YEP, I love my Subaru Forester too. I have a Nissan truck Long bed but not running and with gas at $5 not caring much about that either. Pray for sunny days in a Subaru.
Where do you found such girl who would like to camp in car like you? She’s the pearl! One thing to do stuff you really like, but much better if your loved one can share it too. God bless you both and happy camping!
That's amazing you are both sharing the same passion! I'm playing yo start my car - camping road trip in next year with my toddler, so thanks for will the tips! I just found your channel and I'm gonna parknhete for a while hah 😎😎 have a wonderful safe and joyful journeys for both of ya 🙏🤗💖💙🌈🌺💜🙏🤗🙏
We've always viewed car camping as a means to an end, like backpacking, it's not meant to be luxurious but to get you out there. Anyone who complains about the little discomforts at night should try to plan more exciting days to make it worth it.
I like to sleep outside when on a “camping” trip;) And when predominantly “car” camping I use my three man tent instead. Makes way too much sense, I know.
My son and I regularly sleep in our Subie. We especially enjoy sleeping in it during inclement weather. You’re so right that it’s very similar to backpack camping. Kitchen gets set up outside under a tarp. I just slide both front seats up and stow any gear and small cooler in the front. No platform but we have plenty of room with both back seats laying down. My Subie is my fave “tent” 😉
So my wife and I have had our Subaru Outback for over 2 years now. We'll go out for a week to explore the Grand Canyon, Utah Red Rocks, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Crater Lake, and the North Coast of California. We carry a small two-man tent along with all the camping gear in a Thule cargo box on top of the Subaru, but most of the time we sleep in the back of the Subaru. We used to have a Volkswagen Camper so we know what it's like to be in a small space. We lay out the back of the Subaru with two sleeping pads then we put a nice roll-up mattress on top of that, and then sleeping bags or if it's worm just the bedspread. We are very comfortable in it, and it's quiet and insulated. We do a lot of dispersed camping and we've had a lot of fun times in the Subaru.
Great vid! I have gotten cat called alot for car camping in my xterra and my naysayers(whom I love to death) cant understand that the 'foot print' in my xterra is more roomy that their $300 North face tents and I'm out of the weather, bears, and bugs, and all I have to do to get ready for bed is take my shoes off. One thing I would like to mention for those who are thinking about doing this for the first time. Get you rig set up how you think you will like and spend a few nights in it before you actually go camping. You may be very surprised how a little tweak here and there can make a world of difference for a good nights sleep. Thanks for the vid, Brotha!
I think you hit the nail on the head-when you are in a small vehicle (in terms of interior space) thinking more like a backpacker and less like an RVer is the ticket. I admire some of the totally built out rigs that people use for months long journeys and begrudge no one their tolerance for minimalism but for the type of camping the vast majority do there is currently - in my mind only - a lot of overkill in the overland world. One point to consider is that it often requires some unloading of gear when you are sleeping you need to be well aware of the area and ensure you are not putting bags of food out or anything that might attract the critters (of all sizes)- so proper bear boxes or tree hoisting might be needed.
Congratulations on getting married! We have slept in our Subaru only once. (2018 3.5 Outback touring). So cozy! We were at Harris Ranch, if you travel from SJ to So Cal, you can camp out in their parking lot for a night! Let the security know you are sleeping in your car, trailer, whatever. See you OUT there!
I just got an Outback and I want to set it up for car camping, but had no clue where to start. This was helpful. Eventually I plan to get a camper van, but that's still years away and I want to travel now without worrying about accommodations.
Storing gear in rugged, lockable bins that can be set outside at night (or even on top in a cargo carrier) to leave the back of vehicle open for sleeping always seemed a better idea than a rooftop tent. Haven't actually tried it though (we have a trailer we tow behind our Outback)
78” long is fantastic!! I think that my vehicle will max out at a 75” long mattress (but luckily ankles can hang off the edge like on a recliner if need be, if you sleep with head by the lift gate). Yeah same deal for me, the center console dictates how long of a mattress I could use, however on each side of it you can have extra length with the front seat moved up!
Me and my wife slept out of the trunk of a $400 Craigslist 1997 Saturn Sedan when we spent a winter in Hawaii. Granted we had the car and slept out of it for maybe two months tops, a Subaru would have been a much better situation. For whatever reason I love sleeping out of Subaru’s.
Absolutely we can. We have a 2016 Outback and my wife and I have taken it to 35 states and two Canadian provinces, camping all over the place. We can even add in two small dogs, but that does get a bit tight sometimes.
I own an 05 forester and can definitely sleep 2 in it, just requires some moving of things. If you have a rooftop cargo pod it makes life easy. Just shove stuff in the front seats and cargo pod, then there’s enough room to setup to sleep.
I just got a Subaru Outback and it’s a great adventure vehicle! I would personally get a hard shell pop top roof top tent like a James Baroud and store all the bedding up there and put all my gear inside the car, but it’s also a heavy investment and makes the vehicle more top heavy too.
Congrats on your marriage. And I've got to say I admire you. There is no way even I could sleep in that small space let alone with another person. And how do you protect your gear leaving it outside? I'm thinking in bear country, in particular. Not every campground has bear lockers. I've thought about a roof top tent but they are quite pricey. I guess I'll just stick to my ground tent. It's a 3 person tent. Not really big enough for 3, in my opinion, but it does give a little more space.
I sleep 2 in the Suburban with 2 dogs and it feels larger than our king size bed. Probably because the Suburban has a full 4'x8' at it's narrowest points. The dogs sleep below our feet instead of beside us in a normal bed.
Hi Chase, thanks for another great video. Can you share the brand and size of your storage bin? I haven't been able to find it listed anywhere and I've been looking for one like that. Thanks!
Wife and I sold our old vanagon (just got tired of a vehicle that could barely get up hills) and looking for something to do car camping for bike weekends near a trail head. Outback is on our list, but issues is in 6’4 (193cm) so length is the biggest issue. How tall are you as it doesn’t look like you’ve got much room to go with the hatch closed.
These questions are not related to space for sleeping but didn't know where to put them. Apologies if this was already addressed. What happens if you have a flat? Do you have a full size spare or the donut? Where do you keep it? the jack? other related tools? If it is in the wheel well there's a lot of stuff to drag out to access them. (I just changed a tire to remind me of the issues. Now gonna buy wheel chucks.)
I didn’t talk about that in this video. I just have the normal donut and jack setup that comes with the car. If I get a flat I will have to move some stuff and unbolt the platform to access the spare, but it is such an infrequent problem that I’m ok with the extra work if it does happen. A full size spare would be great but I have not gone that direction yet.
how wide is the car inside on the narrowest point without the modification if i would like to fit just a mattress.. could i get 120c, x 200cm mattress inside
