sleeping in your jeep...

wondering if anyone has done any interior modifications to create a reasonably comfortable sleeping compartment in the back of a KJ.

background: I'm looking into making a full-on removable setup in the back of the jeep that'll store (neatly!) the various items I need for my track days. I'd also like to have some form of reasonably comfortable bed back there so I can save on hotel costs. most tracks I go to allow camping on the grounds, and have a driver's club/hospitality suite with showers, which I freqently use AFTER an event so I'm somewhat refreshed before i have to drive home. so if I can turn everything aft of the front seats into storage and "camper" that would be awesome. pretty sure back seat removal is fairly simple so a design that takes advantage of that would be acceptable.

if anyone has any thoughts, designs or actual implementations they'd be willing to share I'd appreciate it.

Thanks!

The best way with no modifications I have found is to lay the back seats forward. They don't lay all the way flat, they are hard, the attachment points jab me in the back, and I'm 6'1" so I don't fit anyway.

To make something for your application, I would push the passenger seat forward, use plywood to make a flat bed shape, and build a small "lift" for it at the back to level it out. Use a foam mattress and while you weren't sleeping on it, it could be storage. Plus, it would be easily removable if you weren't planning on staying overnight.

Good luck

Did that before (made a flat platform) but it was a one-time only shot so I didnt put any effort into making it practical to tote around. It was for my daughter to sleep in at a horse show, and it worked out okay for her and one other girl but they arent very big.
I got some foam padding and some blankets for a mattress and she said it wasnt bad.
I also gave her some extra sheets and some tape to cover the windows.
One concern is ventilation...invest in some of those window vent things that smokers use to keep rain out, otherwise it gets pretty stuffy in there. Cracking the sunroof is better if the weather is good.
Its a pretty simple project.

I've pulled the back seats out of my KJ - on a permanent basis. Then I throw my therma-rest sleeping pad back there, and I'm good to go. Very comfortable.

But I'm also 5'4".

Really a KJ is a little small to sleep in, but i did get a couple good nights rest in the back, no major mod, just front seats all the way forward, then a coleman double air-mattress over top to the back seats folded down. gives you the flexibility to fit around the center consul. this leaves you with virtually no storage inside the vehicle, but I added a hitch mounted basket to get around that, This works for someone up to 5'9", you can get a little more room by sitting a wedge or some pillows under the front end of the mattress and basically sitting the mattress on a bit of an angle, then see if you can find the right slope to park on to level it out, but if you have a sun roof you'll really be running out of head room back there.

Not exactly what you asked for, but it's an option
http://www.autoanything.com/truck-tents/61A3877A0A0A1834660.aspx

yea I'm trying to avoid a tent really. was also hoping to keep at least the passenger front seat (in case I pick up a local "date" at some event. :big_banana_Dance but if that needed to come out to make way for a "camper" segment I might be willing to do that. guess one thing I should do is put down the back seat and see if I fit back there alone laying prone.

I am 5'9" and can lay pretty comfortably diagonally in the back of the KJ. I Usually just grab all of the blankets and pillows I can find around the house and throw back there before a trip. Its not bad for a night or two rest. I imagine if anyone is any taller there would be some problems. They should have made the pass seat in these fold flat. That would be ideal.

If you want to solve the ventilation issue just take some time and sew you up some window screens like I did. I got the idea from someone on LOST and put my extra twist on them. Just used fiberglass screen, fabric, and a strip of magnet sewn into the outside bottom of each screen so it will lay flat onto the Jeep. Plus they'll fold up for easy storage!
Outside View

Inside View

Think someone on here had some kind of fold able plywood setup to make the whole rear a flat surface.

I will be sleeping in mine next Sunday night to be on the 6am ferry for Martha's Vineyard, my wife and parents will be sleeping on Martha's Vineyard in the house we are renting for the week.

John

Tommud took out the rear seats, and made a plywood platform. Front part had hinges, so that you ran the front seats all the way forward, and then hinged the front bit down. He built a support in the rear footwell, and could use the space under that for storage. This was removable, so he could pop it out when he got home and put the seats back in. Have a look at LOST - probably in the fabrication section - might be on here too. I read this a fair while ago, so its probably a couple of years old.

I also don't know how tall he is

I've popped the back seats flat and dropped a thermarest down and I was fine for a night. I did have my tent with me, but it was late dark and raining when got to the place I was camping so I didn't feel like pitching it. Do crack a window open. It gets stuffy quickly and the condensation builds up surprisingly quickly. I'm just over 5' 9" and I was ok, but it was a bit cramped, would have been better at an angle.

Jen and I sleep in the back of our Rig on a nine inch thick air mattrass from time to time.
Usually when off roading and in bear country.
She's 5'4" and I'm 6'5" tall. I just sleep diagonally and still have the tail gate shut.
I find it quite comfortable.

Always gotta be spooning...

Im 5'9 and ive spent many a drunk night in the back of my libby (alone and with my girl) with the sun roof cracked. best vehicle ive ever slept in! only problem is the grocery getter hooks stab my ribs

I've spent about 2 nights in the driver's seat with it moved all the way back and fully reclined. Awful and uncomfortable.

i sleep in my jeep every morning before work lol for about an hour, i just lay the drivers seat flat and all the way back, horrible on the back but its nice to sleeping before work lol

I never understood that. Getting up an hour early to sleep for an hour before pt. Traffic really isn't that bad 15 minutes before formation. Those last minute guys are sucking though.

But hey, whatever works for you. I sleep in the front of mine in the field sometimes but can't do it too long or my hamstrings will tighten and my back will hurt all day.