My Prius Camper: an In-depth Tour
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- čas přidán 26. 07. 2024
- I converted my 2006 Toyota Prius into a camper, then lived in it full-time for about 5 months in the summer of 2022. In this video, I do a recap of what worked well for me as well as what I would do differently if I could do it again. On my first trip, I traveled alone, but in much of this video, I am joined by my partner and his dog. Thank you so much for watching, and I hope this is helpful for anyone interested in building out a Prius or other small car. It really is an effective way to travel cheaply, and I am so grateful I got the opportunity to do this!
If you are interested in purchasing anything I mentioned, I have included links below via Amazon (which was how I purchased most of this stuff). As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Hot water maker: amzn.to/3KhFSqi
Electric Pot: amzn.to/3KjE7c6
Power station and solar panel (I bought them together): amzn.to/3O48GDq
Just power station: amzn.to/3Du1zj3
Just solar panel: amzn.to/3q6gAUX
Jumpstart device: amzn.to/3O4wMOA
indoor/outdoor thermometer: amzn.to/3OyMl2z
Pee funnel: amzn.to/3YrhSqB
Waffle maker: amzn.to/476WASU
Fridge: amzn.to/3DvI21J
Shade Sox: amzn.to/453e8NR
I drove my Prius for 2 months after I had a bad date to think during the pandemic it was the best time of my life. I spent it on top of mountains in Wyoming, in ghost towns in Idaho and in the woods of Montana and rarely saw people. It was me, my dog and my Prius named Sally.
I love your set up, very smart with your curtains.
But please don't jump start other vehicles it's bad for the health of Prii to jump someone else's battery.
She wasn't using her prius to jump start other cars, she used a power bank that is designed for jump starting cars. I have one, it's so great
my car got totaled so I just bought a 2013 prius with 39k on it to camp in! Did a 2 month trip last year, definitely gonna get back out on the road in the next couple months. PRIUS POWER.
haha love it, agreed: PRIUS POWER!!
I gave my 07 Prius to my daughter and she wrecked it. Broke my heart. Just got an 05 for myself and I’ve done alot to it already. Near future plans are to add the 1.5inch lift from Prius offroad, new kyb struts/springs and bigger tires. Got all the camping equipment. I Just need to get out there! Btw I use a Jackery 240 with solar panel just for small electronics like phone, laptop etc and an Ecoflow Delta Mini 882 (with panel) for the fridge primarily or other larger appliances. Nice video! Godspeed
sweet! I would love to lift mine someday! Thanks for sharing :)
I LOVE this so much and I'm so happy I stumbled across this video. I have a 2005 Prius with over 250k miles on it and I absolutely adore it. Drove it halfway across the US three times between attending university and grad school. Lately I've been thinking about taking it out camping like this, so I appreciate this so much and hope you are doing well!
I'm sure someone already said this, but there is a physical key in the keyfob! It can be pulled out by pushing on the notch at the top and pulling on the ring. It comes in handy from time to time.
Love the Prius, I had an 06 Prius before I upgraded to a van. The climate control (ready mode) was definitely an amazing feature.
nice! A van sounds dreamy, so much space! But yep I love the climate control.
Good editing.
Thank you!
I wish you all the best, it looks fun!
I love this, thank you for making this video! Happy and safe travels ❤
Thanks Hayley!
such a nice, calming video! I love the humble setup. I plan on living in my Prius as well in just a short bit, and hearing you talk about your freedom and independence makes me so excited to join in on the nomadic prius- dweller journey!
What a lovely and informative video! Best of luck on your travels; maybe I’ll see you on the road!
Loved this video, thank you for giving insight of your life it was very helpful as someone to plans on getting a Prius.
So sweet❤ for you to thank others
Thanks for the content. I plan to adventure in my Prius. Hopefully.
Thank you for watching! I wish you luck in your Prius adventures :) you can do it!!
This is so perfect and insightful, thank you! Also really appreciate the reflections on what you'd change. I love the modular design for solo and duo travel, I've been setting my prius up for myself primarily but also wanted to be able to include my partner on some trips and this gave me some great ideas.
Wow, thank you! I am so glad it was helpful :) good luck on your outfitting and travels!
Good job on your build to your life. I have a 2009 Prius with 280k miles and I love it for the climate controls and gas mileage. I also watched ton's of Prius builds and learned so much. I went with a Jackery 1000 with the folding solar panels for my fridge and Instant Pot for cooking. The one thing to remember with the Prius is to spare the 12v battery and not add an inverter, like you said it's a risk not worth taking. I learned that first hand, the Hybrid battery didn't have enough time to re-charge the 12v battery, so like you I carry a 12v battery jumper. Have fun and thanks for sharing you vlog. Take care.
Thank you Brian! Agreed, I was worried my battery would have issues so I went with this setup; it is fun to hear that you did too. Long live the Prius life!
280k miles? Wow!
which sized instant pot?
@@MrLuffy91313qt draws 700watts building up the pressure, then down to 35watts to maintain.
@@imactuallyih3697 Just getting broke in. Toyota knows how to build cars better.
Thank you for the video. Blessings to you.
Thank you for watching! Blessing to you too.
Thanks, I enjoyed the video and just subscribed.
Thank you!
Wow cute dog and great video!
Thanks Miles
i love my 22 prius prime taken one 14 day road trip already and can’t wait to do another one
Your puppy is cute 🥰
Love you video and your voice is calming
Thank you!
Great video
Really cool video essay, btw
Thank you for your video
Enjoyed your video.
Thank you!
Cool video , i got prius and have the exact same thoughts as you
The trusty waffle maker. It will fry a egg, make bacon, grill a cheese sandwich or make a waffle. I love them 💗.
Your curtains are great.
Super cool, I have a scion tC, and the Prius has some similarly shaped features (cousins lol). I love your privacy curtains!
Your comment about a roof box made ne pause, haha. I just started buying components for one. Will I stand out? 🤔
Keeping one seat in the back looks comfy!
I Also love cooking, (i laugh at the mini waffle iron because I thought I was delusional to consider...now...hmmm 🤔 😁)
Thanks for your nice comments! Good luck with your set up!!
I've heard a Prius can also have a lift kit installed (1 1/2" I believe) and add larger tires so it has more clearance
Yes, totally! I have been thinking of doing that, it would really help me get to some more remote spots.
Good to know! I had a lot of trouble getting mine in and out of my garage because its on a steep incline.
I’m surprised you didn’t put in a power inverter, Prius cars are great generators. Prius camper owners use them to power microwaves, insta pots and the like.
Thank you for sharing all of this great info about your setup! One tip that might help, regarding the Bluetti shutting off when the fridge hasn't run for a long time... That's probably due to the Bluetti having "ECO Mode" turned on by default. If you turn it off, then the Bluetti should keep the power on to the fridge all the time. To turn off ECO Mode, do the following:
1. Make sure the AC output is turned off.
2. Press the "AC" and "DC" buttons simultaneously, until you see the "60Hz" flashing on the screen.
3. Press the "DC" button to turn ECO Mode off.
Hope this helps!
Thank you for that tip!! it probably was on eco mode :)
I love your voice.
Thanks @momovomo for the good advice 🌸 I’m also devouring Prius camper vids! Your setup is nice, not crowded or overstuffed! ☘️
Thanks for the kind words! Hope it was helpful 💖
Can you please show how you hang your curtain behind the driver and passenger seats? You should make a Ararat’s video just gif that. It’s a game changer. Thank you.
Yes how if with Velcro?
Hi! Thanks for the request - I used velcro that simply stuck to the headliner at the ceiling of the car, plus glued some velcro to the plastic that is between the front and passenger seats. If I make another prius video I will be sure to include it!
I know this is an old video, but for anyone that needs to hear this: please don't continually jump start your car. Jump starting can harm your electronics and turn an already expensive battery replacement into something far less affordable.
After your first jump go to the nearest O'Reilly, or anything other than Autozone, and get a new battery.
Use hard foam under your 4" and it's going to be very comfortable.
