Who says you need a van?
When it comes to vehicles I have been very fortunate I have always been in a position to inherit or purchase an extremely reliable vehicle from family members for a more than reasonable price. While the price is always right, and the condition is generally impeccable the one downside is that you won’t have any preference as to what comes your way. For that, you will never hear me complaining.
A few years ago I acquired a 2004 Honda Pilot from my mother. A perfect adventure mobile. It is great on the highway, has huge amounts of room for friends and gear, has a hitch for a bike rack or towing, and roof racks for the space booster when required. I could not have been happier! I immediately went to work on a conversion for camping and traveling.
One of the biggest challenges with the pilot was lack of storage space for gear. While I could fold down both the second and third-row seats for sleeping I then lacked any room for storing gear. It quickly became apparent that the pilot and I were cruising towards an all out conversion. As such the goals of my project were as follows:
1) Provide a flat sleeping surface with enough head room to sit up
2) Provide maximum out of sight storage
I went to work drawing up various designs and then to making them out of cardboard to help visualize my plan. Eventually, I rolled out the power tools and got to work. Here is the picture before everything got started:
2004 Honda Pilot with second and third-row seats in rear before removal.
Before I got too far into the planning I knew I needed to remove all of the seats, this would give me a better idea as to how much space I had to work with. Note to future vehicle converters: take lots of pictures, print them out and make notes as you go. This will help you make better plans, it will also be helpful one day if you need to put it back together or sell the vehicle!
Second and third-row seats removed.
Floor mounts now visible for planning.
Once the seats were out I was better able to evaluate my plans. Here you can see all of the bolts used for attaching the seats. I will later go on to use some of these for securing the box in place.
Cardboard mock ups for my design. Seeing if it fits and refining measurements.
Once I was happy with my cardboard and more importantly my design I got to work on building the actual box. I started with the main component of my design, the box that sits directly behind the front seats.
Storage box located directly behind front seats, accessible from rear doors.
Storage box located directly behind front seats, accessible from rear doors.
Storage box located directly behind front seats, accessible from rear doors.
Lids attached with piano hinges, strip exposed on the right for attachment of the rear panels.
Rear panels attaching at the center of the car to the main box behind the front seats.
Rear panels attaching at the center of the car to the main box behind the front seats.
Yay! The hard work is finally done! At this point, you can see the main functionality has been achieved. At this point, I have a flat sleeping surface accessible from all doors with ample storage underneath and out of sight. The next step in this project was to sand, paint, and upholster the surface.
With that, I was ready to hit the road! Over time though I did find a few things that I needed to add and or modify. The first thing was to find a solution to keep the bugs out while allowing some fresh air in. After looking at numerous solutions online I simply sewed slip covers for the door out of simple bug mesh. Think pillow case that slides over the door when it’s open. Works like a charm.
Post Production Addition #1: Bus Screens
I take these out of the back of the seat and slide them on when ever necessary.
The next major objective I worked to achieve was power. This was a slightly more serious undertaking. I will be doing an entire post on that process alone in the future. Until then you can see I have 3 DC ports on the side of the box. They are all powered by a deep cell battery that is charged from the alternator of the engine when it is running. Fool proof solution to unlimited charging on the road.
Post Production Addition #2: Power
You will also note that I added a front fork mount on the platform for my bike. There are a lot of little things like that of which I am slowly learning about and adding over time. When I first built all of this it was generally just me, solo road tripping. Now I have a wonderful man, Gerald, in my life and it is quickly becoming apparent that most of my design was specific to a very short person, me! For example, he can’t get the driver’s seat back far enough due to the box, whoops! As a result, I am feeling a 2016 renovation on the way… Until then we can be found on the side of the road in many exciting places whipping up excellent meals and scheming for our next adventure.
For those of you interested I have since published a part 2 with some more details!
Hello. I thoroughly enjoyed your post. I rarely see camper conversions for a Honda Pilot. I’m looking into getting a basic barebones 2014 Honda Pilot and convert it to a camper. Please keep everyone up to date on your current SUV build. Btw can you post more specific additions to your build? E.g. Solar, cooking devices, tent, battery charging? Etc.
