Yes. A removable bed platform, a comfortable mattress and some window covers can turn the Kia PV5 Passenger into somewhere to sleep, without committing to a permanent camper conversion.
That’s how I use mine. The idea behind PV5 Beds came from wanting a better night’s sleep before cycling events—and keeping the vehicle useful for the rest of the week.
Why I swapped the tent for the PV5
I attend cycling events around the UK. Previously, that often meant sleeping in a small two-man tent, on a slim inflatable mattress, with a sleeping bag that seemed either too hot or too cold.
The mattress rustled whenever I moved. Wind and rain disturbed my sleep. Then, in the morning, I had to struggle into tight cycling clothing while crouched inside the tent.
I’d arrive at the start feeling tired before I’d even ridden anywhere.
Meanwhile, my PV5 was parked alongside me. Surely there was a better way to use it?
Making a flat bed in the Kia PV5 Passenger
Folding the rear seats doesn’t give you a continuous, level sleeping surface. There’s a height difference between the boot floor and the folded seats.
That was the practical problem I needed to solve.
I developed a removable, two-piece platform to bridge that space and provide a solid sleeping base. It became the PV5 Beds sleeping platform.
You can see how the sections fit together in the installation guide and video.
Why I didn’t want a permanent camper conversion
For me, sleeping in the vehicle is something I might do six or eight weekends a year. I didn’t want the cost of a permanent conversion or to carry furniture around for the rest of the year.
I also wanted the boot available for my bike and everyday luggage.
There was another consideration specific to my circumstances: my local waste recycling centre allows passenger MPVs to tow trailers, but doesn’t allow campervans to do so. Other sites may have different rules, but it mattered to how I used my vehicle.
A removable setup gave me the flexibility I wanted.
Two single mattresses make a flexible double bed
I use two single self-inflating camping mattresses. They fit side by side with a small gap of a few centimetres between them.
For two people, that gives us a double sleeping setup with a duvet and proper pillows.
When I’m travelling alone, I only take one mattress. In my solo arrangement, I can keep a rear seat available rather than filling the whole space with a double mattress.
The separate singles are also easier for me to handle than one cumbersome double mat.
What was the first night like?
It was a revelation.
I had a solid base, a much more comfortable mattress, a duvet and proper pillows. I was sheltered from the wind and rain, and the vehicle offered more separation from outside noise than my small tent.
In the conditions I’ve tried, I’ve used the vehicle’s climate control overnight, set to 19°C with the fan on its lowest setting. I experienced no condensation and used roughly 8% of the battery overnight.
That’s my experience in milder weather, rather than a prediction for every trip. I haven’t tested the same arrangement through very cold winter nights.
I could get changed inside, sit up with cushions behind me and read, and use the vehicle’s electrical socket for a morning cup of tea.
Privacy, luggage and an optional awning
For privacy, I use lightweight insulated window covers that attach inside the windows with suction cups. They’ve worked well for me and are straightforward to fit.
For my usual one- or two-night trips, I’ve also found enough room to organise luggage around the sleeping setup, including the available space beneath the rear seats.
I sometimes take a driveaway awning. That gives me somewhere to sit in the evening and shelter my bike while working on it. I still choose to sleep inside the PV5.
How long does it take to get ready for bed?
My platform travels stacked in its parcel-shelf arrangement, with camping boxes in the vehicle and my bike on the towbar rack.
On arrival, I unload the bike and organise my gear. Then I extend the platform into its sleeping arrangement, inflate the mattress and add the duvet and pillows.
If I’m organised, the whole process takes ten minutes at most.
For occasional weekends away, that’s exactly what I wanted: a comfortable place to sleep in my Kia PV5 Passenger, with the freedom to return it to everyday use afterwards.
