[saltsman]

Hey saltsman - thanks so much for greatly improving on my "Sleeping in a Volt" post a few months ago!

You were the inspiration Jimmy. I had actually read your post before buying my Volt. Chevy owes you a sales commission.

The earlier posts mentioned a cooler to fill the hole. I started by fishing around the garage looking for cooler, but all mine were the wrong size or shape. The milk crate was sitting beside it and it measured out to be exactly the right size. The volt shelf divider fitting on top was pure serendipity. I'm pleased with the setup.

 

[Scarlett]

Looks like I'm gonna have to offer the VoltShelf with a new option: 2 Rear Seat Panels.

You guys are amazing. For your creativity and for your faith in my stuff.

 

[saltsman]

Looks like I'm gonna have to offer the VoltShelf with a new option: 2 Rear Seat Panels.

You guys are amazing. For your creativity and for your faith in my stuff.

Seriously, two milk crates, two dividers and the The VoltT = one continuous flat surface.

 

[Scarlett]

Seriously, two milk crates, two dividers and the The VoltT = one continuous flat surface.

You read my mind! I jsut went back to re-read some of the thread and realized that you need the VoltT to complete the Deal here. So, the package will be a VS3, two RSPs and a T. We can do that.

 

[saltsman]

You read my mind! I jsut went back to re-read some of the thread and realized that you need the VoltT to complete the Deal here. So, the package will be a VS3, two RSPs and a T. We can do that.

In all honesty, the VoltShelf 3 works really well as a table/gear loft when in camping configuration. The fabric on the divider is very friendly to my inflatable sleeping pad too. I'd worry about splinters with just plywood.

You might think about offering a full window reflector package. These guys offer the windshield and two front side windows, but not the rear side windows or rear hatch window. The shades work well for camping, but are handy for other uses as well. For example, my pickup parks outside and is only used several times a month. I always put up the side shades to keep the sun from fading the interior. In extreme climates, it also insulates the interior to allow the inside to pre-heat/pre-cool quicker when using Remote Start.

What I've never been able to do is make the fold crease in the insulation to provide laterial stability and to allow for easier storage. The other thing I can't do easily is add a trim to the edge cuts. Your ability to trim out the Volt Shelf was worth the price. It just looks better than what I can do in my garage with saber saw. I would have purchased the window reflectors if they were available at a decent price. .

 

[Dakster]

I drove from South Florida to Alaska in my Volt...

I wish I had some of your ideas before I did the trip. Unfortunately, we were moving so I crammed the volt full of stuff we wanted to bring. Not a lot of room for sleeping...

 

[inspron]

Inspired by this thread, I went camping last weekend to test out this idea.

Pros:
- With the milk crates, the Volt is indeed has a continuous flat surface to sleep on.
- Still, I have found the space is a bit cramp (head to toe distance). Lateral space is completely acceptable.
- I made good use of the cup holders in the middle for drinks, keys, and phone space.
- Putting up your sun-shade on your windshield helps to keep you warmer at night.

Cons:
- Unfortunately, I didn't prepare my sleeping space before midnight so I had limited space due to all the camping gears in the Volt. So lesson learned, prepare you space before having fun.
- Without good padding, its still painful to sleep on a hard surface. Especially if you sleep on your sides like me. Padding isn't enough.

Other Ideas:

- Next time, I will try sleeping in the Volt with a twin air mattress to take it up a notch. I think this will bring much needed comfort. A car air pump would be perfect for this.

- Crack a window just a tad and slip a white t-shirt in between, once you close the door with your white t-shirt hanging over it will lock it in place. This is a poor man's version of the Magnet. It works great for minor ventilation while still keeping the bugs out. You can roll your windows up and down as much as you want and this still works.

- Buy a crappy windshield shade from a dollar store and extend it across your open trunk. When you close your trunk, it will hold your shade in place to keep you warmer at night.

 

[saltsman]

- Next time, I will try sleeping in the Volt with a twin air mattress to take it up a notch. I think this will bring much needed comfort. A car air pump would be perfect for this.

Remember, GM already provided an air pump in the flat tire kit below you. You just need the inflator nozzle thing.

 

[inspron]

Remember, GM already provided an air pump in the flat tire kit below you. You just need the inflator nozzle thing.

Wow! Dang how did I forget about this pump! Good reminder.

 

[saltsman]

For owners with a 2014+ model, you might have noticed that the car will power down after 150 minutes. While this solved a potentially dangerous problem for absent minded owners who left there car on accidentally, it created another problem for owners who were camping in the Volt or using it with an inverter during an extended power outage, etc.

Clamping the shift lever button closed (as if you were going to shift out of park) will keep the car powered up for as long as needed. A message will display alerting you that the charge cable is connected and the Volt will prohibit you from shifting out of park, however the HVAC will run continuously, even while charging. This appears to be the best workaround for 2014+ model owners who want to keep the car powered on indefinitely. Thread with more information on the clamp hack.

 

[The_Tibulator]

Just went camping this weekend in Ginnie Springs, Florida. Used the tips from here and it worked perfectly! Used my friends' hair tie to hold the shifter button in all night and a milk crate and a foam presentation board to cover the floor board.

 

[saltsman]

Just went camping this weekend in Ginnie Springs, Florida. Used the tips from here and it worked perfectly! Used my friends' hair tie to hold the shifter button in all night and a milk crate and a foam presentation board to cover the floor board.

