Packing the Car

Surprisingly little has changed in the two months since I first packed the car. Everything is organized in much the same way. Now, though, the passenger seat is routinely full of gear and clothing and my 45L backpack lives on top of the bed, full of dehydrated refried beans.

I thought sleeping platforms were meant for sleeping comfort when I first saw them. I didn’t get the appeal. I’d slept in the back of an Outback once before and it was plenty comfortable. Turns out, and maybe this should have been obvious, that sleeping platforms are meant to free up space for storage.

I built the platform over the span of a couple of weeks. It consists of 7/16" OSB screwed into 1x8" pine supports. It fits a Twin XL mattress perfectly. I can store three tote bins and a 2-burner stove underneath the sleeping area.

The platforms folds out into three segments. The rear segment runs the length of the cargo space. The mid segment folds out on the rear seats. The last segment cantilevers out into the space between rear seats and the driver and passenger seats. This front segment is ties off to the Car Seat Headrest for support.

Perfect for a mid-day nap.

Works for sleeping in friend’s driveways.

And most importantly, it got me to Colorado!