Anyone used their car like a mini camper van?

[Neighbourmystery]

I was recently in a local forest (it's a tourist attraction not secluded) there is a car park area where people park their campervans and motor homes. There was a couple there who had the back seats of their car down, lots of foam pads and cushions/duvet. They were sitting looking at the view with their boot open.Thay had a flask and some cakes Essentially they had turned the back of their car into a bed/settee. I have often thought about getting a campervan but am put off by the faff of hooking it up etc as well as the cost and I am quite nervous about sleeping in it as a solo traveller. Does anyone on here do this? It strikes me as a great idea and a good halfway point. Then I could just get cheap hotel/b and b stays. Anyone here done similar and if yes, how did you make it all comfortable etc?

I have looked inside a few micro campers on sites as people do love showing off their kit plus it’s good to idea swap. Scotland and the continent are where it’s at for free camping plus some Scandinavian countries.

I think the best cheaper set up I have seen is a van with mattress and pillow in with a small tent that attaches to the side and a small camping stove. If you have no facilities then you need a way to go to the loo if not on sites. He had a small porti loo that he kept cat litter in so could get rid of waste safely and legally.

I have considered sleeping in our estate car as it has a flat boot.

but I don’t understand the boot awnings/ roof tents. Why is this better than a regular tent?

Not so. Car camping is becoming quite popular amongst campers and You Tubers. I follow loads of car campers, None are homeless or on the bones of their arses

Im not saying that homeless people don’t car camp. Some do obviously.

OP I car camp. I absolutely love it. I don’t have the biggest car on the world and there’s only me but I’ve got a SIM mattress, a toilet, a high wattage lower bank that powers my kettle and a stove (that I don’t use in the car) and some storage boxes. Great for a night or two. I’ve stayed outside my daughters house in Scotland many times,

some campsites will allow car campers, but best to check in advance.

I love the freedom of only spending a night here or there in some remote and beautiful places but I’m careful. I don’t stay in places that ban overnight camping, I arrive late and leave early, take all my rubbish with me and never use the countryside as a toilet.

i also try to put back into the local economy if I don’t pay for a campsite, by either eating out, local sightseeing,etc

I have a VW Caddy SWB but I’ve also been known to use my old VW estate Golf from time to time

you won’t get any reasonable answers on here, you are best if maybe posting on the camping board. Have a look at YouTubetoo.

How does the portable toilet work in a car? Do you have a toilet tent? Or is this just for remote locations?

No I don’t have a toilet tent, I’m not particularly tall so I can squeeze onto the toilet. I only use for wees not number twos and if I’m in a site with a toilet I tend to use those instead.

it really does depend on the size of your car.

I used to do this when I worked regularly in clubs. I'd drive somewhere and take bedding and sleep in the car.

Sometimes I predicted just being too tired to drive home following a long drive there and a long shift.
Other times, I fully intended to drive home but got offered some free particularly tempting champagne and thought 'sod it'. Keys tucked under seat or in glove compartment, toothbrush etc with me just in case, all would help if anyone in law enforcement wanted to say they thought I'd drive OPL.

Only if there was a safe car park though.

We have a VW caravelle, banging family car and easily converts into a bedroom. In usability it's more like having a solid sided tent than a camper. You don't have toilets or cookers in tents and people manage just fine.

Slightly different because we’ve got a campervan, but it’s a really lovely way to spend a day out, like you’ve said park up and just chill. We head to quiet places along the coast, make a cuppa, read, laze around. If you do want to stay somewhere overnight look at Pub Stops which is basically pubs that will let you stay overnight for free in their car parks as long as you purchase a meal.

A shame that some people feel the need to comment just to be churlish and let you know how superior they are

I know it's weird. Sneering at someone for wanting to sit and look at a view like thousands of other people like to do too.

@Neighbourmystery haven't read full thread yet but yes, I can't have a van as only vehicle as mum lives in a flat in a listed building where vans are not allowed and I'm there a lot helping with Gran. Plus if away with friends need to be able to get back if Gran falls in the night without ballsing up their trip. Converted my car this spring and have done a couple of trips and it's a joy - even have a tiny toilet in mine!

Reactions are polarised between loving it and why the fuck would I do that, but it's been the perfect solution for me. I tend to go with one of my besties who has a proper big camper, so she carries cooking gear, but mine is totally self contained and I could go away in it solo :)

I've not made any structural changes like taking seats out so no insurance change, and am investigating roof boxes for a bit more storage space.

Have attached a photo and am documenting on Substack and would absolutely say go for it, I'm having a wonderful summer with mine!

The boot awnings are somewhere to cook when it's chucking it down. They are usually bigger and have more airflow than a small tent and much quicker to put up and down than a big tent.

I think car camping, with or without an awning is just a faster set up than a tent, but it depends on what you want. I think some people find the car comfier than a tent.

Also with a car you can put it in a campsite, layby or on the side of a road, which you can't do with a tent.

Car camping is not usually in replacement of tent camping, just a different avenue of it.