Review: Hele Box Solo bed platform
The Hele Box Solo is a versatile bed platform with adjustability for use in almost any type of vehicle. It’s also easy to assemble and store, and is more affordable than other options.
I’ve been going on camping trips and sleeping in my car during the winter months for five years now. I built my own bed platform using wood that I already had for my first car camper. When we replaced our older car with a 2025 Honda CR-V Sport Hybrid, I needed a new platform.
After researching many options, I purchased the Hele Box Solo. I was looking for a platform that can accommodate the uneven floor of the CR-V Hybrid model, while allowing me to set it up low enough for more headroom than I previously had. I also wanted it to be more stable than the DIY platform I had built.
The Hele Box Solo features an aerospace-grade aluminum frame and wood slat topper, and all of the legs are independently adjustable. The locations where the legs connect to the base can also be moved based on what is needed to fit in different types of vehicles. When it’s all put together, it’s very stable and doesn’t move even when I’m tossing and turning while sleeping.
Specs
- platform dimensions: 6 ft. long x 24 in. wide x 4.5-14 in. high
- standard height (floor to top of frame): 8.75 in. to 14 in. (adjustable by 1/2 inch increments)
- shorter height with “stubbies” legs: 4.5 in. to 6.5 in. (adjustable by 1/2 inch increments)
- weight: 25 lbs. with the frame, legs, and wood topper
- frame materials: aerospace grade aluminum (6061)
- recommended weight capacity: 250 lbs.
I wanted to have more head room than I did in my previous setup, so I purchased additional “stubbies” legs so the platform would sit lower in my vehicle. This meant giving up a bit of storage under the platform, but now I can sit up on the bed. I’m 5’1″, so this is not likely to be the case for taller people. If you set up the frame using the standard legs, the carrying case that comes with Hele Box can fit under the platform for gear storage.
Assembling the platform is easy… just attach the poles for the frames, then add the legs using the included hex wrench – no other tools needed. I put the frame together in my living room, then carry it to my car to put in place and add the wood topper.
Since the footwell behind the front seats is taller in the middle, I set the front legs at different heights so the bed will be level. In the back, I can set the remaining four legs at the same height. Some vehicles have a change in the height of the cargo floor, and the legs can be adjusted in 1/2″ increments to accommodate this.
I’m able to leave the driver’s seat in the same position needed for driving. Taller people might need to remove part of the frame for driving and then finish the setup at camp. Check out this video that shows how to shorten the platform.
Instead of taking apart the platform after a trip, I keep the frame assembled and only detach the legs, leaving them at the height needed for my car. Then when I’m getting ready for a trip, all I need to do is add the legs. I store the frame behind my sofa, and the legs in the carrying case included with the platform.
Overall, I think the Hele Box Solo is a great option for camping in my car, and I find that it’s easy to setup and store, unlike other options I explored.
Video Walkthrough
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Disclosure: I purchased this item with my own funds.