Of all the SUV Camper set up videos I've watched - and I've watched MANY - FINALLY someone shows how to get into the sleep area in their setup. BRAVO and THANKS!!
Good video. I use an ice chest to fill the gap behind the front passenger space, and have a four-inch thick piece of foam as a mattress. During the day the mattress folds back double into the cargo area without taking the blankets, etc., off. The Prius is perfect for my road trips, which are anywhere from two days to two weeks. Never tried living in it but I imagine it would be very possible. I hit a motel about every third or fourth day to shower and sleep in a real bed. I’m 73, BTW.
I lived in my Prius for 2 months last summer and I absolutely enjoyed it! My setup is very similar to yours, I have an REI Camp Bed which is a self-inflating 25" sleeping pad, very thick and warm, and makes no noise. I took the headrest off and placed 3 organizing boxes in the area to make it even. My kitchen items go in there. I also like to crawl in and out from the driver's seat. Makes a big difference when I was sleeping in parking lots LOL!
Have you ever noticed a whining noise coming from the engine compartment after a couple of hours of sleeping in it? The last two times I slept in mine, it made a low volume whining noise. If so, what did you do to stop it?
Nice! I just bought a 2022 Prius. I am not likely to ever live out of it or camp long-term, so I'd never make any permanent changes. But I love seeing what everyone else is doing and how they go about camping or living in their Prius, just so that I know what is possible. I like simplicity, so I like what you've got going on.
Heat/sunlight to me is the bear on cars, not only uncomfortable but damaging to paint, seals, and any goods stored inside. So I love your point about painting the roof white. I would think silver would reflect the sun too. Didn't know white would do more. Do you think a white decal made in the shape of the roof would work too?🤔 I know I won't paint. 😔
Very nice Richard. Crawling from driver seat and back is the easiest and cleanest . You leave your shoes near brake pedal and just easily crawl to sleeping area. If you slide the front passenger seat all the way to front forward, then you can place a 5 gallon bucket with large plastic trash bags and cover, to to use for emergency toilet there as well as an empty 1 Gallon water container for urination. Some 8 years ago, I drove from Kamloops to near Vancouver, Canada, about 400 miles, no toilets, not even at their Rest Areas! . Even at Vancouver tent like looking Harbor centre building next day, I could not find a single public toilet! Hard to believe?? Check it for youself. I wrote a letter to their Mayor. I hope they corrected the shortcoming. In many european contries they have same shortage and they even charge 1 Euro if there is one open for use. In the US, thank God we do not have toilet shortage!
Good job adapting your Prius for car camping. I'm 64 but while watching your vid I really believe that a Prius is such an ideal car for a young adult such as yourself. It's economical, gets great MPG, has Toyota reliability, and as you and other Prius owners have demonstrated on RUclips, it is a highly versatile car. When a friend and I drove in his Prius to a 100-mile bicycling event, we loaded BOTH of our road bikes into the Prius' rear compartment and didn't even have to remove any of our wheels! Because my wife and I plan to do more road trips in our car, and I need my car to cart around synthesizers, amps, and also our bikes when we go out for recreational rides, I just bought a new Subaru Forester Premium. The MPG is nothing like the Prius, but I'm banking that I will still own my Subaru in 2035 when no more gas-powered cars will be sold in California. When that happens and if I need a new car, I think the infrastructure and I will both be ready for an electric car. Cheers!
Thanks for the video. I like the way you encourage people to start simple, and try things out without spending a lot of money. I also camp in my Prius. I must say, climbing from the front seat into the back takes more flexibility than I have! It was fun watching you do that. Your idea of a tarp to keep things clean is a great idea, except in places where it rains - which it does pretty much every day where I like to camp in the mountains. So I reserve a small spot inside the Prius for my dirty shoes. Where you put a backpack to fill the space behind the front seat, I have my refrigerator, which, when set on some blocks, makes a flat space. But I do need to remove the headrest (an easy task). I've recently added a Habitent, which gives great ventilation and space to sit. Great video.
I’ve been driving a Prius over 20 years. I’m on my 2nd. I’d still be driving the 1st one, but my granddaughter was driving it and messed up the wiring harness. Since it was a 1st generation and Toyota had made so many improvements I opted for a new car. So here’s my question, comment, observation… I’ve seen several videos where people are talking about being “stealth” because the car can be left on and will only kick on every few minutes (few minutes ranging from 10 to 30) to charge the battery. Ok, I get that. What I don’t understand is how they can say they are completely stealth when the car makes some noise when it powers on and off. Is the car more quiet from the outside? I’ve heard them say they can stay in housing neighborhoods and not be noticed. Maybe I need to go sit outside Evie (the car) for a few minutes and form an opinion.
@@Red_Queens_Jubilee_Club Isn't the Prius a wonderful car?! Mine's a 2010, and is the most trouble free car I've ever owned. Yes, the car makes a little bit of sound as its powers on and off, but not much. We had a big storm a while back, which tore the power line right off our house. So I was powering part of our house with my Prius (which has a 1kW inverter), the workmen didn't hear anything while they were standing right next to the Prius until it cycled on. They really jumped! Because "the car started right up with no one inside," they told me. It's quiet, but noticeable. Plus, the startup rocks the car ever so slightly, enough to wake me up at night. So I no longer try to sleep with the car "On". I suggest having a CO detector in the car if it's running while you sleep, even though outside the risk is low. I have a small battery powered CO detector.
