PRIUS CAMPING & Living: My cheap & minimal road trip car setup
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- čas přidán 26. 07. 2024
- Here’s a look into my minimalist & budget Prius living, camping, road trip, and nomad traveling setup! I’ll show you my 2017 Prius set up for glamping, sleeping & living, air ventilation to minimize condensation (cracked windows vs nah), using air conditioning & heating overnight, where I shower & find bathrooms, how I find free places for overnight parking, privacy & security.
My previous vlog about mental health: • Taking a break from Yo...
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Shot on iPhone 11 Pro in Las Cruces, NM and Marfa, TX
Edited in LumaFusion
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#hotelprius #glamping #carcamping #digitalnomad #nomad #camping #carliving #prius #youtube #youtuber #creatorlife #BenAqua #shotoniphone #iphone11pro #lumafusion #marfa #lascruces #westtexas #budgetliving #planetfitness #restarea #travel planet fitness Campendium Toyota rv nomad live stealth camper car Nissan Leaf Tesla hybrid
I'm moving my entire youtube studio into my car, brb
Hi, is this the Prius Plug in or Regular Hybrid? I want to be able to use the AC at night while camping
@@RealityExposedChannel it’s regular Prius
Save your wipers. Let the glass defrost before your use the wipers
Great tip! I was using the wipers too cuz I was like....fuqqqqq
@@b3naqua scrape and defrost it first
Definitely!
Ice is sharp and them wipers are toasted going back and forth more than 6 times...
Amazon sells these fabric rear window covers that are just held up with magnets on the top and side and those would be so minimal and help add to the privacy components. I've always wanted to do this in my Prius so thank you for letting me live vicariously through you. 🚗💤
Lol nice! I’m peeping Amazon rn for window shades. Tons of options! You should do it in your prius!!
@@b3naqua the Bayan brand are the ones I have up front and in rear windows
Been living in my Toyota Prius for the last six years!! Going bathroom hopping every day lol
Wow!! That's incredible. What's your trick for finding bathrooms so often? lol
Go for it! It’s a very different living experience for sure. There are some “creature comforts” of having an apartment, esp bathroom/water/appliance/storage access, but the freedom of just being able to roam and live where the hell you want to live in a Prius is pretty amazing too!
@Ben Aqua 😎👍
IMO the super simple prius loadouts are the best. The only thing I would add is a 12V fridge and window covers.
Good ideas!
I have a 2011 RAV 4 and have done some extensive car camping, but am looking at Prius to save on gas. You can stay very warm with a good quality down, -15 sleeping bag. I have a Feathered Friends quilt that I love. I found the plastic, container drawers a great solution for organization. I have a 4 drawer that works great. Going to look in to those window guards for sure. Also, I have found BLM land a good option. Have slept in many rest stops and never had a problem. As a single women of 60, I've always felt save. Travel on everyone.
Thanks for sharing your experience and tips! The window guards are nice for privacy and for leaving windows cracked, but still having a breathable barrier. I’ve been looking at RAV4 Hybrids too! Not as good mpg as Prius, but more space and power. The Prius is amazing, but it has made me a bit nervous before when driving in rugged terrain, snowstorms, etc.
Get the rain guards on your windows you put them on and you can crack your windows and nobody will see it it’s important to get that air in there for many reasons!
Karen Anderson great tip! Def want to get some of those!
Great video man! You answered all my questions about taking a long trip cross country. I appreciate your positive attitude and thirst for adventure!
Michael Camerino glad it was helpful! Have fun on your trip!!
I have an ordinary small, house carbon monoxide detector in my Prius and have used damp rid successfully. The detector has a test button to check battery life.
Nice!
Awesome experience! Thanks for sharing.
Looking forward to more of your adventures.
Thanks Edwin!
I always use my climate control all night and somtimes just chilling and it takes very little gas to do it and i always stay comfortable proud owner of a 2013 prius v
Nice!
He got the mexican cobita 😂 You'll never be cold!
lol it's so comfy!! not warm enough for freezing temperatures tho if the car isn't running all night
the first time i slept in my wagon in the snow, i freezed my ass off, so i went down the hill to the thrift shop and got about three doonas.. warm as toast.
