Sleeping in a SWB van

[JODA]

I'm heading away for a weekend with the Austin seven, and thinking of taking out the passenger seat, putting in a board and sleeping in the van.

Has anyone done this?

How are the seats held in, 4 bolts from the top? are they easy enough to remove and replace or is it a bit of a muck about?

 

[solarman216]

easy enough to remove passenger seat, 4 bolts and maybe a bit of trim covering them, Rick

 

[Paff]

Not that I have tried, but a LWB must be better :augie

 

[jims-terrano]

Ive tried in the lwb and it was real fun. Me and my son removed third row and then unbolted the second row. Placed a sheet of ply and supported it at the front with a big air bed, youngun thought it was a real adventure. Swb should be fine too. Give it a go:thumbs

 

[Sweety]

Never tried it myself but found this pic of a SWB T2 which might save you stripping out the rear seat:thumb2 https://plus.google.com/photos/1061...5332656026505292482&oid=106166290292654336924

 

[zippy656]

I seam to remember ages ago someone using a fishing daybed

 

[JODA]

Never tried it myself but found this pic of a SWB T2 which might save you stripping out the rear seat:thumb2 https://plus.google.com/photos/1061...5332656026505292482&oid=106166290292654336924

That looks ideal, but due to it being a van, I have a raised false floor where the rear seats would be, meaning the front seats don't fold flat!

 

[macabethiel]

Sleeping out

Half decent air bed should do the trick or as previos post a fishing bed.

A half sheet of the later type of insulated foam similar to Celotex would work it comes in 2 inch thick sheets as well - foil coated !

Just make sure you have a warm sleeping bag its surprising how cold it gets at night.
Last time I slept out it was in a Mini Van in Wales circa 1965 ! Lol

Now its a travel lodge for me !

 

[kickboxer]

We are off to do some walking in Scotland this weekend and the first night will be spent in the back of the LWB, going to take out the back row of seats, fold up the next row and put in an airbed, we are onyl short people so hopfully it wont be too cramped.

 

[jims-terrano]

The older trucks are best to sleep in because the tailgate has an inner handle, my 05 plate doesnt have the handle.

 

[JODA]

The older trucks are best to sleep in because the tailgate has an inner handle, my 05 plate doesnt have the handle.

Yes, was thinking that with mine, no handle so will need to scramble in through the drivers door!

Thinking now i can remove the part timber bulkhead, push the passenger seat forward and fold it as far forward as it will go, then an airbed would probably fit in the space thats left.

The load bed is approx 1200mm long, so only need to gain 600mm which should be possible, will have a look tonight and post the results!

 

[kitchenman]

I have a lwb, with only front seats in place there is just room for an airbed.
I use my Mav like a van

 

[JODA]

Managed to get a single inflatable into the back, so that will leave space for camping junk up the side.
If I was staying any longer than a night I think I would take out the passenger seat and add a raised floor so the bed is more level.
Once your on the bed tho it doesn't seem to bad!

Is there anyway I can modify my back door so I can open it from the inside?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[jims-terrano]

Apparently the actual tailgate is the same shape as the older type. To my way of thinking it shouldnt take too much to convert it surely. Thought about it on my later model but not sure Id get the use out of it. Might have to butcher the inner trim a little but apart from that it cant be much different.