Conquering The Great Outdoors in a Prius

Lots of car camping w/my 2001 Prius. It has a 110 vac inverter added which usually makes expresso. But you can also crock-pot a main dish on the way to the campground.

There are several teardrop trailer mfrs, but I have not yet seen one following a Prius.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tochatihu @ Sep 25 2006, 08:11 AM) [snapback]324611[/snapback]</div>

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<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(priusguy04 @ Sep 25 2006, 12:07 PM) [snapback]324576[/snapback]</div>

Yes, I like a lot to camp in the great outdoors. Forgive me, but the idea to use a tent that hooks up to your car sounds silly to me. You can't drive a car to the places I really like!

 

At one of the shows I was at this year ... was it Tour de Sol or
Hybridfest? I can't remember ... some guy's exhibit was "motel
Prius", where he'd put in a backing board up the right side on the
folded-down seats sort of like my freight-bed but arranged things
under it so it could be flatter, and had a full-length [like 7 ft]
comfy sleeping space. The downside of doing something like this,
though? Ventilation and condensation. I camped in a similar way
this spring at one point, and my body emitted enough moisture that
it collected up on the inside of the hatch window and basically
*rained* inside the car. Eww. Didn't help that it was a very wet
week to begin with; I tried running the defroster for a while before
going to sleep to try and remove as much moisture as possible, but
that didn't really do it once I'd shut the car down for the night.
.
If there was an easy way to periodically run the fan to shove some
fresh air through the car without opening the windows and letting
the bugs in, that might be nice. [Don't bother pointing to any of
those clip-in-the-window ventilator fan kits; they all suck.]
.
_H*

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(vtie @ Oct 1 2006, 09:01 AM) [snapback]326468[/snapback]</div>

Agreed!
But to some, that is the most outdoors they can handle.

It's not really camping. It's more like a trial car breakdown while on the road and seeing how long you can comfortably stay near your car and out of a house. HINT: Your garage would be more comfortable, and you could always open the garage door if you want a little “outdoor adventure.†:lol:

This is my idea of four season camping. (In the Sierra, not in other places which suffer from heat or rain storms :mellow: )
Bring as little as possible and yet remain reasonably comfortable and safe.

http://www.rei.com/product/47992240.htm

Just getting away from the inevitable annoying jerks which invade every car/ RV “campground†is sooooo worth it.
But the ever changing scenery is the best reason.

 

Yes, I know Toyota does not recommend towing a trailer with a Prius, but exactly what kind of trailer are they thinking of? Of course not an Airstream. But what about those little teardrops?

I love the idea of a teardrop trailer. In fact after following some of those links I did some searching. Averages seem to be $3,000-$7500 depending on if you go vintage, used or new and what options you get. You can get some at 1000 lbs or lighter. (Prius passengers: 900lb + cargo: 600lb = 1500lb) CA requires brakes when it's over 1500 lbs so I'm wondering how these things are without added brakes. You don't need to add brake lights unless the brake lights of the towing vehicle cannot be seen so I'm wondering how low a profile you can get. Now, can the Prius take the weight of a, say, 1000 lb trailer (that's fully packed total weight) if I'm the only person in the car (and my 55lb dog)? I mean, that trailer would equal four adults plus cargo/luggage. As long as I'm not drag racing up stee inclines, could the Prius do it unharmed? (Yes, I know the mileage would suck.) BTW tires on one of the little teardrops are 13".

Sigma Automotive has a hitch for $175.

BTW there are specifics as to balancing the trailer so that the weight is slightly forward but not too much. I would assume that would have to do with avoiding putting too much weight on the hitch so as not to "lift" the front wheels. One of the teardrops was for a small, 4 cyl European car. Now the Prius is pretty heavy. I can't believe it can't haul a little trailer and a Citroen can.

Some of them are just too cute. I'm not much for peeing under a tree or sleeping on the ground (not even in a tent, not even with an inflatable mattress in a tent) but I can see myself camping in one of these. I'd rather cook over wood or coals in a firepit than use a propane stove.

Some have water tanks and batteries with AC or DC. I can see rigging one to tie into the Prius electrical system with an inverter. BUT if I'm going camping I'm NOT bringing a TV/DVD player et all. No, an "entertainment center" is not appropriate to my little teardrop.

Now all I have to do is win the lottery.

BTW I love the idea of the tent add on to the hatch. But I saw a tent add-on room for a little teardrop trailer. I think little guy makes it. Now *that* would make it perfect for camping.

With a portapotty.

 

Hi hycmguy07, I am HERE TODAY looking for as much info as possible to take my wfe camping in my super '07 pak5. She just LOVES camping ! I did as a kid then, after we got married & moved to Fl - she took me to Camp Wilderness in Disney World. I got as sick as a dog-sinus, throat, personallity they & a lot more, went into the toilet. Since we had 2 young sons w/ us. I roughed it out and haven't gone "glamping" in 31 years of marriage. Well the past 3years were spent fighting S-4 throat cancer, which I am now a survivor,thank God.
So now, i know she's got a tent, Coleman stove> She just informed me we need a coleman coffee-maker & a blow-up mattress that Sam's seems to have the best deal> Now all i need & desire is ADVISE. PLEASE.....
Oh BTW, my '07 now has 140+k up from the 57k when I bought him back in '12. Still getting 48-52 hyway/city. Ya gotta LOVE it. Thanks for reading me. DonT

 

hycam guy hasn't been seen in 10 years, but do some more searching or start a new thread, we have lots of campers.

all the best!

 

Prius takes you to campsite just as well as any other car with low ground clearance and unimpressive tires can do. Possibly less well as some bottom-bits won't forgive puncture. Driver skills always matter if attacking poor roads. If only one Prius ever has gotten to Mahogany Flats in Death Valley... It was not easy

Prius (small) trailer-pulling has had several discussions at PriusChat. By warranty it is a no, but in practice, there have been many. Dragging trailers over bad roads seems generally unwise.

Assuming campsite arrival, Prius and other cars with 'modern' electrical systems provide nice benefits.

 

THANK YOU bisco

 

pleasure.