Its refreshing to see something like this! All over youtube people are weighing down their cars and spending THOUSANDS on things they don't need to enjoy the outdoors. Love this set up!
Thank you and some rigs do get pretty out of hand. This setup has allowed me to enjoy the activities I love and have yet to have an experience where I am missing something that gets in the way of that enjoyment. I believe this is where less is more and luckily I can spend some of those thousands of savings on gear that gets me outside more or makes it more enjoyable :)
Dude I seriously commend you on this video. As an avid car camper I really appreciate your honesty and explaining your individual needs. As more and more people are doing this, their videos have become basically what seems to be an overwhelmingly long AD/COMMERCIAL for tech gear!! One person spends the entire video setting up all his tech gear, using it and not doing anything else the entire video. Basically drove how many hours to a campsite just to show off tech gear the entire time. So again, as an avid car camper, I appreciate your simplicity and your mentality and importance of just getting out there! For this reason I absolutely will subscribe!
Thanks so much for the appreciation and know exactly what you mean. I guess I'm camping cause I love it and trying to film it vs. going out with the intent of just making some video on the gadgets. The issue with this is I often forgot to film things as I'm enjoying the experience but feel that's the best balance for me. I'll keep this in heart when making future camping videos and try to show off the place and actives that bring me camping vs. just sitting at camp with tech that parallels the comforts of home
This is the kind of minimal setup I'm going for with my car. In fact, I keep the most essential items in my car at all times, since it has the room for it, so I can even just haul ass out into the woods after work if I ever get the wild hair to spend the night outside to find some much-needed calm and peace. If outings take so much work that we feel like we need a vacation afterward, then we're just not doing it right. You're doing it right. :)
That's a great way to do it and when going solo can easily have my stuff in roofbox ready to spend a night whenever and often have that ready during the summer months
I can see where sleeping in the car would be more comfortable than sleeping in a tent when in Wyoming, grizzly bear county. I slept in a tent outside my car for years around black bears, but I don't think I would be sleeping too well with the thought of grizzlies roaming around. I agree you don't need an elaborate build to sleep in the back of a Subaru.
I spent a fair amount of time in the Yellowstone backcountry and have had plenty of grizzly encounters while tent camping yet have found lately that being in a car just allows me to be less on edge while sleeping as I'm not listening for that bear sneaking up on camp and thinking about when that sudden downpour is going to hit when I left my fly off for the night. Thanks for watching
@@jakekaiser1399 I am in south Japan, so all we have is boar, monkeys and snakes.I want to go up North though; so just wondering about whether the bears would try to get in the car if they smell the food. If so, can they break the glass? especially with a parshly opened window?
@@japanunfound This all depends on what type of bear you are dealing with and the specific location. Specific areas will have information on best practices for bears and in any heavy bear activity area I'll have all my food and scented objects in bear lockers if possible. In the end I much rather be in a car vs. a tent if dealing with bears but always use best practices for avoiding bear encounters.
@@flyguy2021 I've spent a lot of time in grizzly country and rather be a sardine in a tin vs. a sardine in a plastic bag (aka tent) to give me time to react if one tried to get in. Always take proper bear precaution and when I am in bear country don't even have a pack of gum or anything scented in my car.
I have a very similar set up with my 2022 OBW, down to the Kelty Waypoint tarp, Exped Duo, etc, and I wholeheartedly agree with you. ONE THING TO BE CAUTIONS ABOUT - the straps on the tarp can rub against your car during very windy conditions, and if you have any dirt on your car, it’ll act like sandpaper and cause some wear on your paint and plastic. This happened on my last camping trip so be careful. My body shop says they can repair most of the damage for about $300, but it’s a pain (or a badge of honor, depending how you look at it) nonetheless.😊
Thank you Jake! Today is the first time I’ve ever considered camping in my Outback Wilderness, due to exploring a lovely campsite in my favorite hiking area of West Virginia. Thank you for this no-nonsense setup ❤
I LOVE the exped megamat! I got it for my subaru outback. I was debating between that and the lono and I'm so glad I went with this. Totally agree, sleep is the most important part of my set up too
Such a great set up! Simple and all you really need! We have a 21 ft campervan (shower, fridge, furnace AC etc) and it’s great, but love the simplicity of car camping! Do that on occasion in my truck, but I much prefer the set up in your Subie. Funny, I was impressed the most by the mesh window covers, though how about if it rains? Tarp looks like a nice add on! Great video!
Thanks and simple camping is hard to beat but sometimes I would love to have that campervan haha The mesh window coverings will allow some water when raining into the vehicle (for sure less than if just wide open) but I have been thinking about buying rain guards to resolve this. The tarp is a good add on but will say after using it more the quality of this one is just ok and the fit with a roofbox is a bit awkward for real weather.... Still gets the job done but I'm sure there are better solutions out there.
Great video. I like how you focus on essential setup rather than just buying all the items that may or may not be needed like other RUclipsrs . I have an Outback wilderness as well. Will definitely pick some of your ideas
Thank you! Some people spend so much time and money on their setup but i prefer to keep it simple and spend that time and money on trips and enjoying the outdoors
That's almost the same as mine. I use the other brand for my roof box, and I never thought about turning the headrests around--thanks for that tip--but I have the same window screens and tarp and mat. I cut out Reflectex inserts for each of the windows because I sleep in rest areas and in hot areas a lot. And I have a magnetic screen door for the back hatch for more air flow when it's less hot.
I like the idea of a screen over the back hatch. I usually am in the mountains where it cools down luckily but will keep this in mind next trip somewhere hot
So glad to have come across this video. I have wanted to go out there with my 8 yo son this summer but have been unable to justify all the extra expenses and I don;t really like sleeping in atent outdoors. Strange as it sounds, now I realize i don't really need all that extra stuff - I have the rooftop Thule box already and the Outback :). Great video!
My 2007 Outback has a rear trunk lip that is about 6" high so things cannot slide in or out smoothly but no big deal. Also I do not have a Thule rooftop box so I will wind up with even less equipmen. I do, however, have a 32 qt refrig/cooler and a Coleman 2 burner campstove plus a Bluetti powerbank so it' s going to be tight . My plan is to dedicate one side of the car bed for sleeping and the opposite side for the other items mentioned. If I'm lucky I might be able tofit a very lightweight aluminium folding chair and folding table like yours.
With dedicating one side for sleeping and having cooler and other stuff on other side I'm sure you'll have plenty of room. There is a lot of space in there if needed best of luck
Glad it helped. If curious about the OBW I just did a video on my experience after 3 years with pros and cons if useful: ruclips.net/video/y4g6zc8uSFg/видео.htmlsi=vfI4FLROHbP5MozS
Pretty cool 😎 My SOW has so much stuff in the back that I can't sleep in it! 😀 It's a carry over (literally) from the days when I went on 12,000+ mile road trips in a Hyundai Sonata and took almost anything I could possibly need. I slept in a tent or hotel rooms
haha I've had a long journey of minimizing what I bring but if I was going 12,000 miles vs. 120 am sure I would need a ton more. I like to pack according to trip but can't wait to take an extended month plus long trip in this car and figure out how that changes my setup Thanks for watching
I've never had issues with battery drain from my hatch being open but also don't tend to sit there for many hours on end with it open. The times I do have the hatch open for an extended period of time (more than 90min or so) do engage the hatch latch to make the car think it is closed (basically carabiner trick without a carabiner) but have not seen my battery low enough to notice upon engine start after many many trips. In terms of fob I have never bothered with any faraday cage like thing and again have never had battery drain issues. On more remote trips I do take a battery jumper but have yet to use it after many many camping trips. Overall if keep interior lights off it seems like the battery drain from anything fob related is tiny and never been an issue for me. I hope this helps and happy camping!
*Hey! I have a 21 Outback XT. Im going to do my setup video too. Its a lot like yours very basic except I do have a small AC/DC LiPo Power Box to run lights fans etc. Colorado looks SO beautiful. I'm down here in N.C.*
Yeah super simple but effective and I've thought of adding a power source but have yet to need many electronic and have a number of smaller power banks that meet my current needs. Colorado is great and I hope you can bring your rig out here sometime
I'm definitely going to be copying your setup. I just got my outback onyx and I"m car camping next to my parent's camper-van and this would be the perfect setup for me! Right now I'm just suing a twin air mattress and going to stuff the remaining room with a fluffy pillow, but will definitely be upgrading for my next trip and getting the cargo carrier to go on top! Ease of use is more important to me and to not feel Claustrophobic. I'm going to take your advice and turn the headrests around for support, good idea!
In general I've learned over the years that the Exped Mat described in the video is superior to an air mattress. Over the decades I've lost count of all the sleepless nights with leaking air mattresses
Great video. Thank you. How do you keep the car alarm from going off when you exit the car after locking it from the inside? I was not popular camper when this happened at a campground at 3 AM.😬
Thank you and I have always had my keys readily available and unlocked the car with my keys before exiting in the middle of the night to prevent this. I'm not sure if there is a better way but this has been my solution.
Great video. Have you had any issues with battery drain while keeping you rear hatch open with the awning? I’ve heard that Outbacks experience battery drain if the rear hatch is left open for tents or awnings and that some people place a carabiner in the lock mechanism to trick the car into thinking the hatch is closed.
Thats the trick. a 2" carabiner in the real latch. You can also put your keyfob into sleep mode by holding the lock button and pressing the unlock button twice. You will see the little red light on the fob blink a few times. To wake it up just hit any button.
Well done! I live in Cheyenne and and camped at that very spot, with an 2001 and later 2012 Outback. Can you advise the overall height of your setup, with the Thule storage carrier, as seen in video? I need to measure my garage, due to other items being stored over head, in order to determine ability to still be able to park in my garage. Thanks in advance.
I feel you but was having just as awesome camping trips in my old 1990 Toyota truck. The rig means little when going for the exploring, nature, and [insert your outdoor hobbies of choice here ].
Great look at a minimal approach. Thanks for sharing, Jake! Question on keeping the rear gate open for extended periods. Does this turn on the cabin lights and keep them on for as long as you have it open? If so is there a way to turn them off or is this a non-issue for you. Thank you!
Thank you and I have my main rear cabin lights set to always be off to minimize any lights being on. I've never had a problem with this but have thought of buying a battery jumper to have in case I ever have an issue. The final thing I will note if that if you have approach lights those will stay on for a while when gate it open but eventually turn off but being tiny LED's doubt the power draw in much and again have never had any issues with battery being drained. I hope this helps
Some use a carabiner to fool the rear hatch to think it’s closed. Search this on you tube. We camp almost exactly like you do, but in a 2023 Outback Onyx 2.5. With an Inno roof box and the built in roof rails, our clearance is much lower.
Thanks for sharing Jake! I’d agree that keeping it minimal is key. I assume you kept the Yokohama tires - if so, do they handle the forest service roads pretty good? I bought the exped mega mat 10 for one person, and it’s amazing. I wonder though if someone makes a durable slip cover for it so let’s can’t puncture it ( I travel with my cat) But it is truly a great mattress. Love that Kellty awning too..great job. Brian
I have kept the Yokohama's and they have done great on many rougher roads of all types. I have not seen a cover for the mega mat yet we actually have talked about brining our cat along on a trip (not sure how she would do) so have thought about this and figure if we do bring her we would just put a blanket over the sheet to protect the mat for a cat adventure trial run. Thanks for watching!
Last question- when you put the back seats down and place the exped mat down, do you place anything down beneath the mat where the little hump transitions from the cargo area to the back of rear seat. Make sense? Thanks
@@briantodd4887 The first few times I did place a folded up blanket to "fill" the space in the cargo area but have since skipped that step as it folds so flat I have not noticed a difference . Blanket is a good back up tho
Hey, I'm 5'9 but have a decent amount of room still. I would think it would be fine if you move front seats forward a bit but no first hand experience on being 6'2
Below is how I deal with these things but these are up to the people and where camping mostly I don't shower. If a long trip jump in a river/lake when possible. If a really long trip can always shower in town somewhere. Pooping depends on where camping. If dispersed camping (and allowed in region) I will dig a hole. If near campground I use their facilities. If in no bury waste area (like Moab) try and drive to bathrooms in morning and have wag bag ready if not possible.
MPG since getting the box? I'll also be staying all stock, my OBW is the same down to even the color LOL. Just curious about what MPG hit I should expect from a box.
So i get 25.5 mpg with nixed driving and have not seen a dip from mpg gauge when the box is on vs. off. Even tho i dont see a change on the Subaru recorded mpg tracker would expect it to lower mpg like 2-3mpg based on my research when i got the box. Enjoy the OBW
I recently purchased this same Thule box and with my 2015 Subaru Outback Premium 2.5lt engine I went from about 25.5 to 23. But keep in mind these numbers change because I'm usually overloaded and heavy on the gas pedal
Love the setup!! I’m getting a Wilderness, but my garage has low clearance. Do you know the total height of yours, including the cargo box? Trying to figure out if I can get one.
Thank you and i do not know the height but would look if Subaru has vehicle height info and you could always only put on roofbox when going on trips if needed . I often keep mine off for daily driving
Good video and I’m considering an outback wilderness that I’d keep pretty stock like yours. There are multiple sizes of mega mat duo. Which one do you have.? What is length of the back with front passenger seat all the way forward?
Thanks for watching and I have the Mega Mat Duo 10 as that is correct width for back of car. I never have to move my seats forward with this car to fit the pad in the back. The pad in 72" long so if one was to move seats forward my guess is the total length would be >85" but it may be a bit more. If I get a chance to measure it I will let you know.
The wilderness does not have built in bars. From what I recall the roof rack is designed to hold much more weight for things like rooftop tents so they have a different and beefier rains that don't have the cross bars
simple and effective that's how I roll as well very similar less is more - shout out to Russian river best brewery and IPA this side of the Mississippi
Good information! I just bought a 2024 Wilderness edition. Question- the roof rack- do you store things in the roof rack while you are traveling (70 mph on the interstate) or do you only transfer things to there from inside the vehicle once you are set up at camp?
Congratulations on the new car and I have it full while driving to keep the inside of the car less cluttered. These boxes and the cross bars that hold them are designed for the boxes to be full when traveling.
I live in an area where non stop rain is not really an issue. During heavy rains with the windows down I get some drops into the sleeping area. If this was a more common issue for me I would buy side window deflectors so that I could have windows open without any rain getting in. Below are the Subaru one but know there are cheaper alternatives on Amazon and other places: amzn.to/4eHD0QZ Hope this helps and happy camping !
Nice sharing! Do you feel any discomfort with the pad? I saw you have some liners in the cargo will these make you feel some obstacles when you sleeping upon them?
@@jakekaiser1399 I've slept with my Exped mat in my Outback, but with my head at the tailgate end not the front end. Isn't there a bump at the back seat section. Also I find it easier to block out the early AM sunrise light covering the back end of the Outback
@@kippywylie My car allows seats to lay almost fully flat and if anything the slight bump elevates the section towards the front of the car slightly. We usually sleep this way because: we rather have head above feet from slight angle from folded seats, I find it much easier to get out in the middle of the night, and I like having a book, water , extra clothes, etc. assessable and find that with this direction can have this right in the front seat and easy to grab. If that direction works for you awesome but this is why I almost always sleep with my head towards the front of car personally. Also for days I am not getting up before or close to sun rise an eye mask does wonders and makes it so I don't have to worry about blocking the sun in anyway. In the end I hope everyone does what works best for them but hope this helps share my reasons for why I wound up doing things this way
@@jakekaiser1399 This might be because I'm a side-sleeper and with two old sore shoulders any bump around that area will wake me up with pain. If I were a back sleeper I can see the forward position has advantages. I purchased the window shade screens from your link and I will be testing everything next week on the Oregon Coast
@@kippywylie Makes sense and got to do what works best for you. Have a great trip and those screens allowing airflow at night without mosquitos buzzing around my ears has been great for sleep.
This is the Exped Megamat Duo 10 (link in desciprtion) There is no slant in the Outback as rear seats lay close to totally flat. If there is a couple of degree slant it would be with head being higher and I do not notice it
Hi there! I know I’m late to this video but hoping you’ll still see new comments posted here. Do you know if your exped is the medium or the long/wide size?
The newer Subaru's are supposed to not have any battery drain issues with gate open for extended periods of time, however, if you want to be extra cautious you can use the Subaru hatch carabiner trick (google it or put in YT search) to trick the car into thinking the hatch is closed. I have never bothered with the carabiner trick and not run into battery drain issues but I tend to not hang out around camp for more than an evening without driving. I do have a carabiner with me that fits the latch in case. I hope this helps
I've never had an issue with this and have heard rumors the battery drain from hatch issue was fixed on 2022 models. I have left the hatch open at night without issue but have not tested this beyond this length of time. If you are concerned look up "subaru carabineer trick" which puts something into the latch mechanism to trick the car into thinking the hatch is closed
Depending on the year of your Outback, Subaru switched over to a lower voltage LED bulb in all their interior lights. In my 2015 I purchased an inexpensive kit from Amazon and now there is minimal battery drain
I have them linked in description but a cheaper amazon ones called "FLYCLE Roof Rack Cross Bars". I had to cut the rubber that they came with a bit to better fit the wildernesses thicker rails but they have worked great since then. They are not the most beefy so tend to keep lighter things in my roofbox to reduce the load on them but for the like $90 I paid have have had no issues and find them pretty minimal looking for when my roofbox is not in use. Hope this helps
The great thing about your setup is that you can easily park your Subaru next to a big tree if you need to go tinkle at night. Those trendy cassette toilets are over rated…
How tall are you? I am 6ft 2in and wonder if I could be comfortable on overnights or long weekends. I don't plan on anything longer than that. How long have you camped out?
I'm 5' 9" so am not 100% sure how that extra height would effect things. I still have a good amount of room and if you can get a bit diagonal would expect you could fit fine. With this car I think the longest trips I've taken is 4 nights but have done many longer trips in the past in poorer equipped vehicles. Due to life I don't find as many chances for those longer trips these days. I hope this helps and best of luck finding a good setup for you
Thanks for watching and the sub. I use a 1up rack to carry my bike as I love the simplicity of it. I do have to remove my bike to access the hatch yet the 1up retention system on the tires makes that very quick and easy.
I have a similar setup with my Crosstrek, but I had to level the floor with a small 2 by 4 wood built flat pad I made in the trunk as there is a gap which the outback doesn’t have, it’s flatter…. Definitely not worth building a platform in an outbreak or Jeep, why bother.
When I got this car I was looking at the Crosstrek and would have done the same but when I decided on the Outback knew that was one less thing to worry about
I was very nervous putting my brand new beach cruiser on this rack. ruclips.net/user/postUgkxG6JIgwJhur8_Rg8UeQ3EmePzi_wSncL8 But after reading many reviews I decided to get this one and take a chance. When arrived it was very simple to adjust and put together. I also added spike tape over the metal hooks before securing and tightening the straps, and no scratches. I also purchased the top bar made by the same company so that my cruiser sits straight on the rack without having to turn upside down. Extra bungee cords are used to secure the front wheel from flapping and even piece of mind knowing your bike is secure. Definitely recommend...
I used to be a camping fanatic until an animal that is supposed to not exist strolled into our camp at around 9pm. My wife and me were like bug eyed. She didn't scream, but her voice was calm but forceful, when I turned and saw it. I was in shock. Utter bewilderment. Like a dream almost. I slowly pulled out my Glock 20, it watched me like a hawk. There was intelligence in those red eyes. It bent forward and let out a scream so loud it deafened both of us, it was extremely painful as well. It turned and was off like faster than you would ever believe possible. But it didn't go far. All night long it could be heard walking around our campsite. After that night we changed. We no longer camp; we sleep in hotels. A car or R.V. wouldn't stop these animals. It changed us, and not for the better. I knew and I knew in my heart and soul, had I have shot it. It would have torn us to pieces. My wife said she knew too. She never even thought about shooting it. Bigfoot does not look like T.V. and computers show them. The one we encountered looks like a Gorilla but taller and leaner. 8foot if an inch and 6to 7 hundred pounds, all knotted muscle, jet black hair and red glowing eyes. It's eyes really had a glowing effect. They have #3 things about them I will not mention. But distinct enough you couldn't miss them ever. Like describing an elephant or Giraffe. When people say they too have them I just ask for a description. They always describe the Harry and the Henderson type. And I know right off they are lying through their teeth. I carry a 44 mag exclusively now. Since that night. Before I saw it . I had #3 guns , now I have #31. Everyone I've met throughout the years that has really seen or encountered one for real, is exactly like us. They couldn't be held at gunpoint to camp out again. Not in a car ,R.V., nothing. Ruined our lives . Enjoy it as long as you can, brother. Peace.
![Car CAMPING in RAIN [ Cosy SOLO trip to the Rainy Mountains, AMSR ]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/qrBGk07iSLY/mqdefault.jpg)
Its refreshing to see something like this! All over youtube people are weighing down their cars and spending THOUSANDS on things they don't need to enjoy the outdoors. Love this set up!
Thank you and some rigs do get pretty out of hand. This setup has allowed me to enjoy the activities I love and have yet to have an experience where I am missing something that gets in the way of that enjoyment. I believe this is where less is more and luckily I can spend some of those thousands of savings on gear that gets me outside more or makes it more enjoyable :)
Minimalism at its finest and it’s absolutely applauded and respected!
Dude I seriously commend you on this video. As an avid car camper I really appreciate your honesty and explaining your individual needs. As more and more people are doing this, their videos have become basically what seems to be an overwhelmingly long AD/COMMERCIAL for tech gear!! One person spends the entire video setting up all his tech gear, using it and not doing anything else the entire video. Basically drove how many hours to a campsite just to show off tech gear the entire time. So again, as an avid car camper, I appreciate your simplicity and your mentality and importance of just getting out there! For this reason I absolutely will subscribe!
Thanks so much for the appreciation and know exactly what you mean. I guess I'm camping cause I love it and trying to film it vs. going out with the intent of just making some video on the gadgets. The issue with this is I often forgot to film things as I'm enjoying the experience but feel that's the best balance for me.
I'll keep this in heart when making future camping videos and try to show off the place and actives that bring me camping vs. just sitting at camp with tech that parallels the comforts of home
This is my favorite car camping video. You showed that you can car camp without the bulk! Will definitely be using these tips. ❤
Thanks for watching and it's continued to be great for us!
This is the kind of minimal setup I'm going for with my car. In fact, I keep the most essential items in my car at all times, since it has the room for it, so I can even just haul ass out into the woods after work if I ever get the wild hair to spend the night outside to find some much-needed calm and peace. If outings take so much work that we feel like we need a vacation afterward, then we're just not doing it right.
You're doing it right. :)
That's a great way to do it and when going solo can easily have my stuff in roofbox ready to spend a night whenever and often have that ready during the summer months
I can see where sleeping in the car would be more comfortable than sleeping in a tent when in Wyoming, grizzly bear county. I slept in a tent outside my car for years around black bears, but I don't think I would be sleeping too well with the thought of grizzlies roaming around. I agree you don't need an elaborate build to sleep in the back of a Subaru.
I spent a fair amount of time in the Yellowstone backcountry and have had plenty of grizzly encounters while tent camping yet have found lately that being in a car just allows me to be less on edge while sleeping as I'm not listening for that bear sneaking up on camp and thinking about when that sudden downpour is going to hit when I left my fly off for the night.
Thanks for watching
@@jakekaiser1399 I am in south Japan, so all we have is boar, monkeys and snakes.I want to go up North though; so just wondering about whether the bears would try to get in the car if they smell the food. If so, can they break the glass? especially with a parshly opened window?
@@japanunfound This all depends on what type of bear you are dealing with and the specific location. Specific areas will have information on best practices for bears and in any heavy bear activity area I'll have all my food and scented objects in bear lockers if possible. In the end I much rather be in a car vs. a tent if dealing with bears but always use best practices for avoiding bear encounters.
Do you ever eat sardines from a tin? That’s what you’ll be like in the Subaru to a griz.
@@flyguy2021 I've spent a lot of time in grizzly country and rather be a sardine in a tin vs. a sardine in a plastic bag (aka tent) to give me time to react if one tried to get in.
Always take proper bear precaution and when I am in bear country don't even have a pack of gum or anything scented in my car.
I have a very similar set up with my 2022 OBW, down to the Kelty Waypoint tarp, Exped Duo, etc, and I wholeheartedly agree with you. ONE THING TO BE CAUTIONS ABOUT - the straps on the tarp can rub against your car during very windy conditions, and if you have any dirt on your car, it’ll act like sandpaper and cause some wear on your paint and plastic. This happened on my last camping trip so be careful. My body shop says they can repair most of the damage for about $300, but it’s a pain (or a badge of honor, depending how you look at it) nonetheless.😊
Dam thanks for the heads up on the tarp straps and I will for sure keep this in mind.
Exactly the type of content I was looking for about camping with an Outback, thank you!
Thanks for watching!
Thank you Jake! Today is the first time I’ve ever considered camping in my Outback Wilderness, due to exploring a lovely campsite in my favorite hiking area of West Virginia. Thank you for this no-nonsense setup ❤
Thanks for watching and I wish you the best with your camping adventures
I LOVE the exped megamat! I got it for my subaru outback. I was debating between that and the lono and I'm so glad I went with this. Totally agree, sleep is the most important part of my set up too
Totally agree and just getting back from yet another comfy trip with it!
Awesome! I have an obw and haul my dog and gear in the back all the time. This looks like a lot of fun! Nice set up! 🥾🥾🐾🐾
Such a great set up! Simple and all you really need! We have a 21 ft campervan (shower, fridge, furnace AC etc) and it’s great, but love the simplicity of car camping! Do that on occasion in my truck, but I much prefer the set up in your Subie. Funny, I was impressed the most by the mesh window covers, though how about if it rains? Tarp looks like a nice add on! Great video!
Thanks and simple camping is hard to beat but sometimes I would love to have that campervan haha
The mesh window coverings will allow some water when raining into the vehicle (for sure less than if just wide open) but I have been thinking about buying rain guards to resolve this. The tarp is a good add on but will say after using it more the quality of this one is just ok and the fit with a roofbox is a bit awkward for real weather.... Still gets the job done but I'm sure there are better solutions out there.
I like this car camping setup. Great video!
Nice simple setup. I do the same thing. I keep my gear and stuff I need in storage bins. Good stuff.
Looking too get out there with my new 2024 Outback Wilderness. Got a big road trip next month setup. Utah's 5 National parks.
@@broinsocali Congrats on the new ride! Utah is one of my favorite places in the US and have a great time
@@jakekaiser1399 thank u
@@jakekaiser1399 enjoy your adventures as well
Great video. I like how you focus on essential setup rather than just buying all the items that may or may not be needed like other RUclipsrs . I have an Outback wilderness as well. Will definitely pick some of your ideas
Thank you. This setup has continued to work great and have been using it a ton this summer.
Best of luck with your next trip and happy camping!
I'll need to try your trick of reversing the headrest. In the past I've simply removed them and left them at for the weekend trips
It makes a massive difference in the support at this side of the mattress! Enjoy that next trip!
love the setup! i’ve seen a bunch of CRAZY setups that just seem unrealistic
Thank you! Some people spend so much time and money on their setup but i prefer to keep it simple and spend that time and money on trips and enjoying the outdoors
Thank you for some great advice
Thanks for watching!
That's almost the same as mine. I use the other brand for my roof box, and I never thought about turning the headrests around--thanks for that tip--but I have the same window screens and tarp and mat.
I cut out Reflectex inserts for each of the windows because I sleep in rest areas and in hot areas a lot. And I have a magnetic screen door for the back hatch for more air flow when it's less hot.
I like the idea of a screen over the back hatch. I usually am in the mountains where it cools down luckily but will keep this in mind next trip somewhere hot
Yes Jake, great video. Keep 'em coming!
Thanks for watching
I love the wilderness edition. Wish it was available in Europe
Love the headrest trick!
So glad to have come across this video. I have wanted to go out there with my 8 yo son this summer but have been unable to justify all the extra expenses and I don;t really like sleeping in atent outdoors. Strange as it sounds, now I realize i don't really need all that extra stuff - I have the rooftop Thule box already and the Outback :). Great video!
My 2007 Outback has a rear trunk lip that is about 6" high so things cannot slide in or out smoothly but no big deal. Also I do not have a Thule rooftop box so I will wind up with even less equipmen. I do, however, have a 32 qt refrig/cooler and a Coleman 2 burner campstove plus a Bluetti powerbank so it' s going to be tight . My plan is to dedicate one side of the car bed for sleeping and the opposite side for the other items mentioned. If I'm lucky I might be able tofit a very lightweight aluminium folding chair and folding table like yours.
With dedicating one side for sleeping and having cooler and other stuff on other side I'm sure you'll have plenty of room. There is a lot of space in there if needed
best of luck
Thinking of downsizing from a lifted 4runner for thr mpgs and garage parking capabilities. This helped. Thanks.
Glad it helped.
If curious about the OBW I just did a video on my experience after 3 years with pros and cons if useful:
ruclips.net/video/y4g6zc8uSFg/видео.htmlsi=vfI4FLROHbP5MozS
Pretty cool 😎
My SOW has so much stuff in the back that I can't sleep in it! 😀
It's a carry over (literally) from the days when I went on 12,000+ mile road trips in a Hyundai Sonata and took almost anything I could possibly need. I slept in a tent or hotel rooms
haha I've had a long journey of minimizing what I bring but if I was going 12,000 miles vs. 120 am sure I would need a ton more. I like to pack according to trip but can't wait to take an extended month plus long trip in this car and figure out how that changes my setup
Thanks for watching
Great simple setup! 👍👍
I love simple!
100% We'll add things if we need them but have not added or changed much since this video as it works for us. Thanks for watching
Great ideas. One question, how do you keep your battery from dying with the hatch opened and the key fob turning on the electronics?
I've never had issues with battery drain from my hatch being open but also don't tend to sit there for many hours on end with it open. The times I do have the hatch open for an extended period of time (more than 90min or so) do engage the hatch latch to make the car think it is closed (basically carabiner trick without a carabiner) but have not seen my battery low enough to notice upon engine start after many many trips.
In terms of fob I have never bothered with any faraday cage like thing and again have never had battery drain issues. On more remote trips I do take a battery jumper but have yet to use it after many many camping trips. Overall if keep interior lights off it seems like the battery drain from anything fob related is tiny and never been an issue for me.
I hope this helps and happy camping!
Look into the carabineer trick
*Hey! I have a 21 Outback XT. Im going to do my setup video too. Its a lot like yours very basic except I do have a small AC/DC LiPo Power Box to run lights fans etc. Colorado looks SO beautiful. I'm down here in N.C.*
Yeah super simple but effective and I've thought of adding a power source but have yet to need many electronic and have a number of smaller power banks that meet my current needs.
Colorado is great and I hope you can bring your rig out here sometime
Thanks - gave me hope that I can do this!
I'm definitely going to be copying your setup. I just got my outback onyx and I"m car camping next to my parent's camper-van and this would be the perfect setup for me! Right now I'm just suing a twin air mattress and going to stuff the remaining room with a fluffy pillow, but will definitely be upgrading for my next trip and getting the cargo carrier to go on top! Ease of use is more important to me and to not feel Claustrophobic. I'm going to take your advice and turn the headrests around for support, good idea!
Best of luck with the setup and I have not changed really anything since making this video as it just works! Happy camping
In general I've learned over the years that the Exped Mat described in the video is superior to an air mattress. Over the decades I've lost count of all the sleepless nights with leaking air mattresses
Love the set up. Thanks for sharing!
Great video. Thank you. How do you keep the car alarm from going off when you exit the car after locking it from the inside? I was not popular camper when this happened at a campground at 3 AM.😬
Thank you and I have always had my keys readily available and unlocked the car with my keys before exiting in the middle of the night to prevent this. I'm not sure if there is a better way but this has been my solution.
This is awesome!
Thanks for watching
Great video. Have you had any issues with battery drain while keeping you rear hatch open with the awning? I’ve heard that Outbacks experience battery drain if the rear hatch is left open for tents or awnings and that some people place a carabiner in the lock mechanism to trick the car into thinking the hatch is closed.
Thats the trick. a 2" carabiner in the real latch. You can also put your keyfob into sleep mode by holding the lock button and pressing the unlock button twice. You will see the little red light on the fob blink a few times. To wake it up just hit any button.
Thank you for this! Last time I had my hatch open, the battery drained. I was searching for tips on the comments 😊
Well done! I live in Cheyenne and and camped at that very spot, with an 2001 and later 2012 Outback. Can you advise the overall height of your setup, with the Thule storage carrier, as seen in video? I need to measure my garage, due to other items being stored over head, in order to determine ability to still be able to park in my garage. Thanks in advance.
Any update on your Kelty shade/tent addition? - love your videos - Thanks for your content
Honestly we have lucked out with the weather the last couple of trips so I have not used it enough to have any strong opinions.
Nice video.
Man I wish I had money to do this
I feel you but was having just as awesome camping trips in my old 1990 Toyota truck. The rig means little when going for the exploring, nature, and [insert your outdoor hobbies of choice here ].
@@jakekaiser1399 no like I can’t afford to go lol I’d literally go to a camp site if I could
Tip from a seasoned traveler and hiker: Travel light. Take ONLY the most basic items. Clutter can weigh you down and spoil your journey.
Great look at a minimal approach. Thanks for sharing, Jake! Question on keeping the rear gate open for extended periods. Does this turn on the cabin lights and keep them on for as long as you have it open? If so is there a way to turn them off or is this a non-issue for you. Thank you!
Thank you and I have my main rear cabin lights set to always be off to minimize any lights being on. I've never had a problem with this but have thought of buying a battery jumper to have in case I ever have an issue.
The final thing I will note if that if you have approach lights those will stay on for a while when gate it open but eventually turn off but being tiny LED's doubt the power draw in much and again have never had any issues with battery being drained.
I hope this helps
Some use a carabiner to fool the rear hatch to think it’s closed. Search this on you tube. We camp almost exactly like you do, but in a 2023 Outback Onyx 2.5. With an Inno roof box and the built in roof rails, our clearance is much lower.
Thanks for sharing Jake! I’d agree that keeping it minimal is key. I assume you kept the Yokohama tires - if so, do they handle the forest service roads pretty good? I bought the exped mega mat 10 for one person, and it’s amazing. I wonder though if someone makes a durable slip cover for it so let’s can’t puncture it ( I travel with my cat) But it is truly a great mattress. Love that Kellty awning too..great job. Brian
I have kept the Yokohama's and they have done great on many rougher roads of all types.
I have not seen a cover for the mega mat yet we actually have talked about brining our cat along on a trip (not sure how she would do) so have thought about this and figure if we do bring her we would just put a blanket over the sheet to protect the mat for a cat adventure trial run.
Thanks for watching!
Last question- when you put the back seats down and place the exped mat down, do you place anything down beneath the mat where the little hump transitions from the cargo area to the back of rear seat. Make sense? Thanks
@@briantodd4887 The first few times I did place a folded up blanket to "fill" the space in the cargo area but have since skipped that step as it folds so flat I have not noticed a difference . Blanket is a good back up tho
mind if i ask how tall you are? I'm 6'2 is it possible for me to sleep comfortably in that car?
Hey, I'm 5'9 but have a decent amount of room still. I would think it would be fine if you move front seats forward a bit but no first hand experience on being 6'2
@@jakekaiser1399 I appreciate that answer, thank you! Sometimes it ain't good to be tall
❤❤❤from South Korea
What about showering and pooping
Below is how I deal with these things but these are up to the people and where camping mostly
I don't shower. If a long trip jump in a river/lake when possible. If a really long trip can always shower in town somewhere.
