Turn your Minivan into an RV. Sort of.
We actually sleep in our minivan quite often. Over the past 5 months I’d say we’ve slept in the van at least 6 times. There are occasions when a tent just isn’t practical. Wind storms, unseasonably cold weather, precipitation, sleeping right off the side of the highway, etc.
Check it out! Looks cozy right?
A couple of tips for sleeping 2 adults, 2 kids and a dog in a minivan:
Note: Max height in our family is 5′ 7″
- If you have stow’n go fold down the middle seats, if you don’t, leave the middle seats home.
- Pack all the loose stuff that floats around your van in a tote that can be thrown outside with the cooler and the car seats (or piled drivers seat) to make way for your sleeping transformation.
- Adult 1 sleeps in a hammock along the ceiling (see video above for installment).
- Adult 2 and Child 1 sleep on the floor. Fold out some sleeping pads, mattress foam or bouldering pad.
- Child 2 sleeps along the back bench.
- Dog sleeps on a sheet or pillow on the front passenger seat.
Thanks to Joe for agreeing to do this video. For the record, I was in the house bathing the kids who were both screaming their heads off (it was hair washing day). Not sure who got the short end of the stick on that…
23 Comments so far
Comments FeedJoe deserves big for this. He is awesome. And to see it in the video makes a huge difference!
This is so brilliant. We are totally doing it. I don’t know if we could fit 6 though… especially since anything we leave outside the van during the night will get completely soaked 10 months out of the year… But, we’ve got to figure it out!
Thanks tons!!
Liz- Thanks. If you find a way to fit 6 I would love to know! Maybe you could fold down all the seats, hang an extra hammock in the front (from the drivers side to the passengers side) and put a tarp over all your stuff? Hahahaa.
Wow, my plan is to pull this off in three minutes too!Thanks. Super excited to get camping!
Jen – Better start practicing! Haaha. Let me know how it goes.
I recognized a couple of those carabiners and cordage. Retired 1970′s vintage climbing gear used in Yosemite back in the day.
Josh – Ahhh the cycle of life continues… That gear was just immortalized in YouTube!
You guys are awesome. You *almost* make me wish we had a minivan.
MamaBee – Come to the dark side…
So cool. I am very impressed with Joe’s instructional video skills. Very well done! Wonder if it would work on my KIA sportage??? =) Hope the kids hair came out clean and shiny!
Liv – I know. He did great. So did K-So, did you notice how well she sat on the grass? For some reason I laugh through that whole video, in a good way! The kids were clean, but I do recall a certain 4 year old earning a ‘time out’ in the process…
This is some fine Wilson Engineering!
Haaaha. Thanks Bary!
[...] After you’re done with this post you’ll know how to turn your minivan into an RV. [...]
I’m a grandma of 4 (6,5,3,2) and I just bought a used minvan. I hope to take the two oldest camping next summer and I’m curious as to why you don’t recommend an inflatable mattress. Too fragile?
Ginny – That sounds awesome! I can see your grandkids remembering this for a long time to come. You know, an inflatable mattress might work. I like using the bouldering pad because it fits in the space perfectly AND we can drag it out and use it for other things. It’s made to be thrown in the dirt and jumped on, so it also serves as a camping couch/baby lounge area of sorts. I also like the egg crate foam mattress because you can easily cut it to be the exact size you need. I say if the air mattress fits the space, go for it! It might work out really well if you have stow-and-go and can create an even larger sleeping area. If you try it I would LOVE to know how it works out!
Just recently found your website and love it. :) I really love the idea of the hammock in the minivan, thanks for the instructional video! Will have to try that out.
Susan – Thanks! And welcome to the website. If you do try it, I’d love to know how it turns out!
I’m buying a (very used) minivan tomorrow! And looking for ideas for camping conversions tonight. Don’t want to use space for a bed. Will either sleep on recliner front seat OR use your hammock idea. Thanks! I didn’t know a minivan wasn’t cool! :)
Joy – Congrats on the new mini! You’ll love the hammock method, unless your over 6 feet tall… And not to worry, apparently minis are only uncool in certain circles, turns out those circles are totally wrong! ;) GOOD LUCK.
Love your blog and the hammock idea!
My family of 5 sleeps in our Sienna as well on roadtrips. We prefer the tent, but when we are driving long distances we use the van in reststops and trucker gas stations.
We have the next generation Sienna to yours where the rear seats fold into the floor. Then we remove the middle sits and put them on the front seats. Finally we sleep on thermarests, 3 lengthwise (mom, dad and 7 yr old) and the other 2 younger kids widthwise, toward the front. It works well, is quick to set up and requires minimal gear.
Oh ya, and for the record Mini-vans rule!
Greg – Thanks for the comment. I envy your fold down seats in the back, we’re trying to figure out how we’re going to sleep a family of 5 in our van… Might need to upgrade, your plan sounds perfect!
I love the hammock. We have a family of 5. Our van does not have stow and go seats. I considered folding the backs of the 2 bench seats flat with board and egg crate mattress on top and having the kids sleep underneath between the seats and in the back. Have you ever tried this method?
Tina – I have not tried that, our bench doesn’t fold very flat unfortunately, but it sounds like it might work. We’re about to become a family of 5 so I’m going to be up against the same thing. Hummm I wonder if you could hang 2 hammocks… ;)