SLEEPING in your 300TD - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

blankenship · #1 01-12-2007, 04:18 PM

hey y'all. heading cross-country to Texas to pickup my long-lost 300TD, and am then gonna drive it back to Oregon. considering CAMPING in her on the way back, and wondering if anybody's done the same or has any info to share. i'm actually also wondering what the LENGTH of the cargo bed is, as i'm 6'0" tall, and am not 100% sure if i'll be able to stretch out back there. any dimensions, experiences, suggestions, or mods anybody's got to offer would be GREAT!

leathermang · #2 01-12-2007, 04:25 PM

How many people ?
Does it have the jump seat arrangment ?
Does it have the deal where the right backseat passenger seat will fold down apart from the other ?
Do you have a 20 below zero down sleeping bag ?

R Leo · #3 01-12-2007, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blankenship

hey y'all. heading cross-country to Texas to pickup my long-lost 300TD, and am then gonna drive it back to Oregon. considering CAMPING in her on the way back, and wondering if anybody's done the same or has any info to share. i'm actually also wondering what the LENGTH of the cargo bed is, as i'm 6'0" tall, and am not 100% sure if i'll be able to stretch out back there. any dimensions, experiences, suggestions, or mods anybody's got to offer would be GREAT!

The rear seat bases fold to support the top of the rear seat back when the rears are folded down. This effectively limits the cargo space to just under 6ft. For more room — 6+ feet, you can remove the rear seat bases (or just one - say, the passenger side), fold the seat backs down to rest on the seat base hinges and then move the passenger seat forward. The jump seats (if you have them) fold flat under the rear cargo area and shouldn't make any difference in the useable length.

The various panels in the cargo area all sit at different heights in relation to each other making for a lumpy bed. I'd suggest finding a piece of foam rubber to lay on if I were sleeping in back.

My experience in making long wagon trips was that I preferred to fully recline the passenger seat and sleep in it.

Quote:

How many people ?
Does it have the jump seat arrangment ?
Does it have the deal where the right backseat passenger seat will fold down apart from the other ?
Do you have a 20 below zero down sleeping bag ?

Do you have a reservation at Motel 6?

MattBelliveau · #4 01-12-2007, 04:31 PM

Is it just you? I'm ~6'3" and I don't think I would have ANY problem in the front seats, let alone the cab of a TD.

blankenship · #5 01-12-2007, 04:33 PM

ha!
will be two people (me + girlfriend), it doesn't have the 3rd seat, but does have the split rear seat. my sleeping bag's good to 20º or so, but maybe the girlfriend will warm things up a little.

winmutt · #6 01-12-2007, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by blankenship

hey y'all. heading cross-country to Texas to pickup my long-lost 300TD, and am then gonna drive it back to Oregon. considering CAMPING in her on the way back, and wondering if anybody's done the same or has any info to share. i'm actually also wondering what the LENGTH of the cargo bed is, as i'm 6'0" tall, and am not 100% sure if i'll be able to stretch out back there. any dimensions, experiences, suggestions, or mods anybody's got to offer would be GREAT!

I'm 6'2 and have fallen asleep more than once at the drivein movies in the back. Just throw some nice thick foam in there ya hippy! Does your wagon have sto and go in the rear? I dont know if all or only split seats have these. It would be crucial.

300TDT 1987 · #7 01-12-2007, 04:34 PM

I'm 6feet as well and did not have any problem camping in my 87 wagon. I had to sleep at an angle but I slept like a baby.

kerry · #8 01-12-2007, 04:35 PM

You'll get about a foot extra length by taking out the bottom of the seat instead of just flipping it up. I think you should fit ok, particularly if you slide the passenger seat forward.
You'll need a damn good sleeping bag (I'm partial to Stephensons myself) and a good sleeping bag if your driving north from Texas to Oregon in these temperatures. It was about 5 below zero here in Denver this morning.

rrgrassi · #9 01-12-2007, 04:42 PM

Just be careful. People have been mugged while sleeping in thier car. Hang up thick blankets or something to keep people frol looking in. Sleep in Wal-mart parking areas near parked RV's.

SirNik84 · #10 01-12-2007, 04:59 PM

I drove my SD to Idaho. one night we slept 4 in the SD. all in the exact same position we were riding in. HORRABLE. but you have a TD you'll be much better off. I sleep ok in the back of my tercel wagon with the seat folded down. its not the best sleep but its better then sleeping on rocks, or bushes. the best car sleep can be found on the roof if you are light. but for me being 6'1" and 290 LBs... it doesn't work.

If i were you i'd sleep in her. i mean its good bonding with the car.

pawoSD · #11 01-12-2007, 05:13 PM

If I had to sleep in my car I'd probably just recline the passenger seat (no pedals in the way) a ways, and go to sleep with a blanket or something. I can sleep practically anywhere.

Mismost · #12 01-12-2007, 05:25 PM

I have yet to do an all nighter in my TD but naps between events at the skeet shoots are very comfortable even with out foam. All night, foam would be the ticket.

My brother and I used to known for long fast road trips....one drove one slept and we got 'er done!

Better check the weather...North Texas looks likes it gonna get smacked with an ice storm. This is Texas, we don't have a lot of snow/ice road service type equipment and trust me....WE DON"T HOW TO DRIVE IN THIS STUFF! Also if it is a Texas car, you can bet it will NOT have snow tires or chains either. Do some serious planning.

What part of Texas y'all headed to? If you are close, I could offer our "guest house" (guest house is pushing it...it's the upstairs over my shop, pee off the balcony...but it does have a radio and a hide-a-bed).

winmutt · #13 01-12-2007, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawoSD

I can sleep practically anywhere.

I can sleep on gravel, hard concrete, prettymuch anything BUT the front seat of a car. Sigh.

riethoven · #14 01-12-2007, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerry edwards

You'll get about a foot extra length by taking out the bottom of the seat instead of just flipping it up. I think you should fit ok, particularly if you slide the passenger seat forward.
You'll need a damn good sleeping bag (I'm partial to Stephensons myself) and a good sleeping bag if your driving north from Texas to Oregon in these temperatures. It was about 5 below zero here in Denver this morning.

That's the ticket! When I take the passenger middle seat bottom out and the headrest off of the passenger front seat and recline it fully, and fold the seat down, I can fit 10' lengths of pipe in my TD and close the hatch. With the middle seat bottoms pulled out (you can stack them in the front seats while you are in the back) there is 6'8" of room. I know this because a standard door is 6'8" and I can fit 7 or 8 of them in the back and close the hatch.

These wagons are great.

kerry · #15 01-12-2007, 05:39 PM

This is off topic, but if you are planning to drive up thru Amarillo, Colorado, and WY on the way home, I wouldn't do it right now. It is bitter cold out here and there are a lot of long and lonely stretches of road on that route. There was a story in the paper last week of about 50 people stuck in one farmhouse northwest of Amarillo when the weather was bad. Forecasters are saying these temperatures will hang around until the end of next week.
El Paso, Phoenix, LA----Oregon???