that is awesome !! I have a CLubman so I should have 9 inches more !! I think you need to post some "action" shots..

 

Very creative. Reminds me of an old VW van conversion. I hope that's enough padding for you to sleep comfortably.

 

Hook up an LCD with a PS3 and I would probably do this. My mod budget just went up a whole lot.

 

this thread is months old, i think his trip already happened, i'd love to hear how it went!

 

Hello Zach? Please update this. The suspense is killing us! How many zzz's did you get on the trip?

 

I'm lost.... he lives in CA and is going to Las Vegas, NV. Depending on where he is in CA, he has a 9 to 14 hour trip.

My point, that's a day drive... why the need to sleep in the car? Did I miss something?

Mark

 

hi all,
glad i stumbled across this! lemme update everyone. sorry its been so long lol

Back story: i had 2 weeks of vacation off from work, I chose to take it with the last weekend ending on AMVIV (a mini vacation in vegas). this way it left me totally open to go wherever i wanted.

I ended up driving from SoCal to St Loius by way of: CA, AZ, NM, CO, NE, IA, MO.
Then on the way home by way of: MO, KS, CO, NM, AZ, NV, CA. (made it to Vegas in 2 days = 12+hrs driving days)
9 states, 4600 miles, 14 days, 1 MINI cooper.

I slept in the MINI a total of 3 nights. I stayed with family/friends all the other nights. oh except for one night in a hotel in Des Moines Iowa, I wanted to be able to get cleaned up for the Ben Folds concert I went to that night.

as for the quality of sleep in the MINI...
i slept well one out of the three nights when the bed was actually laying flat. the problem with my design was that the support leg nearest the back seat would find its way onto the center hump on the floor as I drove thus tilting me toward the window. and unless i fixed it this made it a little uncomfortable and i got a less than perfect nights sleep for two nights.

As for the padding, the seat cushioins from the outdoor chairs worked fine, they easily stacked out of the way when not in use and didn't really slide around too much while i tried to sleep.

I am 6'2" and technically fit with my feet tucked under the dash and my head inches away from the seat back. If/when i do this again I will make sure to give my feet a lil more room to wiggle.

The tent idea is awesome, however, I am not one to break rules-i felt guilty parking overnight in a hotel parking lot at the grand canyon, let along pitching a tent in some place where i'm not supposed to be.

As for the "why?" question i've got...I am a young truck driver with friends/relatives scattered throughout middle america who loves driving, why not?

I took the bed out after I got home and kept the passenger seat out for as long as I could until I had a date or something and kinda had to put it back.

sorry for the long post, and that its been so long. I hope i answered all the questions. there are three photo albums on my facebook page documenting the trip. i dont think you have to be a member to be able to view them

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?ai...3&l=3e899a60fa
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?ai...3&l=7a84a15ccd
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?ai...3&l=177ada340c

 

Ahhhh, makes perfect sense. I like the fact that you wanted an "adventure" and that this was a "want to" instead of a "need to".

I love to drive my mini and don't mind driving hours on end. I'm glad you had a blast.

Congrats.

Mark

 

thanks for the update! glad the trip went well.

 

Resurrecting an old thread. I’ve been using and tweaking my “Mini Sleeping Pod” for years!

Remove back seat and passenger seat. Use a 3 section platform system. The mattress is 80” long by 24” wide 6” thick(4” foam, 2” memory foam.

Love being able to slay the Dragon or drive across the country in MTTS all day and roll over and sleep at night!

Static cling interior limo tint and eyes windshield shade allows me complete privacy.

 

I have a 2012 S Clubman that I’ve been thinking of doing something like this with. I got the car so I can start a job of delivering drivable RV’s and towing the Mini. Then I can use the Mini to go back and get another motorhome. I am 6’ and was thinking about something where I push the front seat forward lean it forward and lay the back seat down. I haven’t measured, so I didn’t know if I would fit.

 

Colinmini,

what at is the black behind you?

 

That black bar behind me was a harness bar by HardBar. It attached to the upper seatbelt anchor points. I have since added a roll bar with an integrated harness bar.

 

This is awesome! Making the best use of space inside of the car, lol!

 

Its a clothes hanger rod.. aka really a closet while sleeping in the MINI

 

Wow! Can you share
1. Where did you buy plywood?
2. How did you cut it, sizes.
Thanks!

 

Wow. It looks nice, I am working on it now too, can you share:
1. What kind of plywood did you buy?
2. How did you cut it, size?
3. Where did you buy a mattress for it?
Thanks in advance!