Sleeping in a Berlingo (1 Viewer)

MJL

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Hello all. I wonder if I could ask you opinions on this idea.

I currently have a van conversion which has been fantastic but I have decided to sell it and replace it with a Citroen Berlingo or Peugeot Partner. I am not going to tour anymore but the dog and I need to get from UK to southern Spain maybe twice a year. I don't mind roughing it for 4 or so nights, and eat sandwiches.
I have measured the back and its long enough.

Here is the question. I have seen one that has been adapted for a wheelchair. This Berlingo has 3 individual rear seats and only the centre one has been removed. The channel which the wheelchair runs in is down the middle and basically flat. The channel is 2ft 6 and I can get a mattress that size. It still leaves a 4 seater vehicle.

Is this a good idea or am I missing something making it a really stupid idea? Any opinions??
 

Flamenca

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You have checked the length for sleeping so should be OK for you. I was parked at the Jaca aire a few days ago and a Spanish couple turned up with a Berlingo and seemed perfectly happy. I have done a few runs to southern Spain in a Berlingo but unfortunately too short for me to have somewhere to sleep comfortably.

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Vic

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A bloke turned up at a French aire late last night in an old Berlingo. Stuck internal blinds up and that was it. No problem except he parked on the service area.
 

pappajohn

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Forgot to mention....
With the dog in close proximity in a confined space you may need breathing aperatus.

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TheBig1

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get a good quality double seeping bag, 3 or 4 season to keep you warm and put the dog in the sleeping bag with you

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Riverbankannie

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We used to occasionally sleep on a double air bed in the back of our old Volvo. Only drawback no curtains so gets light early and lack of privacy getting dressed one interested parties (usually friends) have gathered around!
 
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MJL

MJL

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How about a leisure battery and a 12v heater? Also leave the windows down a bit?
 

TheBig1

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using a leisure battery to power any heating will flatten it in a few hours. maybe fit a diesel fueled night heater like fitted in lorries and welfare busses

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jumartoo

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I think your idea is do-able and if you find it's not, a few nights in cheap accommodation en route won't break the bank
 
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MJL

MJL

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Could I get accommodation with the dog?
 
Aug 26, 2008
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Could I get accommodation with the dog?

Some budget hotel chains like Premiere Classe also have pet-friendly rooms available but you might have to book in advance.

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Aug 18, 2011
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Your looking at about 50 euros a night in a chain hotel with a good breakfast,,,dogs allowed in most,,BUSBY,,
 

xgx

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I've been thinking on similar lines, I already have the Berlingo :)

My main concern is leaving the dog in the car (only for shopping!!) during the hot months ...
it doesn't take long for the car to heat up in sunlight
...
not a risk I can take with my mate Zak

***forgot to mention there are umptynine Youtube vids on Berlingo and similar conversions,commercial and DIY ...
 
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You can get a mattress made in any size you want, just google Motorhome or caravan mattress.

I've slept well many times on air mattresses. You just need to let a bit of air out until you have just the right softness, then they are really comfortable. One of those and a good sleeping bag will be the cheapest solution.
 
Feb 16, 2013
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Me and a mate spent a week in wales in the back of an Austin a35 van with a load of sack bags for bedding.

Edit should have said when we were in our teens in the 60s

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Nov 18, 2011
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I went to Belgium and franc in my micro camper and slept 2 adults and a child in Scotland worked fantastic
Adding a diesel heater to it before a get rid

Bill
 
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Did similar in cars, sleeping horizontal is a bonus(y).....how big is the dog?

Stop over at cheap dog friendly hotels a great idea in Winter.......

Go for it !
 

Chris

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Me and a mate spent a week in wales in the back of an Austin a35 van with a load of sack bags for bedding.

Edit should have said when we were in our teens in the 60s

Were you lovers?

:)

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TheBig1

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It's all right Charlie, your dalliance with being gay is perfectly safe with us, we are your friends and won't judge you

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Chris

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Lovers of the old van, we listened to a clay liston fight on llangollen car park one night on that jaunt.
Won't mention women:(

Those were the days weren’t they?

I used to listen to all the boxing fights on the radio in bed.

It’s fair to say I was alone though and not cuddling a bloke:)
 
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How about a leisure battery and a 12v heater? Also leave the windows down a bit?
Depending upon how cold it is outside and how warm you like/need to be a 12v heater with enough wattage (500W?) to be worthwhile will only last a couple of hours.
Say, for example that you have a 100 Amp/hour battery and a 500 watt heater. One can only expect to get about 80% of a battery's capacity, say 80Amp/hours. A 500W heater on 12v will draw about 40 amps* so in theory might last about 2 hours. Thus a 250W heater might in theory run for about 4 hours. If you keep recharging the battery from fully or nearly fully discharged its overall life will be minimal.
* You'll need a very heavy duty cable to handle 40 amps continuous current and your leisure battery could get nearly as warm as the heater;) Harmful/dangerous hydrogen gas will be given off so the battery would need to be outside or vented to the outside of the van when in use.
 

Northernraider

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Well you can buy camper van conversions on the berlingo the partner and the Renault kangoo so I can't see a problem

I saw several folk sleeping in them in Spain and there's a few kangoo campers on eBay at the minute.

If you have a look on there you might get ideas for building a bed

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