Ugh and she is so cute 😭
no you 😘💋
I think ur key fob has a metal key in it in case the tiny battery in it goes dead and u have need a "hard-copy" key. My Prius key fob has that.
yes - my key fob never worked so I used that for years. the annoying thing is that you have to take it in and out of the fob each time you want to use it, so having the separate larger key has been really nice.
I really appreciate your video 😊 Not sure if someone has already asked this, wondering how did you keep part of the backseat bottom bench? I thought it was one large bench? I would love to have that 3rd seat availability while in car-camping mode!
Hi! So you're totally right - I had to cut the bottom part of the seat in half in order to install my box and keep one seat... definitely permanently destructive haha.... Thanks for watching and commenting!
off topic but im obsessed with your shorts!! where are they from?
Hey thanks! I thrifted them but they are Union Bay - I love them!
Get video! Just got my 2011 Prius set up for a 3 month road-trip hitting National Parks all over the west for the summer. I have a question though, how hard was it finding boondocking spots/roads that the Prius could make it to and what was your go-to to find them? Thanks!
Thanks! I used the app ioverlander to find spots mostly. It might also be worth it to get an app with clearly defined BLM/national forest land, as that would also help. i overlander is nice because people will comment on the road conditions/accessibility. Especially in the west there are tons of spots to stay, so I’m sure you’ll figure it out and get in a good rhythm! Enjoy your travels!
What model is your prius? I know you said but i wasn't sure if you said it was an 06 or 2016. Thanks and safe travels
2006! Thank you!
I loved my Prius so much but had to give it up due to repeated catalytic converter thefts. Such a darn shame. Wish I could buy another one and make it into a camper but Its impossible to keep an early model Prius free from Cat theft in California, or at least San Francisco
Wonderful vid. How/where do you store water?
Thanks! I usually have a few water bottles, plus one or two gallon jugs around. I didn't go for a big tank just because the size makes it hard to store anywhere easily.
@@momovomo thanks. That makes sense.
I live full-time in my '14 Prius
5.43 how do you set up curtains covering back side of front seats
I used velcro that would stick to the headliner at the ceiling of the car, plus velcro glued to the plastic of the side of the car between the front and passenger doors. Not the cleanest solution but it did the trick.
I have a 2020 Prius and planning my first stealth night. I have my window covers, bed is in the Amazon cart,what battery would you have chose instead of the one you have?
I think any one that has more capacity! I really liked the bluetti in terms of quality so I would go for a bigger one from them :) Good luck with your stealth!!
Where you got that bed foam size
And cover windows if on Amazon
Thx for video,
I got the foam from Joanne's (ordered online), and I ordered shade sox from amazon, but I made the other curtains myself.
Very few people make campers for Prius Prime (2017-current). About 7 cubic feet less area, less storage, and less cubbies. But for my old Prius, this would be great!
Dang that’s too bad. Would be bad ass to have a super modern Prius drivetrain as a camper. 7 cubic feet smaller??
Never had a Prius but I've been thinking about it because I have issues with very hot climates where I start getting hives...anyway, how does the climate control work while you're sleeping? Is the AC just on the entire night? Does it make any noise while you've got it on? My worry is keeping stealth while parked somewhere as I wanna travel on my own and I'm a girl but I'm also disabled so I feel a little bit less safe. I wanna be sure its stealthy enough.
Hi! thanks for watching! I would say the AC does a somewhat good job but since mine only has AC from the front of the car, it still got very hot in the back. Bearable but not sustainable in truly hot climates, in my experience. The climate control requires the engine to kick on pretty often, so it is really not super stealthy compared to a parked car that is not on. Hope this helps!
How does the airflow to the back of the vehicle with the curtain between the the front seats and the back?
Good question - this is a design flaw for sure, as the airflow to the back is not great when that curtain is up. I also had blackout curtains and a window shade for the front, and I used these mostly when I was in parking lots where I was allowed to be, so I could get more airflow.
No reason you can't put a family of four in a Prius. It is a legendary camping car.