Pooping depends on where camping. If dispersed camping (and allowed in region) I will dig a hole. If near campground I use their facilities. If in no bury waste area (like Moab) try and drive to bathrooms in morning and have wag bag ready if not possible.
MPG since getting the box? I'll also be staying all stock, my OBW is the same down to even the color LOL. Just curious about what MPG hit I should expect from a box.
So i get 25.5 mpg with nixed driving and have not seen a dip from mpg gauge when the box is on vs. off. Even tho i dont see a change on the Subaru recorded mpg tracker would expect it to lower mpg like 2-3mpg based on my research when i got the box.
Enjoy the OBW
I recently purchased this same Thule box and with my 2015 Subaru Outback Premium 2.5lt engine I went from about 25.5 to 23. But keep in mind these numbers change because I'm usually overloaded and heavy on the gas pedal
Love the setup!! I’m getting a Wilderness, but my garage has low clearance. Do you know the total height of yours, including the cargo box? Trying to figure out if I can get one.
Thank you and i do not know the height but would look if Subaru has vehicle height info and you could always only put on roofbox when going on trips if needed . I often keep mine off for daily driving
We have an Onyx and an Inno roof box (rei) which fit in our garage, about 78”. Wilderness and it taller rails didn’t work for us.
Good video and I’m considering an outback wilderness that I’d keep pretty stock like yours. There are multiple sizes of mega mat duo. Which one do you have.? What is length of the back with front passenger seat all the way forward?
Thanks for watching and I have the Mega Mat Duo 10 as that is correct width for back of car.
I never have to move my seats forward with this car to fit the pad in the back. The pad in 72" long so if one was to move seats forward my guess is the total length would be >85" but it may be a bit more. If I get a chance to measure it I will let you know.
Thanks. That’s helpful. I have the single mega mat that’s 77 long.
Does the car have built-in roof racks Cross bars? My 2017 Outback has them.
The wilderness does not have built in bars. From what I recall the roof rack is designed to hold much more weight for things like rooftop tents so they have a different and beefier rains that don't have the cross bars
simple and effective that's how I roll as well very similar less is more - shout out to Russian river best brewery and IPA this side of the Mississippi
Love Russian River and glad others like the simple and effective setup! Thanks for watching
What size is the mesh cover? Medium or large?
I got the large ones with link in description
Nice set up.. What kind of gas milage does the Wilderness get with the car topper on?
I was averaging 23ish mpg with this roof box on last i checked. I didn't impact my mpg much but plan on retesting this summer
Good information! I just bought a 2024 Wilderness edition. Question- the roof rack- do you store things in the roof rack while you are traveling (70 mph on the interstate) or do you only transfer things to there from inside the vehicle once you are set up at camp?
Congratulations on the new car and I have it full while driving to keep the inside of the car less cluttered. These boxes and the cross bars that hold them are designed for the boxes to be full when traveling.
Do you roll the windows up when it rains all night? Trying to figure out how to get air flow on those days when it is non stop rain.
I live in an area where non stop rain is not really an issue. During heavy rains with the windows down I get some drops into the sleeping area. If this was a more common issue for me I would buy side window deflectors so that I could have windows open without any rain getting in.
Below are the Subaru one but know there are cheaper alternatives on Amazon and other places: amzn.to/4eHD0QZ
Hope this helps and happy camping !
How's the tarp when the back door is closed?
It works fine but you may have to tighten it a little more at the wheel well straps to to keep taut
Thanks for your setup introduction! For the sleeping pad, you r using the Duo medium or the Duo LW?
This is the Duo medium
Nice sharing! Do you feel any discomfort with the pad? I saw you have some liners in the cargo will these make you feel some obstacles when you sleeping upon them?
Not at all as this pad is very thick and anything underneath is not felt. Overall this setup is super comfortable
@@jakekaiser1399 I've slept with my Exped mat in my Outback, but with my head at the tailgate end not the front end. Isn't there a bump at the back seat section. Also I find it easier to block out the early AM sunrise light covering the back end of the Outback
@@kippywylie My car allows seats to lay almost fully flat and if anything the slight bump elevates the section towards the front of the car slightly. We usually sleep this way because: we rather have head above feet from slight angle from folded seats, I find it much easier to get out in the middle of the night, and I like having a book, water , extra clothes, etc. assessable and find that with this direction can have this right in the front seat and easy to grab.
If that direction works for you awesome but this is why I almost always sleep with my head towards the front of car personally. Also for days I am not getting up before or close to sun rise an eye mask does wonders and makes it so I don't have to worry about blocking the sun in anyway.
In the end I hope everyone does what works best for them but hope this helps share my reasons for why I wound up doing things this way
@@jakekaiser1399 This might be because I'm a side-sleeper and with two old sore shoulders any bump around that area will wake me up with pain. If I were a back sleeper I can see the forward position has advantages. I purchased the window shade screens from your link and I will be testing everything next week on the Oregon Coast
@@kippywylie Makes sense and got to do what works best for you.
Have a great trip and those screens allowing airflow at night without mosquitos buzzing around my ears has been great for sleep.
What is the name of the mattress? Do you feel a slant in your bed? From the back seats not laying totally flat?
This is the Exped Megamat Duo 10 (link in desciprtion)
There is no slant in the Outback as rear seats lay close to totally flat. If there is a couple of degree slant it would be with head being higher and I do not notice it
Hi there! I know I’m late to this video but hoping you’ll still see new comments posted here. Do you know if your exped is the medium or the long/wide size?
Hey! My exped is the medium size and fits perfectly
We own both the medium and the long Exped mat and I can confirm that the long is just too big. 2015 Outback Premium
This is probably a stupid question, but you sleep with the trunk hatch closed, right?
Yes I always do in the places I tend to camp but know people leave them open and that they even make netting to cover this for bugs.
Hope this helps
How do you keep your battery from dying while you keep your tail gate up for extended periods?
The newer Subaru's are supposed to not have any battery drain issues with gate open for extended periods of time, however, if you want to be extra cautious you can use the Subaru hatch carabiner trick (google it or put in YT search) to trick the car into thinking the hatch is closed.
