Essential Guide to Building a Bed in Your Ineos Grenadier

Are you ready to transform your Ineos Grenadier into the ultimate camping machine? Our latest guide dives into how you can build a comfortable and practical bed right in the back of your 4x4. Perfect for weekend getaways or extended adventures, this setup offers warmth, dryness, and comfort off the ground.

Completed Bed in Place

Why Build a Bed in Your Grenadier

Inspired by fellow Grenadier enthusiasts @inkyblackgrenadier, we realized the potential for creating a cozy sleep retreat within our vehicle. Imagine having a warm, dry, and comfortable space, elevated off the ground, wherever your adventures take you. Plus, Mrs. C insisted on being able to enjoy her morning coffee sitting up in bed—talk about setting a challenge!

Key Benefits

• Comfort: Enjoy a good night's sleep off the ground.

• Convenience: Set up your bed quickly, wherever you are.

• Cost-Effective: A DIY solution that doesn't break the bank.

• Customizable: Tailor the bed to your specific needs and preferences.

  
  

Technical Insights and Step-by-Step Guide

We’ve broken down the process into easy-to-follow steps, ensuring you can replicate our design with confidence. From measuring the internals to choosing the right wood, we cover every detail.

Step 1: Measure the Internals

The widest internal measurement is above the wheel arches, giving us 1.37m (4ft 6 inches), which is a standard double bed.

To get the perfect length, I push the front driver and passenger seats forward and drop the rear seats forward (without lifting the seat squabs). This creates a height similar to the wheel arches, resulting in a length of 191.77cm (6ft 3.5 inches).

Going above the arches creates great under-bed storage space. Ours measures 29cm (11.4 inches), leaving a headroom of 73cm (2ft 4.5 inches). This headroom reduces slightly when you factor in any airbed you want to use. We have used airbeds without any issues. We also found some slimline mattresses, both memory foam and air-filled, that are the best.

Other considerations:

• It was not meant to be permanent.

• It had to pass Karen’s morning coffee test: Can she have her morning coffee sitting up in bed, sorting social media and emails?

  
  

Step 2: Choosing the Wood

I decided to use 18 mm (3/4 inch) plywood for the base, cutting it into 4 sections for easier handling and storage when not in use. Using some treated wood measuring 9.5cm x 4.5cm (4" x 2"), I made 9 support legs (6 small ones for the rear of the bed and 3 longer ones for the front). This design not only provides height just above the wheel arches, but it also stays elevated above the folded rear seat, preventing any pressure on it as the bed base is supported from the footwell.

Step 3: Making the Bed

I’ve produced a detailed plan for the design, measurements, and fixings for the bed, which I am happy to send to you for free. Just subscribe to our email on the homepage and comment "PLAN" below.

The rear left quadrant

The rear left quadrant showing the underneath supports

Left Quadrant in place

Showing the under storage beneath the bed base

The back half in place

The supporting wood legs and stretchers in place

The four sections are kept in place with long-recessed coach bolts and supports from adjoining sections. I also used pipe insulation to protect the car from sharp edges, along with a tarpaulin to guard the boot base.

Coach bolts being used to secure the legs

Bed halves being secured with coach bolts

The left upper quadrant

The Upper Quadrant

Almost finished

The front legs in place supporting the bed

Last coach bolts in place

Step 4: Storing the Bed

I wanted to slide the bed back when we were traveling. This way, we could move the two front seats back to the driving position and access the rear seats for passengers. When traveling, we slide the front two bed sections on top of the rear sections. We fold the bedding back, leaving it in place for the next night.

When we are not traveling, I remove the bed base completely and store it in the garage until next time. Honestly, we have had the best nights' sleep in the back of our Grenadier in places as far away as the Outer Hebrides, Norway, and Slovakia.

Step 5: Did It Pass the Coffee Test?

Yes, it did!

Cost Breakdown

The cost of building this bed will vary depending on your location and access to materials. Just to give you an example, here are the costs for us:

• 2 sheets of 2440 x 1200 mm (8' x 4') at £42 per sheet.

• 4 lengths of 44 x 95 x 1800mm cost £65 for the pack.

• Coach bolts (pack of 10) costs £6.33.

  
  

The complete bed costs approximately £155.

There are many proprietary storage options for the Grenadier, with prices ranging from £400 to £1600. Yes, they have drawers and different compartments. But if you want a removable solution that doesn't cost the earth, then our plan will work well for you without breaking the bank.

Get Your Free Detailed Plan!

Ready to start building? Subscribe to our email list on our homepage and comment "PLAN" below, and we’ll send you a detailed plan in PDF format completely free!

Enjoy your travels!