Sleeping in MG4 [merged thread]

Rolfe said:
I've been trying to think what the checklist should be of things to take with me. Thoughts appreciated.

Airbed or lilo
Sleeping bag
Something to raise the foot end of the airbed
Water
Collapsible bucket
Kettle (VtL adaptor needed)
Washing kit and towel
Something in the way of food for an evening snack and breakfast
Folding garden chair and picnic table

What have I forgotten?
Click to expand...
Kitchen sink springs to mind ? 🤔
 
Rolfe said:
I've been trying to think what the checklist should be of things to take with me. Thoughts appreciated.

Airbed or lilo
Sleeping bag
Something to raise the foot end of the airbed
Water
Collapsible bucket
Kettle (VtL adaptor needed)
Washing kit and towel
Something in the way of food for an evening snack and breakfast
Folding garden chair and picnic table

What have I forgotten?
Click to expand...
Portable induction hob to use with your VtL adaptor, available from £45 and cheaper than Calor Gas..
 
Rolfe said:
I absolutely think it's the key that is the key, so to speak. There is obviously a standby timer that activates when the key is not present, as I've seen it do that before. I can experiment with these things, and also with locking it from the inside.

I was under a misapprehension about the lilo, because I believed the dimensions on the packet. I thought it was close to the size of the airbed so there would be little difference between them other than in the thickness of the "mattress" but not so. I think the airbed being larger might work better because it would fit in the available space without tending to move around so much. If it's not raining tomorrow I might give it a try.

Another advantage of the airbed may be ease of inflation. Of course it takes more to inflate it than the lilo, but it has a wider opening that inflates quite easily using a hair-dryer. With VtL available, that should be possible. Of course there are pumps available to inflate lilos, but I don't happen to have one.

I am not necessarily planning to sleep in the car, as I like my home comforts, but I have in the past been close to needing to do so because there was no accommodation available, and once as a teenager actually had to do it (in a saloon car with three other people - my parents and an aunt - so we all had to sit in our seats) and it was hideous in that situation. I want to be prepared so that I can do it in comfort if need be.

I've been trying to think what the checklist should be of things to take with me. Thoughts appreciated.

Airbed or lilo
Sleeping bag
Something to raise the foot end of the airbed
Water
Collapsible bucket
Kettle (VtL adaptor needed)
Washing kit and towel
Something in the way of food for an evening snack and breakfast
Folding garden chair and picnic table

What have I forgotten?

I have occasionally thought about getting some sort of frame made to raise the boot floor, for occasions like this, so if anyone has any idea about that for the SE I'd be interested to hear about it.
Click to expand...
You’ve not mentioned window blinds I don’t think. When I was travelling around I hung towels on bungee cords over the back doors and the back of the seats in my van. Most times however i just pitched a wee tent beside the van as I usually carried a fair bunch of spare parts, plumbing fittings and tools. On occasion I carried complete hot water cylinders with me for replacement if required. A tow bar mounted carry frame was also used for those sometimes :-
IMG_1963.jpeg

Note - my last three vans were the combo style - superb Citroen Multispace semi automatic diesels which I believe are no longer produced now that they’ve electrified them.
Perfect for small camper vans and I’m very much considering a trade in with the MG.
 
Rolfe said:
But as soon as you hit the parking brake, it's out of Ready.

I did think about blinds, although I'm not sure how practical this is.

If I can't figure out how to make the HVAC stay on all night, all bets are off anyway.
Click to expand...
Sit in the passenger seat (Parking brake will already be applied)
Lean on the driver's seat to turn the car on
Use a stick (or lean down if you're flexible enough) and press the brake pedal to go into READY state (parking brake will remain on)
Exit the car via that passenger door and get into the back of the car (READY state should remain)

:)
 
siteguru said:
Sit in the passenger seat (Parking brake will already be applied)
Lean on the driver's seat to turn the car on
Use a stick (or lean down if you're flexible enough) and press the brake pedal to go into READY state (parking brake will remain on)
Exit the car via that passenger door and get into the back of the car (READY state should remain)

:)
Click to expand...
Does that still leave you with the problem of the DRLs?
 
