Thursday, Oct 16, 2003 at 21:04
Kylie and Tony
Forget the airbeds - I agree. The fold-up ones tend to sag and they are fairly heavy.
What we do is a bit different to the others in this thread and it may seem a bit "over the top" to some but we sleep really
well and enjoy our time in bed (yeah yeah yeah .... I can hear the guffaws).
Here's the deal for when we set up
camp for a week or so (not touring).
Basically our roof-rack is our bed.
When we set up
camp I take the roof rack off the car (the basket only) and leave the carry bars on the car.
Our rack "basket" is custom made to fit a double bed mattress.
I have a set of "legs" (the ones with castors from an ensemble type bed) that I screw into nuts welded onto the rack.
There is also a folding front extension on the "basket" that folds up to become a head-board for our bed. (Lets us sit up in bed for reading and coffee and holds the 12V electric bed-lamp).
We put all the empty tent bags and shoes etc under the bed out of the way.
We can lie on the bed during the day and gaze out the window at the surf or the bush.
If any water ever gets into the tent we are high and dry.
Getting out of bed is easier than getting up off the floor.
We don't have to carry a separate bed assembly.
For a mattress we use a custom made 3 fold double bed, foam mattress that fits the rack.
We just use the foam mattress on the floor when touring and the bed stays "made-up" and just folds out with sheets and blankets . Bed "made up" in 10 seconds.
I know it's a bit different, but after 28 years of camping we wouldn't do it any other way. That's our experience. We like to
camp in comfort.
Cheers
Oskar
AnswerID:
34092