 | Home > General & Technical (L663) > Sleeping in the back vs roof tent |
 
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| BrickBox Member Since: 05 Oct 2021 Location: Wales Posts: 837   
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Are you able to put a roof rack on the V8? If so, a roof rack and weatherproof storage bags/boxes ontop would be a great addition. You can store your items up there at night then. 2008 2.4 110 Utility Station Wagon XS.
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2nd Nov 2024 1:11am |
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| DaveCNB Member Since: 15 Mar 2022 Location: So. Cal Posts: 63 
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I don't have the vertical clearance for a roof rack w/ a tent in the garage and didn't want to go with so much weight/gear up top, so I also opted against a roof tent setup. I've spent many nights comfortably sleeping in the back of the Defender 110 P400 (it's got a nice flat loadspace w/ the 2nd row seats folded). I'm short enough a side sleeper that I didn't have to remove the 2nd row seats which gives me just under ~61.5" (about 156 cm) of sleeping length and 52.5" width (see picture of load space measurements someone made attached at the end of this post).
Unfortunately, most of the nice foam/combo foam air pads are just a bit too long (~78-82" seems to be a common size/length) for this space and you end up folding a bit back under itself to make them fit. I opted for 2 of these "Slim Single" sized (62"L x 26"W x 3" Thick) pads placed side by side: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CB5VBN...P&th=1 Having 2 pads gives me the option to just run 1 and use the remaining space for gear and bags, or if I'm running 2, I can stack them on top of each other horizontally or vertically behind the driver's position to create space for gear/bags. Since you have the seat bottoms removed, you might be able to fit one of these 76.77"L x 50"W x 3.14"Thick almost queen sized pads, it's a little long but not by much (only 4.7" over the max 72" length) so it might still work: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CZRBF4Q2/?coli...t&th=1 It's the shortest one in the double width I've found on Amazon. If anyone else has found something close to 62" or 72" long by 52" wide, please share! If you have air suspension, you can use the compass app on an iPhone which has a leveling tool and the rear suspension up/down controls at the back hatch to adjust your sleep angle. With the sleeping pad(s) in place, outside under a deployable awning is a good place to store any gear/bags/cooler/etc. (though, if you're in bear country, you'll want to use a bear bag hung up high in a tree or bear box for food well away from your vehicle. In Yosemite, the bears will literally tear open car doors to get into a car to snag some food, snacks, candy, gum, toothpaste even....) The Moonshade https://moonfab.com/products/moonshade looks like an awesome product, but it is pricy and adding side walls costs extra I think. Instead, for a rear or side mounted awning, I got one of these Kelty Backroads awnings: https://www.amazon.com/Kelty-BACKROADS-SHE...1&th=1 It doesn't have a floor like a full tent, but it does provide full side coverage that can be rolled up and affixed out of the way, it also has a zippered door and mesh screened window. It has several thoughtful attachment straps that tuck into integrated pouches on the awning itself and with the poles in place, it's pretty free standing. No messing w/ a lot of guy lines and arranging vertical poles, you'll still be staking it down if it's at all windy. The version with aluminum poles is a bit more expensive but the fiberglass pole option is just fine IMHO, this is for car camping, I'm not that worried about weight. Additionally, there are many cheaper options/designs from other off brands on Amazon but YMMV in terms of quality/durability. Foldable screens on your windows lets you keep the windows rolled down for ventilation and still keep out bugs and most dust/dirt: https://www.amazon.com/Universal-Breathabl...K&th=1 Measure the window you want to use the screen on to make sure you have the right size. One of these PowerfulUK inside rear hatch release switches is really helpful for getting in and out without draining the battery on the Defender as much (if you get in and out the side doors, the infotainment powers up and uses quite a lot of power over time, this happens to a lesser degree going in and out the rear hatch): https://www.powerfuluk.com/collections/new...ender-l663 It takes ~20-40 min to install, just take your time and follow the excellent instructions in the video on the product page. Some folks have recommended leaving the rear door partially open/not latched as that keeps the car from powering up the car's electronics and draining the battery as much. Also, keeping the keys in a faraday bag so the car isn't constantly communicating with it and turning off the unlock on approach feature may save additional power. Other stuff: Bring a decent battery booster pack in case opening/closing your doors a lot drains your car battery a bit low. Have some sort of battery bank to power your lights and charge stuff, some