Moved to UK section for better visibility/traction

 

Hello everyone,
This is possibly an unusual topic but I'll give it a go anyway...
I've seen videos of people all over the world who have concerted vans into stealth campers. And I've seen people in the States who've converted cars like the CRV for occasional camping trips.
I'm going to see a band in London in a couple of months (lockdown extensions not withstanding) and I had the idea of parking up somewhere quiet within walking distance of the venue and after the gig sleeping in the car. I would fold the seats down and might even put blackout material on the windows and screen off the front.
I think it would be safe enough but one of my main concerns is being spotted by the police and charged with being drunk in charge if I have a couple of drinks (I'm a lightweight!) I understand that for a purpose built camper the police don't charge people with this but they will if it's a car - someone I know slept in their car in a multi-storey car park in Manchester and received 10 points for being drunk in charge!
I like the idea of using the CRV as a stealth camper but in order to do so without raising the suspicions of PC Plod would I have to fit the rear out properly with camping gear?
I realise it isn't that much to stay in a hotel (even in London) but I like the adventure of camping in the car. Though now I type this I'm thinking about the problems of the lack of a toilet. 😳
Anyway, has anyone else used their CRV as a stealth camper? If so, how did you find the experience?

Maybe something like this?

2009-2025 Honda Tent | Honda Factory Parts

08Z04SCV110B - 2009-2025 Honda Tent - Honda Factory Parts

www.hondafactoryparts.com

 

Hi, Thanks for the comment. I've seen this in another thread about a roof tent. They look great for proper camping and perhaps in the future that'll be something I do - though I'm thinking of getting a caravan for that and it's part of the reason I wanted a diesel CRV (pity the CVT rips the guts from it!).
For this type of camping I'm thinking of turning the loading area with the back seats folded down into a small camper so to anybody passing by it looks just like a parked car. I have seen people do this on YouTube but they tend to do it on a semi-permanent basis and build a camper interior complete with sink and hob!
I'm thinking more of just folding the seats down, blacking out the windows, screening off the front seats, and using a sleeping bag. And possibly some form of mattress (the Princess and the Pea springs to mind). If people have done this in the UK what were your experiences?

 

I've had thoughts along these lines for photography trips.

I watched a guy on YT with a camper who used a supermarket carpark.

He parked up, went for a walk to check for parking restriction signs, having found none, went into the supermart, bought food, went to the loo, went back to the van, cooked, eat, slept all night and left with no problems.

Not saying he'd get away with it every time and you'd have to plan it carefully but it's a possibility.
Maybe use the supermarket for the necessary stuff then find another place to park up. They say, arrive late, leave early as less chance of being spotted. And choose your location wisely.
One app suggestion seems to be "Park for the night"?

 

Oooh thanks for this. Great advice. I'm really keen to give this a go. I watched a video of a chap use his car for camping trips to the countryside for landscape photography and he found it ok camping in his SUV. I too take photos though I'm more interested in cityscapes and people photography so I'm interested to see how people do stealth camping in their car in the city.
Supermarket car parks are a great idea and also give you access to a toilet. 😊

 

Just to add, you can still be prosecuted for drink driving in a public/supermarket car park.
Although it's private property it's classed by plod as "a place that can be accessed by the general public" as opposed to a members only car park. They can't touch you there but you'd better be sober by the time you leave.
Not having a go, just a heads up.
As much as I like a glass or three I'd not when trying to be stealthy.

 

Yes this is my concern too. I don't drink much but as I'm going to a gig I might have a couple. I know someone who was arrested for being drunk in charge for sleeping in their car in a multi-storey car park in Manchester city centre. They got 10 points on their licence and court/legal fees!
A friend with a proper camper says as it's a camper the police don't bother but they can't park where they want as the camper itself draws attention.
I think when I see the band in a couple of months I'll get a hotel room - I only thought of stealth camping as the CRV is big enough and the venue is outside the London congestion zone. And it's like a mini adventure! 😁

 

interesting idea to "camp" in the CR-V, ive also seen van conversions on YT and some people put a lot of work, time and energy into them. To do it properly you would really have to consider reorientating the back seats. As it is the CR-V with the seats down is only good for sleeping in, no storage etc.