I camped in my Prius 2013 II (no longer have it) in Louisiana in 2018 with no window even marginally opened. I ran AC on outside air circulation all night in open area. No problem. I lived in the Prius this way all the way from New Orleans to Seattle towing a single axle 6 by 12 enclosed cargo trailer in the late fall, early winter of 2018.
That’s so impressive your Prius was able to tow as well!
Dude! I've been wondering if I could actually tow anything with the prius.?mine is 2nd gen
@@Mr.Yeller
Yes, You Can tow with that model too... I tow with my Gen 2 '05... It's just a little trailer where I can put my tent and supplies in including my bicycle... It might weigh a total of 6 to 800 lbs... Just keep it below the actual roofline of your Prius so you get your better gas mileage...
I do have wide high speed tires on it... It was an old boat trailer that was converted for me...
OMG! How fun!!! I loved seeing all of ur pics on IG!!! It makes me want to go check it out myself!! 😋
Yasss bb do it!
Awesome video! Not sure if someone’s mentioned this before, but you can put some cat litter in a sock, tie it up and leave it on the dash to help absorb the condensation. Also you could keep a battery powered carbon monoxide alarm in the car for peace of mind while you run the air overnight.
Ooh good tips! Thanks
Works Well for condensation
This gave me some great ideas! I'm starting a job at the end of this month and i've been thinking about doing some car camping until then. I'm only 5ft tall, so i figure i prolly won't have a hard time fitting in the back
Glad my video was helpful for you! Sounds like you're about to have a really fun adventure :)
Good info! I'm looking for a used Prius V now. I would love to see you do a hot weather overnight video.
Thanks Jody! I haven’t slept in my car in hot weather yet but if I do I’ll do a video! I’ve been wanting to road trip so badly, but rona 😭
Thank you very much for the useful information!
Glad it was helpful!
I love your glasses man!!!
Ahh thank you!!
That planet fitness detail was amazing beacuse I was thinking of having shower trouble.
Glad that was helpful! Finding good bathrooms and showers on the road is one of the more challenging aspects of the journey, but it's totally doable.
@@b3naqua I have regular planet fitness account but that's a good reason to upgrade to black card.
Totally! Go for it
Hearing the poor wipers scratch hurts!🤦♂️
Lol I have since bought replacements 😅
Cool bro!!!
Thanks!
Tons of Truck stop gas stations have multiple showers available for around 12$ for your own personal bathroom the brand Loves maintains them and cleans after each use
Good tip!
Looking forward to your videos. New subs.
Thanks for subbing!
Good video dude I’m thinking of doing the same thing in a Nissan leaf
Yesss do it! Do you like the Leaf? I've been curious about that car for a while too.
Haven’t bought it yet buying soon I’ll let you know how it is when I pick it up
Jack Estes awesome!
Thank you!
This is good information!
What do you think about 2 people?
Would you need a "car tent" thing?
Would you feel safe?
Glad it was helpful! imo 2 people might feel pretty cramped in a Prius, but it's doable. I feel safe most of the time, esp when parking in public areas found using the Campendium app. I haven't used one of those car tent things before, so I'm not sure about that tbh
You can buy a CO detector for safety, probably can find one with $20 bucks
Welcome to Prius camping Ben. You'll get better at it as you go along. The big key is being organized, knowing where everything thing is at. Yes run your car all night you'll be warm plus windows will be clear of ice and snow. You can't do that with any other car.
Thx for the tips! Def am going to run the car overnight in a future snowy situation - not doing it was sooooo cold and uncomfortable lol
How much gas does it use if you run all night
@@Davidmaccc
Probably less than a gallon if it's really cold... A lot less to run the air conditioning vs the ICE to keep warm...
Maybe do it in Spring next time probably safer for such a minimalist setup. Am I going to be driving one day seeing you on a intersection asking for cash,lol! To be really young and have a uncomfortable sleeping adventure.
lol I'm not that young 🤣 young at heart tho.....anyway if you do see me at an intersection some day, I'll probably be asking people to buy me a new iPad or something
isn't there a big hump where the hatch meets the folded over seats? I looked at a 2017 today so I could do this but it wasn't flat.