Glad it worked out! Did you make the window shades yet?

We just got back from the Davis Mountains State Park this weekend. The wife and I in the back and the dog in the front seat. The first night had a thunderstorm roll in. Lot's of sideways rain. Was extra glad to be inside. Several tenters were air drying their sleeping bags the next day. I've been there before - cold and wet is no fun.

 

[edwardang]

I also did many camping trip on my Volt. The most recent one, my son suggest that we sleep with our heads towards the back. He wanted to look at the stars. The bonus point is that it is completely flat at the back. No more filling the gaps with milk crates ;-)

 

[johnhamm]

Wow, I was just reading this thread because I was planning on using my Volt to camp at Ginnie Springs and wanted to know the best way to go about it. lol!

 

[flyingsherpa]

saltsman,
If you're still around, can you comment on how easy it is to store the stealth window panels? Can they be folded or rolled without damaging them or ruining the cloth adhesion? I'd like to build a set, but I want to make sure I can easily store them... thanks!

 

[saltsman]

saltsman,
If you're still around, can you comment on how easy it is to store the stealth window panels? Can they be folded or rolled without damaging them or ruining the cloth adhesion? I'd like to build a set, but I want to make sure I can easily store them... thanks!

The shades are a bit too stiff to roll. The rear window shade is large so I fold it in thirds to make it smaller. No loss of adhesion thus far.

I'm traveling (by plane) today so I can't post a picture, but I store them under the Volt Shelf. I use two strips of velcro to attach them. The velcro is used like straps with just the ends grabbing onto the VoltShelf fabric on the underside of the shelf. The velcro sticks well, the shades hold tight, are out of the way for every day use of the hatch, easy to get to when needed, and best of all they cut down on road noise even more than the VoltShelf alone. I'll post a picture when I'm back at the house later this week.

 

[IERP]

I finally got to read thru this post, many great idea Saltsman! When I was towing my 2008 HHR doing RV transports, I lived out of it and can easily set the Volt up the same way, but this only works for one person. I really like the classy window blinds, I used corrugated cardboard in the HHR, it works, just looks dull. I've already tried my 23x73x6" mattress behind the passenger seat and it fits fine. In my HHR I had a deep cylcle 12v battery connected to an inverter to power a microwave and coffee maker. With the Volt, no auxiliary battery is needed and my 2500W roadpro inverter fits under the folded down rear passenger seat! The AC outlets can be used with seat folded down and the inverter ventilation fans work fine. A 500W microwave oven works great and can sit right behind the drivers seat with a drip coffee maker right behind that. For safety, I would build a tray with 2" side to tightly fit the microwave and coffee maker into to keep from flying loose on quick turns. Of course the big advantage of the Volt is using Mountain mode to put 14 miles EV on the battery to extend the 12v AC inverter usage.

 

[saltsman]

saltsman,
If you're still around, can you comment on how easy it is to store the stealth window panels? Can they be folded or rolled without damaging them or ruining the cloth adhesion? I'd like to build a set, but I want to make sure I can easily store them... thanks!

Here's the picture of how I store the window shades. The straps are simple velcro that adheres to the underneath side of the VoltShelf. When not in use, they stay up out of the way, are protected from damage, and do an exceptionally good job of minimizing road noise from the rear hatch area.

 

[FranandPat]

Late to the party as usual but...
Using this post and others linked to, we're planning on getting one of these: http://www.autoanything.com/truck-tents/77A2945A3066850.aspx as referenced earlier and doing what will likely last two months of travel next year. We will also have the Volt prepared for sleeping in bad weather as well. (I've had many a thunderstorm mess up a nice trip in the Adirondacks.) I'm sure if we plan properly we can hit many points of interest from select campgrounds doing daily out and back trips. I'd like to be able to bring my L2 charger with me and "fill up" quicker in order to get in a sight seeing day, clean up while charging up, and perhaps get something better to eat than a can of beans on a Bunsen burner! (My wife enjoys Blazing Saddles but not so much in the confines of the car) What I'm looking to learn now is what is the "normal" or most widely seen plug/receptacle I'd need to be geared up for? I know I saw a post referencing a kit or something with adapters but I can't seem to find it. I installed my LCS-25 hardwired but have a nice disconnect as well as breaker and I could be ready to go in less than ten minutes safely. Of course it may be moot if we're not able to park with the big boys to use that level of charge and are relegated to a tent site with 110v.

Thanks in advance for any help on the receptacle thing.

 

[IERP]

What I'm looking to learn now is what is the "normal" or most widely seen plug/receptacle I'd need to be geared up for? I know I saw a post referencing a kit or something with adapters but I can't seem to find it. I installed my LCS-25 hardwired but have a nice disconnect as well as breaker and I could be ready to go in less than ten minutes safely. Of course it may be moot if we're not able to park with the big boys to use that level of charge and are relegated to a tent site with 110v.

Thanks in advance for any help on the receptacle thing.

That's pretty nice way to go camping with the option of staying dry sleeping in the Volt! Even if you could find a tent site with 220v they would probably have a higher rate for running an A/C. The 110v is all you need for overnight charge up, no special adapter is needed, the outlet should be rated 15A. And you can do a quick recharge with MM for 12 EV miles when you have 0 EV miles and no elec available.