Sleeping in ma car

sjpkgp

I have done this once (by accident - won't go into the details here) in Livigno. It reached -22 and although I had full ski gear on and sleeping bag, it was bloody cold. I had also been out drinking (stupidly I now see (and then saw)). Nobody got their cars started the next morning. Ours was a diesel and eventually it kicked into life and we were away as others were still pouring kettles of water on their engines. Fairly miserable unless you can be sure that you either have the kit to cope/have done it before or you know it won't drop below X temperature. I don't think the safety angle or "you shouldn't be sleeping in your car" angle is much of a bother as long as you find the right place to park - the freezing to death angle would be the one I would consider first :-))

Sal x

Jay-Jay_4

The only way to avoid condensation inside the car is the same as with a single skin tent ..... ventilation! You would have to leave the window open to allow the air inside to be as cool as the air outside, the result is that it will be no warmer than sleeping outside, just more comfortable.

If you wear full thermals, two pairs of socks, pants, fleece, down jacket, overtrousers, a coat, balaclava, a thermal hat and gloves inside a Rab bag in a silk liner and eat plenty before you go to bed you may survive the hypothermia.....

I wore that little lot this May in Cumbria and still nearly froze to death :rolleyes:

Killjoy!

adouglasmhor

If it's an estate get/make curtains for it (if you get decent material you can open the windows but still save heat inside while alowing ventilation)or a car cover (if you use this leave a door partly open on the downwind side use a bungee and a wedge to do this but it's better was the vent is below you and heat rises), if you put down the back seat and ,make a sleeping area out of the lugage area get a large thick sheet of foam rubber from an upholstery suplier to sleep on insulation bellow is better than above. A big packet of wet ones type wipes to clean yourself with, proper sleeping bag + extra blankets. you can get a mini kettle that boils a pint of water from a cash and carry for a couple of quid that pugs into your lighter socket, again run the engine. carry a emergeny power supply jump starter thingy as well. I slept in the cab of my wagon in the German winter or in the back of it on many occasions when I was a squaddie and most other guys in my unit did this too and none of us were that uncomfortable.

Jay-Jay_4

Oh and another thing is..... get some laminate flooring underlay, (the flexible stuff which is foil on a kind of foam, not the polystyrene one... believe me that stuff doesn't work!) and put it between your bag and the airbed. Airbed's get very very cold inside and the underlay really does help to keep you warm.

I'll second extra blankets, a duvet, as many things as you can possibly fit into your car.

reduceditem

I've slept in my car dozens of times over the past 7 years driving from Scotland to Romania and back where I have a wee house. My record is -30c and I've had a couple of -25c's. I've also had plenty of 'unbearably warm' nights but thats another story. I've usually got loads of stuff in the car...far too much to unload into a motel room or the like so I prefer to sleep in the car where I can keep an eye on things. If you are reasonably fit and healthy you'll be fine, even at -30c. Here is my advice; first go to Black's or a similar decent outdoor clothing shop and have a look at the sleeping bags...you need a FOUR SEASON bag comfortable to at least -18c, they are quite expensive so wait for the sales or get it as an Xmas pressie if poss. See it as an investment..I've never regretted buying mine. I would also suggest a good hat or even better a balaclava and good thermals (another good investment ). Other UK purchases might include a tow rope, jump leads and maybe a cig lighter kettle and optional pot noodles...these kettles are very slow to boil ( don't over fill them and only use them with the car engine running ). A warning triangle is also essential. Before setting off make sure you've got a winter mix in the cars radiator.
As you are driving down towards the Alps purposely use up all your windscreen fluid then on arrival in a mountain area stop at a garage and buy a bottle of -30c fluid and refill (they all have it ). You may also consider purchasing a pair of snow chains...they are cheap in mountain areas and very straightforward to put on and take off. When you are tired choose a nice location on a slight incline (for possible bump-starting ) and keep the engine running to stay warm while you do some eating/texting/nintendo playing etc. You should wear just your thermals, 2 pairs of socks and the hat/balaclava inside the bag. Only put your normal clothes on if you really need it, by leaving them off you have these layers to put on in the morning when you emerge from your chrysalis. Before you go to sleep turn off the engine and slightly open at least one window...this cuts down the frozen condensation problem. Take a bottle of drinking water and any other fluids you don't want frozen solid inside the bag with you...this is an important one to remember. I take two spare blankets, one i put under the bag (I sleep in the drivers seat, reclined) the other over the bag for extra warmth.
Having said all this it may sound like a waste of time to you but there are plenty upsides....You will save lots of money in B&B costs for a start; you will experience some of the most wonderful sunrises in spectacular locations; you will have done something a site more interesting than those who will be waking up to a stale croissant with lukewarm hot chocolate in a nameless pension that they probably got no sleep in anyway going outside to find their car has been ransacked in the night by local thieves who just love targeting foreign cars cos they're always full of good stuff.
One final thing, baby wipes. You can have a pretty decent 'dry shower' with them, thus completely negating the need for motels and the like.
Have a good holiday....

Little_John

I will 2nd reduceditems comments about a single layer in the sleeping bag.if you pile on the layers you will feel warm for a short time then get colder as the air out side cools the air between each layer faster than your body heat will warm the air between the layers. a single close fitting layer will allow your body to heat up the space between you and the sleeping bag and you will feel much warmer quicker and maintain the heat a 2nd layer outside the bag is usefull if you get a cheaper bag but buy a decent sleeping bag and you should be fine. The feeling of putting extra clothes on in the morning will warm you up where if you have all your clothes on as you get out of the bag you cant put anything else on to warm you up when you hit the cold air. I have many times in winter slept in a 4 season bag in just my boxers and a tshirt and been warm I was in a tent but that shouldnt make much difference.

Jay-Jay_4

Ah I disagree about the layers inside the bag but maybe that's because I'm a girl and get cold rather easily . Having spent too many nights frozen in top to toe Hellys, a Rab down bag and silk liner I now wear as many clothes as I can and would rather do the 'fight of the silk liner' in the middle of the night than still be lying there shivering, teeth chattering at 4am.

Then again hubby wears boxers and a T shirt and copes