Hi Jeffrey – Sorry for the delay! I am hoping to do an update video this spring but for the most part things have stayed the same. I haven’t really needed to change a thing. I wish I had made the box a little shorter, tall people struggle to sit in the front seat! Other than that the power system is still working great. I don’t have any solar capabilities and am happy I didn’t go for it either. The second battery run off the engine is always charged and ready to go and a fraction of the cost of solar. I will work on a post outlining the details of that if your interested?
Hey Morgan, yes I’m very interested in your specifics of your build, I noticed that you said you had a battery that you keep charged by your engine alternator…is this the Main battery that came with the SUV? Or do you have a 2ndary battery and if so where do you store it?? I would like to go that route instead of solar. Another question is how much more room (if any) does the 2012 Honda Pilot have compared to your 2004? Im looking into getting a 2012. And also I’m 6’3″ so I’m thinking I may have to sleep at an angle to totally fit? But I will make sure I fully put the drivers seat in the farthest position before I make my box. And finally…what type of wood did you use for your box platform? I’m thinking about using birch.
I have a second battery that gets charged by the alternator when running, then i use this battery for devices. Be sure to have an isolator so you dont drain main. It is stored in the “smaller side” compartment, just behind the passenger seat. I have read that this isnt ideal for a number of safety reasons so do your research. Some vehicles have room to put it under the hood, not the case with the pilot. Solar is a great idea, especially if you are staying put at one location for a long time. I move around a fair bit so the extra expense of solar wasnt worth it at the time. Unfortunately, I don’t know much about the 2012 pilot, am curious what you decided to do! Plywood was just regular plywood. Although I wish I put more thought into it, starting to sag a little in places.
I love your post! I have a 2005 Pilot and want to do the same thing to mine. Do you by chance have the measurements to all of the storage and platform pieces you built?
Another couple questions lol…how do you keep your rear belt buckle/flaps from flopping around making noise as you’re driving? And logistically, do you pack the whole back of the pilot with camping gear, then when you get to your destination you take it out and leave it out as you sleep in the Pilot? Do you use reflectix? How do you obtain income? Are y’all doing this full time? Or do you have a full time job and take the pilot out on weekend excursions? More questions to come lol.
Buckles flop around. Hasn’t bothered me too much. Depends on what I am doing sport wise, usually, I have a few bags and a cooler on top of the platform. When sleeping these get moved to the front seat. I also have a storage box on roof which is great for this type of thing. I did use reflectix for a while, had a hard time keeping them in place, was lazy to put them up. Now I just have simple curtains. When I first built the pilot I would live in it for a couple weeks at a time when I was working out of town teaching wilderness first aid courses or on extended climbing trips. Currently, a few years later, I am back in university full time and the pilot gets out on the weekends 🙂 What about you? Planning on living in it full time? Part time adventure-mobile!?
Hello, thanks for the rely, lots of info gleaned from that. As for me, I’m looking for a Honda Pilot between the yrs of 2012 and 2015, I love the boxy more rugged look. But I work 3 days a week so was looking for a midsize SUV so I can take 4 or 5 day camping trips that I can take to campgrounds AND urban boondocking. I wanted something that could get good gas milage and still roomy enough so I can stretch out and sleep (Im 6’3″ 220lbs). Weird that there’s not a lot of info on Honda Pilot camper conversions. But I’m interested in taking the seats out and placing a large sleeping/storage compartments similar to yours and made so that I can take the whole compartment out and replace the seats if/when needed. So yes basically looking for a part time adventuremobile.
Completely makes sense. I also like the new/boxier look. I find that most SUV campers tend to be Toyotas, not sure why. The Honda was simply what I had when I started getting into adventure, so that’s what I ran with! My partner and I are currently building a camper for the back of a Toyota Tacoma though, so I think the Pilot will be retired soon 🙁
Hi Morgan, thank you so much for taking the time to document your Honda Pilot Conversion journey. I have been searching for sometime for a Honda Pilot makeover for camping/sleeping. I am courious as to “how hard” it was taking those seats out? Heavy? I was thinking of trading my Honda Pilot 2005 (which only has 62,000) for a Honda Odyssey….but thanks to your post, I can see the future. I will keep an eye out for the vid. Onward!! PS: Love the window net “pillow case” idea. Awesome!!