@@TerrellWSmith this is the best car I've ever owned. It goes when I'm ready to go. And while I don't plan to live in it; it is great for long distance travel. I drove from Austin, TX to Winchester, VA and I think I stopped for gas twice. When I got tired I would find somewhere to pull over and I'd rest. I had someone with me and he said more afraid of stopping in random places than I was. In Arkansas I stopped at a Mom n Pop store and asked if they minded if we rested there. When he woke up I had the door open with my feet up on the door and I was dead asleep. Thank you Arkansas.
i like your video. I gave it a thumbs up. One thing i would add to increase stealth when getting in or out of your Prius in addition to getting in and out the driver's door. Is to get in or out at another location then driving to the place you want to park, then crawling back to your camp bed. And when you want to get out of the car after sleeping and you want to be extra stealthy, crawl back to the driver's seat, but instead of getting out the driver's door, drive to a fresh location then get out the driver's door. This might be particularly valuable if you are in a high-traffic area where people might see you crawl to or from your bed? But I think you are right about using the driver's door as a way to get less attention. For me, I sometimes don't even leave the driver's seat..particularly in a precarious location. I like being ready to start the car and drive off if an unsafe situation is happening like someone walks up to my car and starts tapping on the window in the middle of the night. And I like to position my car for a quick getaway by parking it in a way that I can leave by driving forward as opposed to backing up then driving forward. This is an emergency vehicle technique to be ready to move as quickly as possible. and try to avoid situations in which are getting pinched in.. like leaving lots of room in front of your vehicle or between your vehicle and other vehicles.. but especially leaving ample room in front of the vehicle so you can escape a dangerous situation. I also like to avoid spots where people can hide between my vehicle and some objects also. the main reason is not hiding from me by hiding from people seeing them near my vehicle.. in case they are causing my vehicle to break into it without being seen. I am hoping that the new Prius comes included with surround cameras and internal cameras, like the Tesla Model 3. I love how tesla has embedded cameras all around and in the car. and these are very useful as a security monitor and for getting evidence .. and also because people know there are cameras on these cars and that they can store and transmit this info to the owner, they may be less likely to come close to or bother the vehicle.
what a nice laidback guy , love the simplicity of your setup , i ended up with a leaf as here in scotland prius are very expensive, its a bit tight lenth wise but it does work ok just with the battery being in the floor everything is rased up so not so much storage space :) i have similar bed althou i like a double sized bed so can have a mate along :) most of the storage is the rear footwells and big boot space. i use a double matress topper that i fold in to the boot when back seats are up. thankyou for posting
I'm a 70 yr old and my solution is the backseat blow up mattress. I'm 5ft8 so I fold front seat forward and add a pillow there. Sleep well. And storage tubs in rear footwells instead of Inflatable supports
I’m 6’1”, 250, NOT flexible; definitely come in through the back, passenger door. Go in head first, face downward; crawl as if you were going into front seat; once you get far enough in, you can extend your feet into the back.
Thank! I want try this to go visit my daughter. The builds and equipment I've seen were too much $ and effort to do. Thank you for keeping it basic and real world.💖
I just bought a 2011 Prius with 26,000 miles on it and I’m going to drive it to see my daughter too! Washington to Dallas Texas. It seems like people leave the car running sometimes when sleeping in it.
For me folding down the rear seat leaves a very uneven rise in the floor, way to uneven for me. What l decided to do was remove the bottom of the rear seat (no tools), it just pops out. You can use the area where the seat was for a little extra storage, which also allows you to raise the back of the seat higher to make it more flush with the rest of the rear floor. While not perfect, it will give you a lot flatter sleeping surface, plus the bottom seat section pops back in as easy as it came out.
The Prius generation varies by how flat the floor is when the rear seats are folded. Mine is generation 3 (2010), and the floor is totally flat. I think later generations the floor was not entirely flat.
Wow, thx man! Fantastic info. Basic, 110% helpful, so needed. SooN I will embark on a camping/touring trip of south Florida for 1st time. Watching hours of UTUbe and this is best yet.THX! PS - I’m over 70 and going solo in my Prius.
Before I even watched this video I’m traveled the entire country without making a single adjustment to my Prius and the only thing I was lacking was a bathroom
You have some excellent ideas and very practical ones when you mentioned the tripod stick , it can also be the walking sticks that extend and a monopod, it will be what I will use. Bravo good thoughts. Thank you, and cheers. 👍👍
Great info! If u invest in anything, make a comfortable bed! Thick blankets are good for a day or 2 to see how it goes camping. Prius is too uneven in the back for a bed surface.
Be sure to not cover the battery cooling air intake. It's located near the door jamb on the rear passenger side door. If it gets covered by a blanket or something while driving, the battery will overheat.... dog hair will also clog it and even collect in the fan... you might spend an hour cleaning it.
Nice video. That was always my idea also. Just get things as you need them and make due with what you have. I have an 07 Prius and sleep in it driving from OK to FL. Seeing your dog looking at you while making the video is cute. I had a ferret as my traveling companion on a few trips. Fun adventures. I'll try out that app you mentioned. Thanks.
Thanks for sharing! Great tips! I like your acrobatics from the front to rear seats and back. Especially if I'm at a truck stop. I'm about your size a bit older, but also a former gymnast so it's doable. I like the tripod trick for the brake peddle. The dog blanket sling is great, I will try similar since I sew too, but will lean to buying one if the dog version is all I want it to do. I like it better than building a platform out of wood. The headlight on the headrest is smart too, I must have three laying around too! Happy Prius travels!
Hi Richard! Thank you for sharing your awesome videos! What model/year is your Prius? I’m trying to determine which one is the best for camping. Thank you!
How do you get air in there when I used to sleep in my Honda element and get really too humid or too stuffy but if I open the windows I'd be attacked by bugs specially mosquitoes
You can try using net covers specifically designed for car windows. They allow you yo roll down the windows without letting bugs in. They are available on Amazon 👌
@@fulltimetravelmadeeasy8326 got a social media or anything my man. I don't do it full time but just finished up the Utah Mighty 5 + AZ national parks recently in my 2013 Prius V. We have a few IG accounts who travel in their Prius
for some reason the sound was way lower on your video that normal, making it difficult to hear. Sounds like you've got some interesting info, unf, I couldn't hear it. Anyway, thanks.
When you put the back seat down, there are plastic pieces (from the seat belts sticking out). How do you deal with that? Would you recommend a wood platform or putting foam around the pieces, to level the whole back area?
Have you considered raising your vehicle and fitting it with all terrain tires? What’s your experience with driving on dirt/gravel/rocky roads? Did you upgrade anything on the suspension? I just got a 2015 Prius. Great videos.
Great question! You will be shocked at the places you can get to in the Prius. I use ioverlander to find locations and multiple times the description says 4x4 recommended and the Prius can get there no problem. I love putting it in power mode and heading up mountain roads. But I will say the bottom of the car probably doesn't look to pretty lol. You can't baby it so just expect a few dingers lol. I don't think I would do the lift thing. I have not been to a place where a lift kit would help me get to. I'm sure it would prevent me from bottoming out in certain places but that's mostly it.
@@eddiesanchez2806 Will do! Appreciate your interest in the video. I also post stuff on my ig @coachrichardqfit. Not really tips but more of the places I go to 👌
@Eddie, I got larger tires, that fit just right in the wheel well, can't tell you exactly what the size is, but it's doable. It really helps not rip off the bumpers, which I have done over and over. It also means your speedometer is now incorrect, but you can figure out how fast you are going using gps. I am about 5 miles over what is indicated.
I avoid deeply rutted dirt roads, but somewhat rutted roads are doable, as long as you drive on the top of the ruts. My favorite drive is the Old Fall River Road in Rocky Mountain National Park. One way, winding 9 mile dirt road, narrow, with sharp switchbacks, all uphill (16% grade in places) to the Alpine Visitor Center at 11,796 ft. Right after opening for the season, it's freshly graded. But later on, the 4x4's tear it up badly. Being careful, I hit bottom three times (and had to get very minor repair underneath). My daughter, who was with me said, "Dad, that was like the Indiana Jones ride in Disneyland!"
I wish you had mentioned which Prius you have AND did the seats fold down FLAT? I'm finding that not all Prius will be flat --- I don't know which one to buy. I just want to search for the right Prius to buy...
2015. It's not perfectly flat but I found it to be enoughto sleep comfortably. When in the mountains I usually try to pitch the front of the Prius slightly down which would make it more flat in the back.
What is it like living like this with a dog? What are the pros? Is it inconvenient anyway? Where does the dog sleep? Does it ever throw off your stealth mode? How do you reduce hair everywhere? What are other cons?
Unfortunately all hybrid Toyotas coming from 2020 doesn't come with this feature no more. I mean, after 30 minutes with the engine on, if the car is not moving, the system automatically turn off the engine. I was researching and they made this change to prevent accidents of carbon monoxide in confined spaces, which means, you can not buy a brand new Toyota Rav4 hybrid (for example) and sleep with your AC or heat all night on.
I have a 2021 Prius. When the car is running if you lock the doors from the inside the car will stay running (ready mode) all night. If you don't lock the doors it will shut off after 1 hour.
About Time to the auto motor wasn't designed for 'running' all night parked, toyota never touted that concept, only fools on RUclips started telling everyone to do this, basically running the engine all night(stop/starting) while parked up will eventually destroy the motor, and or the battery, cars even hybrid ones are solely designed for moving along the roads, not parked up with the AC running, all night also NOT for Sleeping in !... Carbon monoxide unfortunately kills people O an their dogs, If you haven't got a home get yourself a RV and live in a trailer park!...
Prius is the best cuz it is one of the most reliable cars and also has climate control so you dont need to invest in a 50k worth of batteries to get 24/7 AC or even drill holes in the ceiling to install fans. For solo travelers I think the space inside is more than enough.
Has anyone here ever noticed a whining noise coming from the engine compartment after a couple of hours of sleeping in the car? The last two times I slept in mine, it made a low volume whining noise. If so, what did you do to stop it?
I have a 2012 prius and live in the UK 🇬🇧 end of July im taking myself on a road trip so this is proper handy, can't wait. What do you do for window covers or don't you?
Nice! I just have a sun reflector for my front windshield so you can't see in from the front. The side windows are tinted and that has worked for me. Have yet to get a knock on the window 🤞
@Jaguar Freedom bro you will be ok, you just need to put something in between the front seat when pushed forward and the back as you get a big gap there, even though I've used a blow up bed and kinda got away with supporting the gap. Oh and I'm 6"4 so ur be fine.
Not at the moment but hoping I will be able to next year. I just had my windows tinted and that has been perfect for me. I don't use anything else and I have never had an issue with people looking in or anything like that.
Lol, way to much effort to sleep, I'm flexible to do it, but why. Just recline the front seat almost flat and put a black wool cap over the eyes. All controls easy to reach and can drive away if have to in 2 seconds. Spent the last month like that traveling, slept like I was at home.
Hey! 2015. Bought at 70k miles and now at 90k. No issues as of today. I have taken this car down some pretty rough roads and it holds up great. On my first video a lot of people said the dog hair is really bad for the hybrid battery so that might become an issue early than normal but I guess we will see.
I have 2010. Bot used with 60K mi. Now 130K. Probably will need first repair. Something start knocking underneath. Changed ones brake pads. Nothing more, except regular service. This is my first car with so many miles and no repairs
Yes I did have this setup in the tail end of last summer. I try not to use the climate control but I did use it a handful of times when it got to hot to sleep comfortably. Same thing for winter when it gets to cold. Never had any issues with it 👌
I go had a 07 took passenger seat out slept in it 95° southern heat 90% humidity. I want seat gone so I can reach the radio, climate control function, and to get closer to the ac vents.
@@agpawpaw5912 Sure did just means the passenger side bag can't deploy. If you sleep head by the bag you don't want it to work. Something runs into it and deploy your head would be torn clean off.
Planning on taking a 2 week trip from NY down to Colorado with my bull mastiff in my Prius V and I was worried about the dog hair. Has the dog hair been an issue for you at all? Great video!
Awesome route! Honestly I'm sort of a clean freak so it does drive me crazy but I have had my Dog for over 10 years now so I have learned to deal with it . I do my best to keep her on her blankets which actually helps a lot with keeping her hair from going everywhere and I always have a lint roller that I use daily on a few spots in the car. When I do laundry usually once a week I wash her blankets. People have warned me about her hair not being good for the hybrid battery and suggested placing a screen on the vent to catch the hair.
Nikki knows what she is doing, but it appears Richard does also. What makes you think Richard is doing anything wrong regarding his dog? Personally I'd never live in my Prius (or even a Class A) with a pet. Too many worries, too many logistical restrictions on what I can do, harder to keep clean, they and their supplies take too much already-precious space, etc. The only person with a method that doesn't restrict her, is Vagabond Mango, who keeps her Prius in Ready mode for weeks at a time, so her pit bull is always comfortable, and she can be away from the car with no worries. But I'd never do that, too much risk of car theft. Once you have a pet in your car, and need to do things without bringing the pet, there are no perfect solutions.
I do agree with this in a way but I adopted her over 10 years ago. She's more than just a dog to me at this point. There is no way I would give her up or pawn her off on someone else. So I do my best to work with what I have and try to keep things as clean as I can.
Manny Ortiz that was not a nice thing to say about the mans best friend, a Dog 🐶 think you should keep ur opinions to urself ...only give opinion if asked for . You should have learned that a long time ago ..
Manny, if you have a pet it would be incredibly irresponsible to get rid of it because it's inconvenient. Unless it will be much better for them. It's a lifetime commitment, as Richard knows,
Of all the SUV Camper set up videos I've watched - and I've watched MANY - FINALLY someone shows how to get into the sleep area in their setup. BRAVO and THANKS!!
Good video. I use an ice chest to fill the gap behind the front passenger space, and have a four-inch thick piece of foam as a mattress. During the day the mattress folds back double into the cargo area without taking the blankets, etc., off. The Prius is perfect for my road trips, which are anywhere from two days to two weeks. Never tried living in it but I imagine it would be very possible. I hit a motel about every third or fourth day to shower and sleep in a real bed. I’m 73, BTW.
I lived in my Prius for 2 months last summer and I absolutely enjoyed it! My setup is very similar to yours, I have an REI Camp Bed which is a self-inflating 25" sleeping pad, very thick and warm, and makes no noise. I took the headrest off and placed 3 organizing boxes in the area to make it even. My kitchen items go in there. I also like to crawl in and out from the driver's seat. Makes a big difference when I was sleeping in parking lots LOL!
make a video!
Have you ever noticed a whining noise coming from the engine compartment after a couple of hours of sleeping in it? The last two times I slept in mine, it made a low volume whining noise. If so, what did you do to stop it?
@@peachypietro9980shut the engine off, it might be running.
I was looking for this exact type of video, planning to buy a Prius and I don't feel like making too many changes to it, thanks!!!!
Your welcome! Best of luck to you 😁
Nice! I just bought a 2022 Prius. I am not likely to ever live out of it or camp long-term, so I'd never make any permanent changes. But I love seeing what everyone else is doing and how they go about camping or living in their Prius, just so that I know what is possible. I like simplicity, so I like what you've got going on.
I painted the roof of my silver prius bright white. It dropped the temps about 20 degrees while parked in the mid day sun.
Heat/sunlight to me is the bear on cars, not only uncomfortable but damaging to paint, seals, and any goods stored inside. So I love your point about painting the roof white. I would think silver would reflect the sun too. Didn't know white would do more. Do you think a white decal made in the shape of the roof would work too?🤔 I know I won't paint. 😔
Wow--and I happened to order white auto vinyl to decorate my prius. I guess I have other plans for it now.
Thank you so much! I’ve been looking everywhere for a video like this.
Glad I could help 👌👌
Very nice Richard. Crawling from driver seat and back is the easiest and cleanest . You leave your shoes near brake pedal and just easily crawl to sleeping area. If you slide the front passenger seat all the way to front forward, then you can place a 5 gallon bucket with large plastic trash bags and cover, to to use for emergency toilet there as well as an empty 1 Gallon water container for urination. Some 8 years ago, I drove from Kamloops to near Vancouver, Canada, about 400 miles, no toilets, not even at their Rest Areas! . Even at Vancouver tent like looking Harbor centre building next day, I could not find a single public toilet! Hard to believe?? Check it for youself. I wrote a letter to their Mayor. I hope they corrected the shortcoming. In many european contries they have same shortage and they even charge 1 Euro if there is one open for use. In the US, thank God we do not have toilet shortage!
Good job adapting your Prius for car camping. I'm 64 but while watching your vid I really believe that a Prius is such an ideal car for a young adult such as yourself. It's economical, gets great MPG, has Toyota reliability, and as you and other Prius owners have demonstrated on RUclips, it is a highly versatile car. When a friend and I drove in his Prius to a 100-mile bicycling event, we loaded BOTH of our road bikes into the Prius' rear compartment and didn't even have to remove any of our wheels! Because my wife and I plan to do more road trips in our car, and I need my car to cart around synthesizers, amps, and also our bikes when we go out for recreational rides, I just bought a new Subaru Forester Premium. The MPG is nothing like the Prius, but I'm banking that I will still own my Subaru in 2035 when no more gas-powered cars will be sold in California. When that happens and if I need a new car, I think the infrastructure and I will both be ready for an electric car. Cheers!
2035-2023=12+64=76! love live
Thanks for the video. I like the way you encourage people to start simple, and try things out without spending a lot of money. I also camp in my Prius. I must say, climbing from the front seat into the back takes more flexibility than I have! It was fun watching you do that. Your idea of a tarp to keep things clean is a great idea, except in places where it rains - which it does pretty much every day where I like to camp in the mountains. So I reserve a small spot inside the Prius for my dirty shoes. Where you put a backpack to fill the space behind the front seat, I have my refrigerator, which, when set on some blocks, makes a flat space. But I do need to remove the headrest (an easy task). I've recently added a Habitent, which gives great ventilation and space to sit. Great video.
Hey Terrell, thanks for watching and taking the time to leave this comment. Good luck out there :)
I’ve been driving a Prius over 20 years. I’m on my 2nd. I’d still be driving the 1st one, but my granddaughter was driving it and messed up the wiring harness. Since it was a 1st generation and Toyota had made so many improvements I opted for a new car. So here’s my question, comment, observation… I’ve seen several videos where people are talking about being “stealth” because the car can be left on and will only kick on every few minutes (few minutes ranging from 10 to 30) to charge the battery. Ok, I get that. What I don’t understand is how they can say they are completely stealth when the car makes some noise when it powers on and off. Is the car more quiet from the outside? I’ve heard them say they can stay in housing neighborhoods and not be noticed. Maybe I need to go sit outside Evie (the car) for a few minutes and form an opinion.
@@Red_Queens_Jubilee_Club Isn't the Prius a wonderful car?! Mine's a 2010, and is the most trouble free car I've ever owned. Yes, the car makes a little bit of sound as its powers on and off, but not much. We had a big storm a while back, which tore the power line right off our house. So I was powering part of our house with my Prius (which has a 1kW inverter), the workmen didn't hear anything while they were standing right next to the Prius until it cycled on. They really jumped! Because "the car started right up with no one inside," they told me. It's quiet, but noticeable. Plus, the startup rocks the car ever so slightly, enough to wake me up at night. So I no longer try to sleep with the car "On". I suggest having a CO detector in the car if it's running while you sleep, even though outside the risk is low. I have a small battery powered CO detector.
@@TerrellWSmith this is the best car I've ever owned. It goes when I'm ready to go. And while I don't plan to live in it; it is great for long distance travel. I drove from Austin, TX to Winchester, VA and I think I stopped for gas twice. When I got tired I would find somewhere to pull over and I'd rest. I had someone with me and he said more afraid of stopping in random places than I was. In Arkansas I stopped at a Mom n Pop store and asked if they minded if we rested there. When he woke up I had the door open with my feet up on the door and I was dead asleep. Thank you Arkansas.
I have a Habitent, too.
I like the tripod idea & headlamp! Thanks!
i like your video. I gave it a thumbs up. One thing i would add to increase stealth when getting in or out of your Prius in addition to getting in and out the driver's door. Is to get in or out at another location then driving to the place you want to park, then crawling back to your camp bed. And when you want to get out of the car after sleeping and you want to be extra stealthy, crawl back to the driver's seat, but instead of getting out the driver's door, drive to a fresh location then get out the driver's door. This might be particularly valuable if you are in a high-traffic area where people might see you crawl to or from your bed? But I think you are right about using the driver's door as a way to get less attention. For me, I sometimes don't even leave the driver's seat..particularly in a precarious location. I like being ready to start the car and drive off if an unsafe situation is happening like someone walks up to my car and starts tapping on the window in the middle of the night. And I like to position my car for a quick getaway by parking it in a way that I can leave by driving forward as opposed to backing up then driving forward. This is an emergency vehicle technique to be ready to move as quickly as possible. and try to avoid situations in which are getting pinched in.. like leaving lots of room in front of your vehicle or between your vehicle and other vehicles.. but especially leaving ample room in front of the vehicle so you can escape a dangerous situation. I also like to avoid spots where people can hide between my vehicle and some objects also. the main reason is not hiding from me by hiding from people seeing them near my vehicle.. in case they are causing my vehicle to break into it without being seen. I am hoping that the new Prius comes included with surround cameras and internal cameras, like the Tesla Model 3. I love how tesla has embedded cameras all around and in the car. and these are very useful as a security monitor and for getting evidence .. and also because people know there are cameras on these cars and that they can store and transmit this info to the owner, they may be less likely to come close to or bother the vehicle.
Great video! Keep spreading your light! I love this idea...and my Prius!
what a nice laidback guy , love the simplicity of your setup , i ended up with a leaf as here in scotland prius are very expensive, its a bit tight lenth wise but it does work ok just with the battery being in the floor everything is rased up so not so much storage space :) i have similar bed althou i like a double sized bed so can have a mate along :) most of the storage is the rear footwells and big boot space. i use a double matress topper that i fold in to the boot when back seats are up. thankyou for posting
Your welcome! Have fun out there 😁👌
I’m 5’7”, 145 lbs AND I’m also 73yo, so no front to back climbing for me, not as flexible as I use to be!
I'm sure you get by just fine without it 👌 you can also try to recline the front seat as much as possible to create some more space to get back there.
