How to sleep in a car? COVID and travel problems

[karthik]

Me and my brother are planning to drive down to Mumbai. He has to handover some sensitive documents. 
Due to COVID, we are planning to avoid hotels. 

We came across three major issues:

• Food
• Bed
• Washrooms

 

Food

Since it is a two days plan, we can carry plenty of food with us. It looks. pretty straight forward. 

Bed

We are planning to sleep in the car(2 hour naps). We will carry pillows and blankets.

Ideal locations for sleep over on highways:

• Toll gates
• Busy petrol stations
• Busy Hotels

 

Washrooms

We are planning to use washrooms in highway restaurants. We will be carrying alcohol sprays. 

 

Any other suggestions?

[Gowtham]

You can manage for a night. More than a night it is going to be very challenging. 
May be you can consider a tent and sleeping bag. Make sure you don't pitch them in isolated locations. 

[ExloreWithSrikanth]

carrying a tent & Bedsheets would be a ideal solution.

[karthik]

I have considered getting a tent but the question is about safety. Car alway feels much safer.
During the recent NE drive, we slept in the car outside petrol station. 
One lorry driver stopped his vehicle got down and trying to peep into the car. We were four heavily built guys 😂
I sensed him and rolled down the window, he turned back and kept on walking. 

We are not sure about his intensions but situation would have been very different with family. 
 

[Shekar]

Pitching a tent in unknown places (non camping sites) may not be safe. This culture is yet be developed in India. My vote is to sleep in car at Toll, all night Petrol Pump or Busy Hotel or Family Dhaba.  

[Gowtham]

Camping definitely has safety concerns.

 

It is high time to come up with the concept camping grounds. 
 

Ideal setup for the current situation.

[LoneRanger]

1 hour ago, Gowtham said:

Ideal setup for the current situation.

These kind of beds are not comfortable for fully grown adult. They are good for children or desperate adults.( My experience from trying the car bed, and also mine is a hatchback.) 

 

4 hours ago, karthik said:

During the recent NE drive, we slept in the car outside petrol station. 

Since you already have experience sleeping in car. I suppose you are carrying all the necessary things for comfort. 

 

10 hours ago, karthik said:

We will be carrying alcohol sprays. 

Covid-19 is an air borne disease. And spreads rapidly in high density population areas. Public washrooms have high density of people , some with questionable hygiene. In my opinion , a hotel room, in a hotel which follows all the precautions (little expensive , top brands) , is better than highway resturant washrooms. 

[sagar]

Firstly, with the NE drive experience in your bag, I hope you can comfortably do Hyd to Mumbai in a single day..

Where as the challenges are concerned if in case you wanted to do this in 2 days, definitely sleeping in car is the best option you have and the location can be chosen to be at any of the busy and good HP fuel stations which are usually seen to be well maintained when compared to the BP and Indian oil... 

 

While finding a washroom safe enough from COVID is always a question mark one would carry how much ever safe it looks.. 
 

All you could do is just to go with you gut trusting your instinct 😅 

 

[sagar]

11 hours ago, Gowtham said:

It is high time to come up with the concept camping grounds. 

Government of India surely has to take a step forward in promoting the concept of introducing camping grounds on the highways with security around the compound.. 

We cannot expect it to be safe otherwise in our country. There is always a certain risk involved in this as they are considered to be pitched on the deserted highways.

[Sridhar Tandra]

My suggestion is to sleep in car at a busy fuel station (HP)/ toll plaza. Washroom I suggest you visit the nature of both of you are men, it's the best thing i can suggest considering current situation and uncertainty 😁😁

Edited September 1, 2020 by Sridhar Tandra
Better wording

[ksa171983]

I would prefer carrying a sleeping bag and sleep at a secure place near a petrol pump (do we have any secure places??? ) .

Get up and use the restrooms at the petrol bunk or toll plaza and get going again

[Gowtham]

Dynamics change a lot when we are travelling with family.
For two guys any decent petrol station should be good to go.

 

13 hours ago, LoneRanger said:

They are good for children

We slept in Innova boot without any issue, last row was completely removed and second row folded. 
Agree it can be difficult in a hatchback.

[sagar]

As @Sridhar Tandrasuggested.. oh yes nature.. 😅 Especially when you don’t want to risk it during this pandemic times 

[Gowtham]

On 9/1/2020 at 10:27 AM, ksa171983 said:

do we have any secure places?

It is debatable. Toll booths are safe, they are usually busy. Some hotels are safe. 
Safe time to sleep is between 11PM to 2PM.