lamps or lights to hang inside for lighting when the car powers down, a small USB or battery powered fan for ventilation in hotter weather, bluetooth speaker for tunes, a bunch of smaller cheap windshield sun shades to cover the side windows, a solar shower (move the Kelty awning to the side of the Defender and drop the side panels for privacy), bring some camp chairs and table, an storage bag that hangs on the spare tire (for trash and wet/nasty stuff) and you'll have a pretty posh car camping setup! (Not sure if these exact items linked above are available via Amazon where you live, but hopefully you can find equivalents) Rear cargo space dimensions:  Click image to enlarge -------------------------------- "Chonky" 2024 Defender 110 X-Dynamic SE P400, Pangea Green, Air Suspension, Off Road Pack, Urban Pack (exposed recovery points), Factory Side Steps |
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2nd Nov 2024 7:50am |
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| XplusYplusZ Member Since: 16 Aug 2021 Location: UK Posts: 489 |
I've slept in the back of my 110 a few times - the most useful bits and pieces I've learnt here:
Mattress: Exped Megamat 10 duo, fits nicely and is supremely comfortable and insulated. Exped also do a car specific one. They self inflate to a point, but they also supply a little foldable footpump bag thing that's more effective than one might think. Click image to enlarge Window Vents: Nakatanenga - Hard to spell, great to use. A must really for more than 1 night camping to keep condensation down. These do have a mosquito net built in, but I added an even finer mesh with double sided tape to prevent Scottish midges - might be worth it for Scandenavia too.
Window blinds are useful but can be a bit pricey. I made some out of a £20 roll of thermawrap bubble-wrap from toolstation. (don't forget to factor in the window vents for the rear windows and safari windows). Get a cheap 'pop-up' sunshade for the front window. One push on the fob locks the door whilst you're inside, but still allows you to move around inside. Hang it in a handle with a carabiner because you don't want to accidentally double lock/unlock it in your pocket at night. Also DO NOT try to open the door for the inside whilst it's locked - the alarm will go off and upset everyone in a half mile radius. I didn't bother with the internal rear door opener - it looks simple-ish but I couldn't be bothered and just use the side doors. A tarp and some tarp poles are useful for rain etc. You can get a solid loadspace tray which sit where the current loadspace floppy cover sits. This could be a useful option for internal storage whilst still allowing you to slide your feet under it to sleep - but obviously, it compromises internal space and might feel a bit claustrophobic. Click image to enlarge My solution was to have a good sized peli-case or similar waterproof case that you can leave out at night. I keep mine on some roof bars, but you could equally keep it in the boot whilst driving and outside when sleeping. Weber do a good portable BBQ which is relatively clean to transport - I bought a cheap dry bag to stuff it in to avoid getting ash everywhere.
Bring some blocks of wood or ramps to level the vehicle. sleeping bags are really slippy and you will inevitably slide up or down the vehicle in the night if not level. (The offroad screen has a good vehicle levelling display but a spirit level is a little more accurate). Sadly there's no longer a scheduled remote engine start feature for heating on cold nights and if I recall rightly, the remote engine start feature doesn't work if the key is inside the vehicle. So you have to either get a thick sleeping bag + feet warmers/hot water bottle, OR manually start the engine with the push button - again, remember to unlock the vehicle before doing this! I also found having a pole or stick to push the brake pedal whilst leaning through from the back seat to start the engine was useful! I bought some cheap eyelets that attach to the integrated roof rails which I could tie off a tarp to. But If you plan on leaving and returning to the same spot, and separate awning would be good. Be careful of repetitive opening and closing of the doors - each cycle starts the info system and risks draining the battery. I bought a little charge and forget jump starter just in case the battery dies in the middle of nowhere, and I usually leave a door slightly ajar whilst I'm up and about - the info-system shuts down after a few minutes and this prevents it firing up again. I've heard there's a secret camping mode where you open and close the door 10 times or something like that and it stops firing up Pivipro. But I can't find where this was shared and never tried it - that might be fun to try.. Click image to enlarge Enjoy! It's a great vehicle to sleep in. Last edited by XplusYplusZ on 4th Nov 2024 3:22pm. Edited 1 time in total |
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4th Nov 2024 2:36pm |
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| TexasRover Member Since: 24 Nov 2022 Location: Paris Posts: 1084  
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You would think TheEscapist could make himself comfortable in a fiat 500...
