If you’re a surfer, climber, or general mountain person, you likely already know that building a bed in your car opens up a whole world of new possibilities. Not everyone has the cash or time to buildout a fancy van like they saw on Instagram, nor do they need to. Creature comforts are a choice, and sometimes keeping things simple works just as well.
Inspired by the cult classic snowboard films, “Car Danchi” (Japanese for car hotel), I started sleeping in my Subaru whenever the snow was good. This led to plenty of cold nights followed by heavenly mornings sampling the finest powder in the Pacific Northwest. The Subie was functional, but not so ideal for a tall guy like myself. My girlfriend’s old Land Rover Discovery proved to be a nice upgrade, until the engine blew up. After laying the Rover to rest, I’ve since gotten my hands on a new project in the form of a 100 series Land Cruiser (aka Lexus LX 470).
In fact, from now on I’ll probably have a hard time buying a car I can’t sleep in. Here’s why: