General Panda Campa

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General Panda Campa

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Dec 20, 2010
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I'm really excited as I've nearly finished turning my Trekking in to a camper van. The best part is, it's all easily removable. Once I've finished I will post some pictures.

Essentially, I found a wooden box, of which 3 together fit snugly in the boot space, to become level with the folded back seats (the ridiculously high sliding/reclining bench). This makes a nice platform. A bit of ply cut to size will fit over the boxes, so that they never take any direct weight, and the thickness of the ply will make it completely flush with the seat back.

I've cut a 7cm memory foam mattress topper to size already, which fills the rear of the car exactly, and fitted Car Shades to all rear windows - this combined with the factory tints has blacked them out when viewing from outside for privacy.

I'll throw in a duvet, sheet and pillows, plus a sheet to stretch between the front seats for privacy from the front windows. A finishing touch will be glueing some boot carpet material to the plywood board and the wooden boxes to blend them in to the car.

Ventilation won't be an issue as I have wind deflectors all-round for if it's raining and want to drop the windows slightly, plus the car shades stay in place when the windows are down and fit the windows exactly.

I've even put an alarm clock and LED reading light in there [emoji38].

This all started when I began to look at getting a retrofitted folding front passenger seat to aid my lunchtime naps at work, and it became a bit of a pipe dream. Instead I now will have a proper bed (albeit one where I have to curl up slightly as the Panda's rear load area ain't the longest or widest) for that, plus, I can do adlib camping trips without faffing around with my tents.

When I need the rear seats, it's a simple case of flipping them up, and rolling the mattress and duvet in to the boot. If I need all the interior space, I can just take the whole lot out in a couple of minutes.

Added bonus - with the memory foam and duvet in place, the car is QUIET on the move; almost no road noise whatsoever [emoji23].
 
Install a length of plastic pipe (select your own diameter ;)) through the floorpan, and you've got a crafty ensuite, too (y) :D
 
Last edited:
We need pictures!


(not of the pipe specifics! The other things! :p )
 
I'm really excited as I've nearly finished turning my Trekking in to a camper van. The best part is, it's all easily removable. Once I've finished I will post some pictures.

Essentially, I found a wooden box, of which 3 together fit snugly in the boot space, to become level with the folded back seats (the ridiculously high sliding/reclining bench). This makes a nice platform. A bit of ply cut to size will fit over the boxes, so that they never take any direct weight, and the thickness of the ply will make it completely flush with the seat back.

I've cut a 7cm memory foam mattress topper to size already, which fills the rear of the car exactly, and fitted Car Shades to all rear windows - this combined with the factory tints has blacked them out when viewing from outside for privacy.

I'll throw in a duvet, sheet and pillows, plus a sheet to stretch between the front seats for privacy from the front windows. A finishing touch will be glueing some boot carpet material to the plywood board and the wooden boxes to blend them in to the car.

Ventilation won't be an issue as I have wind deflectors all-round for if it's raining and want to drop the windows slightly, plus the car shades stay in place when the windows are down and fit the windows exactly.

I've even put an alarm clock and LED reading light in there [emoji38].

This all started when I began to look at getting a retrofitted folding front passenger seat to aid my lunchtime naps at work, and it became a bit of a pipe dream. Instead I now will have a proper bed (albeit one where I have to curl up slightly as the Panda's rear load area ain't the longest or widest) for that, plus, I can do adlib camping trips without faffing around with my tents.

When I need the rear seats, it's a simple case of flipping them up, and rolling the mattress and duvet in to the boot. If I need all the interior space, I can just take the whole lot out in a couple of minutes.

Added bonus - with the memory foam and duvet in place, the car is QUIET on the move; almost no road noise whatsoever [emoji23].

It will be good to stay in when it breaks down and needs weeks off the road leaving you stranded.....
 
Sorry forgot to add pictures to this thread! All that needs doing now is to upholster the wooden boxes and ply sheet and all shall be complete. I've used it several times for naps so far, and my colleagues are all very jealous that I have somewhere to snooze. Easy to carry passengers as well as I cram the bedding in to the boxes, and mattress just rolls up in to the boot space for me to flip the seats up. Included a pic of my in-need-of-wash Panda as well, my trusty friend.
IMG_20190319_132623.jpegIMG_20190319_132706.jpegIMG_20190319_132635.jpegIMG_20190301_173203.jpegIMG_20190301_172716.jpegIMG_20190319_132758.jpeg
 
Looking good! But is the space in the back actually long enough to accommodate an adult?
Very curious as well as to where you found the wooden boxes :)
 
Looking good! But is the space in the back actually long enough to accommodate an adult?
Very curious as well as to where you found the wooden boxes :)
If you lie diagonally and slightly curled up, it's very comfortable. I certainly don't feel cramped although I appreciate it's a small space. Its going to be useful for my adlib camping for sure. The boxes were on Amazon, if you search for wooden boxes you should find them quite easily.

Sent from my TA-1012 using FIAT Forum mobile app
 
Wow. I'd like to sleep in my car occasionally, just the kind of idea I was looking for.
:)
Two questions.
1. Your bed looks fairly flat, how did you manage that? When I fold the back seats, they rest at an angle of about 20 degrees.
2. Did you have the piece of foam cut to dimensions?

Thanks in advance!
 
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