Thanks for the video. Does you 2017 Prius Two come standard with Navigation? Thank you
Nah, my base model Two came with the standard display with no GPS
I'll be in Denver doing the same soon... I'll post it on here too..
Sweet! Good luck and be careful
I'm so thinking about doing this that I have done some research and you can do the climate control but the more you cycle your battery the more you cut into the life of the battery. The life of the battery doesn't go off miles but how often you cycle it. I would just keep that in mind. Way to go for just getting out there and going and trying something new
Thanks!
Wow, Ben, that takes a good amount of fortitude, determination, and planning. I'm pretty impressed! My Honda Fit with it's Magic Seats can fold flat to hold my mountain bike, but to use it for staying in during a road trip, well, lets just say that I have a "bathroom issue" LOL. But for yourself, with your logical (and logistical) mind, looks like you were well prepared. Good for you. Thanks for sharing, that was pretty fun.
Thanks for your comment! I bet you could get away with sleeping in your Fit too! But you're right, it does take a bit of planning for sure. The bathroom situation is probably the biggest downside to car camping/living imo.
@@b3naqua Ben Aqua!
You can find dehumidifiers that have 110V-12V adapters, just cut the cord. But since the car 12V battery is pretty small, it should be used with a secondary 12V with isolator.
good info! thanks
To me minimal is the best way to go keeping it light n simple. My prius V is abit bigger and tint much darker
Agreed 👍🏼
How is ur battery since ur covering ur hybrid battery vents ????
I also have a 2017. How did you deal with the unevenness of the back?
Nice! The 2017 is amazing, but yah it is a bit uneven in the back. Next time I’d probably add some extra padding in the back to even it out - maybe a thin pillow or extra blanket.
Your trip. So much better than sleeping on top of an a p c with the army. Armor personal carrier the metal was hard but seeing nature was very good. We areso
Spoiled in the usa yours truly Evans w Robinson ret sgt
Is you have ac vent on doesnt it circulate the air?
Ohhhh, I want those glasses!! 😁 I'm thinking of getting a Prius mainly because I love the option of having the air conditioner (or heat) running overnight. However, should I be concerned if I'm parked near others with the motor going on and off , and disturbing people?
I currently have my set up in the back of an SUV, but from what I've seen of Prius campers it looks like the "living space" wouldn't really be any smaller, which would be a bonus.
I've just forgotten about Prius batteries... Is that one at the back a second battery?
That’s cool you have an SUV setup! The motor noise from coming on and off might be a concern for some nearby people, but there seems to be a silent agreement that in public spaces, you’re allowed to make a little noise (as long as it’s not too obnoxious lol). It probably depends more on where you’re setup and what the space is like. Usually there is some road noise anyway, so I wouldn’t be too concerned with the intermittent engine noise. The thing in the back isn’t a battery - pretty sure the Prius just has one hybrid battery under the hood.
@@b3naqua Prius battery is actually in the back, under the back seats. It's 14 battery cells all hooked up together. And if you're gonna be running it overnight fairly often (even if not to be honest) I'd invest in a Bluetooth obd2 reader, they're like $10 and it plugs into a port by your feet on the driver side, and lets you check what the fault codes mean so you can do basic repairs yourself. But more importantly with a Prius, if one of the battery cells goes out you can check which one it is and do the replacement yourself, as if you take it to the dealership they'll charge you to replace the whole battery setup. Definitely worth it.
Linda Sue , I was in my suv full time for over 6 months. The climate control is the “thing” . If you can stay warm in winter and cooler in summer, you got it made!
If u go for Prius prime, I guess u can run ac for long time just on battery before engine kicks in.
@@KylerJones
The Prius' battery consists of 28 Panasonic nickel-metal hydride modules. Each of these contains six 1.2-volt cells... They are connected in a series and will produce a total of 201.6 volts... Located just behind the back seat.. ( that's 168 batteries 🤪 )
You had better be a Qualified Electrician IF you work on that battery pack as Yes, it can Kill You... It has high Amps !!!
