Some Backstory
I had never been camping before July 2021, like real camping, ever. I’d taken trips with my grandparents when I was young but believe me when I say it was luxurious and the RV bed was NICE. And the last time we went I was probably 8. So it would be an understatement to say everyone including myself was surprised to hear I would be solo camping in my new Forester, which I would first be making campable.
One of my good friends, Andrew, had been car camping for a couple of years, and when he first told me about it, I couldn’t totally wrap my head around it. I had so many questions about it and no desire to try it (until I did). At the time, I was still driving my dreaded EcoSport and working all the hours, but I knew I needed a change. As bad as I wanted to stay in my comfort zone I knew that wouldn’t give me the mental stimulation I so badly desired. Go big or go home, right? I made one of my best decisions thus far and got a Subaru Forester with the intention of utilizing all the reasons it’s considered a great outdoor vehicle.
Despite having never camped or traveled alone, I decided that I was going to build out a platform that would allow me to camp comfortably in my car. You may be wondering if I had any woodworking experience, and the answer is no. (It’s a bit janky I must admit, but it works for me). I was excited about going camping, but more than that, I was terrified. So I knew the most effective way to actually get myself to go I had to build my setup. That way, if I tried to psych myself out and not go, I would be mad at myself for having already spent the time and money on preparation. It was a reverse Field of Dreams fool proof plan.
The Process
I started by taking measurements of the area of my car I wanted the platform to take up. I’d decided I wanted the whole thing to be made up of three large sections with one being in the trunk area, one being the area that would cover the back of the rear seats, and one being the area that would extend into the front area. I wanted each of the top two sections to be split in two so they would align perfectly with the back seats. With the platform being split so much, I would have the ability to fold it up when I wanted to. I then began taking measurements for the height of the platform. I wanted it to be level, so I had to account for the slight slope from the folded down seats to the flat trunk area.
I wanted my setup to be tall enough to hold all my gear under, but short enough that I had enough space to comfortably relax and sleep inside. I also wanted it to have a pullout table top so I could still have a flat surface even without setting anything up (well, I wanted two, but I have one. Like I said- janky). I decided I’d be using a sheet of plywood and a 2×4, so I made a scale drawing of how I would cut the wood and put the pieces together. I wanted to use hinges to attach each section so I could easily fold it up and have it take up the least amount of space possible. Once I got my wood, I laid it all out and got to work.
I attached all the legs to the platform, then I attached the three main pieces together. During this, there was A LOT of taking it in and out of my car, just to make sure it fit properly- or at least good enough. The topmost section of the platform was the smallest, but also the trickiest. It would only fully extend if the front seats were pulled all the way forward, which meant these pieces would be suspended, only supported by the hinges. I wanted it to be so secure that I could do a headstand on it with my legs out the sunroof if I so desired, but I didn’t want to add anymore wood elements. I decided to drill holes in each piece that aligned with the center of the headrests on the front seats so they could be connected by a bungee chord. For the pullout table top, I used metal angles that were long enough to hold the wood so I could slide it in and out. I attached them to the legs of the trunk area just under the platform. Unfortunately, the wood was just a bit too small to be stable on the angles. Since I had initially planned for two tables of the same size, I just stacked the pieces of wood on one side, which surprisingly worked perfectly. It made it tall enough to not slide around, and gave me extra length and stability.
Useablility
With the platform in, fully extended, and the front seats moved forward, it is slightly bigger than the size of a twin-sized bed! I started with a 3-inch foam mattress topper, which was comfortable enough, but once it started getting cooler out, I invested in a good insulated sleeping pad. With the foam topper AND the sleeping pad, it’s almost more comfortable than my real bed if you can believe it. I realized I didn’t always need all the sleeping space, and since I made the platform able to be used on one side, I typically keep the driver’s side back seat up. The other side is a tad wider, so I have plenty of room to sleep, and an easy access point to crawl in and out of bed.
Before I left for my first trip, I remember sitting in my car in my driveway for about 20 minutes convincing myself nobody cared if I didn’t go. It didn’t work I think because deep down I knew that wasn’t true. I would care! I wanted to go, but it sounded scary, unfamiliar, and a lot easier to stay home and lay in bed. So I hit the road and after about an hour, the panic subsided and I’d never been more excited. There was a ton of things that I had to learn how to do in the moment, and there still is every time. But it wasn’t scary. It was invigorating.
I have plans for a new build that is a tad shorter and has unnecessary features like slide-out drawers and tables that double as cutting boards, but I’m saving that project for a later date when lumbar prices go down. I absolutely love what I’ve done, and each trip is more rewarding than the last because there is always more to learn.
The discooo