CHEAPEST ROAD TRIP CAR

Every year, our family is always involved in traveling across Java for about 1200 km x 2 = 2400 km, depending on which route we choose. Even in 2018 we did it 3 times. It is not possible for us to continuously drive along 1200 km, there is always our time to rest to sleep, because we usually stop by the tourist attractions along the way. The cost we spent to stay at the hotel, is a big expense, and we think that if we can reduce the expenses for the cost of the stay, then we can divert the money to repair other costs.

I then browse on google, it turns out that many kind people who share a lot of experience, how to make a bed in their car to reduce travel costs. There are some of the most inspirational pictures to emulate. It turns out abroad, the phenomenon of "sleep in car" has been widely used by travelers who want to tour the area in a cheap way.

The narration states that: the back seat must be removed. The frame is made of wooden blocks so that a storage space is obtained under the board. Made of plywood boards, consisting of five parts which are equipped with hinges. The size of the board is made by first making a pattern from cardboard / cardboard. Put a foam mattress on it as a bed.

Based on this inspiration, in the middle of January 2019, I immediately experimented, as follows:

Vehicle rear seat removed. It was not as easy as imagined, because the chair bolt was tied with 6 bolts very tightly, needed a shock lock and an additional pipe to open it. In addition there are 4 safety belt point bolts that must be removed, and until now there is 1 safety belt point bolt that cannot be removed.

I did not make a wooden frame to make a storage area under the board, this is because it is still used as an ordinary seat in normal conditions, so that if forced to make it like this will reduce comfort. The height of the board is just above the rear wheel, so that the height of the mattress is approximately the same as the height of the removable rear seat, and can be used to sit as usual, even getting more leg room.

Step 1:

The board is made using thick multiplex, divided into 4 parts. That is:

1 (one) rear where the spare tire is located.

1 (one) middle section where the previous seat is located.

And 2 (two) parts which are located between the middle and front seats.

1 (one) table The size of the board, made in advance using a pattern made of cardboard The center board is fastened to the bolt that previously held the chair. Under this board, there is enough storage space to put: equipment keys, spare various kinds of light bulbs, vehicle cleaning equipment, umbrellas, plastic coats, flip-flops, ropes and so on.

The back board is hinged to the center board, made so that the lid is easily opened, does not interfere when the spare tire is removed and inserted. The hinges are mounted using a bolt down, so that it does not interfere when the mattress is placed. The back board is very sturdy sitting on the spare tire and on the under the wheel plate. Found a little storage space underneath, not bad to stray something.

The front board is divided into two parts namely left and right which can be opened and folded independently. Tightly hinged to the middle platform so it can be folded together with the center board if you want to be in the usual seating mode. The length of this board should not be longer than the middle board, so that later it will not interfere with the back board's movements when conditions are folded. The length of the board must also not be longer than the available space between the center board and the front seat in the normal driving position, so that it does not interfere. This board was originally only made one part, it turns out that in practice it is less useful, so we split it into two parts.

This front board, on the front is supported using legs of 3/4 inch PVC pipe that can be removed - plug in the hole made. And these feet when not in use can be stored under the middle of the bottom board. But over the course of the experiment, it turns out that a basket / plastic box, has a very fitting size to prop up this board, while we can store food in the plastic crate. Because there are only three of us, we need only one seat in the back for our daily needs. So the front board on the right (back of the driver) is always open, becomes a table to put various kinds of things, and it gets enough storage space under the table underneath. Whereas the left side is available quite relieved where the feet.

Mattresses are made based on the size of the board pattern. Mattresses for the front board, under normal circumstances are placed standing behind the back to function as a backrest. To be more comfortable and pleasing to the eye, the multiplex wood boards are coated with curtain fabric by glue. It took us a long time as a family (January to May 2019) to experiment in order to get the most appropriate and comfortable dimensions for the needs of our family. Conducting a trial trip around West Java, while feeling what is lacking with this model, before we use it for a real long trip. In driving conditions, one passenger can sleep resting in the back comfortably. While in a parking situation (for example in a rest area), the driver's seat is fully shifted forwards, then two people can rest in the back, and one passenger stands guard in the left front seat. So we took turns to take turns to keep the condition fit.

With this mode of transportation we can save more on traveling. Before all of this we made, rigid suitcases were used to carry clothes to put in the rear trunk. At present we are changing traditions by using several thin parasitic cloth bags of various sizes to carry clothes and equipment, making it more flexible to be placed under the planks and wherever there are gaps, even used as head pads / pillows. The rest, will be placed on the roof using soft rack as usual.

Actual realization as below, this is the position of the board when driving normally as a seat. The red board is the back table with the exact same size as the back board, so it can be stacked.

Step 2: