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Hele Box - Car Camping Platform

Hele Box - Car Camping Platform

3 in 1 Vehicle Sleeping System

Sleeping Pad:
Regular price $499.00 USD
Regular price $499.00 USD Sale price $499.00 USD
Sale Sold out

We are back in stock!

Built in the USA! Orders ship in 1-5 business days.

Lightweight sleeping platform + storage system + camping table that fits into most SUVs/Trucks. Go from daily-driver to car camping in minutes! 

The Hele Box is designed to transform your vehicle into the vanlifing, overlanding, roadtripping rig you’ve always wanted without committing to a heavy and expensive buildout. Set it up for the relevant weekends/trips, and store it away when not in use. 

Does it fit my vehicle?! Check Here!

  • Constructed: 6ft x 24" 
  • Packaged: 34" x 12"   

Need a wider sleeping platform for your adventure buddy? Check out our duo version (in stock!)

View full details
Gear Junkie Review of Hele Box Car Camping System
suv camping platform

Sleeping Platform

Our patent pending sleeping platform design ensures the best night's sleep when car camping.

The independently adjustable legs & configurations allow the Hele Box to fit in most SUVs/Trucks/Vans - straddling over obstacles, seats, or leveling out slopes.

Adjust the height to strike your perfect balance between headroom & storage. At 6ft of length - we provide enough room for you to stretch out after a long day of adventure and new memories while car camping. 

The sleeping platform accommodates pads up to 78” x 26” wide. Here’s a list of popular pads we’ve had the pleasure of testing. Don’t own a sleeping pad for car camping? We’ve got you covered - scroll on, my friend!

If you are looking to prioritize more headroom on your sleeping platform, add a set of stubbies to your cart separately when you check out.

SUV sleeping platform and storage

Storage System

Storage space is worth it's weight in gold when car camping.

The Hele Box's carrying case doubles a compartmentalized storage container, fits snug under the sleeping platform, and slides out for easy access to your gear/goodies when car camping. It comes with compartment dividers that you can remove or adjust to your needs!

The topper provides additional under/over storage while car camping. You can easily unlatch and slide it forward to access gear that's stored under your sleeping platform - or load gear on top of the platform and secure it down using the rails as latch points.

car camping system

Camping Table

Tired of lugging around that rusty old table every time you go car camping? So were we! The Hele Box's sleeping platform is light enough for one person to easily remove, swing around, and use as a gathering area to share old stories and create new memories. You can choose the length of your table by removing one or none of the supports and run it out the back of your tailgate or independently on its own legs.

Car camping platform with most stability

Dual-Lock Technology

Unparalleled stability.

The only vehicle sleeping platform with dual-locking legs to ensure a wobble-free sleeping experience.

Why this matters to you... Whether on their lowest or highest setting the double-lock system removes all play from the adjustable legs, giving you the sturdiest sleeping surface on the market.

car camping platform

Solo Sleeping Pad

Our 'car camping' design is lightweight, extremely comfy, and doesn't sacrifice extra headroom.

- 3” thick hybrid of foam/air allows you to adjust the level of firmness

- Top surface is a soft 50D poly fabric and the bottom is equipped with an anti-slip material

- Inflated size: 72" x 25" x 3"

Make sure to add it on if you don't own a compatible pad!

More Information!

Size & Specs

Sleeping Platform Dimensions

  • 6ft long x 24 wide x 8.75-14" high

Height (floor to top of frame)

  • Shortest: 8.75 inch
  • Tallest: 14 inch
  • Adjustable by 1/2 inch increments

Weight

Hele Box’s frame is made of aerospace grade aluminum (6061) making it extremely light without compromising strength. The total weight of the frame is just under 10 lbs, and the entire system sits at 25lbs - a fraction of weight when compared to custom wood systems/rooftop tents. 

Recommended Weight Capacity

- 250 lbs

Legs

Every Hele Box comes with:

- 6 short legs (8-14")

- 2 extended legs (14-25") for SUV footwells & table use

Detailed Sizing & Specs

Hele Box sleeping platform for car camping

 

5-Year Warranty

Every Hele Box is assembled, tested, and put through quality service checks at our facility in Colorado before we ship it to you.