Amen to that! :)
Most people take out the entire rear seat but you still have the back part of the left-rear seat. Why? The bottom part is a single piece that is both left and right side bench seat. Would you please show more detail about this in a future video? Great video! I have a 2006.
hahaha.... yea, I cut that piece in half! I wanted to have a place to sit and do computer work/change clothes, etc, so I kept that seat open for that purpose. I like that the back is way more private than sitting in the front seat for any of those tasks, plus with my super-stealth mode, it would not have worked to be in the front seat. Overall, having that seat still intact just made it easier to be living in such a teeny space. Plus I can still take two passengers when I need to!
What model prius is this? Awesome stealth
Its a second gen, 2006 prius! And thank you!
I'm planning on buying a Toyota Prius and live in it full time and of course travel too..........any tips about finding the perfect Prius for me?, By the way I travel with two elderly dogs
I would recommend the biggest thing possible - this size with just me traveling was not a long-term solution, if I was planning for that I would probably go with a small van so I could stand up and have a bit more space. It worked, but I am not sure I would recommend it for comfortable full-time living, especially with multiple dogs. I think I might get a Prius V next for a bit more space, maybe with a roof tent or box.
@@momovomoI disagree. I’ve been living out of my 05’ Prius for the past year and I honestly prefer it more than my overpriced apartments that had neighbors who wore bricks for sandals lol. Not to mention the cost. $1 a night in fuel maybe $3 for heat in a cold place a night but it’s like $30-60 a month just to run the car to run the climate control and other power to charge up devices while you sleep. Heck I just drove from Texas to New Jersey, 1500 miles and spent only $90 total!
can you fold flat the front seats?
like the driver's seat? no, not those ones.
which version of Prius is that?
2006! gen 2
Very cool video I’m watching it because I have a corolla cross hybrid 2023 so I’m looking for ideas inspiration I don’t want to live in it just for day trips. Also hotel beds are gross. Who knows what debauchery went on in that bed maybe an elderly couple slept in it and are in continent as a whole host of disgusting things that happen in a hotel room also bedbugs yuck so I will be sleeping in my car when I travel about
Why would you tape your keys there and then tell CZcams 😅
You've got dad to call. Be grateful for that. Today is my dad's birthday, but he died young.
Ummm….
My dad passed away when I was 6yrs. old! I miss him
literally nobody asked. i’m sorry tho ❤
She said her dad helped her with her key. Why are you commenting like she said something negative about her dad?
And even if she had said something negative, your loss doesn't negate her feelings. No one likes their parents 24-7 and a lot of parents are abusive and toxic as freak. You don't get to tell other people how to feel because you're sad, like no one else has ever lost someone they love. Losing people sucks but we don't get to weaponize our grief to manipulate the feelings of others. It's OK to be sad your dad isn't around to help you. It's not OK to slap her with your loss for attention or whatever reason you did it.
I would travel with someone but I would have them drive their own car.
You can use your Prius 12V battery for your power needs.
True, like with an inverter? I decided not to go that route as I was concerned about my battery, but in hindsight that probably would have worked great! Especially as a backup.
I think you basically get the benefit of an 700 watt inverter by using the Bluetti EB55 solar power station hooked up to your DC port. If you just use an inverter, one normally has to have to have the car on in standby mode so it starts the engine to recharge the main battery (the main batttery's 200V DC to 12V DC converter provides the 12v battery up to 1500 watts per hour). Since you are using the cigarette-lighter DC port to recharge the Bluetti, I think that is limited to 150-200 watts recharge per hour maybe? I use a 2000 watt inverter connected directly to the 12v battery in my Prius which gives me enough power to run a small microwave, an electric skillet, or small digital thermostat-controlled ceramic heater. But I have to remember to turn the inverter off if the car is going to be off for awhile. I actually have a 2000 watt Bluetti power station myself, but don't use it in the Prius because it takes up too much space. Thanks for sharing your set-up.
@@dougt8215 Thanks for sharing. The 2000-watt capacity honestly sounds super nice to have (for the microwave, etc!). This Bluetti indeed really is limited in its capacity to run things, but it was generally ok. Thanks for taking the time to watch and comment, I appreciate it!
You already know it grips
I had a 2011 Prius in the UK. I absolutely loved that car but thieving scum bags stole the catalytic converter twice so I had to sell it. Crappy world, full of scum bags.
Your vocal fry made it impossible to listen to