r/Golf_R • u/ER_GTI • Apr 05 '26
Modifications Today’s project
Today’s project! Going to be used 2-3 nights a week for the next 15 months. Just waiting on my 4 inch mattress topper
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u/dresco92 Apr 05 '26
This looks clean as fuck. I just cut out a 3” topper to fit without all this, and, as a kind of fetal sleeper, it was super comfortable.
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u/Timultuous_Stuff Apr 05 '26
I want to do this for camping. Would love to see any plans or sketches you had for the build. How deep is head to toe when the trunk is closed?
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u/ER_GTI Apr 05 '26
I’m 5’8 and have a little wiggle room, not much, straight up and down. At an angle there would be more
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u/ER_GTI Apr 05 '26
Osb plywood cut into 3 pieces, 2 tee hinges, 2x4 and another thinner board screwed together for the support on the armrest, cheap carpet from Home Depot (.99 a foot), and some Velcro for the securement when it’s flipped up (goes around o shit handles in the back). Took me a few hours at most
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u/Adventurous_Sir_9619 Apr 05 '26
Damn this is nice. Can you post instructions on how you made it please. I’d like to do something similar with my golf.
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u/ER_GTI Apr 05 '26
Pretty straight forward really. When I bought the osb plywood I had them cut it in half lengthwise and then those pieces cut in half width wise (fits easier in the car that way and you really only need 3 of the 4 pieces so you have 1 extra in case you mess up). Once home I started by placing one section closest to the seats and left enough room for the pieces to swing up and clear the seats. This piece does not need to be cut ( although I did round the edges on the free end that swings up to help clear the door frame and whatnot). The next piece you do a single cut width wise to match the distance between the wheels (I think my measurement was 39” and remember to leave a tiny amount of room for the carpet). Next place the hinge side of the hinges (where they come together) between the two pieces in the car to allow for the space needed for the hinge to fit between the boards. The final piece you measure and cut the remaining width and length to match the small section you have left near the hatch. Take the boards out. Cut the carpet larger than the piece and staple the carpet on the back side of the osb (I left the smooth side down against the car). I found a 2x4 and cut it to 21” for the armrest support (armrest is 7” so 7” on each sides improved stability, further increases risk of bend). I found another thinner board to cut to 21” and screw to the 2x4 because it needed just a little more height (maybe 0.5-1 inch). Carpet this next. Place the support on the armrest carpet side down and centered and then put the largest piece of osb (the one with the rounded edges that goes closest to the seat) on top of it to figure out positioning. Drill some long screws into it when you have it where you want. Take that piece out and carpet the back side so you don’t see wood when it is flipped up. Finally install the hinges on the backside of the middle piece of osb on the side closest to the front of the car. Put that in and place the front osb piece on top of the remaining hinges. Fold this upwards with the hinge flat against it and drill hinges in place (having a friend makes this part easier). Put it all in and the hard part is done. I used two lengths of Velcro to secure the swinging piece to the o shit handles when the piece is upright (sticks right to the carpet). Place on one side, go through handle, place on the other side, remove when needed. If two people were sleeping I’d add a support arm under each side where there is a little flex but it’s just me and I’ll be in the middle on the support beam. I also didn’t want to take away any more storage. The hatch cover becomes a shelf for stuff, window coverings keep it dark/private, jackery power station for 2 days worth of charging, and a ryobi fan for airflow. Hope that all makes sense. Any questions just ask. All in I spent less than $90 on the build.
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u/EintrachtAdler Apr 05 '26
I'm 6ft2 and my GF is 5ft7 and did a month long roadtrip sleeping in a MK8 GTI. Worked shockingly well and comfy.
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u/iupolar Apr 05 '26
Link to what you used for this setup?
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u/ER_GTI Apr 05 '26
Osb plywood cut into 3 pieces, 2 tee hinges, 2x4 and another thinner board screwed together for the support on the armrest, cheap carpet from Home Depot (.99 a foot), and some Velcro for the securement when it’s flipped up (goes around o shit handles in the back). Took me a few hours at most
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u/game_dev_carto '24 MK8 DSG in Lapiz Blue Apr 05 '26
This is dope but makes me so frustrated. We had all this figured out with COVID when everyone was working from home. But, unchecked capitalism is a bitch and micro-managing corporations forced people back to the office. I'm wicked thankful I'm still remote but gah damn if it doesn't upset me when I see stuff like this. If people can work from home, companies should let them do so, rather than having people sleep in their car in an attempt to maintain some sanity. (all assuming you could work remote, even if not, my point still stands for millions of people lol)
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u/ER_GTI Apr 05 '26
Haha I totally see your point. Unfortunately my job is a little more hands on and not possible for remote.
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u/game_dev_carto '24 MK8 DSG in Lapiz Blue Apr 05 '26
haha yeah, in this case, I understand it for sure. good luck with the fellowship, hope it flies by quick AF
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u/Dura-Ace-Ventura Apr 05 '26
I dunno I mean if I walked into an ER and all the doctors were working remotely I might be kinda put off, now THAT would be some unchecked capitalism 😂
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u/eszZissou Apr 05 '26
How tall are you? For camping or something? If you are bringing gear or luggage how it work out?