Thanks for the comment Road Sage! I am glad I was able to provide some inspiration. I also searched lots when I started with the Pilot and didn’t find much. Taking the seats out was no problem at all. The second row 2/3rd one was the heaviest but I managed to do it by myself and I am a 5’4 130lb lady! I managed to get all of them except this one up a ladder into my garage attic for storage. The harder part was actually the plywood boxes, they were heavy and awkward. I found I had to move them in and out many times when designing and building which compounded the problem.
I have also longingly looked at vans.. I don’t think a regular van offers many advantages over the Pilot. Sure it has a little more room but the pilot has never been too small and is superior on backroads. If I was to go to a van, it would be full sprinter type setup where I could stand up inside. Standing up inside is the one thing I covet.
Hi Morgan. I’m looking to make a similar build for weekend trips out to the woods of Connecticut, and I’m curious if you have any of the basic dimensions for the box or part numbers for the electronics. I will be making a slightly different build, with more focus on comfort (custom lighting, fans in windows, privacy curtains). I’m also planning to make the Pilot more dirt-worthy, with better tires and brush guard with lights. I’ll be recording my progress on my own website, and I’d be happy to link back to you as my inspiration 🙂
Hi Steve,
I will make a point of measuring things this week seeing as there have been a few requests. You can expect an updated post! I am excited to see what you do also, please send a link to your website!
Morgan
Hi Steve – Here is a Part 2 with dimensions and a few details about electronics https://www.loveandtrails.com/honda-pilot-camper-conversion-part-2-details/
I have a 2006 Pilot and used the ideas in your post to convert it for camping. Thanks. I’m trying to find a method to quickly cover the windows to provide privacy. I’d like the cover material to store into a small space. Did you come up with something?
Hi There! I just finished a post with some of the detail, including curtains! https://www.loveandtrails.com/honda-pilot-camper-conversion-part-2-details/ Let me know if you have questions and I would love to see pics of your build if you have them online!
Hi Morgan, SO happy I found this site. Pops and I have always had this particular design for a conversion in our ’05 Pilot for a while now. Though we would be using the back for sleeping on road-trips/camping, we also wanted to build it sturdy enough to withstand a good amount of weight. We often use the pilot as our truck. Sometimes hauling heavy and sometimes light. But I noticed you mentioned parts starting to sag. Is there a reason for that? Also, is your build more of a leave-in frame or is it easy to install the seats whenever. Thanks for your input and great job on the conversion! Love it!
Hi Justin! Thanks for your comment 🙂 The back section sags a little when you sit on it, I think its just because its a longer piece only supported at the ends. One of which by a cheap piano hinge. You could probably add a support underneath if you were worried. Also maybe shell out the $$ for the nicer plywood. I didn’t realize I would have it this long otherwise I would have probably done the same!
I leave it in full time. I don’t have kids or any other need for additional seating. Like you, I use it for camping and hauling items as I see fit! Its fairly heavy, as are the seats, so I wouldn’t want to be swapping them in and out too often. I would love to see pics of your conversion as you go!
Thank you so much for sharing your work as well as all of the details. I bought a 2009 Honda Pilot 2 years ago and my original thought was to buy a small camper to tow. After finding this webpage, I think I’ve changed my mind. I’m a little handy with woodworking so building the box will not be an issue. My initial reaction to the power supply is feeling overwhelmed. I’m pretty sure if I take my time, thoroughly ‘absorb’ all the information you’ve provided, I should be able to take care of the power. If you have any more detailed info or drawings/sketches of your power supply, I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you again for sharing. I look forward to starting my cross country ‘US Tour’ of this beautiful country. My goal is to travel along the coastline and just enjoy the beauty and nature. Blessings to you! Steve
Lovely! Do you remember roughly how much it was?
Im sorry Kara, I dont. A lot of it I did incrementally over time so its hard to tally up. Some things are optional too so you may be able to save costs here and there.
Hi! We are so glad we found this! We are transforming our 03 Pilot. We are doing so per your instructions! Our question is what you used as a mattress. What did you find that works? Thanks!!!!
Hi Rebecca! I bought a kids mattress from Ikea, it was a bit smaller than a twin mattress so that worked well for me when I was on my own. Now its me and my fiancee, we use two old thermarests under an upcycled mattress topper: https://www.loveandtrails.com/up-cycle-yourself-the-ultimate-car-camping-bed-roll/