car camping - long term

[offroad]

My friend who has owned them since 2004 tells me the longevity is a quarter million miles though Cubey. Not an expense you are likely to unless you buy one with close to that....<br />Bri

<br /><br />That is about the longevity of an average gasoline engine, before it needs a rebuild.&nbsp; Think 200k miles for either is not bad at all.<br /><br />Is funny, but have not read of many (or any) that have replaced their Prius Batteries just from age.&nbsp; Does anyone have some first hand evidence of replacing the prius batteries at a high mileage?<br /><br /><br /><br />

 

[bobbert]

How well does it do off-roading? ...&nbsp; Also, how much did it cost the environment in manufacturing it

<br /><br />Hi,<br />&nbsp;&nbsp; I don't take the Prius off road.&nbsp; But, I do take it on&nbsp;unmaintained dirt roads even tho' the clearance is only about 6".&nbsp; I've gotten pretty good at driving the ridges on bad&nbsp;dirt roads.&nbsp; I just take it slow and easy ... stopping to study the road to see if I can make it through OK.&nbsp;&nbsp; I would love higher clearance, more than AWD.&nbsp; Although AWD is not an option, I've often thought of installing air bags to give me a few extra inches of clearance when needed.<br /><br />Unfortunately, I don't know the answer to the cost of the environmental impact from the manufacture of a hybrid vehicle.&nbsp; I'm sure the batteries do make a hit.&nbsp;&nbsp; Gratefully hybrids' drive-train batteries are proving to be long-lived on the average (much longer than starter batteries).<br /><br />Peace, Suanne

<br /><br />6" ain't too bad for ground clearance, for a front wheel drive!<br />Sorry if I came off negative about the battery statement-<br />I just was wondering how bad of an impact the environment took, given that some people on the internet claim that manufacturing those batteries ruin it, BUT those ppl have no real evidence-<br />Thanks for contributing <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" />

 

[Guest]

Hi Robert....As far as the environmental hit goes and absolutely no doubt there are negatives there, lead acid batteries are tough on it, and almost all of us are packing around some pretty negative hits in our pockets with the billions of cell phones, etc.. Not to mention the laptops, ipads, etc.<br /><br />I think rather than worrying too much about stemming the tide of the products, it may be better to concentrate on insisting the mining is done responsibly, human rights are observed in the countries who mine the metals and the recycling is done right on them. I think all of those things are being looked at and in some cases done well. At least there seems to be a good recycling program in New Mexico regarding batteries and electronics and the scrap guys love lead acid batteries for the lead scrap.<br /><br />Dunno what is done with the acid in them?????<br /><br />This is just my opinion....haven't looked up any facts on it....<br />Bri

 

[Willy]

&nbsp;I'd really think carefully about takin' it off-roading. It can be tough on a vehicle and think about repairs.. might have to do them yourself.

 

[bobbert]

Suanne, In yer article, you mentioned that you used glue to help the Velcro stick to the inside of the car (for the mosquito netting).
Could you point to me where you got the glue as well as the name of it?
Thanks in advance
bObBy

 

[Suanne]

glue to help the Velcro stick to the inside of the car (for the mosquito netting). Could you point to me where you got the glue as well as the name of it?

<br /><br />Bobby,<br /><br />It's called "Sticky Ass Glue" and I got it at BargainOutfitters.com -- <a href="http://www.bargainoutfitters.com/net/cb/cb.aspx?a=353900">http://www.bargainoutfitters.com/net/cb/cb.aspx?a=353900</a><br /><br />It's starting to fail a bit right now.&nbsp; But lasted 2 years longer than any other glue I tried.&nbsp; Next, I'm thinking&nbsp;of trying that industrial strength 3M tape that others have used to install solar panels on their roof.<br /><br />Also, that Sticky Ass Glue worked fine to stick the velcro to smooth hard surfaces, but didn't work well to glue to pebbled plastic surfaces.<br /><br />Hope that helps.<br /><br />Suanne

 

[gypsydreamer]

<br />I've had good luck gluing sticky backed velcro to the plastic/vinyl trim in my conversion van.&nbsp; I used Lok-Tite Super Glue for Extreme Temperatures (it says Extreme Temperatures on the label). Temps over 100 degrees F, and it's still stuck quite well.&nbsp; Got it at JoAnn Crafts.<br /><br />

 

[bobbert]

here's the Prius that I want...<br />it's the Prius V !!!<br />gr8 cargo room!!!<br /><br /><img src="http://www.toyota.com/img/vehicles/2012/priusv/gallery/full/ext_8.jpg" alt="" /><br /><br /><img src="http://www.toyota.com/img/vehicles/2012/priusv/gallery/full/ext_1.jpg" alt="" />

 

[Vonbrown]

Thank you Suanne for the inspiration. I am "living out of my car" also. It was your blog that got me started!<br /><br />Ihave a 2004 Chevy Malibu Maxx for my "home"

 

[Suanne]

