Member Since: 06 Feb 2019
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 971
Sleeping in the back of the D3 - How cold does it get?
I'm pretty hardy and am happy to sleep in a canvass tent in most conditions, so no doubt sleeping in the back of the D3 is at least as comfortable as that. My question is, how well insulated is the D3? I presume it'll retain heat better than a canvass tent so if I put up a camping foldout bedframe and use a sleeping bag, I'll be quite comfy regardless of outside temperature.
Has anyone here slept in theirs in below zero? With a small crack in the window to air airflow, will the D3 keep reasonably comfortable?
Thanks in advance.[/b]2022 BMW i4 M50. Bought Oct 2022. 10,200 miles and counting...
2014 BMW 435d convertible. Bought July 2021. 58,000 miles and counting...
2005 Discovery 3 HSE Auto. Bought Feb 2019. 169,000 miles and counting...
2009 Freelander 2 XS Manual. Bought Sep 2013. SOLD Aug 2021 (already regretted!)
Member Since: 06 Feb 2019
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 971
I suppose the question is; with human breath coming out at about 30-35 degrees, how warm will the inside of the cabin stay against ambient temperature outside.
I'm expecting it to get very cold, but at least not as cold as sleeping outside in a tent.2022 BMW i4 M50. Bought Oct 2022. 10,200 miles and counting...
2014 BMW 435d convertible. Bought July 2021. 58,000 miles and counting...
2005 Discovery 3 HSE Auto. Bought Feb 2019. 169,000 miles and counting...
2009 Freelander 2 XS Manual. Bought Sep 2013. SOLD Aug 2021 (already regretted!)
Member Since: 28 Aug 2014
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 4540
In my (limited) experience, sleeping in cars is colder than sleeping in a tent. Cars don't 'breathe' well like a tent, and tend to condensate badly when it's cold outside. I'd prefer to be in a small tent!Richard
D3 SE 2007. Triumph 2.5Pi 1973. Ferguson TEA20 1948.
Discovery 2 4.0 ES 2001- Gone
Discovery 1 300Tdi ES '95 - Gone
Range Rover Classic '79 - Gone
6th Nov 2023 3:05 pm
pjm-84
Member Since: 04 Oct 2016
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 2608
Define cold! Lol. I think you will be okay.
I found the tent cold when in Norway. -16 inside and I didn't put my warm kit on as I was too hot the previous nights (but not in the tent). I slept/woke/slept most of the night in short intervals / fits.
Warm kit was at arms length but it was frozen within the bergen and I decided that I didn't have enough in the tank to heat that up. -30 the next morning but just within threshold to continue the exercise (thankfully)
I survived so
6th Nov 2023 3:39 pm
ronp
Member Since: 29 Nov 2006
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 15270
Click image to enlarge
Yes, can get bloomin cold !
First time I slept in mine was at a Disco3 event Keilder forest
I elected to sleep in the D3 rather than the bothy, but I only had an Argos purchased Slumberland sleeping bag and no protection in the D3.
.... and yes, that's "Lightsaber Lee" [ent] in the foreground
Now when I camp up, I sleep in the D4.
Got a proper Mammut winter sleeping bag on an airbed, along with heavy insulated thermal blinds to all windows, plus an air vent fitted to each rear door window.
I've also got the Pano glass roof & sunroof permanently blacked out with heavy felt inlays.
When it's cold I sleep in heavy socks, thermal long johns & shirt and use the hood on the sleeping bag
Never been really cold ...... but not yet tried it out in freezing conditions.
I've also got a small 240v 500w fan heater that I can run through my twin electrics & inverter ... but never used it....... always on the road less travelled 🚧
< ‘tis but a mere scratch …….. it’ll polish out.
6th Nov 2023 4:04 pm
Carl and Petra
Member Since: 13 Feb 2015
Location: Hautes Pyrenees
Posts: 219
Bloody freezing. Get a tent.
6th Nov 2023 4:32 pm
DIY Ace
Member Since: 06 Feb 2019
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 971
Ah, interesting reading. Thank you. I wasn't expecting advice saying it would be colder than a tent, reckon I might have to go back to school to learn thermal dynamics again...
I wrongly presumed it would be easily warmer than a tent - a metal box suffering less air loss than a tent, offsetting perhaps the fact that heat will dissipate through the body quicker than it would through a fabric tent. Hmm..
I wonder whether I could build some sort of insulated box inside the rear space, something that has some form of insulation built in. I'm out looking for a decent motorhome and have been caught online by the extraordinary number of people building their own out of used panel vans. They're insualting, lining and fitting them out, some to an incredible standard.
