OK... so I'm a regular guy who wants to both have the six-seater Model X as well as have options to camp. I ended up with the 6-seater after an early-delivery option forced me to upgrade. I upgraded which made me think the camping option was out... but it wasn't. In fact, it's better! I have a very annoying trait to research things to their most miniscule point, and I even annoy myself about it at times... but I think it's paid off here. I'd love to hear what others are doing but here's what I did to make camping a pretty awesome option for my six-seater X. I might be using some weird items, but they work quite well...
First, I obviously knew I lost the ability to fold the middle row... this has been a huge sore spot for me when it comes to Camp Mode. Well, until I started diggin in and came up with the setup I now have and have tested. Now I think it's wayy better and actually prefer as I have the best of both worlds. There's no doubt the middle row having the Captain's Chairs is ideal and super comfy so it's definitely the way the car is used most of the time... but then there's the trips where I pack my high-speed, long range electric scooter called a NanRobot D4+3... (which is scary fast). Also, for trips with that and/or my DJI drone. When I do these trips, I don't want to stay in hotels so camping in the Tesla is ideal. Here's how I do it. I'll include the links to make it easy where I got the items if that's allowed... they're a pretty perfect fit. Once I detail it you'll probably see why I think the 6 seater is ideal over the 5 or 7 seater.
So, I'm not real keen on posting pictures and doing a step by step so I'm just going to dump the pictures in this tread and hope they make sense. So, here's the process that works awesome for me. The process below is both setting it up and using it... if that makes sense. It's kind of a mash:
1. Setup a profile for camping. I called mine 'Camping OnSite'.
2. Initially in my garage I moved both middle row seats up as far as they'd go to let people into the third row.
3. Then I set my driver seat to be about 1/4 inch from that spot and saved it.
4. Then I moved my passenger front seat all the way forward as far as it would go. This gives me storage and makes the seats not look weird when I don't have my privacy screens up. The key here is once you have everything setup the passenger side middle seat makes for a perfect, "jump seat" to just sit normally back there. You have great foot room and it's easy to just sit and gather yourself. Put on shoes and such.
5. Then I open the falcon wing doors and inflate three footrests I got off of Amazon which were these: Amazon.com. They're great because they fill up fast and easy and collapse super-fast with the quick release. I add two behind the second-row seats and one in the isle once turning in. They fit perfectly and have the perfect height.
6. Then, for the actual bed I used a mattress that fits the 6-seater without getting overextended: https://amzn.to/3OSzs1h The key here is to inflate everything except the pillows. I just marked an x by the pillows. This mattress is great because it fills the right side and then the left side. This comes in super handy if you don't want to be prepping from the outside of the car or if it's raining and you can’t. You can fill the left side by laying on the right and vice versa. Pretty nice.
7. I typically leave the third isle pillow in the driver’s side second row captains’ seat because it's available... and you don't want to crowd your isle until you're ready to lay in bed, watch the iPad or crash. This setup is perfect and since I'm 6'1", when I want to stretch my legs long... the isle footrest catches my ankles and feet perfectly.
8. The mattress came with a cigarette lighter pump, but I also keep a battery operated one - which I've been dreaming about the invention of for years for the pool toys: https://amzn.to/3vDxR7O
9. I also have a work tray https://amzn.to/3LDh0Yp for when I need to pull over or at a charger and do some work. It's the perfect tray for stashing under the driver’s seat. I keep it below the cubby thing I bought that said it was for the Model Y but fits great for waters and other stuff under my seat: https://amzn.to/3vBe1dq
However, the tray is great for sitting in the driver’s seat... but bringing to the back when in Camp Mode is essential because it gives you a solid surface to put your iPad, dinner, wine or cpap machine. I use it unfolded when I'm living in the back and fold it in half when I'm sleeping so support the cpap. I normally think it's embarrassing to have the cpap but with my narrow windpipe and the horrible thought of surgically widening it... I'll live with the cpap. It's awesome because I can sleep under the covers, face down, ha. However, I did get the 12-volt inverter for the AirSense Resmed S10. It takes dramatically less power than using an Inverter https://amzn.to/3KEilx0. The one I got that works great is this one: https://amzn.to/3s766mh
10. I also got the window screens for privacy. As you know... or should know, at night, if there’s light inside the car, then people can see in without you seeing them outside. So, I got two different things. Mainly because the kit didn't have the front windshield covers. For the back glass I got this: Amazon.com and then this for the front windshield: Amazon.com
11. Also, I like to have an option of keeping food and drinks cool, so I have this small electric cooler: https://amzn.to/3y8OUQU which is perfect. It fits in the isle if I do not want to fill the third footrest, but it also fits in the front seat floorboard when I'm in Camp OnSite mode. So, I can keep drinks cold and leftovers at the ready. If I make a mess, I keep a little vacuum in my glove box that cleans things up pretty quick, I was apprehensive at first but when I noted that it also had a dust blower... I thought I'd give it a chance. It was surprisingly nice. Good suction. Amazon.com
12. I also rely on my Microsoft Surface Pro for work but it's annoying that it takes a standard outlet so when I need to charge that I use this Inverter because it's quiet and fast: https://amzn.to/3KEilx0
13. Another thing that I found later was this string-light that lets you make your camping zone look super awesome. It lights up the interior in a really fun way but isn't so bright that it looks weird or anything special from the outside https://amzn.to/3vC7388. There are also these lanterns I bring which are easy to pop on and off: Amazon.com. They're pretty cool because you can adjust the light by how far you open them.
14. This is going so sound super dumb and crazy, but I challenge you to call me crazy at 3am when you have to go to the bathroom. Keep a tightly closable water bottle handy and get this... trust me: https://amzn.to/3y9uuHG
15. The other thing I'd mention is when I'm traveling, I don't like the bugs and grime on the car so I bought this https://amzn.to/38J8gBw which is great for just walking around the car and keeping it clean with a paper towel. Maybe have a chamois in case it needs an actual bath at a DIY car wash Amazon.com. I got stuck washing the car because it was a huge mess but I had no way to dry it, so I had to jump on the highway, which was kind of annoying.
So basically, that's it. If you fiddle with those things and setup the way I generally, have it... it makes the Model X six-seater into a luxury Class A RV... well, close.
First, I obviously knew I lost the ability to fold the middle row... this has been a huge sore spot for me when it comes to Camp Mode. Well, until I started diggin in and came up with the setup I now have and have tested. Now I think it's wayy better and actually prefer as I have the best of both worlds. There's no doubt the middle row having the Captain's Chairs is ideal and super comfy so it's definitely the way the car is used most of the time... but then there's the trips where I pack my high-speed, long range electric scooter called a NanRobot D4+3... (which is scary fast). Also, for trips with that and/or my DJI drone. When I do these trips, I don't want to stay in hotels so camping in the Tesla is ideal. Here's how I do it. I'll include the links to make it easy where I got the items if that's allowed... they're a pretty perfect fit. Once I detail it you'll probably see why I think the 6 seater is ideal over the 5 or 7 seater.
So, I'm not real keen on posting pictures and doing a step by step so I'm just going to dump the pictures in this tread and hope they make sense. So, here's the process that works awesome for me. The process below is both setting it up and using it... if that makes sense. It's kind of a mash:
1. Setup a profile for camping. I called mine 'Camping OnSite'.
2. Initially in my garage I moved both middle row seats up as far as they'd go to let people into the third row.
3. Then I set my driver seat to be about 1/4 inch from that spot and saved it.
4. Then I moved my passenger front seat all the way forward as far as it would go. This gives me storage and makes the seats not look weird when I don't have my privacy screens up. The key here is once you have everything setup the passenger side middle seat makes for a perfect, "jump seat" to just sit normally back there. You have great foot room and it's easy to just sit and gather yourself. Put on shoes and such.
5. Then I open the falcon wing doors and inflate three footrests I got off of Amazon which were these: Amazon.com. They're great because they fill up fast and easy and collapse super-fast with the quick release. I add two behind the second-row seats and one in the isle once turning in. They fit perfectly and have the perfect height.
