GQ touring wagon

Joined: 26 Jun 2007 Location: Maroochydore

I am after some info if any one has done a fit out on a GQ with a double bed and a fridge obviously with all back seats out don't want to get a roof top tent the handbrake won't climb ladders lol but want to see if it's possible. Any advice and or pics would be greatly appreciated, other wise I will have to end up with a troopy cheers.

Joined: 27 Nov 2002 Location: Lost in Melbourne.

acebryan wrote:

other wise I will have to end up with a troopy cheers.

in all honesty if you need a double bed, go the troopy.. much more room inside.
why do you need the double bed inside? rooftop tent?

Joined: 20 Sep 2007 Location: Narangba - Queensland

Where would you put your other gear? You don't want too much on the roof rack and everytime you stop for the night you would have to unpack everything in order to lay down.

What about a cheap camper trailer? It will probably cost you that much extra to go to a troppy anyway.

Joined: 27 Nov 2002 Location: Lost in Melbourne.

dirtydog16 wrote:

Where would you put your other gear? You don't want too much on the roof rack and everytime you stop for the night you would have to unpack everything in order to lay down.

that was my thought too, thus why I would go the troopy.

Joined: 08 Jun 2004 Location: Seymour

I sort-of had a setup like that in my old MK wagon. And yes, it required that my fridge/tucker box/clothing bag be put on the roof rack in order to get the double matress in.

There wasn't much room for sitting up in bed though - which nearly drove me bonkers. You're better off with a rooftop tent or a swag IMO. Or even a pull out/detachable awning off the side of your truck to stop the dew.

Coxy

Joined: 26 Apr 2005 Location: Shitney

I made on in my 60 series, which has more room in the back than my patrol does. After all the hassel of sorting out compartments so I could fit fridges, eskys, clothing, recovery gear and micelaneaous debris, my nose was no more than 20-30cm from the roof. To top it all off, unless you install a fan, it was so damn hot you could hardly sleep; it was beautiful to sleep in in winter, but disgusting in summer.

My advice is to get some good drawers set up in the back and a nice swag. If you are worried about the creepy crawlies in the night you could make a foled out frame from the rear of your patrol - I have seen this done, but don't have pics.

Joined: 25 Oct 2003 Location: Melbourne Australia

bogged wrote:

in all honesty if you need a double bed, go the troopy.. much more room inside.

No way, you want the original home of the mobile double bed...

Seriously, my rear drawers allow a double inflatable to fit in the back, if you fold the 2nd row of seats down (third row removed). It's just enough space for a standard double. This allows stuff to be kept in the drawers as well. I built the drawers to match the top of the wheel arches inside, so basically they make a flat surface at the same height as the wheel arches reach to.

Having said that, I've had a mattress in there for testing but never slept in it, just slept in a tent. I feel it is doable but the roof would be pretty close and personally I thought I would probably find that uncomfortable.

I agree with Guy from Nowhere, a tent that folds out from the rear would be the best way to go. But obviously there is some work/money involved in getting this option up and running.

Joined: 08 Jun 2004 Location: Seymour

I'll have to pull it out one day and get a pic, but my grandparents handed down to me a tent thats about 3m x 3m, and it has a awning/annex on one side that attatches to the back/fron/side of your 4x4. Its a real pisser, except i havent used it as its more for 3-4 day stays in the one spot, and we only tend to be in one spot for 1-2 days.

Its handy cause you can access your car without having to worry about the wind and rain.

Matter of fact, i feel like going camping right now......

Coxy

Joined: 26 Jun 2007 Location: Maroochydore

thanks guys there is some good advice and ideas there but keep em comin im always open for more cheers.

Joined: 08 Jun 2004 Location: Seymour

What about a roof rack (full size with 8" side rails) and get a swag that fits inside the rails nicely. Then you could fab up some 15mm square steel about 2' high to slip into each corner, then suspend a tarp over the four corner posts. Possibly fit a centre mast to aide water/dew run off.

Poor mans rooftop tent.

Coxy

Joined: 27 Nov 2002 Location: Lost in Melbourne.

acebryan wrote:

thanks guys there is some good advice and ideas there but keep em comin im always open for more cheers.

so why do you need to sleep in the car?

Joined: 18 Nov 2007 Location: melbourne

Drop bears maybe or there scared of the stars landin on them Very Happy

Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 9:11 pm

why not get a ute?
2.4 x standard width tray will fit a queen mattress, or a double with room for all sorts around it.
its no different to running a wagon with only front seats apart from being much more practical and alot more usable space...

Joined: 26 Apr 2005 Location: Newy

G'day mate,

i had the set up you are talking about in my last patrol which was stolen.

I had a frame set up with the mattress at the bottom of the rear window height.
the frame was 2 piece so i could leave the back section in with the 2nd row seats in. then add the other section when the seats were out.

i had a 32l engel mounted on a slide under the bed - that slid out through the rear drivers side door for access. i had a 55l coleman extreme esky (same outside size as a 75l esky) that fit under the passenger side.

we had those child shades for every window so we could sleep with them down during summer - no mossies.

The reason we set up this way was for regular moving - we did fraser for 11days - moving each day, so much easier than setting up camp. no probs with luggage - just put out clothing bag on front seats when stopped.

I'll see when io get home if i have any pics of the set up.

downsides - was a little difficult to get in and out - we were both pretty athletic, so not too bad for us, but if climbing ladders is out...... perhaps this may be a prob.

roof height was a little low - still enough room to get very friendly though Embarassed

Engel was on the small side - good for 2 people - we set it up with all our meat frozen - and set that at around 0 degrees.

all in all worked very well for short stays - but.... i will go a roof top tent this time round i think.

Cheers
Stew

Joined: 16 Oct 2007 Location: Brisbane

Could do it in a high roof GQ.

But then you have the issue of not being able to fit where a normal roof version can fit.

Joined: 02 May 2008 Location: Bunbury

I am looking at the same thing, have a high roof Safari. Have a great tent, but sometimes want to be able to crash in the back of the car (like if im pissed lol) its not an ideal solution for long term stuff. but its just making use of the vehicle that you have.

check out this patrol4x4.com/forum thread. has a few pics from people who replied.

http://www.patrol4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=21474

Jeff

Joined: 26 Jun 2007 Location: Maroochydore

yeah thats what I was trying to do save as much as possible with what I had. It would only be 1 or 2 nights at the most, I have a camper trailer but sometimes it to much effort for just a quick sleep or that unexpected place that might be too nice for only 1 day.

revhead 307 I tried your link it would be perfect but they would'nt let me register last night will try again tonight some guy on there has picks of his in tassie can't wait to see them thanks mate champion you have been a big help.

Joined: 27 Nov 2002 Location: Lost in Melbourne.

acebryan wrote:

yeah thats what I was trying to do save as much as possible with what I had. It would only be 1 or 2 nights at the most, I have a camper trailer but sometimes it to much effort for just a quick sleep or that unexpected place that might be too nice for only 1 day.

revhead 307 I tried your link it would be perfect but they would'nt let me register last night will try again tonight some guy on there has picks of his in tassie can't wait to see them thanks mate champion you have been a big help.

try here http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p115/BowTieGQ/

Joined: 24 Apr 2006 Location: South Bris

I have put a false floor in my Troll and it is only 1080mm between wheel arches. a double bed kinda fits but fold the sides ups if you went over the top it'd be to close to the roof. also you can get 2M from door to console with the floor. OK for bed but definetly wont fit fridge as well unless you put on passager seat when sleeping M2C