DIY Honda CR-V camper build - How I can live out of a CR-V 

But.. This removes the back seats, the build in beds, and blocks access to the cooler/under floor storage and table. Then you have to move all your storage somwehre when you are using the bed, or make sure everything is flat enough to fit under it. idk man.. This seems like a lot of effort to remove tons of built in functionality when you could just use a roll up mattress and the built in beds.

I had a '97 CRV but it was destroyed by a drunk driver. What a great car it was, I really miss it. I purchased a second generation 2002, and it's a nice car but my '97 seemed way more rugged.

I recently bought one for $3.3k, had 142k miles on it and the previous owner kept it immaculate. Interior, exterior, and engine bay were CLEAN. No mechanical issues. That was a month and a half ago. A week and a half ago, however, it was stolen and two days later was found totaled. I have comprehensive, but man, I worked hella hard to save that money up, only for it to be gone in just a few weeks. I really loved that car, and I am currently saving up again in hopes to find another one, this time with the 5-speed and AWD instead. Thanks for this video, hella great information that I'll be using in my next one!

I've had my 97 crv for 3 years now. I call him Shaka cause he's a warrior lol he's gotten me to North Carolina and back to jersey on 3 separate trips. I've been staying in my crv for a year now and honestly, I'm ready to gut my interior and build a nice setup for myself. It was embarrassing at first but I'm seeing more and more people living out of there cars and I'm getting more comfortable with it. Not saying I'm going to live like this forever but Shaka needs an upgrade and this is it! Btw he's 275,000 miles old 😂 that's my dude

My first 4x4 was a '99 CR-V, and I took that thing down some insane trails and over obstacles you wouldn't believe. Amazing vehicle, and hands down one of the best and most fun vehicles I've ever owned. I had a 2" lift with 235/75/r15 tires, a DIY roof rack, jerry can on the back, and a 4500lb winch mounted on a custom steel mount I designed that hid the winch inside the factory bumper skin. Sadly I had to part with it due to circumstances outside my control. Thanks for sharing your setup, looks really slick!

I think you covered the quintessential camper setup, hard to beat that. Genius through simplicity 👌

Simply brilliant. I was thinking you could use a 12 volt RV fan on low to keep a nice air flow going through the rig while it gets warmer. Add a coiled up hose to hook to your water supply and be able to direct water flow. If you doubled your water supply and let it get warm from the sun, you can have a camp shower too. I don't think I would add more than double the current weight to the roof rack. A refillable black shower bladder can hang from anywhere and rolls up to a tiny package. I used to be in the Army so we lived in our Humvees and I pimped it out like an RV.

I like this build. It's just a regular car for daily use. When you want to travel for a few days or go out of town for a concert or event, you can easily convert it.

I liked this perspective on overlanding alot...I've been getting so saturated with trying to get the top of the line gear like pull out drawers and kitchen set ups, and this video opened my eyes to keeping it simple!

Super thanks dude, this is exactly what I was looking for. Simple and practical. I'm going to start my build this week!

I just bought a 2006 CR-V! Was thinking about an all wheel drive civic project but a mini camper, now your talking!👍🏼

Man this is so simple yet so perfect! I’ve been following your adventures on IG and I’m taking my Rd1 from NYC to GA so I was curious what your setup looked like. Great way to maximize space and still sleep comfortably 👏🏻 Keep up the awesome work! Stay safe out there 💪🏻

I have a 01 Honda I've used as a daily driver for it's whole life very well maintained I'm now turning into a overlanding vehicle

That’s a badass well thought out setup. Simple. Works great 😮

I have a '98 CRV that I've had since 2016 and I love it. Just installed a new stereo with Apple Car Play and it makes it nearly feel like a modern car without all the bulk. Something about the compact 90's Japanese cars is just so cool. Great video man, really enjoyed the simplicity of your setup. Really makes car camping seem much more attainable when seen like this.

I love the simplicity of the transfer! Also all points are great and make sense, Great video!

Awesome content as always.Thanks for sharing and taking us along

Thank you for this video. Inspiring. Hope to be camping in my CRV soon.

beautiful setup bro! simple and neat! love it !!!

GREAT, PRACTICAL , LOVE IT! I DRIVE A 98 CRV BEEN BACK AND FOURTH TO WA.FROM FLORIDA X3

What a great video. I'm scoring a '97 CRV with 150,000 miles. Would Iove to do what you have done here. Love the advice about simplicity as well instead of giant pull out drawers and such.