I am "living out of my car" also

<br /><br />Welcome Mike!&nbsp; Good to have another car dweller on here.&nbsp; I really like your set up.&nbsp; I'll be curious to hear how your travels are going ... as well as how you like living out of your car.&nbsp; Please keep us updated ... pics are always welcome <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"> .<br /><br />Happy Trails, Suanne

 

[greybeard23]

I set out a year ago last May in my 2000 ford explorer.&nbsp; Had a roof cargo box and left room in the back for a bed.<br />I used a cooler for cold food storage, though it gets old buying ice.&nbsp; A solar shower works great when you are in an area where you can use it, otherwise, sponge baths work fine.<br />I stayed mostly at forest service and blm campgrounds, half price with a senior card.<br />I did spend the money for a four season tent, wind tested to 75 miles an hour, a six person dome tent.&nbsp; It is big enough to stand up in, and I usually have a kitchen area set up and sleeping area, with a chair to relax.&nbsp; Down in tornado country I was glad to have a tent to withstand strong winds, never had to deal with any tornadoes, but lots of warnings.<br />So, living in a car isn't that bad, I am now going to try it in a van, since my car got taken out back in February in Arkansas.<br /><br />Happy trails!

 

[Pikachu711]

I found an interesting site that has some rather that would be helpful. Here's the url:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.wikihow.com/Live-in-Your-Car">http://www.wikihow.com/Live-in-Your-Car</a><br /><br />Some of the suggestions are quite interesting.

 

[yesican]

That was cute.&nbsp; Thank you Pikachu.<br />Rae

 

[Vonbrown]

Thank you Pikachu

 

[blueberry]

This thread has got me rethinking living out of a car - specifically a Geo Metro. I want to travel all over N. America in the next couple of years before I settle down to a few favorite locations, so gas mileage is important.<br><br>

<em>Bri wrote:</em>&nbsp;<span style="line-height: 20px;">I had a 87 Geo&nbsp;</span><strong style="line-height: 20px;">Metro</strong><span style="line-height: 20px;">&nbsp;that I could sleep in...in fact set it up to see if I could use it for trips to see my kids. I took out the back seat and the passenger seat, made a platform and it was comfy.</span>

<br><br>I bought a new Metro back in '93 and I'm still kicking myself for trading it in on a bigger vehicle a few years later. It was a great little car and got 45 mpg. I still remember paying $8 to fill it up once a week to commute to work. (Those were the days!)<br><br>I've found a couple of 93 Metros for sale at $1500 or less, which I can afford. Both have 200k miles - one has been a toad for years and actually drove far fewer miles. <br><br>I was thinking that if I could comfortably travel and live in one for a year or so, I could save enough for a nice conversion van or class b. But the key word is comfort. I don't know yet how much comfort I need. I'm tempted to buy one and bring it to RTR for some practical experience and advice on how to get the most out of it.<br><br>Am I living in a fantasy?

 

[bk2valve]

Hi LaVonne,<br>I am 6'2" long and there was plenty of room to lay down for me but the issue I had was getting in and out of the drivers seat as well as leg cramps and discomfort for long days due to crappy seat. The issue I had getting in and out was due to the top of the door frame being too low for me. It required I bend my neck in a way that was not possible for me due to previous injuries and a plate in my neck.<br><br>I tried fitting in Brian the Younger's Ford Fiesta and I fit fine getting in and out of it.<br><br>I think 200K is too high for the little 1 liter engine in a Geo. I had to rebuild mine before 200K although it was an easy job to do with the engine in place in the car.<br><br>Good luck...<br>Bri

 

[blueberry]

Thanks Bri, I came to the same conclusion after thinking about it for awhile. I'm looking into minivans now. That sounds like a reasonable compromise re gas mileage and comfort.

 

[offroad]

liking the prius talk in the thread. at 20,000 miles yearly with 50 mpg versus others at 25 mpg. &nbsp; savings are $1600 per year at $4 per gallon of gas. purchase price of $15,000 used.&nbsp;<br><br>is living in a pruis worth an extra $1600 per year? &nbsp;compared to living in a honda element with 25 mpg, with $3200 yearly gas expenses. element has AWD and can have ground clearance increased extra three inches. just enough to get you into- out if trouble. again purchase price $15,000 used.&nbsp;<br><br>might compare the honda element to subaru forester.&nbsp;<br><br>now looking at a van with 12 mpg you spend four times as much as the prius, so $6400 in gas for 20,000 miles. &nbsp; almost $5000 yearly savings over the van cost in gasolene.&nbsp;<br><br>bottom line: &nbsp;25MPG seems a worthy minimal goal, and anything above that is worth it.&nbsp;

 

[bobbert]

<p>

...might compare the honda element to subaru forester.&nbsp;

<br><br><br>Just an FYI...</p><p>My '12 Forester gets 31 mpg hwy w/ appx 8,000 miles on it, thus far.</p><p>-the mpg might improve by a hair or two when motor achieves 25,000-<br><br></p><p>oh, &amp; the 8.9" ground clearance is sweet... It is a dream to drive in the snow w/ the full-time four-wheel-drive! &nbsp;<img rel="lightbox" src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" class="bbc_img"></p>

 

[offroad]

nice subura 31mpg 4wd tech!!