[bwar]

Originally Posted by COUGAR

You need to leave more headroom IMO. There should be enough space to atleast lounge about. Imagine camping at Hundar or someplace really cold- u want to be able to sit inside nice and cozy with your drink or your book. (Also useful if u plan to get "active"! :P)

Ply is a bad idea. Ideal would be some kind of bunk (like the railway sleepers) fixed to the sidewalls that Folds down and locks into place.

PS: Saw a Bolero Guy camp next to my Gypsy in Solan once. While i camped in my gypsy, he setup his tent, regular one, on the roof of his Jeep! Cool idea IMO!

1. Thanks Cougar. I think you are looking at the set of pictures where the guy has a bunk bed kind of a system setup. His bed would rightly be a little too high and would have inadequate headroom. What I was proposing is to have the bed 2 and a half feet above the floor which is the same height as your regular seats. So if you sit on the middle seat of a Scorpio and have enough headroom, then you will be fine.

2. The coffee and book sounds good. Not much chances of activity in Ladakh unless you happen to fancy some mountain goats in which case the bed wouldn't make a difference:-P . But we can always live in hope, can't we :-)

3. The issue would be drilling holes to support the bed which may also weaken the frame. I would rather have something which I can remove and come back to once I am done with my trip/s where I can put the regular seats back in.


4. Theres a great variety of rooftop tents available abroad. This is one such company. http://www.autohomeus.com/rooftop/

I was particularly impressed with the "maggiolina" roof top tents and the "columbus" ones , look for them on you tube. You can either have a roll up version or a version with gas springs. Ideal for my kind of use. Unfortunately , these are very expensive to import and there is only one local manufacturer in have come across making the same. The local manufacturer quoted me 3 lacs for the same which I think was neither a justified price nor a value for money deal.

[smekad]

Not a good idea to have such structures built in back of vehicle. It would do you major harm if anyone rear ends you- the whole structure will become a projectile for front passenger/driver!! I think you should buy a good tent and a proper sleeping bag that can help bear the natural elements.. A much safer option i feel.

[Turbanator]

I recollect one episode of Topgear with such ingenious ideas but was not very successful ,

Mattress suggested by " BBR" seems to be a good option , maybe after folding rear seats or buying even two such mattress . I am using couple of pillows presently to sleep on rear seats in my Cars occasionally and will surely try this..

[Dry Ice]

Originally Posted by bwar

Advantage: Would seem to be a good option while travelling with the kids so that they can relax while the parents are in the front seat.

Don't do that. Forget any impact, even in case of a sudden evasive maneuver, they could be thrown about and get hurt. Keep them belted up in the rear seats.