Perhaps you’ve thought about how a campervan hammock bed might work in your van? Maybe for a temporary bed arrangement or even a longer term, we have a look into the pros and cons for slinging up an indoor van hammock, the setup inside your camper and if it will work for you
Pros
– lightweight
– space – more space & frees-up floor space
– easy to clean
– portable & easy to pack up
– cool in summer, enhances airflow underneath the hammock
– levelled – no matter how you park up you should be level
– nice for relaxing in or for reading a book.
Cons
– colder in the winter
– not as sturdy
– not as comfortable – some people might not find it as comfortable. You pretty well much – have to sleep on your back or on your side. You want to angle yourself in.
– stomach sleeper – if you are a stomach sleeper then it’s not going to be a great option for you.
“Hang Angle” of your campervan inside hammock
Hammocks are long, so you are need to find the space in your van to string the hammock, from the front to the back diagonally. Generally, you want to hang the hammock at a 30degree angle (maybe more like 40 degrees) and lay diagonally across it. You don’t want the hammock strung too tight, otherwise it will add additional pressure on the spine and hips, which is not what you want. Remember hammocks sag, so you need quite a lot of space under them.
Depending on your campervan setup, there are some people who are just going to struggle to get the two points far enough away and also high enough to avoid the sag off the floor. Also, depending on your campervan setup there could be a lot of items in the way, so it’s just not going to be practical.
Steps for a quick-step hang of your campervan hammock
1) Know that you want to have the capability to hang a hammock in your van to start with, before you start doing panel work, so you have anchors and it will be structurally sound.
2) Use a heavy-duty bolt 25mm + x2 galvanised square plates + hook.
3) Thread bolt through 1 of the galvanised square plates and thread through the back cavity, use the other square plate on the outside of the cavity, then screw on the nut to the bolt, to secure everything in place. Use a spanner to tighten bolt and nut.
4) Add hook.
Thought and preparation at the beginning is the key to planning successfully hanging your van hammock.
Two people in the hammock?
For shorter times maybe but you won’t be changing positions and you’ll be brushing up against one another. Longer term this isn’t probably going to be a viable option.
Buying a Cheap Hammock
Buy a cheap hammock to start off with just to ensure it’s your cup of tea and you can survive sleeping in it. An odd nap in a hammock, which seems fun, can be very different to sleeping in one more fulltime.
Alternatives to inside van hammock without a permanent van bed setup
There are a few alternatives to having an inside campervan hammock setup or a permanent van bed, which can also be considered.
Foldaway or Murphy bed arrangement
This bed arrangement isn’t that common and still takes up van space and requires carpentry work and permanent installation.
Convertible Sofa bed setup with table island
Is a sofa setup during the day, which has a table island and which folds out into your bed come the evening. This is a good use of multifunctional furniture and space but does require constant setup and conversion.
Modular sleeping platform from van bed to day sofa
Similar to the convertible sofa bed setup but there is no table island. This build is a day sofa which converts into a bed and doubles as storage. Again, takes time to convert to either you day sofa or your night bed.
In summary, hammock sleeping is something you are going to probably love or hate and you’ll know pretty quickly. Some people will just find it uncomfortable and bad for their back. You can always go for a campervan bed and then a hammock, used for the occasional nap & lazy read.
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