Morning Awning

I wanted an awning that would fix to the side of the Berlingo - as we have two doors at the rear some of the tailgate designs wouldn't work.

Went with Andes Bayo Driveaway Awning - (small size 2m x 2m) which was just fantastic space-wise for the week!

As with putting up a tent for the first time and having lost the instructions in the first 5 mins our first go took a bit longer, but we traveled to two other sites and in took 10 mins to put up those times.

First couple of nights we didn't realise the additional  metal pole/bar was for keeping the roof of the awning join taut across the van - but when we found the sleeve it slipped into it made total sense (we lost the instructions don't forget ;-)

Bed and bedding

 Now ready for sleeping here's how we slept...

 Platform down and four boxes in position

 x2 decathlon self-inflating mattresses

175cm x 117cm cut of 2" Reflex foam - fitting into single duvet cover

Double duvet then another double duvet to sleep under

Building a bed

My platform for sleeping on needed to be 175cm by 117cm and fold into three. It made sense that it be made of wood - light enough to fold and carry out but strong enough to carry two biscuit loving peoples.

Went for some 9mm plywood from and timber/DIY place - and got three 58.3 x 117cm pieces cut. To attach these I decided on piano hinges - used on opposite sides, so when folded it would make a 'Z'' shape - fitting into the boot.

Then to fit the platform - it folded out fine in the Berlingo but there was a gap between the front seats and the folded back seats (the foot well basically). This needed support and had originally decided on some kind of attachable legs to prop this up - but with a spare bit of wood lurking, decided to use the front doors as support*.

*Was worried that opening the front doors in the middle of the night would collapse the whole bed - but it stays in place until you prop it back up onto the door handles.

At the hinge point there was a slight bit of flexibility - so to make that a bit sturdier, I added a spare bit of wood and a duvet. Our feet would be down this end so it was fine for this purpose - the top 2/3 of our body was supported by the sturdy Ikea boxes.