I have never bothered with the carabiner trick and not run into battery drain issues but I tend to not hang out around camp for more than an evening without driving. I do have a carabiner with me that fits the latch in case.
I hope this helps
Can you just use the factory Subaru cross bars for the cargo box?
Yeah those are much nicer than the ones i have . The factory cross bars can handle any roof box / cargo box
How do you keep you battery from being drained when you have your back hatch open. Even turning lights off still is draining on battery.
I've never had an issue with this and have heard rumors the battery drain from hatch issue was fixed on 2022 models. I have left the hatch open at night without issue but have not tested this beyond this length of time.
If you are concerned look up "subaru carabineer trick" which puts something into the latch mechanism to trick the car into thinking the hatch is closed
Depending on the year of your Outback, Subaru switched over to a lower voltage LED bulb in all their interior lights. In my 2015 I purchased an inexpensive kit from Amazon and now there is minimal battery drain
What kind of roof rack crossbars do you have?
I have them linked in description but a cheaper amazon ones called "FLYCLE Roof Rack Cross Bars". I had to cut the rubber that they came with a bit to better fit the wildernesses thicker rails but they have worked great since then. They are not the most beefy so tend to keep lighter things in my roofbox to reduce the load on them but for the like $90 I paid have have had no issues and find them pretty minimal looking for when my roofbox is not in use.
Hope this helps
Where did you get the window covers ?
Ones I use are just cheap ones from Amazon but get the job done.
Link: amzn.to/3J8lHKR
The great thing about your setup is that you can easily park your Subaru next to a big tree if you need to go tinkle at night. Those trendy cassette toilets are over rated…
Are side panels available for the awning?
I have not seen any for this awning specifically. The only ones with side panels I've seen are the more rigidly attached ones
How tall are you? I am 6ft 2in and wonder if I could be comfortable on overnights or long weekends. I don't plan on anything longer than that. How long have you camped out?
I'm 5' 9" so am not 100% sure how that extra height would effect things. I still have a good amount of room and if you can get a bit diagonal would expect you could fit fine.
With this car I think the longest trips I've taken is 4 nights but have done many longer trips in the past in poorer equipped vehicles. Due to life I don't find as many chances for those longer trips these days.
I hope this helps and best of luck finding a good setup for you
@@jakekaiser1399 Thanks Jake, for he reply.
What size exped megamat duo are you using? The website has two options the M or LW?
Oh I found the comments M is the one you got.
@@ParzivalRuby Yeah this is the medium
Is your exped megamat duo the medium size? I just bought an outback and don't want to get the wrong size
Yes it is a medium . Enjoy the outback
TYVM sir :)
What size mattress did you get to fit the outback?
This is the exped megamat duo in the medium size. I have link in description that may show the dimensions
Do you have the exped megamat duo M or LW?
Its the duo medium and fits perfectly in the back
I had no idea the Subaru made a left hand drive
good work on being normal rather than having a channel about adding excessive off road kit - subscribed
keen to see how you carry bicycles
Thanks for watching and the sub.
I use a 1up rack to carry my bike as I love the simplicity of it. I do have to remove my bike to access the hatch yet the 1up retention system on the tires makes that very quick and easy.
@@jakekaiser1399 thanks - I'll look them up
love the vid.... thumbs ups
Thanks for watching
I have a similar setup with my Crosstrek, but I had to level the floor with a small 2 by 4 wood built flat pad I made in the trunk as there is a gap which the outback doesn’t have, it’s flatter…. Definitely not worth building a platform in an outbreak or Jeep, why bother.
When I got this car I was looking at the Crosstrek and would have done the same but when I decided on the Outback knew that was one less thing to worry about
I was very nervous putting my brand new beach cruiser on this rack. ruclips.net/user/postUgkxG6JIgwJhur8_Rg8UeQ3EmePzi_wSncL8 But after reading many reviews I decided to get this one and take a chance. When arrived it was very simple to adjust and put together. I also added spike tape over the metal hooks before securing and tightening the straps, and no scratches. I also purchased the top bar made by the same company so that my cruiser sits straight on the rack without having to turn upside down. Extra bungee cords are used to secure the front wheel from flapping and even piece of mind knowing your bike is secure. Definitely recommend...
I used to be a camping fanatic until an animal that is supposed to not exist strolled into our camp at around 9pm. My wife and me were like bug eyed. She didn't scream, but her voice was calm but forceful, when I turned and saw it. I was in shock. Utter bewilderment. Like a dream almost. I slowly pulled out my Glock 20, it watched me like a hawk. There was intelligence in those red eyes. It bent forward and let out a scream so loud it deafened both of us, it was extremely painful as well. It turned and was off like faster than you would ever believe possible. But it didn't go far. All night long it could be heard walking around our campsite. After that night we changed. We no longer camp; we sleep in hotels. A car or R.V. wouldn't stop these animals. It changed us, and not for the better. I knew and I knew in my heart and soul, had I have shot it. It would have torn us to pieces. My wife said she knew too. She never even thought about shooting it. Bigfoot does not look like T.V. and computers show them. The one we encountered looks like a Gorilla but taller and leaner. 8foot if an inch and 6to 7 hundred pounds, all knotted muscle, jet black hair and red glowing eyes. It's eyes really had a glowing effect. They have #3 things about them I will not mention. But distinct enough you couldn't miss them ever. Like describing an elephant or Giraffe. When people say they too have them I just ask for a description. They always describe the Harry and the Henderson type. And I know right off they are lying through their teeth. I carry a 44 mag exclusively now. Since that night. Before I saw it . I had #3 guns , now I have #31. Everyone I've met throughout the years that has really seen or encountered one for real, is exactly like us. They couldn't be held at gunpoint to camp out again. Not in a car ,R.V., nothing. Ruined our lives . Enjoy it as long as you can, brother. Peace.
Where did this event happen ?
@@michaelmcshane6280 Blue Ridge Mountains of Va. About 3 miles from the Parkway. Up by a powerline, almost to the top. Just turned around and wa-la.