I wonder whether the back of the D3 is big enough to put a wooden box in the back, insulated. Reckon a 6ft long roof, 3ft high sides, with a solid bulkhead to the front, would fit inside. Could then line it with 50mm celotex or similar to keep warm. It might look a bit coffin-like (and I'd have to put in some decent ventilation to avoid it actually becoming one) but it would certainly be warmer than a tent.
Might have a go at mocking something up at the weekend. Loads of people have made small camper conversions out of little Transit Connects for example. Reckon I could make something surprisingly useful out of the D3.2022 BMW i4 M50. Bought Oct 2022. 10,200 miles and counting...
2014 BMW 435d convertible. Bought July 2021. 58,000 miles and counting...
2005 Discovery 3 HSE Auto. Bought Feb 2019. 169,000 miles and counting...
2009 Freelander 2 XS Manual. Bought Sep 2013. SOLD Aug 2021 (already regretted!)
Member Since: 04 Oct 2016
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 2608
Biviy bag and a 4 seasons sleeping bag
That's all you need. The D3 will retain some heat by the nature of the construction. Thermal conductivity / assessment is correct but note volume. Little room / big room etc
6th Nov 2023 6:18 pm
Carl and Petra
Member Since: 13 Feb 2015
Location: Hautes Pyrenees
Posts: 219
Why the need to sleep in the car?
Keep the kit in the car and sleep in a tent with the right gear. Unless you are a serious short these cars are not comfortable and you will take up a lot of space using it as a camper.
Roof tents are available and would offer a great space saving option and better comfort. After all you want a good nights sleep.
6th Nov 2023 6:27 pm
mick_n3
Member Since: 19 May 2017
Location: Kettering
Posts: 438
I use a Heated sleeping bag
powered by a USB power bank, keep it on low and will last all night.
Not cheap but I use one for winter fishing so get my monies worth
I've got one of these, didn't pay that much though
Member Since: 17 Aug 2012
Location: Somewhere out back
Posts: 1293
Quote:
DIY Ace, I wonder whether the back of the D3 is big enough to put a wooden box in the back, insulated. Reckon a 6ft long
Something like this
Click image to enlarge
MY24 Defender 90 X-Dynamic HSE
MY18 Disco 5 HSE Santorini Black Now Gone.
6th Nov 2023 6:59 pm
Down&Dirty
Member Since: 17 Aug 2012
Location: Somewhere out back
Posts: 1293
But seriously a 4 seasons sleeping bag as pjm-84 says MY24 Defender 90 X-Dynamic HSE
MY18 Disco 5 HSE Santorini Black Now Gone.
6th Nov 2023 7:01 pm
jenseneverest
Member Since: 12 Jun 2017
Location: somewhere
Posts: 769
The disco can be very comfortable!!
SWMBO and I spent 4 nights in it, as the tin tent was full with other family.
Im 6.3" and fit no problem, never liked air beds so used a 3inch roll up memory foam mattress.
You do need ventilation / blackout blinds as suggested by others. It was late summer last year so not particularly cold, but we had electric blankets if it got freezing.....
6th Nov 2023 7:11 pm
DIY Ace
Member Since: 06 Feb 2019
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 971
Carl and Petra wrote:
Why the need to sleep in the car?
Keep the kit in the car and sleep in a tent with the right gear. Unless you are a serious short these cars are not comfortable and you will take up a lot of space using it as a camper.
Roof tents are available and would offer a great space saving option and better comfort. After all you want a good nights sleep.
I have a tent already, but for a one or two night stop, or a late night arrival somewhere, I reckon the convenience of sleeping comfortably in the back is quite attractive. Also, instead of 'why' I'm just thinking 'why not' instead. I'm planning on a larger campervan for when I'm away with my wife and kids, but for the odd solo travel (like when I want to be up early in the morning for a hike or cycle) the ease of slipping out of car should easily beat packing up a wet tent.
Roof tent is a good option perhaps, I've been tempted for ages, but still the idea of seeing how well a little camp setup goes in the back sounds like a fun challenge. It also leaves the roof clear for the bike, canoe, etc, which struggle to go in the boot.2022 BMW i4 M50. Bought Oct 2022. 10,200 miles and counting...
2014 BMW 435d convertible. Bought July 2021. 58,000 miles and counting...
2005 Discovery 3 HSE Auto. Bought Feb 2019. 169,000 miles and counting...
2009 Freelander 2 XS Manual. Bought Sep 2013. SOLD Aug 2021 (already regretted!)
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26779
I’ve slept in the D3 at the Buxton Icefest, and froze my bits off! So cold I started the engine at 4 am and everyone else off! A tent is far warmer. If you can’t stand either, buy a caravan 😜
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these cars are not comfortable and you will take up a lot of space using it as a camper.
