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A DIY-savvy father has made his son’s dreams come true by transforming his hatchback into a tiny motorhome – and affectionately nicknamed it the ‘crampervan’.
Phill Day, 34, was inspired to whip out his toolkit when his son Alfie Day, 10, took a liking to a costly motorhome on TV – and was disappointed they didn’t have their own to enjoy holidays in.
Eager-to-please, he quickly hatched a plan and spent just £25 and six hours converting his Peugeot 107 so his son could experience a ‘snug’ night away in Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales, last month.
One holiday snap, shot through the £900 four-seater’s open boot, shows Alfie happily relaxing as he lies on the £11 double airbed taking up every inch of the car’s interior.
The mattress sits on top of two plywood panels used to level off the fully reclined front seats and folded down back seats while black fabric is used as black-out curtains to guarantee a peaceful night’s sleep.
A DIY-savvy father has made his son’s dreams come true by transforming his hatchback into a tiny motorhome – and affectionately nicknamed it the ‘crampervan’
DIY-savvy Phill Day, 34, took six hours and spent just £25 on materials to convert his Peugeot 107 hatchback into a ‘crampervan’ for a night away with son Alfie, 10 (pictured), to Merthyr Tydfil, Wales
Despite the tight fit and partner Lucy Betts, 36, thinking he’s ‘crazy’, Phill believes the small mobile home is a ‘great success’ and loves that he was able to make his boy smile
Phill has aptly named his creation the ‘crampervan’ – as the father and son manage to both squeeze in to sleep side by side on adventures.
And despite the tight fit and partner Lucy Betts, 36, thinking he’s ‘crazy’, he believes the small mobile home is a ‘great success’ and loves that he was able to make his boy smile.
Phill, from Bedford, Bedfordshire, said: ‘I just thought “if we haven’t got a campervan, let’s make one”. I had to step up and fulfill those dreams.
‘Aflie was watching a programme about travel and adventure and they were going around in a big campervan so he said he’d like to do it but he was disappointed because we didn’t have one.
‘As soon as the summer came around I started to think what we could do so I bought a double inflatable bed from a camping shop and started playing around with moving the seats.
‘Luckily we didn’t have to take any seats out and Alfie helped by comfort testing the bed and making sure the black-out curtains were good enough so we’d get a good night’s sleep.
One holiday snap, shot through the £900 four-seater’s open boot, shows Alfie happily relaxing as he lies on the £11 double airbed taking up every inch of the car’s interior
Phill, from Bedford, Bedfordshire, said: ‘I just thought “if we haven’t got a campervan, let’s make one”. I had to step up and fulfill those dreams’
‘Aflie was watching a programme about travel and adventure and they were going around in a big campervan so he said he’d like to do it but he was disappointed because we didn’t have one’
‘My wife’s got a bigger car which we probably should have used but to be honest I liked the challenge of doing it with the small car. It’s the smallest thing I’ve ever seen anyone try to camp in.
‘Campervans are so expensive and for the amount I’d use it I can’t justify £20,000. The whole conversion must have cost me £25. It was very simple.
‘Alfie didn’t see it completed before we left, so when we got there I set it all up and he thought it was great. He jumped straight in and was totally relaxed.
‘It’s definitely snug. You’d struggle to get any more than two people in there, so it’s a tight fit. It was worth it to see Alfie enjoying it.
‘I was worried he wouldn’t sleep well but slept brilliantly and I didn’t have any complaints either. I managed to lie flat and I was completely comfortable.’
The mattress sits on top of two plywood panels used to level off the fully reclined front seats and folded down back seats while black fabric is used as black-out curtains to guarantee a peaceful night’s sleep
Phill has aptly named his creation the ‘crampervan’ – as the father and son manage to both squeeze in to sleep side by side on adventures
Phill, who works in maintenance at a nearby holiday park, uses the car to get to work so he can’t keep the campervan converted while he’s at home
The electrician also claims he’s saved £20,000 by not shelling out on a motorhome and when he posted the idea on Facebook users were quick to commend him on his improvisation.
He added: ‘Surprisingly I wasn’t actually cramped in the crampervan so we’re definitely doing it again. I want to get Lucy out in it but I’m not sure if that’ll ever happen. Hopefully I can convince her.’
Phill, who works in maintenance at a nearby holiday park, uses the car to get to work so he can’t keep the campervan converted while he’s at home.
He will be keeping the plywood and fabric in his garage for now but is already looking forward to his next trip and would urge parents to have a go themselves – even if their partners think they’re crazy.
He said: ‘Lucy thought I was crazy, she wanted me to take the bigger car because she was worried we wouldn’t have enough room or we wouldn’t have anywhere to cook if it rained.
‘I didn’t tell anyone about it until it went on Facebook but when it did I got a huge response. People have really liked it.
‘I’d encourage any parent to give it a go. Your only limitations are the ones you put on yourself.’
Phill’s Facebook post, which has racked up more than 150 reactions and comments, said: ‘I mentioned a month or so ago I wanted to make my bug into a miniature camper.
‘Well today me and my lad drove four hours to Wales and were settled in for our first night in the crampervan. It’s so comfortable, I’m actually shocked.’
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