Ford Galaxy camping conversion ideas & plans (S-Max too!)
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When it comes to Ford Galaxy DIY camping conversions (or Ford S-Max), there’s no shortage of all kinds of creative options people use to sleep in their Ford. I’ve taken some time to collect some of the best DIY camping conversions, ranging from the simplest ones to true DIY masterpieces.
Despite Ford Galaxy not being the biggest, it still ranks quite well in our everyday camping cars list, together with its more luxurious S-Max cousin. They are both not as big as some other MPVs, however, they balance that out with better safety and comfort ratings. They score 3.1/5 (S-Max) and 3.0/5 (Galaxy) on our NimbleCamper scale.
Ford Galaxy camping conversion using a foldable sofabed
Don’t like too much DIY? Then this one’s for you – take a typical foldable sofabed, stick it in the boot, fix it in place, put some plastic storage boxes underneath and you’re good to go – very good if you want to test out sleeping in your car, but don’t want to spend too much money or time on a conversion:
DIY Ford Galaxy camping conversion by Manfred Kleinschwärzer
This camping conversion does require you to possess some DIY skills and tools – but it’s still not a very complex one. Could make for a nice weekend away from whatever you do regularly. It leaves room for your own customisation too – you don’t have to do the boxes in the exact same way, the construction is key, and the storage can be adjusted to fit your needs.
🏆Best cars for camping 🏆
- Fiat Doblò camper XL, High Roof 🇪🇺 4.0/5
- Honda Odyssey 🇺🇸 4.0/5
- Volkswagen Sharan 🇪🇺 3.9/5
- Caddy Maxi Camper (Life) 🇪🇺 3.8/5
See all cars in our database, their boot dimensions and more ➡️
All you need is some plywood, some timber, some screws and DIY tools.
According to the author of this conversion, it cost 350 EUR altogether. This presumably includes the finishing touches you see on the last pics (including a 1.2x2m mattress from Ikea or a 40 EUR awning) – which many will already have at home or you can replace them with cheaper alternatives (see car bed mattress alternatives), so the cost can be brought down further. Timber is not that expensive, and neither are the screws.
“The square timbers correspond to the dimensions 55 x 30 millimeters. The plastic storage boxes under the lying surface have the dimensions 40 x 35 x 25 centimeters (L x W x H) are loaded from the left rear door and pulled out again with a short wooden stick with a hook – ceiling screw hooks were used here.”
See original post here.
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The best budget car tent you can find:
ARPENAZ BASE M tent
Confirmed to fit: Sharan, Touran, Berlingo, Caddy, Partner, Kangoo, Combo
At around 100 GBP - 120 GBP, it's a bargain that does the job of a 300+ GBP tent
BUY NOWat Decathlon UK Or see my full review here
Pressure solar camping shower (pumped) – 10l
£49.99
This camping shower is easy to transfer and doesn’t need to hang in the air – it has a built-in pump that lets you pressurise the chamber and shower or use it in the sink anywhere. It’s black, so the longer you leave it in the sun, the warmer the water will be (or just leave it in a hot closed car in the summer).
- Lightweight: 870 g including the bag
- 10 litre capacity | On/off button on the handle to prevent waste
PORTABLE CHEMICAL TOILETS FOR CAMPING - 20L
4.2/5 stars
- Clean water tank up to 50 uses
- tank capacity: 16 litres
- a seat with antibacterial coating, a lid and a tank that prevents odours and mould
£89.99 - BUY NOWat Decathlon UK
Ford Galaxy camping conversion – keeping the rear seats in
In this video, the author “Exploring Yorkshire and the UK” shows you in steps how to change your Ford Galaxy into a camper without having to take the rear seats out. I did something similar with my Sharan 5-seater camping conversion for under 110 – the camper is always ready… and so are all 5 seats, I can easily switch between them.
What I like about this conversion:
- fairly simple even if you are not a DIY master
- cheap
- keep the seats in
- curtains included 🙂
- good storage options
- final result looks great!
Or just keeping one seat in?
This is an interesting take on a camping conversion – where most choose to cover both rear seats or remove them, this idea keeps one seat in and removes the other. Why would you do that? How about in order to have a comfy seat next to a long table (when you fold the bed away). Being able to sit in the back of the car and enjoy your coffee, meal or work on your laptop is not usually possible with most DIY conversions. This one tackles that problem very well.
6-person inflatable camping shelter – air seconds base connect – £299.99
Don’t like fiddling around with poles? This inflatable car tent might be the right choice for you. The sheet + poles make joining it to your car even more flexible. It has two large openings on opposite ends, giving you a choice of which side you’ll attach to the vehicle. It fits most MPVs – tailgate or side-door, you can connect it from two ends
- Height: 2.25 m (opening for tailgate 1.75m) | Floor area: 6.25 m2 (2.5×2.5m) | Comfortable for 6 people
- Openings on 4 sides (2 suitable for a car) | but only 1 mosquito net
- Weight 13kg
- Easy installation: Rapid pitching thanks to its all-in-one inflatable structure (requires a separate pump though)
- The fabric filters UV rays with a UPF of 50+, Waterproof, good quality – tested in long rain and strong winds, it holds up pretty well (relatively to the price)
Inflatable luxury for 6 people (3 bedrooms)
+ 170cm opening for any tailgate
Fits MPVs, SUVs, Bedrooms:140x210 cm | Stand-up living room:7,1 sqm with zipped basin groundsheet
Fresh fabric: reduces heat inside your tent in the sun
£549.99 - BUY NOWat Decathlon UK
Dometic HUB Air Modular Shelter
£624.99
This car/suv tent offers very cool design and I love the versatility – fits SUVs, MPVs and campervans. You can pitch it freestanding on the beach, on-site with your camper or as valuable shelter when off-roading with your 4×4. Best feature is the ability to REMOVE (unzip) ALL 4 WALLS – making it an awning + tent in one!
- Width:230cm, Depth:230cm
- Attachment Heigtht: 180-210cm (fits tailgate as well as side door, MPV, SUV, Multivan)
- Windows have mosquito nets
- Weight: 13.8kg
SUP? Paddle for the entire family (max load 320kg)
Inflatable paddle board for any weight: less than 60 kg: ultra-stable board - 60 to 80 kg : very stable board - over 80 kg: ideal board for easily starting out
BUY NOWat Decathlon UK
Advanced Ford Galaxy camping conversion
Up for a challenge? Here’s a conversion by Will’s Whereabouts that will require a wider range of DIY skills, including some electrical. But the final result might just be worth it.
You’ll find plenty of detailed videos on Will’s channel, including his cheeky stealth camping expeditions (in London too!).