Here! Here! I'm 5'8", 145 lbs AND I'm 70yo not-in-the-best-physical-shape woman! I can barely get in and out of my sister's 2021 Camry Sport!
Yeah, I’m 65, f, for me, a van conversion would be the best…but this guy is great… good for him…
I'm a 70 yr old and my solution is the backseat blow up mattress. I'm 5ft8 so I fold front seat forward and add a pillow there. Sleep well. And storage tubs in rear footwells instead of Inflatable supports
I’m 6’1”, 250, NOT flexible; definitely come in through the back, passenger door. Go in head first, face downward; crawl as if you were going into front seat; once you get far enough in, you can extend your feet into the back.
What a kind and respectful presentation! Thanks! Have subscribed 😊.
Great usage about the tripod! I forgot how difficult it is to start the prius from the back.
Thank! I want try this to go visit my daughter. The builds and equipment I've seen were too much $ and effort to do. Thank you for keeping it basic and real world.💖
I just bought a 2011 Prius with 26,000 miles on it and I’m going to drive it to see my daughter too! Washington to Dallas Texas. It seems like people leave the car running sometimes when sleeping in it.
For me folding down the rear seat leaves a very uneven rise in the floor, way to uneven for me. What l decided to do was remove the bottom of the rear seat (no tools), it just pops out. You can use the area where the seat was for a little extra storage, which also allows you to raise the back of the seat higher to make it more flush with the rest of the rear floor. While not perfect, it will give you a lot flatter sleeping surface, plus the bottom seat section pops back in as easy as it came out.
The Prius generation varies by how flat the floor is when the rear seats are folded. Mine is generation 3 (2010), and the floor is totally flat. I think later generations the floor was not entirely flat.
Wow, thx man! Fantastic info. Basic, 110% helpful, so needed. SooN I will embark on a camping/touring trip of south Florida for 1st time. Watching hours of UTUbe and this is best yet.THX! PS - I’m over 70 and going solo in my Prius.
Before I even watched this video I’m traveled the entire country without making a single adjustment to my Prius and the only thing I was lacking was a bathroom
I’ve been wanting to do something like this. Do you have any tips? Especially for a solo female traveler?
Brit, what were your 3 favorite States?
You have some excellent ideas and very practical ones when you mentioned the tripod stick , it can also be the walking sticks that extend and a monopod, it will be what I will use. Bravo good thoughts. Thank you, and cheers. 👍👍
Thank you!
Great info! If u invest in anything, make a comfortable bed! Thick blankets are good for a day or 2 to see how it goes camping. Prius is too uneven in the back for a bed surface.
Rear seats of Prius folds flat, this is another thing, why you don’t need to build up. Very convenient.
Be sure to not cover the battery cooling air intake. It's located near the door jamb on the rear passenger side door. If it gets covered by a blanket or something while driving, the battery will overheat.... dog hair will also clog it and even collect in the fan... you might spend an hour cleaning it.
Your dog stole the show! Precious!!
Nice video. That was always my idea also. Just get things as you need them and make due with what you have. I have an 07 Prius and sleep in it driving from OK to FL. Seeing your dog looking at you while making the video is cute. I had a ferret as my traveling companion on a few trips. Fun adventures. I'll try out that app you mentioned. Thanks.
Your video is incredible showing 2 or 3bways to do things 🎉. Thank you
Amazing video just purchase my Prius and it’s giving me ideas to travel !
Thanks for sharing! Great tips! I like your acrobatics from the front to rear seats and back. Especially if I'm at a truck stop. I'm about your size a bit older, but also a former gymnast so it's doable. I like the tripod trick for the brake peddle. The dog blanket sling is great, I will try similar since I sew too, but will lean to buying one if the dog version is all I want it to do. I like it better than building a platform out of wood. The headlight on the headrest is smart too, I must have three laying around too! Happy Prius travels!
Dog blanket sling???? What did I miss??
Thanks I have a Prius c and need to take a better look at it.
Hi there! You look like a young Val Kilmer😊
Thanks for the excellent tips and demonstrating them!
Most of the Prius camping people on RUclips have dogs with them!🐾🐕
I'm going to have my cat! 😻
@@kathymcgraw4495 meyow!
well done..
I got my first knock on Friday, parked alone, never park alone, always park where there’s more cars
Where were you?
@@fulltimetravelmadeeasy8326 Laguna Beach, that’s probably why
Nice job! Like the headlamp idea
... but the real question is: How do you put on your flannel pjs in a Walmart parking lot without anyone noticing?
Really nice! 👍 I'm camping part time in my 06 Gen2 @priuswild
I clicked on here ,thinking it was Niki Delventhal who travels in a prius with her dog...didn't know there was someone else doing it
there's another guy in a Prius with a dog checkout Mountain Springs Adventures on here.
Amazing, thanks.
Memory foam works good as well
very useful; tips. thanks for posting.
Thanks I wanna get one those sleeping mats for the prius I plan on driving next week
Great tips! Well done!
Thank you!
Good ideas. Stay safe.
Wow...
Great video ,great presentation.....
Front to back i weigh 220 and im 75 i dont think ill try that reason i might get stuck and have to call for help
Thanks!
Great information👍🏻
Hi Richard! Thank you for sharing your awesome videos! What model/year is your Prius? I’m trying to determine which one is the best for camping. Thank you!
Hey! Its a 2015 😁
Great Video!! Thank you!! 🌞 🌴
Thanks for checking it out :)
How do you get air in there when I used to sleep in my Honda element and get really too humid or too stuffy but if I open the windows I'd be attacked by bugs specially mosquitoes
You can try using net covers specifically designed for car windows. They allow you yo roll down the windows without letting bugs in. They are available on Amazon 👌
I would not take seats out , especially getting a new Prius😵💫
nice set up bro!