I can cope with the DRLs. Either ignore them or cover them up.

I will try this when I have time next week. It's odd though that the people who have slept in the MG4 didn't mention this as a difficulty.
 
Purclewan said:
What we need is somebody to build us something like this for the MG4. TERAGLIDE | Tesla Model Y Trunk Bed | New Zealand-Crafted
Click to expand...
Seems like they might do...

"We can customize this platform bed to fit most EVs and SUVs. Please mail us."

www.teraglide.com

Tesla Model Y Camping Bed – Comfort Sleep & More Storage | TERAGLIDE | Tesla Model Y Trunk Bed | New Zealand-Crafted

Elevate Tesla Model Y camping with our New Zealand-crafted bed: maximised storage, easy setup, supreme comfort, and smart design.
www.teraglide.com www.teraglide.com
 
I had a Fiesta for years and quite often used it for a one-nighter in remote locations. Like most cars, the carpet in the boot wasn't up to the weight of a body, so I cut a piece of 6mm plywood, shaped to cover the void. I left it there all the time and it saved the carpet from becoming deformed. I then used it in my next car.

For sleeping, the main problem is that the area wasn't flat. I made up two wooden 'boxes' - one rose up from the rear footwells to the required level, the other went up from the floor inside the tailgate. The 'boot' ply went from the rear seat to the tailgate. A second piece was fitted between the back of the front seats and the boot. The two pieces of ply then rested on the 'boxes' and made a flat platform all the way from the front seats to the tailgate.

Everything fitted into the boot when the 'bed' wasn't needed. And, as everyone says, an airbed makes it comfy and deflates into a small package when not needed.

My description doesn't mention any MG model - TBH I don't have one - yet. But I'm actively looking for an MG5. From what I hear on this forum, YouTube, etc. one of those will suit me very nicely!
 
To me it looks like there is (only) 2 unresolved issues
1) Using AC to keep me warm and toasty, means that the front small lights (DRLs?) has to be on, and that I can only lock and unlock the doors on the door contact next to the drivers seat.
I am not too happy having lights on all night, giving away that I have parked here, to every one driving by.
Also the locking and unlocking is somewhat cumbersome, as I will be behind the front seats.
Any hints or suggestions?

2) Having heated the car by AC, I could turn off the car for the rest of the night, but that will as far as I can see, turn on the alarm system (and safely locking the car), meaning that the only way to get out of the car, without triggering the alarm, is to REMEMBER to use the remote key fob to unlock the car and disable the alarm system.
Any thoughts?
 
Have you tried this? I rather got the feeling that it wouldn't lock if it thought the key was inside. (I can't check as I'm away at the moment).

Having said that, detecting the key being inside or out seems magic to me and I'm not sure I'd trust it fully.
 
DixieTGS said:
Have you tried this? I rather got the feeling that it wouldn't lock if it thought the key was inside. (I can't check as I'm away at the moment).

Having said that, detecting the key being inside or out seems magic to me and I'm not sure I'd trust it fully.
Click to expand...
2) Has been checked. If you press Lock Doors on Remote Key fob, whilst in the car (with the key fob), it will arm the car. Trying to get out of the car by using the manual door handles will set off the alarm
 
OK, so locking from the outside handle with the key inside fails. Good.
Locking from the key with the key inside works. Good I think.
Unlocking from inside with the handle sets of the alarm. Good if it was locked from the outside, but bad if locked from inside me thinks.

It looks like the condition for setting off the alarm needs a little tweak to me.
 
webhiker said:
means that the front small lights (DRLs?) has to be on,...
Any hints or suggestions?
Click to expand...
I believe that the eZS app can turn off the Daylight Running Lights. It's designed for the ZS, and I believe that it works for the MG5, it may work for the MG4. Android only.

play.google.com

eZS - Apps on Google Play

OBD2 Scantools For MG ZS EV/EP/HS PHEV
play.google.com play.google.com
 

Are you enjoying your MG4?

  • Yes

    Votes: 501 79.4%

  • I'm in the middle

    Votes: 84 13.3%

  • No

    Votes: 46 7.3%
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