How to Build a SIMPLE Car Camping Platform For Your SUV | Hyundai Tucson 2020

I have been noticing all kinds of sprinter van conversions and SUV builds recently. I began thinking more about doing my own take on a build. Well, I went for it! Even with no woodworking experience, I was able to put together a final product I am really happy with! I cannot wait to take my Tucson out adventuring and have the ease of being able to set up my platform and crash on a comfortable bed.
If you have any questions comment below! I will try to answer most of them. Also remember to subscribe if you haven't because you are going to want to see the adventures I take this thing on!
Check out the recent video I made giving a tour of the setup:
• SUV Car Camping Build ...
I want to credit two awesome videos I drew inspiration from:
1) Allison Anderson - • I Turned My SUV Into A...
2) Felicia Fullwood - • How to build a bed in ...
My blog about 2/3 of the experience:
hawkinsaeger.com/posts/buildi...
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Check out my other pages!
Website/Blog: hawkinsaeger.com
Twitter: / hawkinsaeger
Instagram: / hawkinsaeger
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[@HawkinSaeger]

Just made a video giving a tour of the setup. Check it out! kzbin.info/www/bejne/r4vagGiQa7CNbKs

[@thecma3]

This is the best of KZbin right here. No fancy studio, no massive shop, just a guy with good vibes making something most folks can make at home. Great video.

[@HawkinSaeger]

Appreciate the kind words!

[@staylifted777]

You really just helped me out I really appreciate this transparent video! Straight to it hell yea

[@naturebyfrank]

I really like that you kept it so simple👍

[@jimthompson717]

Nice. No critique, but what you lacked in tools and experience, you made up with planning, design, and intelligence.

[@kevinstallings6976]

Thank you for sharing! I have played with this idea for the next car that I purchase. Great to hear you can also do this for something the size of a Tucson.

[@clairebourassa5943]

Nice work 👍👍👍 beautiful and well thought of platform!

[@JasonMatison]

Big thumbs up. Thank you for taking the time to post this video!

[@michelleannvincent7713]

Love this! Thank you so much. I bought my 2012 with dreams of car camping and this is exactly what I needed to see. Great video.

[@1hjehje]

Looks good. I like the carpet squares.

[@guesty8739]

Thanks for the great vid. Fantastic work

[@tuoitreomaha9096]

Thanks so much. I’m an engineer and I was designed on my ipad just like you. I learned that your design is more simple and cost less. I will build my bed platform this weekend for my 4runner

[@deluxedoorman]

Such a smart and economical design

[@user-zw2gt9yt8v]

amazing information. thank you. cheers

[@timothythegreat6294]

Your a good man well done bless your travels

[@arensoto210]

Nice job, especially with the limited tools!

[@rtdalsin6692]

Great job!

[@sharingmatters]

Great tutorial. Thx

[@BiggySnacks]

Nice build!

[@Punjabioverlander]

Very Beautiful setup bro 👍

[@rjweidensee8128]

Look at my boy becoming an engineer, lol. I remember my first carpentry project finding out 2x4s are not two by four. Great work! Can't wait to see v2.

[@HawkinSaeger]

Haha was quite the discovery for me

[@ZiyliesAdventure]

Planning to make this too on my own.

[@oldguyinthewoods]

Good job. New subscriber and although I’m pretty old, just started a project to sleep in my Outback. Thanks for sharing.

[@HawkinSaeger]

Thank you and welcome to the channel! Hope your project goes well

[@juliagoesglobal]

Very helpful video! I am starting to build a similar platform in my Toyota Prius. I have no prior building experience but I think this will be manageable with videos like yours. Thanks!

[@HawkinSaeger]

Good luck!

[@pmmac2382]

Sweet!

[@craigwall6071]

Love the resourcefulness and attitude here. That said, I might opt for a more portable and flexible solution using inflatables. Those wood pieces are going to need to be stored and managed, and they aren't small/light.

[@HawkinSaeger]

That’s a good call! Personally the very back piece stays in my car and works great as a shelf but the other two are a bit of a pain to move

[@VeggieReddy]

good one

[@julyseng5653]

I like it.

[@cowboyscoffee]

Nice job

[@HawkinSaeger]

Thank you!

[@ryanmcdonald4452]

Nice Build! This is exactly what I want to do for my Rav 4! Thank you for the detailed video this will really help me. Have you had many opportunities to sleep in this? how are you liking it? anything you'd do differently? how do you find the head room?

[@HawkinSaeger]

Hey! So I actually just used it for the second time this past weekend and it was great! Made a video showing a tour of the setup - kzbin.info/www/bejne/r4vagGiQa7CNbKs As for headroom. I sleep comfortably and have plenty of room to read a book. Sleep on my side, all of that. I can’t sit up though

[@fredastaire6156]

You Sir are on another level!! I envy your spirit, motivation, and drive. I'm hands down all for supporting your channel!

[@HawkinSaeger]

I appreciate it!!!

[@EdmondPuckett]

@Hawkin. Nice and simple! Well done. Thinking about doing the same for my 2010 Ford Edge. How did you secure the longer posts that support the head end of the platform, just behind the seats.

[@HawkinSaeger]

They just go from the floor to the platform! Removable bolts secure them to the platform. Nothing holds them in place on the floor except force I guess. No issue yet

[@emmaoleary4203]

Hey Hawkin, great video and super helpful for me as I'm planning an SUV conversion. I can't open your blog, (I was hoping to check your build measurements). Any chance you could post them here? Cheers.