Thank you 👌
Great vid thanks
Thank you 👌👌
@@fulltimetravelmadeeasy8326 got a social media or anything my man. I don't do it full time but just finished up the Utah Mighty 5 + AZ national parks recently in my 2013 Prius V. We have a few IG accounts who travel in their Prius
@@wtfbocanegra Yes my Instagram is coachrichardqfit.
i thought the reason to use a Prius was temperature control? why sleep in the cold?
Thx for the tips
for some reason the sound was way lower on your video that normal, making it difficult to hear. Sounds like you've got some interesting info, unf, I couldn't hear it. Anyway, thanks.
When you put the back seat down, there are plastic pieces (from the seat belts sticking out). How do you deal with that? Would you recommend a wood platform or putting foam around the pieces, to level the whole back area?
Head Light on seat headrest: 👍
Do you have the link for mattress?
www.rei.com/product/169936/big-agnes-insulated-q-core-deluxe-sleeping-pad
Have you considered raising your vehicle and fitting it with all terrain tires? What’s your experience with driving on dirt/gravel/rocky roads? Did you upgrade anything on the suspension? I just got a 2015 Prius. Great videos.
Great question! You will be shocked at the places you can get to in the Prius. I use ioverlander to find locations and multiple times the description says 4x4 recommended and the Prius can get there no problem. I love putting it in power mode and heading up mountain roads. But I will say the bottom of the car probably doesn't look to pretty lol. You can't baby it so just expect a few dingers lol. I don't think I would do the lift thing. I have not been to a place where a lift kit would help me get to. I'm sure it would prevent me from bottoming out in certain places but that's mostly it.
@@fulltimetravelmadeeasy8326 thanks Richard please continue to share your adventures and especially any upgrades or mods to the Prius.
@@eddiesanchez2806 Will do! Appreciate your interest in the video. I also post stuff on my ig @coachrichardqfit. Not really tips but more of the places I go to 👌
@Eddie, I got larger tires, that fit just right in the wheel well, can't tell you exactly what the size is, but it's doable. It really helps not rip off the bumpers, which I have done over and over. It also means your speedometer is now incorrect, but you can figure out how fast you are going using gps. I am about 5 miles over what is indicated.
I avoid deeply rutted dirt roads, but somewhat rutted roads are doable, as long as you drive on the top of the ruts. My favorite drive is the Old Fall River Road in Rocky Mountain National Park. One way, winding 9 mile dirt road, narrow, with sharp switchbacks, all uphill (16% grade in places) to the Alpine Visitor Center at 11,796 ft. Right after opening for the season, it's freshly graded. But later on, the 4x4's tear it up badly. Being careful, I hit bottom three times (and had to get very minor repair underneath). My daughter, who was with me said, "Dad, that was like the Indiana Jones ride in Disneyland!"
great!
I wish you had mentioned which Prius you have AND did the seats fold down FLAT? I'm finding that not all Prius will be flat --- I don't know which one to buy.
I just want to search for the right Prius to buy...
2015. It's not perfectly flat but I found it to be enoughto sleep comfortably. When in the mountains I usually try to pitch the front of the Prius slightly down which would make it more flat in the back.
Thank you! @@fulltimetravelmadeeasy8326
What is it like living like this with a dog? What are the pros? Is it inconvenient anyway? Where does the dog sleep? Does it ever throw off your stealth mode? How do you reduce hair everywhere? What are other cons?
Unfortunately all hybrid Toyotas coming from 2020 doesn't come with this feature no more. I mean, after 30 minutes with the engine on, if the car is not moving, the system automatically turn off the engine. I was researching and they made this change to prevent accidents of carbon monoxide in confined spaces, which means, you can not buy a brand new Toyota Rav4 hybrid (for example) and sleep with your AC or heat all night on.
Thanks for sharing this info 👌
I have a 2021 Prius. When the car is running if you lock the doors from the inside the car will stay running (ready mode) all night. If you don't lock the doors it will shut off after 1 hour.
@@maggie0285 you right! I just tested here and this works good! Thank you so much
@@maggie0285 i am interested in getting a 2021 prius. How did you come to select buying a 2021? I am wondering what kind of price it cost
About Time to the auto motor wasn't designed for 'running' all night parked, toyota never touted that concept, only fools on RUclips started telling everyone to do this, basically running the engine all night(stop/starting) while parked up will eventually destroy the motor, and or the battery, cars even hybrid ones are solely designed for moving along the roads, not parked up with the AC running, all night also NOT for Sleeping in !...
Carbon monoxide unfortunately kills people O an their dogs, If you haven't got a home get yourself a RV and live in a trailer park!...
Prius is the best cuz it is one of the most reliable cars and also has climate control so you dont need to invest in a 50k worth of batteries to get 24/7 AC or even drill holes in the ceiling to install fans. For solo travelers I think the space inside is more than enough.
Has anyone here ever noticed a whining noise coming from the engine compartment after a couple of hours of sleeping in the car? The last two times I slept in mine, it made a low volume whining noise. If so, what did you do to stop it?
You're good
Dude, u have a dog in a tiny prius. Btw prius is great for camping or living in.
I got a prius but I'm 6'2. How would you recommend getting the gap a bit bigger?
I’m 6-2 also. How is it going? Did you try it out yet? I just got a Prius.
I have a 2012 prius and live in the UK 🇬🇧 end of July im taking myself on a road trip so this is proper handy, can't wait. What do you do for window covers or don't you?