Please DO Not ever cover the air inlet for the cooling of those batteries... It is located on the right side of the back seat uprights...
There is also another 12 volt battery located in the right rear corner of the car that is strictly for the 12 volt accessories... It is a NO maintenance Glass Mat design...
There is NO starter or alternator in a Prius...
Everything, including AC is run off the main hybrid battery system...
Dude, how do you get rid of the hump under your bed setup where the seat folds down?
For the setup in this video, I actually didn’t really address the hump, so it was kind of uncomfortable. But what you can do is double up on the padding more towards the front seat, and it’ll level out the hump more
I've run the a/c and I've run the heat overnite plenty of times and had no issues. It uses very little gas either. Can't beat the temp and humidity control.
Nice!
A tri fold memory foam mattress might be better. Inflatables are uncomfortable hah. Good video brother 😎
Thanks for the suggestion! Gotta get one of those tri fold mattresses. Which one do you use?
@@b3naqua whatever ones have good reviews online 😎 amazon or Walmart will have em
That's a lot of precious space to give up ... Just get 2 self inflating back packing mats..
Put a piece of shelf liner in between them so they won't slide...
Hi there! Ben. What app are you using again to find parking spots for overnight stay? Thanks.
Campendium - it's awesome! and freeeeee
Thanks. 👍🏽
if i have a prius 2010 hybrid can i still let it run all night? thanks for your video!!
You should be able to, yeah. Make sure the car has proper ventilation, plenty of gas, a carbon monoxide monitor, etc
It might use but a gallon of gas for 8 hrs of heating and far less for cooling...
Hey there, have you had any concerns or issues with the recent catalytic converter thefts? Thank you for your videos! Stay safe.
Nope, I haven’t. I haven’t done any car camping since rona tho :(
The Cats are a hot target for criminals to get and the Prius ones give them even more money as it's different than most cars...
It actually takes less than 2 minutes to cut it off any Prius...
You can STOP them easily by installing a shield...
I'll recomend the brand CatShield... It s about $300 ...
The dealer can put it on...
A Cat will cost you ( or your comprehensive car insurance ) in the neighborhood of $3,300 to replace... Well worth the piece of mind....
🤓
I'm late here, but did you have any issue with its low ground clearance?
Once in a while, yes. It’s a bit low to the ground.
Rookie mistake running the wipers. Wait until the defroster melts the ice before using the wipers.
I have been doing car camping during the week to save money since new job is out of state. I go home on weekends. I made a video on my channel if you want to see it. I saw your video because the Prius may be my new boondock car.
Glad you found my video and good luck on your adventures and CZcams channel!
Maybe an electric blanket in Prius?
That could work - I wonder how it could be powered overnight in the Prius so it doesn’t overheat or cause any issues?
They make many 12 volt ones you can plug into a power station...
Truckers use them all the time...
Turn your AC on to clear out the condensation
Good tip!
how tall you are? great job man!
Thanks! 5’10”
Does that year have as much space in the back as my 2013?
Not exactly sure, but the interior space is probably about the same
@@b3naqua ok thank you
Hey man I also slept inside my Prius for the first time around the same time as you. I also have a planet fitness black card. But where I was at I was closer to a Anytime Fitness and the one that I went to hand a private bathroom and shower. I don’t know if everyone is like that, maybe someone in the comments could confirm that. So might want to look into that. I think they are around the same price as planet fitness.
Wow, a private shower and bathroom would be amazing for Prius adventures or living situations!
@@b3naqua they actually have about 4x more locations than PF and usually around 5-$10 more
Damn, that’s a great deal!
if you leave ac on wouldn't the on/off noise of engine cause you not able to sleep?
It might bother some people, but you can sleep with earplugs in or turn on white noise to drown out the engine noise a bit
🤪🤪🤪
Can you sleep in a motel or car when you're near the freeway ??? You'll barely hear your engine start in the quietest of places...
It'll in fact make you sleep better...