We are dedicated to making the most durable, long-lasting, and versatile car camping gear on the market. But sometimes the unexpected happens.

If there's an issue with your product let us know (Contact Us) and we'll make it right by mailing you the replacement part & providing instructions to get you back out the door and into your next adventure.

Shipping & Return Policy

Shipping in USA - Shipping is through UPS ground, the costs will be estimated for you in your cart when you go to check out.

Shipping to Canada - Shipping is through UPS ground or USPS, the costs will be estimated for you in your cart when you go to check out. You will also need to pay a custom/duty charge that will only be sent to you once it makes it to the customs warehouse in Canada. You will be alerted by the carrier via email, and the Hele Box will not be sent to your address until the duty charge is paid.

Returns - We think you'll be stoked on the Hele Box, but if it doesn't work for you, no worries! We have a 30-day return policy. More information can be found in the check-out.

Why Hele Box?

The Hele Box is a true 3 in 1 Vehicle Sleeping System. The built-in storage capabilities, lightweight design to easily transform into a table, and .5" incremental adjustably makes our product the most-modular solution on the market.

Hele Outdoors is a small (but mighty!) business HQ'd in Colorado focused on creating gear we actually use in the field. Being both the supply and demand for our products give us competitive advantage in our creations.

Every Hele Box is assembled and tested in the USA before it's sent to you.

3% of profits will go to nature conservation efforts. Learn more about our mission and story here.

Hele Box Comparison Chart

Hele Box sleeping platform for car camping

Fitments & Configurations

See if the Hele Box has been tested to fit you vehicle here

Additional/Optional Configurations:

- Shortie (5'6): Shorten the length of your Hele Box by 6" - see here

- Stackable Storage: Rear seats access with Hele Box as a stackable storage system for your trunk - see here

Helpful Girl/Guy Math Calculator

With this purchase I will save:

  • $5k+ on a van & custom build  
  • $1500+ on a rooftop tent that wreaks havoc on my gas mileage 
  • $100+/night in nasty motels or busted up b&bs on road trips - yuck! 
  • $50 on a rinky-dink camping table that takes up all the room in my car 
  • Time, money, and trips to the chiropractor on a permanent & heavy build-out
  • Ample room in my garage when it's not camping season

Jokes aside - we truly believe this is the most economical way for a positive car camping/road tripping/overlanding/van-lifing experience.

FAQ

How does it make a 6ft sleeping platform when my trunk/cargo space is less than that?

If you are using the Hele Box in an SUV, a set of longer adjustable legs are attached to the front of the frame. These legs sit in the footwell of the rear seating and level out the frame with the other 4 shorter legs in the rear of the frame.

What if my cargo space has different heights or isn't completely flat? How will the sleeping platform be flat?

No problem! All 6 legs are independently adjustable allowing you to dial in a flat sleeping platform even if your cargo area isn't. The Hele Box car camping system can straddle over obstacles, seats, and level out even the steepest of slopes. Check our vehicle fitment guide or send us a message and we'd be happy to confirm with you!

If the vehicle isn't listed on your fitment list, does that mean it won't fit?

No! We've tested the Hele Box in more than 50 makes/models/generations of vehicles, but there are SO MANY MORE out there we've yet to test. The Hele Box car camping platform will fit in almost any SUV/truck/van that has 72" of length for the full length of the frame or 66" for the system in "shortie" mode. Check out pg 3 of our fitment guide for more information.

Does it come with the components needed for a flat space (like a truck bed/van) or do you need an extra set of short legs?

Every Hele Box comes ready to be set up on a flat space/ground (all 6 short legs) or an SUV (4 short legs and 2 long legs for the foot wells). You don't need to buy anything extra :)

Is the packaging/storage system different if I order the pad or not?

Nope! Its the same storage system/packaging.

Do you recommend your pad or my own?

