What kind of vehicle to choose? RV or car or other. Safe place to sleep?

[McBe]

Thank you for all the info!&nbsp; Please keep us posted on what you eventually decide on.&nbsp; <img class="emoticon bbc_img" src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif">

 

[Niall-CorollaLiving]

So the Prius, you just leave the car "on" as normal in park? The gas engine will cut on an off as needed, but you can keep the AC on? How much gas do you burn? Sounds interesting.

 

[Suanne]

Niall,<br><br>Yes, you have it correct.&nbsp; The Prius' engine (internal combustion) only comes on, while in park,&nbsp;when the drivetrain (hybrid) batteries' state of charge gets too low.&nbsp; The AC runs off of the drivetrain batteries.&nbsp; And, when it's on,&nbsp;the engine is quieter than our Honda eu1000 generator.&nbsp; <br><br>I've not ever figured out how much fuel it uses to sleep with the AC on.&nbsp; But, I can tell you that the engine kicks on for about 4-5 minutes every 20-25 minutes.&nbsp; So, for every&nbsp;6 hours I'm sleeping with the AC on, it runs/idles about 1 hour in total.&nbsp; Keep in mind that I set the&nbsp;temp pretty high (78F)&nbsp;to reduce the need to run the AC to as little as possible.&nbsp; But, in hot and humid conditions, just drying the air out helps a lot.<br><br>Now, you have me curious.&nbsp; When I get a chance, I'll have to figure out the amount of fuel that my Prius uses while in park and running the AC.&nbsp; <br><br>Roughly, however, I can tell you that I get&nbsp;more than&nbsp;45 MPG going 45 MPH.&nbsp; At 38 MPH I can easily get between 55 and 60 MPG.&nbsp; So, I think logic would dictate that I use less than a gallon of gasoline for 1 hour of AC while in park ... and I suspect it's closer to a half gallon of gas for an hour AC while parked.<br><br>Suanne ... who thinks Toyota got this one right

 

[McBe]

Suanne,<br><br>If you camped for greater than 6 months (for example, fulltime and no home base), would you consider the same set up you have now&nbsp;or something different?

 

[Suanne]

McBe,<br><br>That's a really good question and one that I've given considerable thought to.&nbsp;&nbsp;But, not to be wishy washy, I think I'd choose the best vehicle for my goal at the time I became a full-timer.&nbsp; <br><br>If I wanted to continue to travel a lot, like I do now, then I'd certainly live out of a car.&nbsp; As I mentioned before, I'd want it to have high clearance to get further back into BLM and FS lands.&nbsp; <br><br>If I needed to have some tools and/or supplies with me in order to earn money&nbsp;or pursue a hobby, or if I had a large dog, I would likely be less mobile and live out of a mini van or regular van.&nbsp; Again, high clearance would be a necessity.<br><br>I can't see myself&nbsp;in an RV.<br><br>That's my thinking right now anyway.<br><br>Suanne ... who continues to downsize at her sticks-and-bricks

 

[RVTravel]

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/at...ading-toyota-question-prius_monster_truck.jpg

 

[Suanne]

Just what I need RVTravel!!! LOL <img class="emoticon bbc_img" src="/images/boards/smilies/rofl.gif">

 

[VanFan]

I am really glad this conversation is happening.&nbsp; I've had a 2012 Prius for almost a year now, and am very happy with it.&nbsp; It has a few features that have helped a lot with climate control, including being able to run the a/c while stopped relatively guilt free.&nbsp; It's funny:&nbsp; the highest temp you can set the a/c for is 85.&nbsp; After that, the heat turns on.<br><br>My van is used for road trips for the two of us, and functions very well for that.&nbsp; If I ever strike out on my own for any length of time, I would be seriously torn between the Prius and Moby, the van.<br><br>

 

[Jack Grit]

Hi Suanne, Very inspired by your ingenuity and willingness to be different in an already different style of living - aka vans et al. Have you seen the newer bigger Prius's and do have any particular thoughts concerning whether they would be better suited for your choice of travel/living? Also have you any tips on stealth camping with the Prius in the city? I have read much of your material and have not seen you mention this.

 

[Suanne]

Hi Jack,&nbsp; I have researched the new Prius V and it does have more cargo space than my '04 Prius.&nbsp; If I remember correctly, the hatch area is almost a foot longer and and&nbsp;over a foot higher at the very back.&nbsp; The ground clearance is about the same.&nbsp; Since I don't need more cargo space and I do want more clearance, the new Prius V doesn't appeal to me at this time.&nbsp; Too bad because I was hoping it would.<br><br>As for stealth tips in the Prius while sleeping in the city, it's really no different than any other vehicle.&nbsp; I try to arrive at dusk to scope out a parking place to overnight.&nbsp; I want to park where it looks like&nbsp;I fit in.&nbsp; Then I leave my selected parking place to shop or do computer work and, finally,&nbsp;get myself and&nbsp;car ready for sleep (wash up, put on sleeping clothes, pull curtains, etc.).&nbsp; I arrive back at my selected spot&nbsp;only to sleep, leaving first thing in the morning, early.&nbsp; If you need to stay in a particular town for a while, do not park in the same area for more than a single night.&nbsp; Keep your vehicle looking well kept and clean.&nbsp; Tinted windows and black matte curtains hung around your sleeping area makes the car appear empty.&nbsp; The curtains, along with&nbsp;cracked windows, help to keep the windows from fogging up.&nbsp; I also use those plastic window awnings (eyebrows) to hide that my windows are cracked.&nbsp; Some good places to sleep in a city may include the parking lots of Walmarts, 24-hour grocery stores, apartment complexes, rest stops, and truck stops.&nbsp; If I plan to park in a store parking lot, I'll typically shop there&nbsp;as a gesture of appreciation. &nbsp;I've left a few cities because their laws to prohibit overnight parking appeared to be strictly enforced.&nbsp;&nbsp;Furthermore, I've&nbsp;changed where I had decided to overnight park because it wasn't feeling very safe.&nbsp; City parking is not where I prefer to sleep; so, I typically use it only for one-nighters while getting from point A to point B.&nbsp; <br><br>Hope that helps.&nbsp; Welcome to the group.<br><br>Suanne

 

[Jack Grit]

Hi Suanne, Thanks for your reply.<br><br>It seems to me a van would be more stealth in the sense that I would think someone looking closely inside a Prius might be alarmed or suspicious with the curtains, but what do I know...I'm a newbie to all this. I have been reading about it and thinking about for a couple of years but one can only glean so much from words - there is no substitute for experience. It's a bummer that the new Prius doesn't have higher ground clearance. That would be great for you. Don't hold your breath though as that would obviously decrease gas millage and millage is what Prius's are mostly about (including the green aspect of course). I would love to own a van because of the room but I just cant see forking over that much money for gas. Likely gas will keep going up as time goes by although the gubment may be able to finagle a way to keep it at current prices of lower.<br><br>Again, thanks for the tips and the welcome to the group.<br><br>~Jack