Things We Regret in Our Prius Camper Setup...
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- čas přidán 3. 06. 2024
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You have six months left, buy the roof rack set up and a couple of bikes, sell it all when you come home.
Yes! Make the rest of your trip as comfortable as possible! Better mattress too! ❤❤❤
Might happen! Haha
And a new mattress. Good sleep matters!
I was going to say the same thing! Im sure u can get some decent 2nd hand bikes down there!
There are latex foam mattresses that people swear by
Tbh I would love to see a cooking video from you guys showing some of your go-to recipes on the road and how you prepare them with your setup! :)
Hahaha we’re so basic. But maybe one day yes!
If you guys are staying at sites with power you may want to get a 12 volt battery tender that you can just leave hooked onto your battery to keep it topped off
Hey guys.. thanks for this video. When you were building out your car you had all the best intentions. What changes, is when you are physically doing it, that you can realize what works and what doesn't do as well. Please don't be so harsh on yourselves!!
Van/car life is always evolving. We are speaking out of a little experience. You have just about another 6 months so, if your budget allows you, you can modify/change out a few things, but try to keep in mind nothing will be perfect. Cheers and as always stay safe.
Yes exactly! There’s always stuff to learn and we have a lot to learn ahha
Speaking of shiki-butons; as a person living in Asia and using one in their home, they are supposed to be hung out for a couple hours daily for airing out, with a nice solid beating when you first hang it, to knock out or off dust, dander, etc. With that, people tend to flip them over and around daily too so that top is on bottom, head is at foot, so they have constant movement and pressure. Definitely that can be difficult in your situation, but in a home situation, they can last and be comfy for years. Mines going on for 3 years - daily use - now.
Wow that’s great to know! We try to rotate it when we can but it sounds like we’ll have to do it more deliberately 👍🏼
Beating it, relofts them…
I give you guys some much credit for being in such a tiny space together....I couldn't do it!! I love watching your adventures!!!
Me and my husband often car camp during our holidays (even for more than 4 weeks consecutively) and our best bed solution is diy foldable foam mattress. It doesn't have to be diy, but I want to configure firmness and comfort.SO I bought two mattresses and cut each into 4 fieces (each is 0,5 m long), glue them together and handsewn the mattress cover. During the day, we fold the mattress to the back of the car and evening bed prep before the sleep take us only 5 minutes. We tried air matresses, but after while every mattress leaked on us, so now we have the foam one a never looked back.
It might be good to get a key box to keep the keys in when you're not driving. If they keys are in the car or too close, it can keep the computer modules awake, waiting for you to ready it on. It will drain the battery.
I didn't think of this when camping in my prius. Great advice. I have a thermaflax that I use tubing down a river to put my keys in. The prius doesn't detect the key when it's in it. Duel use item
Read a report a few years ago, about the impact of a bicycle bike rack on the roof and its impact on fuel economy. Car was a Civic. Bike rack reduced fuel economy from close 50 to about 35 mpg. That’s a bigger % impact than I experienced towing a 14’ travel trailer. Changed my thinking on the use of roof racks for anything.
I learned the same lesson you did on winter tires. They do lose their tread quickly and I really noticed the road noise. Never again!
“You did so much research!”
“I know…”
😂
I was hoping you would run into Leah's folks at some point during the trip, happy you're getting that reunion and dedicating time for it fully. Once again I appreciate the honesty you both bring with your journey so far!!
It was so special. 🥰 we’ve already decided that there’s never going to be a time where we are 7 months away again
@@LeahandLevi Yeah when you mentioned it was the longest you've been apart it made me think about my own parents and the longest was only 3 and it felt like an eternity. Can't imagine 7!
Glad it all worked out!! 😄
I highly recommend the inflatable foam sleeping pads like the Exped Deep Sleep Mat 7.5 Duo. or getting a single size one that you buy a way to attach the two together(I'd stick with any pad 3"+ thick). Then you can connect a shorter pad to the longer one without it being as cumbersome, I'm 6''4" so I have to sleep on the passenger side to have enough room, but a guest can easily sleep on the shorter pad without having it bunched up against the steering wheel. Makes sleeping sooo much better and saves soooo much room when I tqke it down or just deflate it.
Easily the best investment I made for my Prius setup. Other than stepping up to the V (glad I bought when I did because it was only slightly more pricey). I usually bring the sleeping pad into most friends homes because it's more comfortable than their beds. I have really bad insommnia, so the ability to lie down and then let out enough air to keep my hip from touching the floor makes it the perfect amount of cushion.
Oh yeah, I bought some cheap, more powerful LEDs to swap out some of the dimmer ones inside the car and they have made it so much easier to just flip on and look for things when necessary. I also got a better reverse LED light and it makes it a lot easier to see stuff when backing up at night
Love that! Thanks for the selection of options there!
Thats a good idea actually. but is the exped meant to be slept on every night for months? I have an exped myself and its lasted years so far but I only use it a small handful of times a year, like for camping in a tent.
@@drewfitzgerald939 I had a REI Camp Dreamer XL which is similar to the Exped and I kept it in my car for about a year on and off and then I was sleeping on it every night for about 6 months.
It finally delaminated and created a huge bulbous midsection and made it so I couldn't sleep on it any more.
But I just read in the instructions recently to make sure not to leave it in a hot area while still inflated because it WILL delaminate.
But I think if I had followed those instructions I could have slept on it for much more than the 7+ months of sleeping on it I did end up getting. The Texas sun is brutal and I should have thought about the effects of heat and pressure on the bed's lifespan
I know you may not think adding to the roof would affect much, but let me tell you it will. The Prius is designed to to cut the wind at all costs and where your garage is, is perfect. I'd expect a 5-10 mpg decrease with a roof bag with all of your items on top.
Yeah this was our fear! So far we’ve made it work and there’s kind of a question of how much it’s worth it to invest in more you know?
And they are travelling with a bigger table attached to the car… it just has a box on it.
Just want to say I love you two so much. You are the reason I got a Prius. No big trips as I am recently jobless but I love living through you two.
I think if you buy some bath/throw rugs with rubberized backing might be a good investment to replace the blanket that slides around .... they're cheap and you wouldn't experience as much sliding and you'd have a nice cushioning surface.
I can not put myself through this, rather enjoy watching you guys..lol.
For light get motion activated rechargeable headlamp. They are great because you need light wave your hand and your light is on when you are done you can turn it off with out touching it.
Happy Birthday Leah! Hope Levi gifts you with an amazing and memorable experience to celebrate your special day.
Happy Birthday Leah!! 🥳
Consumer Reports did a test with roof rack storage. It ended up reducing mileage by about 20%.
Dang that’s actually… kind of crazy. 😬
Doesn't that depend on the weight in the storage? If you put big items that were light up there, it wouldnt be as bad right? 😅
Lovely video! I have used my prius as an impromptu camper with just a trifold matress a couple of pillows and a sleeping bag. What you have done here brings joy to my heart!
Thanks for all the tips. While the Prius seems to be wildly popular for dwelling, camping, boondocking, its not so user friendly for such, IMO, as I inherited one. I found out I love boon docking via the Prius, but I would choose a vehicle with some head room in the back if I were car shopping😀. Furthermore, thks for the opinion on the hitch carrier, didnt know what to go with, the roof rack or hitch. Also, I found out the coleman 6" air mattress, works for me, its narrower than a twin size. I have to have the right amt of air, and correct incline. Plus i just deflate it when done sleeping. The depth of thickness will be a catch, seems like 4" is minimum for most folks. Happy travels!
Great video guys! 👍👍 Super useful!!
I don't know if you had settled your battery problem, I've only been seeing you in my "shorts". I had the same issue with a dead battery. I solved it by looking at my ceiling light. There were different symbols that I looked up in my owners manual. There was a setting that would turn off all interior lights when the doors were open. When in off position all lights are in manual mode. It only took one weekend of having a door open, that was not noticed till I wanted to go to town. No one in our group wanted to give a boost till the last day. So much for me and my sister-in-law hitting the yard sales. Have not had a dead battery from lights on in over 9 years. I still own the same car, '05 Equinox (bought from original owner in '12). We went from tents to tear drop trailer. I have a solar package for the trailer. And we do sleep in the car to allow others to sleep in the trailer. I do want a topper for our mattress in the car though. Hugs.
Lol, I love seeing these sort of 'lessons learned' videos. Thanks for going through all the trial and error so that I don't have to! ❤
Haha yeah we’re just out here trying to make it work! Good luck on your journey!
Have fun with your family! Great review of the ways it could've been enhanced, but overall I mean....you guys rocked it!
Hi Levi & Leah,
I was inspired a couple of years ago by Bo over at Mountain Springs Adventures CZcams channel (youtube.com/@MountainSpringsAdventures)
to build my own 2016 Prius stealth camper. He had LOTS of great tips and ideas on cooking, storage, and nighttime comfort that made things a LOT easier. One of the issues I'd like to help with is your battery problem. When I built mine, I filled it up with gas and set the climate control to auto at 68 degrees and left the car on for 48 hours before I could even see the needle move off of the full mark. I'm a very light sleeper, and it's so quiet that no one seems to notice when it does occasionally run to charge the battery, and it doesn't wake me at all.
With your tent setup, you might not want to leave the climate control on, and if you did, it would probably start a lot more often. But at least it would at least keep your 12v battery charged throughout the night.
Oh, and as far as tires, I've been very happy with the Continental TrueContact Tour with an 80,000 mile warranty. If they get down to 4/32" tread depth and need to be replaced before 80,000 miles you can get a prorated refund towards a new set.
- Steve
tire pressure can also affect tire wear and gas milage, your psi will go up in hotter climates and over long distances which can make your tires wear out unevenly and make you need new tires sooner. Tires rated for snow definitely wear through faster on dry hot roads(even if they're all seasons) because of their softer rubber which is meant for gripping cold and slick surfaces.
I've used my Tail Veil for years, might want to look it up.
Also I've learned that if my battery isn't totally dead you can often just turn the engine on and sit there for a few minutes and eventually the high-voltage battery full charge the 12 voltage battery enough to finish starting the car
Buy a kitchen or bathroom mat that has a latex back. Or buy a carpet sample or 2 or 3 and buy a carpet pad to put under that will keep them in place. Get a roof rack with bike mounts. Then buy used bikes. Sell all when you get home.
Appreciate your input
devos outdoor lights are an amazing gamechanger of a light.
I’m keen to see what you priorize to change for the next 6 months! Enjoy your bonding time. ♥️
There is still a benefit to having a hitch cargo box because it's a pain to have to get stuff out of a roof cargo box every day. If you get a Yakima Exo system you can carry your bikes and still have a small cargo box on the lower part of the hitch. You can still have a roof cargo box in this set up though that's carrying a lot of stuff on your car.
That’s very interesting but yeah… weight is an issue with the Prius hitch because it’s aftermarket. Doesn’t have a huge capacity 🤷🏻♂️
Have you considered buying a pillow topper for the mattress? It’s also foldable.
We have and might do that, but selection is limited here in Mexico!
I car camp all over the US in a Toyota Avalon. This video was very helpful, thanks.😊
You guys I’m so proud of you! I would love to hear your “go to’s” for cooking on the road. What to you buy/keep on hand? How long does it take? Maybe run us through some meals. That’s a feat in itself and I would love to see your tasty vegetarian meal favourites of the journey 👍🏻
I have the same Napier for my minivan and have loved it the handful of times. What I’ve always wondered is if there’s much impact on the paint/finish where the tent fabric touches the paint after regular use in wind etc. how’s your paint look?
For bikes in your situation: they’re $$ but check out brompton folding bikes. They’d be another pair of things to shift around for bedtime but if you’re into riding there’s nothing better or more convenient. I’ve even used mine for touring on multi day trips.
Thanks for all the fun sharing!
That sounds awesome! Bikes are definitely in the works for our next setup!
Best suggestion for your matress situation is to get a good quality, ideally rubberized, air matress. They're more expensive than most air matresses, but take a beating without developing leaks. Many of them are sectioned so you can inflate the pillow section separately from the main section. I used to sleep on a futon regularly and completely agree -- doesn't really work well. I'd suggest a combination of foam and inflatables to fit your space/ folding needs as well as your personal comfort level.
I'm still thinking of a roof-tent for my Sorento - might be hard to find a large enough one for your Prius, but that might allow you to store bikes in the car? I'm wondering about that for my own situation as bikes on a rack tend to get stolen ...
Looking forward to your continuing solutions --- maybe a roof-top storage box with a tent above it ($$$ though, if you can even find one that's big enough). Oh and, save yourself future expenses -- just get a new 12V battery for the Prius as soon as you can -- using one that's having trouble holding a charge for a few days is putting extra strain on all the other components in the charging/starting systems. Not saying failures are imminent, just that everything will last longer and cause you less grief if you deal with a weak link in the system sooner rather than later.
Happy Travels, and Cheers!...from North Vancouver.
Thank you! Fellow Vancouver friend! 🥰😅
I would listen to your own advice and upgrade, especially the roof rack. It will make your journey so much better (and give you loads more video content 😉) adapting because of what you’ve learned so far is very interesting. Love your videos 💕
Thanks for this! We’ll have to consider it!
This is random idea but what about baby playmats to replace the yoga mats? They come in bigger sizes and made for frequent use. Depending on where you are you can get them off fb mp too.
Also you could probably still find the tent you want on your travels , swap them out .
I carry a few car jumpers. Get some motion detector headlights.
You could still do the big tent option for more sleeping room , and bad weather protection for cooking and eating. There might be a sporting goods store somewhere down there. Get a big tent that doesn't have bendable poles.
Yeah something with that extra room would be awesome!
My partner and I have camped in our prius on occasion and have a full-sized air mattress that fits perfectly in the back. We just lay it out deflated, and it hugs the sides of the car when it inflates. The only drawback is the mattress is ~6" thick so it decreases the amount of headroom
Levi is a diva about air mattresses. Haha he won’t do it 😅
When you come to Minnesota 🙏
We have bicycles to rent all over the city of Minneapolis and tons of bike trails every where! Hope you find the time to come! ❤❤❤
That sounds lovely!
Thanks for the information, even though I’m not planning to do this car trip it’s still cool information to know. I’m also very sorry about the doggie. That’s one of the things about my county that I truly hate. I hate how many homeless animals are out there in horrible conditions and how this type of accidents can happen. It’s my dream to one day have a way to help out. At the moment all I can do is to help an small organization here in my city.
Thanks for the comment! It’s just the way things are sometimes! You can’t control everything. ❤️🙏🏼
11:09-11:14 ROTFL 🤣
You at the point of taking about roof racks….. i did that using a modified Yackima system (i had added a bracing arm on each side using a pipe and two T junctions. In addition to that i also on a whim took my snow rake with me. It consisted of the rake section and three handle lengths…. I could use them to make the center pole of a tent or to fly an awning of the side. Attaching a tarp to the yackima on one side , folding the opposite edge back one grommet i was able to then thread a rope through on of the rake handles, thread the handle into that fold … then connect the ends of the rope to anchor points. Adjusting the length and tension on both side and you can make a tent of almost any size and shape
That’s awesome! The rooftop is something I think many people overlook but it’s a pretty cool way to expand your area. 👍🏼
@@LeahandLevi don’t kick yourself too hard…. When your trying to minimize, everything is a compromise
Try buying an Optima yellow top agm deep cycle battery.
The prius is also a power pack.
wonderfull!
Doing a trip like y'all are doing is such a dream. I wish I could do it sometime! I'm from Ohio (USA); I'd probably start by exploring Canada. :D
You're both young and healthy (I assume) individuals, so I imagine that you won't have any difficulty if you do get a roof bag/box, but be careful. Getting things on/off the roof will take a whole lot more energy (mostly from lifting and stretching). I'd be afraid of doing so because I have problems with my lower back. :'( I've been impressed by how well your current setup seemed to be working for you -- if I ever have the time and money to go on a trip, I'd love to do something similar. :)
I think the back storage works very well. Especially if mobility is an issue. The rooftop would be used for less important stuff that you don’t use regularly.
Watching you today because my Toronto Maple Leafs we're not playing today until tomorrow. I normally watch you tomorrow from my semi- truck in a Saskatchewan snow storm
Appreciate it! I’m a jets fan so I can’t comment on the leafs but they’re very good this year
All good until the playoffs
I have a 2013 prius, with a thule roof box. It drops our mileage by about 8MPG (but still better mileage than if we just bought a bigger car)
Wow that’s significant tho! I’m kind of amazed honestly
@@LeahandLevi About 3 mpg came from just having the roof rack installed. The rest came from the box. It seems about normal from what I have read. Some people say 10 miles difference. Still, we now have a 40+ MPG vehicle with a lot of capacity.
Memory foam that rolls up is key
This was a great video
Thanks! 🙋🏻♂️🥰
Get the roof rack! You two still have 6 months left make it more enjoyable. ❤❤❤
I am late and I pray you did not buy a roof rack. I threw a roof rack on and just 1 mountain bike and cut my gas mileage in half! NO, I am not joking it was so bad I stopped 2 hours into the trip and took the rack and bike off and gave it to a friend in another state! I have a rear rack that holds 5 bikes now and I am scared to put it on in case I have the same problem. The aerodynamics of a Prius is exactly why they are so efficient!
Hello Leah
Post more videos about you guys adventures and less about the Prius! Enjoy the rest of your trip🤟🏼
We will! Sadly when we post about our adventures nobody clicks on the video 😕
I like it as I was wondering about the pros and cons of you setup over time. 😊
See, I enjoying seeing everything about the Prius! I guess it just goes to show that you can’t make everyone happy. But love your channel, Levi and Leah!
I prefer stealth so tent isn't a option for me and it looks like a pain to setup.