Unfortunately all hybrid Toyotas coming from 2020 doesn't come with this feature no more. I mean, after 30 minutes with the engine on, if the car is not moving, the system automatically turn off the engine. I was researching and they made this change to prevent accidents of carbon monoxide in confined spaces, which means, you can not buy a brand new Toyota Rav4 hybrid (for example) and sleep with your AC or heat all night on.
Oh wow, didn’t know that! Thanks for letting us know
This is easily defeatable by connecting the drivers seat belt and placing a 10 lb weight in that seat...
🤓 Yup
@@boobtubeakatv1296 No, actually I figured it out. You have to lock the doors from inside.
How do you sleep over night in your parked car for over night when the weather is too much hot ?
Good question! I haven’t slept in my car in the heat yet, but I’d probably run the A/C all night to avoid being cooked alive inside the car.
@@b3naqua
Is it not harmful both the car and me ?
Actually I have a swift diesel car. I want to go out solo with my self drive car for 20000 km approximately and 120 days approx.
There are lots hot weather areas and cold places also.
So if I can sleep in my parked car keeping engine ideal running condition with AC or hot air blowers on for whole night, it will be the best for me.
Thus I can save money also hazards of advance hotel booking and train car etc booking.
@@adityabharatvraman6859
Since you have a diesel, you d hear that clanking all night long....
Get a flexible pupe to make sure them fumes go far away from your air intakes and open windows...
I have a trifold mattress from amazon.
Does it work pretty well?
Need an update on cold weather heater all night sleeping ? Also if 2 people could sleep in it ?
I haven’t slept in my car since this video since it’s hot af in TX lol, but next time I sleep in the car when it’s cold af outside, I’m def leaving the a/c on, set to something like 71 so I don’t freeze my ass off. 2 people could fit back there, but it’d be kind of cramped with bags, food, etc imo
@@b3naqua what about the summer? Does the climate control keep cool?
I haven’t tried it in the summer yet cuz it’s like 105 degrees where i am lol
@@b3naqua You should try it at night and record the outside temperature and see if you can get the inside of the car below 80 degrees. Make a good video or info.
What kind of cooler do you use? where do you keep it? I’m looking forward to it road trip soon
It’s nothing fancy, just an insulated Igloo one I think. Space is limited, so it’s a smaller, portable one. Amazon has a bunch of rly good options for portable coolers: amzn.to/397ajvt
YUCKY, on the cooler ...
That uses ice... $$$
Get an actual 12 volt refrigerator and plug it into your power plug...
There are many on Amazon, Walmart and even Truck Stops have them...
Bro, great video. Can you camp in outside HOT 100 degrees weather while sleeping inside with Prius on in ready mode all night long say setting climate control to 70 degrees and ac on? Thanks, stay safe.
Thanks! I haven’t slept in my car in 100 degree heat yet, but hypothetically, you’d probably be fine if you had the a/c running all night, and had enough gas in your tank to support leaving the engine running overnight.
YES.... And the Prius will use even less gas than trying to keep it warm as the AC runs strictly off the hybrid battery... Leave it on fresh air unless it's really humid out...
You might use a half gallon of gas in 8 hours...
Bro hit the power button twice without pressing the brake; it's the equivalent of turning the power on with your key without starting the engine. Your prius will use the battery to regulate the temperature and only turn on the engine periodically and much less frequently than actually turning it on!
Doesn't pressing the power button twice without pressing the brake only put the car into accessory mode? ie it'll use only the remaining battery until its charge is depleted, then it will power the car down until the engine is turned on with the power button + pressing the brake like normal
@@b3naqua on the older models it doesn’t 😳
someone needs to confirm that the car doesn't automatically start to recharge battery like the older cars... I'm on the fence between buying older Prius and new
Totally Wrong...
Only when the car is in ''ready'' mode will the engine cycle on to recharge the hybrid and 12 volt accessory battery...
Running just the accessory mode will make it so the computers have NO Power to allow the hybrid to start the car... It won't take very long depending on how high you have the fan on 😡
Al models are like this...
omg my face is so dry in this video lmao
Bro im abt replace my car. Model 3 or Prius prime?