Nice! I just have a sun reflector for my front windshield so you can't see in from the front. The side windows are tinted and that has worked for me. Have yet to get a knock on the window 🤞
@Jaguar Freedom bro you will be ok, you just need to put something in between the front seat when pushed forward and the back as you get a big gap there, even though I've used a blow up bed and kinda got away with supporting the gap. Oh and I'm 6"4 so ur be fine.
Are you still traveling in your Prius? How do you blackout the windows? Thanks for the video!
Not at the moment but hoping I will be able to next year. I just had my windows tinted and that has been perfect for me. I don't use anything else and I have never had an issue with people looking in or anything like that.
Why don't you leave the heater on the whole time?
I don't mind it being cold as long as it's above 30°. Below that then I keep it on most nights.
Are you able to run the AC with your battery while u are sleeping ???
Lol, way to much effort to sleep, I'm flexible to do it, but why. Just recline the front seat almost flat and put a black wool cap over the eyes. All controls easy to reach and can drive away if have to in 2 seconds. Spent the last month like that traveling, slept like I was at home.
I'm a stomach sleeper 👌
Im 6'5" and 240. Will this work for me?
It's called a Big Agnes sleeping pad?
The full name is "Big Agnes Insulated Q-Core Deluxe Sleeping Pad" 👌
Hey Richard,
What year is your Prius? How is it holding up?
Hey! 2015. Bought at 70k miles and now at 90k. No issues as of today. I have taken this car down some pretty rough roads and it holds up great. On my first video a lot of people said the dog hair is really bad for the hybrid battery so that might become an issue early than normal but I guess we will see.
I have 2010. Bot used with 60K mi. Now 130K. Probably will need first repair. Something start knocking underneath. Changed ones brake pads. Nothing more, except regular service. This is my first car with so many miles and no repairs
Has anyone tried sleeping in front seat? I have 2007 Prius and it’s not bad.
Never tried that.
how tall you are? great job
Thank you! 5'9"
I NEED to know the name of that patagonia jacket please! Thanks!
It's the houdini windbreaker 👌
@@fulltimetravelmadeeasy8326 THANKS!! and love the vid!!
NIce vid. Have you tried in the summer where it can be 80 or more? Have you tried using climate control in those high temps?
Yes I did have this setup in the tail end of last summer. I try not to use the climate control but I did use it a handful of times when it got to hot to sleep comfortably. Same thing for winter when it gets to cold. Never had any issues with it 👌
I go had a 07 took passenger seat out slept in it 95° southern heat 90% humidity. I want seat gone so I can reach the radio, climate control function, and to get closer to the ac vents.
@@GEAUXFRUGAL Did you got airbag light on, after removing seat?
@@agpawpaw5912 Sure did just means the passenger side bag can't deploy. If you sleep head by the bag you don't want it to work. Something runs into it and deploy your head would be torn clean off.
I sleep in my 2021 Venza without making any permanent modifications
how tall are you? I'm 6'0" and a little concerned if id be comfortable.
I'm 5'9". Yea its going to be a tight squeeze but I do remember coming across a video of a guy around 6' who pulled it off.
Yes I want to stealth camp
"Just do it" - Shia Labeouf :)
Are you still traveling?
Planning on taking a 2 week trip from NY down to Colorado with my bull mastiff in my Prius V and I was worried about the dog hair. Has the dog hair been an issue for you at all?
Great video!
Awesome route! Honestly I'm sort of a clean freak so it does drive me crazy but I have had my Dog for over 10 years now so I have learned to deal with it . I do my best to keep her on her blankets which actually helps a lot with keeping her hair from going everywhere and I always have a lint roller that I use daily on a few spots in the car. When I do laundry usually once a week I wash her blankets. People have warned me about her hair not being good for the hybrid battery and suggested placing a screen on the vent to catch the hair.
Have a designated area for your dog and try to keep him/her in that area as much as possible otherwise you will end up with dog hair everywhere.
What year is your Prius?
2015
Val has to be related to you.
Damn 5''9 145. You a little spinner huh?
You did not talk about the dog's comfort or safety. You need to watch Milk Delventhol. She puts her dogs comfort first.
Nikki knows what she is doing, but it appears Richard does also. What makes you think Richard is doing anything wrong regarding his dog?
Personally I'd never live in my Prius (or even a Class A) with a pet. Too many worries, too many logistical restrictions on what I can do, harder to keep clean, they and their supplies take too much already-precious space, etc. The only person with a method that doesn't restrict her, is Vagabond Mango, who keeps her Prius in Ready mode for weeks at a time, so her pit bull is always comfortable, and she can be away from the car with no worries. But I'd never do that, too much risk of car theft. Once you have a pet in your car, and need to do things without bringing the pet, there are no perfect solutions.
No upcoming updates
Unfortunately no road trips at the moment. Just working and saving. Hoping to get out there next year 🙏
Why don’t you just use climate control and keep on the heat?
I was using it in temperatures below the 30s. But above that I like to turn the car off to give it a break I guess.
Your audio is crappy. It's not audible at all. You need not be office like quiet
Why the dog. All they do is bring filth into the car. Take up room for your comfort. Stink. Sorry my personal opinion 😩😩👎👎😱😱🤭🤭😩😩
I do agree with this in a way but I adopted her over 10 years ago. She's more than just a dog to me at this point. There is no way I would give her up or pawn her off on someone else. So I do my best to work with what I have and try to keep things as clean as I can.
Manny Ortiz that was not a nice thing to say about the mans best friend, a Dog 🐶 think you should keep ur opinions to urself ...only give opinion if asked for . You should have learned that a long time ago ..
Manny, if you have a pet it would be incredibly irresponsible to get rid of it because it's inconvenient. Unless it will be much better for them. It's a lifetime commitment, as Richard knows,