This is a good video. I appreciate your sincerity in the mishaps and choices that don’t benefit your current lifestyle. Nothing beats a fail but a try! I recommend you do another road trip maybe 2025 and correct those errors. Dream big! Mucho amor de Sunny Florida ❤
Thank you! We’re doing our best!
so where do you film the future proof videos?
Interaction with the police. The word (unknown) “seguro” roughly translates to “are you sure?” 16:07
Thank you!
4:31 # 3 different tent
Amazon:
Alvantor Screen House Room Outdoor Camping Tent Canopy Gazebos 4-15 Person for Patios, Instant Pop Up Tent, Not Waterproof
Your welcome....
Carmex is magic on cold sores.
I have a large mattress very similar to the one in the car. Been sleeping on it for 2 years. I don't understand how they find this uncomfortable
Cheap shiki-futons just get crushed because there's foam in there. You could layer them or get a quality shiki-futon.
Ours was like $200 ☹️
@@LeahandLevi Wow that sucks. Expensive bit of foam 😬
🙏🏿
Is there any reason why you're not just using the car's 12-volt power and built- generator? I use my Prius to power my off grid house when I'm there. With a deep freezer, small AC, and a couple of lights running the engine only starts up about every 10 minutes for about thirty seconds to charge the battery
How do you use your Prius to power your off-grid house? (no electrical genius here)!!!
Levi & Leah: Would love to see a collab with 'Chris and Sara' (CZcams channel) where you compare notes. 🤠
Maybe one day! There’s so much to learn!
You Should have got a Skoda superb
Do you have a bad alternator
Roof rack or hitch rack 🤔 why not both 😁
I got these mats at Lowes. 2 were a perfect fit in the Prius. Get the largest one. Here is a fast video of how our car is set up with 3 weeks of supplies in the car at the same time. czcams.com/video/jU52ykpiD08/video.html
turn or flip your mattress so it wears evenly
We don’t know your guys financial situation but if you can swing it, get the rack, get the bigger table and is possible get the bikes.
You’ve got so much time left that when you look back you’ll probably kick yourself if it’s not too much of a financial burden.
You’re allowed some creature comforts. 😊
Origami bikes!
Rather than disconnect the battery why not just keep it running ?
Contact Trucker Josh he bought a mattress for the sleeper and loves it.maybe they make a size for you.😎❤️🚴♂️👏👏👏👏❤️🇨🇦
No on the roof burns too much fuel.
❤❤❤👏👏👏👏⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Rav4 Prime!
My uncle bought it! He LOVES it!
@@LeahandLevi such a great suv so far; I’ve been following your adventure and it is very inspiring! I am hoping to at least do some weekend trips car camping this summer with it :) safe travels!
Don't want to be rude ... but I never saw Levi anymore with Arteryx Proton LT ... 😅😅😅😅😅😅
It’s my winter coat in the very bottom of the storage box 👍🏼
@@LeahandLevi 😅😅😅😅😅😅
Don't need a kitchen just an pressure cooker.
I'm not sure why you framed as "what we would do" while half of the items from adding extra lights to getting a table with larger legs to adding a simple mechanism to hold open the storage container to getting a new mattress to replacing the sliding carpet are all easy fixes you could do on the trip very easily.
Everyone learns. Next time you will make changes. You will not be happy stopping.
Leah, that blemish on your face that scabbed over and didn’t heal quickly , you need to get checked out , it could be the start of melanoma (skin cancer ) from the exposure to the sun. Etc.
Could also possibly be impetigo, which will go away with the right prescription cream.
Our thinking is it was a heat rash. It’s been healing well (but slowly)
@@LeahandLevi 👍💛
Why in the world wouldn't you simply run the car a little everyday to recharge the 12 volt battery???
We can! And we do! But the battery still dies randomly 🤦🏻♂️
@@LeahandLevi You need a mechanic that understands Prius electrical. I've had 3 Prius' over 12 years and never had this issue while camping or in regular use.
@@LeahandLevi I routinely run a Dometic fridge overnight with the car off and have no issues starting up.
@@LeahandLevi If you continue to drive a Prius I suggest that you join the forum at PriusChat. There are several members who understand the engineering very well and they're happy to advise you. You also might pick up a few more subs.
Listen. At 15.000$ you can buy, EASILY, a full size Camper. What are we talking about here? Ok, a good 2nd gen Prius at around, let`s say 4000$, THAT would make sense. But 15.000$? C`mon people.
Right away when I see that silly nonsense with the back door open I can see you don't know what your doing (Typed as I'm pulling away from another awesome stealth Camping location like I do 365 days a year)