6. Then, for the actual bed I used a mattress that fits the 6-seater without getting overextended: https://amzn.to/3OSzs1h The key here is to inflate everything except the pillows. I just marked an x by the pillows. This mattress is great because it fills the right side and then the left side. This comes in super handy if you don't want to be prepping from the outside of the car or if it's raining and you can’t. You can fill the left side by laying on the right and vice versa. Pretty nice.
7. I typically leave the third isle pillow in the driver’s side second row captains’ seat because it's available... and you don't want to crowd your isle until you're ready to lay in bed, watch the iPad or crash. This setup is perfect and since I'm 6'1", when I want to stretch my legs long... the isle footrest catches my ankles and feet perfectly.
8. The mattress came with a cigarette lighter pump, but I also keep a battery operated one - which I've been dreaming about the invention of for years for the pool toys: https://amzn.to/3vDxR7O
9. I also have a work tray https://amzn.to/3LDh0Yp for when I need to pull over or at a charger and do some work. It's the perfect tray for stashing under the driver’s seat. I keep it below the cubby thing I bought that said it was for the Model Y but fits great for waters and other stuff under my seat: https://amzn.to/3vBe1dq
However, the tray is great for sitting in the driver’s seat... but bringing to the back when in Camp Mode is essential because it gives you a solid surface to put your iPad, dinner, wine or cpap machine. I use it unfolded when I'm living in the back and fold it in half when I'm sleeping so support the cpap. I normally think it's embarrassing to have the cpap but with my narrow windpipe and the horrible thought of surgically widening it... I'll live with the cpap. It's awesome because I can sleep under the covers, face down, ha. However, I did get the 12-volt inverter for the AirSense Resmed S10. It takes dramatically less power than using an Inverter https://amzn.to/3KEilx0. The one I got that works great is this one: https://amzn.to/3s766mh
10. I also got the window screens for privacy. As you know... or should know, at night, if there’s light inside the car, then people can see in without you seeing them outside. So, I got two different things. Mainly because the kit didn't have the front windshield covers. For the back glass I got this: Amazon.com and then this for the front windshield: Amazon.com
11. Also, I like to have an option of keeping food and drinks cool, so I have this small electric cooler: https://amzn.to/3y8OUQU which is perfect. It fits in the isle if I do not want to fill the third footrest, but it also fits in the front seat floorboard when I'm in Camp OnSite mode. So, I can keep drinks cold and leftovers at the ready. If I make a mess, I keep a little vacuum in my glove box that cleans things up pretty quick, I was apprehensive at first but when I noted that it also had a dust blower... I thought I'd give it a chance. It was surprisingly nice. Good suction. Amazon.com
12. I also rely on my Microsoft Surface Pro for work but it's annoying that it takes a standard outlet so when I need to charge that I use this Inverter because it's quiet and fast: https://amzn.to/3KEilx0
13. Another thing that I found later was this string-light that lets you make your camping zone look super awesome. It lights up the interior in a really fun way but isn't so bright that it looks weird or anything special from the outside https://amzn.to/3vC7388. There are also these lanterns I bring which are easy to pop on and off: Amazon.com. They're pretty cool because you can adjust the light by how far you open them.
14. This is going so sound super dumb and crazy, but I challenge you to call me crazy at 3am when you have to go to the bathroom. Keep a tightly closable water bottle handy and get this... trust me: https://amzn.to/3y9uuHG
15. The other thing I'd mention is when I'm traveling, I don't like the bugs and grime on the car so I bought this https://amzn.to/38J8gBw which is great for just walking around the car and keeping it clean with a paper towel. Maybe have a chamois in case it needs an actual bath at a DIY car wash Amazon.com. I got stuck washing the car because it was a huge mess but I had no way to dry it, so I had to jump on the highway, which was kind of annoying.
So basically, that's it. If you fiddle with those things and setup the way I generally, have it... it makes the Model X six-seater into a luxury Class A RV... well, close.