 

I saw a video on YT where someone built storage with a pull out kitchen (needed the hatch open) and a bed section. It was a lot of work and they had a massive workshop with machinery so it's not something I could do living in the city. But it's a great idea for weekend getaways. 😊

 

oh yes, anything is possible, it just takes some vision and some carpentry skills.....and tools, basic power tools would work well

 

I do have power tools as I've made some furniture to fit my apartment (IKEA is great but when you live in a converted warehouse space is limited). But it really does look like a lot of work to make something that fits the car properly. And I've got nowhere to store it. 😔
I think this was the video I saw:

 

I know the topic is the UK, but here in the US some stores actually allow and tacitly encourage parking overnight in their lots.
A local Walmart does this. I think it started with truckers wanting to spend the night, and it would be hard to say trucks are OK but RVs are not, then harder to say a car isn't allowed.
There are signs warning that video cameras are in use, and that the police will be called if there's any tomfoolery (as if they should need to say that).
I haven't tried camping there, it's a mile from my house, why would I?
It's probably pretty safe.

 

It's a great idea. I guess they know once you're there you're likely to spend money while using the facilities. In Manchester UK a lot of retail parks have started dining people who park for more than a couple of hours. I wasn't aware of this until a friend said she'd received two £80 fines in the same week for staying beyond the time limit. Apparently they use a camera system and record your registration. Absolutely ridiculous when you consider how easy it is to spend a couple of hours if you meet a friend for coffee and do some shopping. But that could just be because it's close to the Manchester United football club.
I'll have a look and see if there's a supermarket near the gig venue in London. Thanks. 😁

 

Hello everyone,
This is possibly an unusual topic but I'll give it a go anyway...

I think it would be safe enough but one of my main concerns is being spotted by the police and charged with being drunk in charge if I have a couple of drinks (I'm a lightweight!) I understand that for a purpose built camper the police don't charge people with this but they will if it's a car - someone I know slept in their car in a multi-storey car park in Manchester and received 10 points for being drunk in charge!

My stepson parked up in a public car park for a night out to celebrate passing his test, intending to sleep in the car. When he returned to the car, he was breathalysed and disqualified. Silly of him, but he was young and naive and it taught him an expensive lesson. This was about 7 years ago.

 

Just curious what "disqualified" means. Obviously a UK term, does it mean license suspended or revoked?

 

All depends on the officer(s) in question.

I know cops in the USA get a bad rep for being trigger happy (as showcased by a lot of 1st Amendment vids I watch!), but theres a groundswell of police in the UK who are just as bad even without being armed.

The Met itself is a powderkeg of corruption, apathy, racism, redtape and Lord knows what else....

 

Guess I'm ignorant of things UK. I thought "The Met" had something to do with the weather.
Of course here it's a Museum, or an Opera House.
The problem is one bad cop will get more publicity than 1000 good ones, anywhere.

 

LOL

Met is also representative of the Metropolitan Police

 

Amazing. Over here the police encourages people to sleep in the car instead of going DUI.

 

Dont forget, many of the not-so-good coppers here are devoid of sense.

 

Laws differ somewhat by state in the US. It is my understanding that to be charged and found guilty of DUI here, generally, one has to be behind the wheel, and on a public street...in addition to a certain level of blood alcohol...although there are now "DUIs" for being under the influence of drugs as well.

It is so sad that there are so many preventable injuries/deaths caused by accidents due to this...but the UK stance seems to be particularly unfair in many cases.

 

In the UK, Police are meant to police "by consent" (of the public).

More often, you are guilty until proven innocent - and is why there is a huge disconnect between the public and Police.

 

Hi I’m using mine to camp in at the end of this month at a Mtb festival. Thursday to Sunday. Back seats down single air bed down one side and then my belongings and bike down the other side, if I can fit my bike into my mates van at night time I will go with a double air bed lol. Hoping it will be ok. It’s a mk4 great car so far for the bikes it’s been great had 2 bikes in it with plenty of room,

 

Does the bike need to be under cover? I'd think you could just chain it to the car somehow.
Although, having lived in NYC, I realize that's no guarantee.

 

I suppose you could but if it’s out of sight less chance of someone trying to take it

 

Put a Thule carrier on the roof and sleep in it like a coffin 🤣

I say just don’t drink! Smoke weed instead 👍

I think they can’t get you in a camper because you can say “this is my domicile.”

 

Hey guys so the camping in the car worked a treat, managed to get my bike in a friends van so I still went with a single air bed so my belongings went down the other side. Because the back seats don’t sit 100% flat with the boot floor I made a wooden bed base with little feet on to level the air bed out, to protect the plastics I used tape to cover the wood. To black the windows out I used home gym bands and attached them from the back anchor points in the roof then down to the handles and across the front and back windows then bought kids black out curtains lol and again worked a treat, toilet wise I used a 3 litre wee bottle lol 😆 and didn’t spill a drop lol, will defo be using it again.