Along with adventurers, holidaymakers and business owners, I’m one of a wave of people beginning to recognise the genius of “car booting” – no, not rummaging for bargains amid piles of tat in a soggy field, but turning a car luggage area into a camper and saving thousands compared with the cost of buying and running a purpose-built campervan. Car boots are warmer than a tent and less faff to set up, to boot.
So with a new inflatable mattress and some bedding from our home we set up our year-old Dacia Jogger in a £20-a-car pitch for the night. We comfortably slept in the boot; even better, it only took 10 minutes to transform the family wagon into a cosy camper.
It really is that easy.
I’d suggest that the Jogger is perfectly suited for this purpose. We spent £54 on the mattress two days prior to leaving – there’s a wealth to choose from on Amazon and Argos. A pump was included, which we were able to plug in via the lighter socket in the left-hand side of the boot.
In addition, the car’s back seats can be removed. We did this before we left and stored the large seats in our spare room. The middle seats simply fold up. There’s enough room to sleep two in the boot of the Jogger although it was a bit cosy – making our break more intimate and romantic than we expected.
The back windows are tinted for privacy (top-tip – open the windows slightly at night to avoid them being completely steamed up by daybreak). There are cup holders for your morning coffee on either side of the boot, with entry and egress through back and side doors.
Other “car booters” I’ve found camping in their cars are professionals who run adventure businesses, social media accounts and love camping and exploring. It is cheaper than a campervan, but it’s also a lot less hassle than putting up a tent and, we find, warmer and more comfortable, too.
Influencer and digital marketeer Amy Nicholson swapped her fully equipped Mercedes Sprinter campervan for a £4,000 2009 Peugeot Partner Tepee (which is great for this sort of use as it’s based on a van) to save cash. She says: “I needed the money, but I knew I didn’t want to stop doing ‘van life’ so I bought a car, along with a conversion kit which transformed the car into a bed. It’s perfect for little adventures. Thermal blinds for the windows are essential to keep the light out, and to give you privacy, as are comfy cushions to lie on.”
Claire Robinson of UK short break website Weekend Candy recently went camping across the Wild Atlantic Way in Ireland with her partner, in her Ford S-Max. She simply put an old futon mattress in the boot with bedding on top. She says all her camping gear fits neatly in a box, ready to go.
Car booting is so easy and so affordable, adds Robinson: “You don’t need a lot of gear. In fact, the whole experience of using minimal stuff to exist with, without all the extras we fill our homes with, feels great – it’s like a mini Marie Kondo purge! Plus, there is something so addictive about being free to just park somewhere new and wild, without knowing precisely where when you set off.
“We explored the Wild Atlantic Way on this basis, pointing the car towards the next location on the map without a designated camping spot to head to and deciding when we arrived. It was fabulous. We took our duvet and pillows from home and we were good to go. Most of the stuff you’d use for regular camping anyway. The only additions we made were some fairy lights and a solar-powered lantern.”
Car-boot camping is a great DIY project for people who want to save money on their adventures and holidays. London-based publisher Colette Mason did a few festivals in a tent but decided she wanted a bit of comfort on her road trips and “no aggro drying everything out when I got back”. So she converted her Citroën Berlingo into a camper during lockdown.
She says: “I had some spare time on my hands and I ventured on to YouTube for the first time and saw loads of people doing something similar. I’d had a dabble with my Qashqai, with a bit of plywood in the back, and decided the Berlingo would give me a lot more space.
“I’ve found so many sites that say ‘No motorhomes’ but the Berlingo is fine. As a bonus, ferries are cheaper as you don’t have to worry about the increased fares for motorhomes and vans.”
In Canada, eight-year-old William Campbell car-boot camps with his dad Richard, sleeping under the stars of the Rocky Mountains in a Subaru Forester. William says: “We can turn on the heating if it gets cold. Once it gets dark we can look at stars and it feels like we are in a spaceship.”
For Richard and William, car camping is super simple as they can fold down the rear seats to make a great bed.
Says Richard: “To make it comfortable we use blow-up Therm-a-Rest cushions with foam mats to go under them, sleeping bags and a good overhead light so we don’t drain the car’s battery by running the interior light.
“I go car-boot camping when it’s just me and one of my sons. When the whole family comes we use a tent. The benefit of car camping is that it’s so simple and quick to set up. Also, the kids really love sleeping in the car.”
Discretion and respectful camping is the key and here in the UK there are a few rules in car camping that should be respected, says Aidan Rushby, founder and chief executive of Carmoola: “There are some important considerations to make your car camping experience both enjoyable and responsible. While car camping is generally permissible in the UK, local regulations can vary. So before you settle down for the night, it’s wise to check with local authorities or landowners in the area.
“Many rural spots permit overnight parking in designated areas, but it’s always best to get permission first. Adhering to the ‘Leave No Trace’ principles ensures you help preserve the natural beauty of the places you visit, making for a guilt-free adventure.”
Like others I’ve found the experience of car booting great fun, while my concerns about not being warm enough were unfounded. It was so rewarding that we have been inspired to travel in the hybrid Dacia Jogger to the south of France and around the Balkans next.
We plan to get a little stove and cooker for these longer trips. We spent all of our money buying our home last year so cash is as tight as ever – but that doesn’t mean we can’t still enjoy an adventure under the stars.
2024-07-19T11:31:02Z dg43tfdfdgfd