Part-time SUV-dweller new to the forum

[SUV_RVing]

Hi everyone. My name is Tristan. I joined the forum about 6 months ago and have been lurking for ages but only started posting recently. I'm not a vandweller, but I travel and camp a lot in my little SUV (a 2011 Toyota RAV4). I call it SUV RVing. I'm a 30-year-old writer based out of northern Utah, and my little home (on wheels) away from home has taken me to something like 9 western states and almost 20 national parks over the past couple of years. I love it! The RAV4 (christened Raven) gets ~31 MPG at 60 MPH. That was the main impetus for me getting a smaller vehicle. Plus it's just easy and fun to drive.

My setup is pretty simple. The rear seats fold down, and I have an inflatable camping mattress/pad that goes along one side of the vehicle. The rest of the vehicle is used for storage. I have a shelf in the back that holds a bunch of my commonly used items, and the big plastic storage bins that I sometimes have in the back go up on top of the shelf to get them out of the way when it's time to sleep.

Here are a few photos of my setup and some of my favorite campsites:

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[img=640x480]http://i.imgur.com/vfpRQL8.jpg[/img]

[img=640x480]http://i.imgur.com/R67ITSY.jpg[/img]

[img=640x480]http://i.imgur.com/LDwveAK.jpg[/img]

[img=640x480]http://i.imgur.com/KC7oYtU.jpg[/img]

[img=640x480]http://i.imgur.com/NwpEt8Y.jpg[/img]

 

[rvpopeye]

Welcome aboard SUV_ RVing,,,and it really looks like you're a vandweller to me , so change that to welcome to posting .
Nice spots btw.

 

[cyndi]

SUV_RVing! Welcome to the CRVL forums! Vandwellers is a state of mind, not necessarily the rig you call home. Seems like you're there. Nice rig, great set up!

To help you learn the ins and outs of these forums, this "Tips & Tricks" post lists some helpful information to get you started. We look forward to hearing more from you.

 

[rvwandering]

Your setup looks great! It sure has let you visit a lot of beautiful places!

 

[ArtW]

Welcome! I was going to comment on trying to get dressed in that tiny thing, but the places you camp, not a problem, crawl out, dress

 

[ShawnaNana]

Hi Tristan!


Fancy seeing you here! I saw your post on /r/vandwellers a few days ago and have been reading your book since. I really appreciate the tips and tricks while I'm moving into my own SUV! I loved the shelf with the clothes net underneath but the cargo shade thing just takes up too much space to work in my Exploder, dangit!

Anywhoo, hello, welcome! I'm new here as well, looking forward to absorbing yours and others' knowledge before full time SUVRVing/vandwelling/snaillyfe

 

[SUV_RVing]

Hi Tristan!


Fancy seeing you here! I saw your post on /r/vandwellers a few days ago and have been reading your book since. I really appreciate the tips and tricks while I'm moving into my own SUV! I loved the shelf with the clothes net underneath but the cargo shade thing just takes up too much space to work in my Exploder, dangit!

Anywhoo, hello, welcome! I'm new here as well, looking forward to absorbing yours and others' knowledge before full time SUVRVing/vandwelling/snaillyfe

The shelf with the clothes net underneath has been so great! Before that I had a big plastic set of drawers set up on one of the seats, and that held my clothes. I like the net much better.

Are you talking about one of the retractable things that covers the cargo area? Yeah, I had to get rid of mine in order to really use the shelf. Not a huge deal for me, as the shelf itself shades/covers whatever is underneath it.

I'd love to see pics of your setup once you get going!

 

[SUV_RVing]

Welcome! I was going to comment on trying to get dressed in that tiny thing, but the places you camp, not a problem, crawl out, dress

Aw, it's not that bad! If you can get dressed on a bed, you could get dressed in my SUV.

 

[ShawnaNana]

The shelf with the clothes net underneath has been so great! Before that I had a big plastic set of drawers set up on one of the seats, and that held my clothes. I like the net much better.

Are you talking about one of the retractable things that covers the cargo area? Yeah, I had to get rid of mine in order to really use the shelf. Not a huge deal for me, as the shelf itself shades/covers whatever is underneath it.

I'd love to see pics of your setup once you get going!

It's super simple for now. I've put maybe $60 into it for Reflectix, a couple Rubbermaid drawers, and some wood to build half of a sleeping platform to go where the seats used to be. Still lots of room for customization!

Here's an album.

 

[livesimply5]

Love how you did the rav 4. We have a hnda crv we are considering using for our first vandwelling experience. We hope its big enough.

 

[highdesertranger]

welcome Tristan. nice pics. if I may next time you post pics can we get a little info on them. highdesertranger

 

[SUV_RVing]

welcome Tristan.  nice pics.  if I may next time you post pics can we get a little info on them.  highdesertranger

Sure thing. Here you go:

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Above: My setup. Bed on left, storage bin on right, with a shelf above for more storage space.

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Above: The bins can go on top of the shelf to create a lot of room.

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Above: Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Washington

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Above: Somewhere in southern New Mexico

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Above: Below Signal Peak in southeastern Utah

[img=640x480]http://i.imgur.com/vfpRQL8.jpg[/img]
Above: Camping above Lake Tahoe

[img=640x480]http://i.imgur.com/R67ITSY.jpg[/img]
Above: North of Truckee, CA

[img=640x480]http://i.imgur.com/LDwveAK.jpg[/img]
Above: Just below Big Bear, CA

[img=640x480]http://i.imgur.com/KC7oYtU.jpg[/img]
Above: Just outside Lake Havasu City, AZ

[img=640x480]http://i.imgur.com/NwpEt8Y.jpg[/img]
Above: Sedona, AZ