There are many reasons why you would want to sleep in your car, for example, if you are going to take a trip and do not want to pay for a hotel, if you find yourself stranded due to the weather or if you simply want to take a little nap while on the road. Whatever the reason, it is possible to create a bed in the car so that you can sleep soundly. This can be as simple as reclining the seat or using an inflatable mattress for the back seat. You could even build a platform on the back of the car to use on long trips or camping in the car.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Using the Car Seats
Step 1. Recline the seats
Recline the driver and passenger seats as much as possible. By raising the front edge of the seat up (if your car has this setting) and sliding it forward, you will be able to recline the seat further without being blocked by the bottom of the rear seat.
- If the driver's seat cannot be reclined, use the passenger side only.
- Remove everything from the rear seats as well as the floor of the car to maximize the inclination to which the seat can recline.
Step 2. Create a mattress
Use what you have to create a soft, cushioned surface to lie on. A yoga mat, towels, or blankets may work better if you have them; If not, you can use a spare jacket or clothing.
If you don't have anything you can use for sleeping padding, that's fine. You will not cause any excessive damage to the car if you sleep directly on the seat
Step 3. Make a pillow
If you have a pillow available, place it at the head of the seat. Travel pillows and inflatable pillows work well for these types of situations and can often be found in department stores, home supply stores, truck stops, and affordable travel supply stores.
If you don't have a pillow, roll up a towel, jacket, shirt, or other clothing item to use as head and neck support while you sleep
Step 4. Cover yourself
The car is not air-conditioned or insulated in the same way as a house or a hotel, so you should cover yourself with a blanket to keep yourself protected from the low temperatures at night.
- If you don't have a blanket handy, try using the extra clothes as blankets. You can use a jacket, for example.
- If you are going to face cold temperatures, put on more clothes and cover yourself. If necessary, wear a jacket to keep you warm and accessories like gloves and hats.
Step 5. Cover the windows
For extra privacy and insulation, cover your car windows. If you had other clothes or towels available, they would work fine; otherwise, use papers, maps, bags, or whatever else you have on hand.
- If you can, support or tape the items to the windows; If they don't stay in place, roll the edge of the object over onto the window.
- If you have a windshield cover, put it on for more privacy while you sleep.
- You should open one of the windows a little if there is more than one person in the car to guarantee enough air for both of you.
Method 2 of 3: Using an Inflatable Car Mattress
Step 1. Buy a mattress for the back seat
Inflatable rear seat mattresses can be found in various specialty stores and online. Order or buy one before your planned trip or to keep in the car as a precaution in case of an emergency.
Make sure you find one that suits the style of the car. Most mattresses are sized appropriately to fit subcompact and compact vehicles or pickup trucks and minivans. Find one that best fits your personal setup
Step 2. Clean the back seat
Clean the back seat before using the air mattress. The seat and the floor under the seat must be clear so the mattress can sit flat on the cart.
Put things in the trunk that won't fit properly elsewhere
Step 3. Inflate the mattress
If you have a battery-powered air pump, you can inflate the mattress quickly. These pumps are easily found in department stores and camping and outdoor supply stores. If there is no pump on hand, you will have to inflate the mattress manually.
Find the air valve and connect the pump or blow directly on the valve. Make sure all other air release valves are closed before starting to inflate
Step 4. Dress the bed
Add pillows and blankets to the bed arrangement so that you can be comfortable while you sleep. Many inflatable mattresses already come with inflatable travel pillows; however, any pillow or blanket that keeps you comfortable will be fine.
- If possible, place a blanket between you and the mattress. Mattress tops tend not to be soft fabric, and for added comfort, you can place a blanket between you and the mattress.
- If you don't have a pillow and blanket available, you could use towels, jackets, extra clothing, or whatever else you have on hand to cover you and keep you warm.
- Roll up a jacket or shirt to make a makeshift pillow if you don't have one handy.
Step 5. Get some sleep
Once the bed is ready you can get some sleep. When you wake up, remove all accessories and open the air release valve to deflate the bed and undo it.
- Store the mattress in the trunk, under the seats, or anywhere else there is room.
- If you know that you will be using the mattress again the next day or on another close occasion, consider leaving it inflated so that it is ready to be used again.
Method 3 of 3: Create Your Own Sleeping Platform
Step 1. Measure the car
To determine the size of the platform you will have to measure the area in which you intend to place it. Decide whether you want the rear seats to raise or lower to fit the platform and measure the length and width of the setup.
Remember that vertical height is also important. Generally, you should plan for the deck to be 8 to 10 inches (20 to 25 cm) above the base on which it sits
Step 2. Gather your supplies
The deck base shall be made of ¾ inch (20 mm) or 1 inch (25 mm) plywood and the legs shall be constructed of 2 x 4 inch (5 x 10 cm) boards. You will also need wood screws, a drill, a covering such as a rug, and staples. All of these materials can be found at a hardware or home improvement store.
- Cut the plywood sheet to fit the dimensions you have measured. Cut the large plank lengthwise in half so that the pallet can be stored in stackable sections.
- Cut the 2 x 4 inch (5.1 x 10 cm) boards to make 12 pieces. 8 of them should be the intended height of the deck (8 to 10 inches or 20 to 26 cm), while the other 4 should be about 4 inches (10 cm) shorter than the width of the plywood sheet.
Step 3. Assemble the legs
You will need 4 legs, 2 for each platform. Line up the short section of a 2 x 4 inch board to either end of a long 2 x 4 inch piece. Make sure the legs are level with the bracket, and then use 4 or 5-inch wood screws to attach the legs directly to the bracket.
- Use at least two screws for each individual leg.
- Repeat this process until you have completed four sets of legs.
Step 4. Attach the platform
When you've completed the legs, screw the plywood deck to the legs. Each plank should have two legs, one toward the top and one toward the bottom.
- Consider attaching the legs before installing them. You may have to avoid wheels, grooves, or other features on the inside of the cart.
- Screw in the platform with at least one screw on each leg and one in the middle of each bracket.
Step 5. Cover the platform
Use rugs, fabrics, tarps, or whatever cover you think is appropriate to cover the deck. Staple the deck to the deck edges with carpet tacks or industrial staples.
Try to staple the cover to the outer edges of the deck for maximum comfort
Step 6. Assemble the platform
The platform can be stored in two separate parts when you are not going to use it. To assemble it, simply separate the two pieces and arrange them so that one is positioned directly in front of the other at the back of the car.
To make the platform stay together, you can add velcro to the edge where the two pieces of the platform meet
Step 7. Make up the bed
Once you have the two platforms ready and in position, decide how you want to equip the bed. You may want to use sleeping pads, an air mattress, blankets, or another form of cushioning so that you don't lie directly on the hard surface. You can also prepare the pillows, sheets and blankets you want.
The sleeping platform can be arranged as you like. Choose an arrangement that is comfortable when you sleep and easy to store when you want to store it
Advice
- Keep in mind that you must find a safe and legal place to park. Truck stops, large supermarket parking lots like Walmart, and campgrounds are often safe places to sleep.
- Remember that if there are multiple travelers, a window should be opened while they sleep to ensure there is enough air flow to keep them up.
- Always lock the doors while you sleep.