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We've just made something happen that we've been talking + dreaming about for years...we slept in our car. :)
Over the years we have enjoyed tent camping with our family of four in a Prius, but I'm ready to skip rivers running under our tent in the middle of the night + packing a wet tent into the car with everything else we are trying to keep clean + dry. We loved camping in a rented a van in Oregon, but can't justify spending the money to own one. We love visiting a tiny cabin in the woods, but I want to explore new places too. Hotels are nice from time to time, but it's also so nice to be immersed in nature.
I feel most free when I travel with the less + all I really wanted was to have a bed up off the ground that I won't have to set up every night. I found evidence that it's possible to camp in a vehicle (even a Prius). Our Prius is at a point where it is less reliable on a long trip (but still going strong at 200,000 miles), so we bought a used RAV-4 Hybrid.
Last weekend, we tried out our minimal set up + kept surprising ourselves with how great it all worked out. I wanted to buy as little as possible, but did invest in:
I chose a foam mattress (because I am afraid of punctures + then having no mattress to sleep on) but I do love that these exist. The bridge attachment is a real problem solved.
I cut our full-sized mattress to fit (taking the foam out of the covers, cutting it down with a bread knife + stitching + zipping the three sections back in). We used two tubs (our clothing packed inside) topped with two small boxes taped closed to bridge the gap between the front + back seats (+ to support the mattress overhang). Our regular pillows + sleeping bags completed our bedding. This set up was surprisingly comfy, especially combined with the leveling blocks supplied by the campground.
Window screens provide ventilation + create much appreciated privacy + shade. Things I am considering adding for future trips are:
With our bikes + a hammock along for the ride, it was the perfect time of year to be outside in the golden light. There was even an outdoor shower!
Love,
Jane
Over the years we have enjoyed tent camping with our family of four in a Prius, but I'm ready to skip rivers running under our tent in the middle of the night + packing a wet tent into the car with everything else we are trying to keep clean + dry. We loved camping in a rented a van in Oregon, but can't justify spending the money to own one. We love visiting a tiny cabin in the woods, but I want to explore new places too. Hotels are nice from time to time, but it's also so nice to be immersed in nature.
I feel most free when I travel with the less + all I really wanted was to have a bed up off the ground that I won't have to set up every night. I found evidence that it's possible to camp in a vehicle (even a Prius). Our Prius is at a point where it is less reliable on a long trip (but still going strong at 200,000 miles), so we bought a used RAV-4 Hybrid.
Last weekend, we tried out our minimal set up + kept surprising ourselves with how great it all worked out. I wanted to buy as little as possible, but did invest in:
- a comfy full-sized, folding mattress
- window screens
I chose a foam mattress (because I am afraid of punctures + then having no mattress to sleep on) but I do love that these exist. The bridge attachment is a real problem solved.
I cut our full-sized mattress to fit (taking the foam out of the covers, cutting it down with a bread knife + stitching + zipping the three sections back in). We used two tubs (our clothing packed inside) topped with two small boxes taped closed to bridge the gap between the front + back seats (+ to support the mattress overhang). Our regular pillows + sleeping bags completed our bedding. This set up was surprisingly comfy, especially combined with the leveling blocks supplied by the campground.
Window screens provide ventilation + create much appreciated privacy + shade. Things I am considering adding for future trips are:
- a way of leveling the sleeping surface a bit more
- string lights with a USB rechargeable battery attached
With our bikes + a hammock along for the ride, it was the perfect time of year to be outside in the golden light. There was even an outdoor shower!
Love,
Jane