Hmm both of those are nice but I trust Toyota more than Tesla so I’d prob go with the Prius. It’s not as fancy as the Tesla in some ways, but it will prob be more reliable. Teslas are so nice, but they’re more expensive and are known for having a ton of issues.
Did you bought yours brand new? How much?
10:50 "Mad Max: Fury Road"...with a Prius.
Fix It On The Way lol should I add rocket launchers and giant hammers to the side of my Prius?
@@b3naqua 👍🏼
you can wake up whereever you want, but where do you shower?
Before rona, I used Planet Fitness to shower. Truck stops also have (paid) showers.
Birdy Bath in the sprinklers 😳
Toilet? How do you go number 2?
Rest areas, truck stops, gas stations, gyms
Outside the car, near a bush with your pepper spray ready in case a nosy squirrel surprises you... 😮 😀
I wonder sometimes about how long the hybrid battery will last if I live in my car full time always running the heat and A/C every night.
same
It has climate control: basically the heat/ac will run off “battery only” and then (once it gets low) the engine will kick on to charge the battery for like 5 minutes or so. I’ve heard people say it only uses like a 1/2 gallon the whole night. Not bad! The only thing is it takes away a tad part of the stealth factor when the engine kicks on, but I’m sure the positives outweigh the negatives.
@@NRGRX
Only the AC runs exclusively off the hybrid battery...
The heater will run the engine more to maintain heat..
Might use a gallon in the winter for 8 hrs 👀🤪😱
I hate breathing constant exhaust. Lol
Do you think two people could sleep comfortably?
2 people would be pretty cramped imo. It's doable tho!
Just buy a carbon monoxide detector. They sell mobile ones. Should help you sleep better lol
truth!
How tall are you?
5’10
did he mention where he was parking overnight to sleep? i don't want to wake up in a tow yard l o l
Come back after living in one for a year and tell us about it, pumpkin spice.
I’m baby spice
Exhaust doesn’t run into the car no matter what
You also don’t need to pee or take a dump too.
Would you consider an edible next time?
Wipers😮
ikr
Defrost is slow on prius
24 hr Gyms
they're amazing
I'm getting ready to make my car into my permanent residence. Would you please watch my first video I just uploaded and tell me if you think my car is to small to live and travel in?
Carbon monoxide?! No bro, it can't get into the car if all the windows are closed, as far as condensation goes, leave the climate control on while you sleep... No condensation, no carbon monoxide... Also the tailpipe is far away from the front windows, just crack the front one if you don't wanna waste your gas... I prefer the cold myself...
truth
Uhm.....
Unless your car is always on recirculate AND all the rubber seals are good can CO2 not get in...
Otherwise, your alarm will keep you up all night, though you may knock yourself out when you sit up abruptly from it going off 👀🤪🤩
@@boobtubeakatv1296 you can knock yourself out in a multitude of ways.. Im glad most people arent you.. 🖕
A master tech from Toyota said it's not good for the Prius battery to idle for long hours
He was totally wrong...
Prius taxi cabs & police run theirs all the time with NO Damage 🤪
Dude. just run the air conditioning. Prius is build for camping.
turn off the driver priority air conditioning. just heat up the whole car
The car will run less than 5 minutes and shut off unlikely you’re going have an carbon dioxide issues.
the bed is silk and you didnt put a comforter bed sheet LOL disgusting how can you sleep with a silk surface eeeeeew.......why dont you use the blanket as comforter its way better
I am a disgusting piece of cute trash plz defile my existence I am not worthy of divine internal decadence
why do american parents kick their kids out from their homes? why have kids in the first place? they create something then they throw it away. why? i never understood this. they are fine with their children living out of a car or many who are homeless on streets. come on.
You dont gona breath exausth st all the exaust gas are hot and ges up really fast in the back of your care, theres not possibilities to go in front of your car and been aspirated in front of your glass that is the point where the car have the inlet hose, no way!
Don't get just one...get two carbon monoxide detectors ..... and burn that disgusting pillow case and blanket....
Just going to set my entire car on fire brb