Depending on your type of camping needs one challenge you might have is what to do with your luggage when sleeping. Sure a few days traveling light, eating out etc, one could just park your [Escapist] underwear collection on the front seat, but for some more seasoned camping you might have to resort in parking your things outside, which you need to think through carefully depending where you camp. |
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4th Nov 2024 2:52pm |
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| keith Member Since: 15 Aug 2012 Location: Edinburgh Posts: 2214 
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A parking/diesel heater.
Click image to enlarge |
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4th Nov 2024 4:03pm |
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| LR Nuts Member Since: 10 Aug 2022 Location: UK Posts: 1141 
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Texas, people do .... Click image to enlarge Prior to buying the roof tent, the lady and her child, slept IN THE SMART CAR !!  |
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4th Nov 2024 7:59pm |
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| CincyRovers1 Member Since: 30 Nov 2023 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 84
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Now that's absurd.
I absolutely hate camping. I refuse to sleep in a tent and sleeping in the car isn't comfortable either. I have no problem camping with friends & enjoying the outdoors as long as there's at least a Hampton Inn within a 30-minute drive so I can have a decent sleep. Sleeping in a bloody smart car is probably the most ridiculously stupid and hilarious thing I've ever seen. Looks like a great torture method. 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟏 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟏𝟎 𝐒 𝐏𝟑𝟎𝟎 (Pangea Green over Acorn/Lunar) 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑 𝐏𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐜𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐒 (Dolomite Silver over Black/Bordeaux Red) 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟕 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐇𝐒𝐄 𝐋𝐮𝐱𝐮𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐢𝟔 (Aintree Green over Vintage Tan/Ebony) - Gone 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟏 𝐋𝐑𝟒 𝐇𝐒𝐄 𝟓.𝟎 (Ipanema Sand over Almond/Arabica) - Gone |
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4th Nov 2024 8:58pm |
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| Moo Member Since: 01 Oct 2021 Location: UK Posts: 1399 
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Fair play to her, at least she was out doing something and wasn't worried about what anyone thought.  Eiger Grey MY23 D250 SE with bits. Known as Noddy. |
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4th Nov 2024 9:31pm |
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| Cheshire110 Member Since: 26 Jul 2013 Location: Cheshire/London Posts: 2760 
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XplusYplusZ, did you use the Exped Megawatt Auto (as pictured) or the 10 duo (as quoted)? From the website it seems like the 10 duo would be far too wide in the bottom for the back of the 110, but the Auto might be good dimensions-wise... Cheers, David
Land Rovers of all shapes S3 onwards… Daily is a 110 V8. |
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5th Nov 2024 11:36pm |
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| XplusYplusZ Member Since: 16 Aug 2021 Location: UK Posts: 489 |
I used the mega mat duo 10. Not the new car focused one. The 10 has gaps and might be a touch narrow for 2 normal sized people..
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10th Nov 2024 8:08am |
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| XplusYplusZ Member Since: 16 Aug 2021 Location: UK Posts: 489 |
Looking at the dims between the two version of the Exped, I think the AUTO versions probably would fit (snuggly).
Mine is the 'MEDIUM' size = 103cm wide and perfectly fits the width by the rear tailgate with gaps by the doors. The AUTO version is 99cm at the tailgate and widens to 132cm by the side-doors. Looking at how the 103cm wide mattress fits, I think there's easily an extra 16cm either side to expand into the door area: Click image to enlarge It's a really good mattress whichever you go for - there's insulation inside making it warm and more stable than your average air mattress/lilo - we use is at home as a guest bed in a pinch. |
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11th Nov 2024 11:09am |
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