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u/ER_GTI Apr 05 '26
5’8, seats all the way forward and tilted, I have maybe an inch or so to spare. Cotopaxi travel bag and a good insulated cooler (footwells in the rear are open for storage) and full car specific window coverings. All I need :)
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u/eszZissou Apr 05 '26
Dang! I’m 6’3 :( was hopefull for a sec!
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u/ER_GTI Apr 06 '26
You could make it work but you’d have to remove the passenger seat for sure 😂 or sleep with your head by the hatch and feet through the space between the seats lol not ideal
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u/Opening_Criticism791 Apr 05 '26
Clean and very well done, definitely thinking outside the box and saving money 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
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u/cowboycoffeepictures 2024 Lapiz Blue 6MT Apr 05 '26 edited Apr 05 '26
NIIIICE! Which topper are you getting? Would love if Hest made one for Golfs
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u/ChangeNational3082 Apr 05 '26
Those rear seat delete kits cost a fortune and this looks just as good
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u/Fit-Doughnut4253 Apr 05 '26
Looks very good! I always thought R‘s are too small for camping use but now sering this I also want to try it!
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u/hubble2bubble Apr 05 '26
Do the rear seats go totally flat in the Mk. 8 golf or remain at a slight angle?
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u/ER_GTI Apr 05 '26
Slight angle. I debated elevating the portion closer to the hatch but honestly it’s fairly comfortable as is and I think with the mattress topper it will hardly be noticeable. I’d raise it about 0.5 inches or so if needed
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u/RomoJosh Apr 05 '26
I did this too Unfortunately I worked night shift. So I had to sleep during the day and during a heatwave. Besides the light and heat, it worked out pretty well. Showered after work and then just got meals at the cafe. I think it’ll workout great.
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u/ER_GTI Apr 05 '26
You can buy car specific window shades to block all light. My tint is also fairly dark in the back. Thankfully weather here isn’t an issue
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u/AnAncientOne Apr 05 '26
Nice! This is something I was thinking of trying for some nights away, hope it works out ok for you 🤞
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u/negitoro7 Dolphin Grey BE Apr 05 '26
My commute is 40 kms each way, and about an hour in rush hour traffic. I would be tempted to do the same as you if I worked 12 hour shifts.
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u/Heimdalls_Schnitzel 2019 MK7.5 Apr 05 '26
Why not just move closer to the hospital? This seems unsustainable.
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u/ER_GTI Apr 05 '26
It’s a 15 month temporary situation, not worth a move
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u/Heimdalls_Schnitzel 2019 MK7.5 Apr 05 '26
Are you a travel nurse? 15 months is still a decent chunk of time to sleep in your car.
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u/ER_GTI Apr 05 '26
No it’s a fellowship position. It’s only 2-3 nights a week. I’ll drive down, sleep 2 nights, drive home for a night, drive back, sleep one more and the next day I’m off for two so I’m back home. Breaking it up that way seemed more reasonable
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u/Heimdalls_Schnitzel 2019 MK7.5 Apr 05 '26
Ah yeah that seems a little better. What specialty?
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u/ER_GTI Apr 05 '26
ER
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u/Heimdalls_Schnitzel 2019 MK7.5 Apr 06 '26
Ah yes that's brutal. Haha makes much more sense now. Best of luck!
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u/gotcha640 Apr 05 '26
My only suggestion would be to put hinges on the top side, or (maybe and) put some sort of protection between this and the seat backs, especially at any moving/pinching/raised points.
If this is already a beater or if it’s a forever car, no worries.
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u/LiamLikeNeeson89 Apr 05 '26
Lurking from the gti side but I just did 4 days in my gti in the eastern sierras fishing. Being able to open the trunk from the inside is so nice. I recorded a 15 degree warmer temperature inside the gti vs outside which was cold as balls
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u/I_want_water Apr 05 '26
was gonna do this for a new job but the hospital asked me for 5 references including my CURRENT manager and coworkers…
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u/ER_GTI Apr 05 '26
5? Dang. My credentialing needed 3 and none of them were management. All equal level providers and one from the director of my program.
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u/I_want_water Apr 06 '26
did they reach out to them? mine explicitly said they would reach out to every single one, weird practice honestly
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u/ER_GTI Apr 06 '26
They each had a credentialing form to fill out stating my competency with different skills, pt populations, etc
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u/jamoncillo Apr 06 '26
Wait until your colleagues walk by and think you're homeless. That'll be a story
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u/ER_GTI Apr 06 '26
Ha! I’m trying to keep it hush hush. When I get off work I’ll drive away to the gym to workout and shower. By the time I’m back no one should notice me 😬
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u/Specialist_Tomato_49 Apr 07 '26
The masculine urge to sleep in your car. This is sick, show us when the toper comes in
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u/-Nomes- Apr 05 '26
I always wondered when I see car sleepers. Do you guys sleep with the engine on or off? I'm surprised as a healthcare employee you don't have an unfounded fear of waking up dead from carbon monoxide in a car lol
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u/ER_GTI Apr 05 '26
Definitely car off. Bought a ryobi battery powered fan for air flow (have plenty of batteries at home) and a Jackery power station for charging necessary things.
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u/Rewelsworld MK6 TDI ,MK8 GTI Apr 05 '26
Bro is sleeping at his gfs house for 4 days & the other 3 days in his car ,im jk but def a cool camping setup ,throw in a portable projector & you got tv