We designed our pad around our sleeping platform pad with an emphasis on comfortability without sacrificing headroom. It's the best fit for the Hele Box!

Where can I go to learn more?!

Our Youtube Channel is loaded with helpful content for you to check out :)

When are you releasing the 2-person sleeper?

It's released! Check out the Hele Box Duo if you car looking for a car camping platform that accommodates 2 people.

Can you buy an extra set of legs separately?

Yes! You can now purchase an extra set of extended legs to use the table as a standalone.

Headroom looks a little tight, how can I get more space?

We built the Hele Box with a focus on balance between headroom and storage space. If you are looking to prioritize more headroom on your car camping platform, add on a set of stubbies!!

Hele Box | Car Camping System

Customer Reviews

Based on 85 reviews
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M
Mary Phalen
Worked in my teeny Tucson SUV!

Was working on plans to redo a self made platform but was not looking forward to the logistics of my small SUV space and very uneven floors…I’m NO carpenter. Then I saw this…on sale! I removed the end pieces and scootched the rail back to make the shorter version and it fits perfectly. The adjustable legs are perfect. I’m so happy I tried this! Got the whole thing unpacked, put together and installed in less than an hour.

L
Louka Hendricks
Works great in a 2012 Prius V!

Fits perfectly in a 2012 Prius V, with the front seat forward slightly and the rear seat down. Super convenient, and well made. ++

L
Lynn Hanson
"There must be someone out there who's addressed these issues already..."

Hello Murray:
I hope you don't mind a story here in my review.
My husband loves to solo camp, sometimes in inclement weather. We have several tents that we have used for solo adventures, or when we camp together with our Aussie, Jaakko. We've been thinking that it would be a good idea to have something so we could sleep in the car if the weather got too windy for using a tent.
My husband is quite handy with woodworking and tools. He's a scientist by training, and spent three days measuring and mapping out the rear compartment of his Subaru in order to create a sleeping platform, but was having problems dealing with the unequal slope. Likewise, he was unsure how to create a non-wobbly platform, and one that was sturdy enough for multiple uses. I finally suggested to him "there must be someone out there who's addressed these issues already..."
Next thing I know, he's identified Hele Outdoors and your adjustable sleeping pad. I purchased this plus the "stubby" legs for him as a birthday gift. He has not had a chance to utilize it yet, but it's been installed in the back of his Subaru since it came to us in the mail!
I'm looking forward to hearing about his experience with it (possibly sometime in the next two weeks), as well as trying it out in my Honda HRV.
Thank you for a very pleasant purchasing experience, for shipping when you said you would, and for receiving a great product packaged very well in sturdy gear.
We will be checking out other products, I'm sure!

C
Casual Spaceman
Nice!!!

This camping bed is a solid and well-built piece of gear — easy to assemble, performs great overall and is priced well. (Although be prepared to pay some ridiculous brokerage fees, taxes and tariffs if you order from Canada which is no way the fault of Hele Outdoors)

I do have a couple of suggestions for improvement:

First, the inner tubes of the legs can sometimes slide too far into the outer tubes, making them difficult to pull out. Adding a small lip or ridge on the end caps of the inner tubes could prevent them from being pushed in too far into the outer tubes.

Another potential upgrade would be to use hex bolts with spring-loaded clamping levers for fastening the legs. You could even offer this as an optional add-on. It would make setup easier and eliminate the need for an Allen key.

Lastly, the wooden frame cover can sometimes rattle against the metal frame. I noticed some planks already have some sort of transparent rubberized tape applied. Having a similar layer across the bottom sides of all the planks would help eliminate rattling and keep the wood from sliding around on the frame. This, too can be sold as an add-on so that it doesn't affect the cost of the product itself.

To be clear, the comments above are not indicators of drawbacks. These are suggestions on how to make a great product even better.

Good luck and keep rocking!

G
Garey Bittenbender
Excellent fast setup, Great Procuct

Easy setup and fast. Placed into my small Tusca Camper. Fits perfectly into cars or my camper. Very comfortable.