Im making a big move soon and will be living in my car like permanently and ive been so discouraged by so many people about how living in my car will never work and then i see videos like this and I feel a lot better. I never thought to try and take the seats out of my corolla. I cant wait to do this.
Everything you wrote is exactly how I feel! I’m doing the same.. trying to be brave, remain positive, and budget-y! I’d love to connect with you virtually to stay motivated!
What a neat idea. I didn't realize that those back seats could come out so easily and I love how these modifications can easily be undone and everything put back in place if you go to sell the car later.
Yes in the Toyotas the rear seat backs come out easily. My Camry has about 8 bolts to remove but they come easily. I think it took me about 5-10 minutes to remove the seat backs so very easy and you only need a socket and rachet.
THANK YOU FOR THIS! I’ve been watching a tonnnnn of videos like yours but this is what I’ve been looking for: simple and efficient! You have my exact same car too! I’m doing this!!!
Finally - somebody who is smart enough to use memory foam. Have watched 100 of these videos and am always so surprised by peoples excessive use of air mattresses, which of cause all eventually leak, andmemory foam is just so much more comfortable to sleep on. Nice.
Thanks Anthony! I agree that air mattresses although convenient are not very sustainable or long lasting. Plus you will need to carry an airpump and have reliable electricity to use one.
To think I was going to blow thousands trying to get a roof top tent, this is way cheaper and ideal for someone on a budget. Thanks for this, I going to convert my honda civic
If you’re planning on keeping this setup. I would recommend getting them windows tinted if your state allows it. For additional privacy. Here in Alberta, Canada, it’s allowed to have as low as 0% tint in the back windows. So no one know I have a camper in the back of my SUV.
Definitely an option! There are a lot of options when looking at stealth camping as well. I am constantly converting my car into different set ups depending on what I am up to.
Great step-by-step tutorial! I'm converting my Camry into a camper. Wow theres a lot more space between the trunk and rear seats on the Corolla. Good luck on your channel, keep it up!
I like this setup (although I'm planning on using Reflectix covered with Black material for the window shades, partially so it can help keep heat in or out, and it will black out the windows too so it's not as easy to look in. Also on some of those, the rear seat brackets can be taken out and I would take them out if you can (they do come out in my 2020 Camry, and it takes another 5 minutes to remove them but definitely worth it so that the plywood can lay flat. But this is the type of "build" I want to do so I can travel long trips and not have to worry about hotels. Of course I couldn't live out of something like this, but for a few nights I probably could (and for showering, if you just find a rest stop or truck stop that has a shower, you can do that once a day or every other day).
you could also gain a few inches of headroom by leaning the seats forward once the plywood is in, since basically every car seat is going to be angled backwards.
Super THUMBS UP BRO👍👍👍👍 YOU AND I HAVE THE SAME CAR AND NOW I KNOW HOW TO TAKE OUT A SEAT. AWSOME VIDEO GREAT JOB. YOUR VIDEO IS A ONE OF A KIND....NOW I CAN CAR CAMP WITH MY 2012 COROLLA I am subscribed
I think I would prefer one solid piece of board instead of the three, I can see those spreading apart or one dipping lower than the other and being uncomfortable. I didn't realize though how easy it was to take out the seats. This is a great option for someone camping, who needs to go on a long road trip and just needs to sleep at rest stops until they reach their destination, or even as a longer term solution for someone who is between housing.
What if I just swap the Corolla backseats with sedan seats that fold all the way flat??? The Toyota Matrix seats do that. Anyone know if they’re interchangeable?
I am sure you can find a viable alternative, would just recommend staying away from OSB wood. You will want some kind of solid surface between the mattress and the car.
dude did you do a word for word voice over where you've got a mask on??? bc I can't see a mic *anywhere* that would give such a clear recording. if you did, you did a great job, your expressions and the mask moving match up like, perfectly hahaha
Yes, I cant believe you were able to catch this hahaha. Its really nice having the mask on because it makes it way easier to do voice overs and make it look legit. Thank you!!
Im copying your ideas and doing that with my 2012 Honda Civic, I had an issue with the frame between the trunk and the back seat, but now I know that frame comes of, it went from 25" to 36" by removing the frame from both sides.... thanks again
Glad I stumbled onto this. I was wondering how I could make my car more comfortable to sleep in and I did fold my back seats down, but taking them out would probably help out and make things a lot easier. Awesome. :D
I been living in my car 3 years now and one thing i can say is you will save alot money but in return you will have a lot of health problems. At the end i treasure health more than money
which Corolla is this ? which gen, and EU or US version ? for 1999 Corolla EU version (i think gen 6, that with insect eyes) it is imposible to fit, at least for someone with 185cm . .
I also have a 99 US 8th gen. I drove across the country a few years ago. I drove solo 6700 miles round trip. I removed the front passenger seat. Then put a board from front to back. I also removed the backseat cushion. If you're not too tall you might could make it work sleeping on your side. I used the cushions from my sofa to make the platform comfortable. Also did the popular reflectix handmade window covers. Be careful blocking all window's if police are persistent with checking cars completely boarded up. Just don't cover the two front or you might get that knock in the middle of the night. California was the only State that was a problem. Probably because it has the worse homeless problems. Hope this gives you some ideas.
4:26 always makes me laugh when we say "its real important we get this exact " followed by a definitely not exact "measure from right ABOUT right here"
I highly recommend keeping the plywood as a single solid piece! Sometimes if I am car camping by myself, I will only convert half the seats down and so will only use one of the plywood pieces since there is not room for the whole thing. Its not too uncomfortable in pieces, but would definitely be better with a solid piece.
Great question! I usually keep at least one window cracked down just a bit to get some fresh air and ventilation in the car. I have had condensation form on some of the windows during the winter time. I have woken up to find small icicles formed on the rear window of the car some cold mornings in the Blue ridge mountains. I haven't had this problem when travelling in the Southwest in the winter or in general traveling in warmer months.
@@smileyoutdoors4872 Thanks for a very useful video! About that window/condensation issue, I would crack down one window so that it’s not too stuffy inside in summer. But do you feel it might be a safety issue, like it might be easier for some to steal/rob your car (or, worse, inject poison gas) from that window while you are sleeping?
Most States its against the law to sleep in your car, but it can be done stealth if you don't cover your two front windows. California was the only State I had that problem. The police can be on the look out for this because of having the worst homeless problem in the USA. Other States no problem.
@@nomadyesmad4875 By that logic they would be ejecting a big fraction of the population out of their houses. I think it's more they don't want a type of person who is antisocial in character and it's easy to get tarred with the same brush.
Thanks for a great video! To avoid it being too stuffy inside the car in summer, I would crack down one window. But do you feel it might be a safety issue, like it might be easier for some to steal/rob your car (or, worse, inject poison gas) from that window while you are sleeping? Any other suggestions for solving the ‘stuffy’ issue?