[@HawkinSaeger]

Hey Emma! Weird it didn’t work, but hopefully I can sum it up for you. The platform overall is 75” x 40”. It is made up of 3 pieces that are: 30” x 40”, 25” x 40”, and 20” x 40”. The 3 plywood spines holding up the largest piece in the trunk are 8” tall. Here is the blog link too maybe it will work from here 🤷🏽‍♂️ hawkinsaeger.com/blog/how-to-build-a-car-camping-setup-in-your-suv-for-cheap/

[@MattGregoryGuitar]

Awesome design! Do you need to support under the piano hinge section? I can imagine it needs direct support to take the weight of a person on top of it..?

[@HawkinSaeger]

Thank you! I do put in a 2x4 that runs the length of that section on the seat. Then once extended, I have supports on each corner that go to the floor of the SUV to the platform

[@randycamera]

Love this! I just bought a 2024 Tucson that I want to make about the same for to go car camping. I may have a few questions along the way once I get started. Thanks so much! I was just wondering, what is the total length of your platform?

[@HawkinSaeger]

The total length is 75"

[@randycamera]

Thank you so much @@HawkinSaeger !

[@stevebrain9]

Great video! What thickness plywood did you use?

[@HawkinSaeger]

3/4 inch plywood!

[@user-ee4mi6gg3i]

I went Car camping for the first time in my Hyundai Tucson. The only issue I had was a dead battery after the weekend. As far as I know there was no power draw. Have you had this problem and how did you remidy it. I figure it has something to do with the key fob in pocket

[@HawkinSaeger]

I don’t have an electronic key fob. Mine is an actual key so not sure about that. Leaving radio on or door lights might be affecting you?

[@LuanNguyen-rj1bt]

How is the piano hinges holding up? I'm building one right now. I'm leaning towards piano hinges for the low profile but not sure if its sturdybor not?

[@HawkinSaeger]

Had no issues with them so far! The weight is mostly supported by the two legs underneath and the part of the build on the seats

[@LuanNguyen-rj1bt]

@@HawkinSaeger awesome thanks man

[@AuthenticMage]

I just got a 2016 Tucson and camping was the first thing I thought of when I saw the cargo area. Did the cargo weight limit of 130 lbs cause any problems?

[@HawkinSaeger]

I haven’t had any issues! The trunk piece sits on top of the cover for the spare tire and it hasn’t bent or anything. I don’t think I have over 100 lbs worth of gear though. Also I never really put my full weight on just that piece

[@ashleyb7284]

Do you have a material cut list you could share? I’m looking to do this in my 2018 Hyundai Tucson.

[@HawkinSaeger]

I don’t have a specific type of wood, but I know it was 3/4” plywood, 2x4s and a 2x6

[@hotwireman49]

so, it's a Tuscon, right? I have a 2017. the back seats don't lay perfectly flat. do yours? if not, how did u compensate for that. your sleeping area looks so and flat!

[@HawkinSaeger]

Yep it’s a Hyundai Tucson! The seats aren’t flat no. The 2x4 I have supporting it doesn’t lay quite flat but it still works

[@meganbrainard799]

What are the full dimensions of the plywood? Is it 1” in width (or how thick is it?) ?

[@HawkinSaeger]

Used 3/4 inch plywood!

[@yvetteboheme2789]

How long is the cargo area with the seats pushed all the way to the front? Thanks

[@kefirtruskawkowy]

189cm / 74.5"

[@pithaksreeson]

What application on iPad you used? Thanks.

[@HawkinSaeger]

It’s a note taking app I used in college called Notability! Could use any note app that supports Apple Pencil though

[@laux293]

How do you prevent scratches on the car?

[@HawkinSaeger]

Not sure exactly what you mean by scratches. I can’t prevent normal wear and tear. The bed platform doesn’t really scratch the seats a lot on the interior.

[@haleytakamura6772]

I'm 5'11" Is there anyway you could measure with a tape measure the longest distance (diagonal too perhaps) from the back of the inside of the trunk to the back of the front seats when they are pushed all the forward. This would be the sleeping length that we have to work with. Would help soo much to know this distance! 🙏

[@HawkinSaeger]

So it’s a bit complex because the trunk door is curved slightly. I would say seats all the way forward to the trunk is around 73” safely you might be able to push more. Diagonal around 80” Hope this helps!

[@zumezoom9593]

Why carpet and not quarter inch stiff foam?

[@HawkinSaeger]

Didn’t consider that, and honestly not sure what that even is! Just wanted a buffer from the wood and my mattress and the carpet was super easy to install

[@zumezoom9593]

@@HawkinSaeger stiff foam can be used as padding and can be cleaned with a moist towel.

[@chuckm260]

@@zumezoom9593 - When you say "stiff foam" are you referring to insulation foam board?

[@kiwizz2177]

Yeah mate , you look cool with that bottle of beer , you DH !

[@fabulousfinds1045]

WHAT KIND OF CAR WAS THIS!!??

[@HawkinSaeger]

2020 HYUNDAI TUCSON!!!!!

[@ChrisWilliams-is6wt]

How do u think this would hold up for someone that's 350ish pounds

[@HawkinSaeger]

Honestly not sure. You could always increase the width of the support plywoods or use a 2x4 or something thicker if you were unsure

[@jeffhollandsworth7065]

How tall are you?

[@HawkinSaeger]

I am 5’7”

[@mar504]

Sawing wood inside on a carpeted floor with no drop cloth or anything... can someone say renter? lol

[@HawkinSaeger]

I definitely vacuumed and cleaned up!!! If that still damages carpet though I honestly didn’t know :/

[@MyselfMarkie]

This math hurt my brain

[@HawkinSaeger]

Promise it wasn't that hard to figure out haha

[@OriginalviralGospelMusic]

I like this nice channel also I sub to your channel ..God bless