I had an '01, I've never had a vehicle that I loved so much. It was a combination of economy, ability and surprisingly space. I'm 6' tall and I could climb into the backseat crouched down but still on my feet and the open view with the large windows was awesome. I have an '11 now and while it's nice it feels way different and I don't have the same love for it.

What I love about this build is that the one thing I’d be worried about is visibility, but the bed lays perfectly under the rear window! Also, that painting on the rear table is amazing. Love the tiny CR-V, it’s adorable. 😂❤️

Great set up! I am making mine more camper ready! That little space in the back is where I have a small kitchen fire extinguisher, it's just the perfect space. I like your tiny added table there too, might do that. Did you know your CRV comes with a table already with it in the back? Mine does and it is a CR-V 2001. It's a bonus feature of the car, the table is the lid of where the car jack goes, you pull it out and it become a table that can hold an umbrella. I call my camper Grand, short for Grandma, she still has some life in her for the road.

Awesome.Thanks for sharing and taking us along

I like your build! And I enjoy reading the positive comments with all the love for CR-Vs! :)

So dope, thanks for sharing :) I can't wait to do something like this with my CR-V someday!!

oooh thank you so much!! I'm so excited, will get a Honda CR-V tomorrow and your video has helped so much :)

Great video. We have a 2002 and and I've been thinking of using it fir camping and metal detecting trips. Your video has great ideas, thank you.

Awesome video! I like seeing these CR-V soft roading builds. It looks like your 97 CR-V is an EX. Here's a fun fact about those EX CR-V's. The front and rear seats actually convert into a bed. When Honda built these at that time, they wanted people to use them to go camping with having a little accessories needed so you have more storage in the car for other things. That's why they included a table in the trunk. It's actually really comfortable using the front/rear seats as a bed. Never tried putting a mattress in there to make it more comfortable though, but can't see why you couldn't. Your CR-V looks so clean, and i like the light bar/pod idea. Might have to do that. Thanks for the video!

I have the same crv what a great idea for camping love it

Excellent advice here. Thanks for sharing Riley!

Amazing. I need to build that bed setup immediately

Finally, someone addressed the 🐘 in the room. Yes! Those heavy-duty drawer slides are crazy expensive. Then there's all the plumbing and electrical equipment. And of course, everyone has a Jackery which , again, is crazy expensive

TY...my 2004 crv actually can fold down all seats to make a built in bed,a portable table also came inside the spare wheel well ,definetly doable/ practical vehicle for camping

Plus the added benefit that your conversion is entirely removable.

I also have a green manual crv, love what you got goin here I have a fire extinguisher in my tail gate compartment. Wouldn’t be bad for a camper set up

I just bought a 97. I had an Element before this and did pretty much the same thing. It got horrible mpg but it was better than the CR-V for camping probably . It was not as easy to work on as the CR-V. I really like the K24 engine. But this B20B seems to run just fine. It only has 124,000 miles and I have all winter to restore. I am thinking of taking the rear wheel drive out of it. I have always had good luck with front wheel drive. I have an 88 Jeep YJ for off road trips. But even just FWD will go very well. Anyway, I loved your video. Well done and informative. I am going to go the water route. carrying two 5 gallon jugs is heavy and take up space I could use for other things. I subscribed and will ask other CR-V owners to do the same. Keep On Trucking young man. Enjoy life.

I like this car, and I have it)) I'm from Georgia, we have high mountains, and the car is very practical!!👍👍👍

Awesome as always

I like your setup. I either bring a tent or convert the interior seats into the bed with pillows and blankets. I also like your table you built into the tailgate, I just use the one under the carpet in the cargo area. I wanted to attach a folding cup holder tray to the tailgate though.

I've been thinking about getting a 1st gen crv to go overlanding for a long time now. Just found your channel and I'm definitely subscribing. Underrated content 😎

Thanks for showing you brilliant SIMPLE but very clever set up - I'm about to start my set up and will copy (copy cat!! :)....) - plus like you say - it can easily revert back to its usual factory set up!! voila!! :)

Add to your recovery kit, a second rope more shackles and a come-along. I had the same crv slide off my driveway in winter, it's steep and tight, I went over the banking and with the come-along I was able to winch it back uphill by tying off to a tree. It was slow but I was able to do it alone, a power winch would be great but a $30 come-along has saved me a few times.

That’s awesome love it 👍👍

👏👏👏🫡 Salute! You have done such an amazing job with this! Very practical and thoughtful. The cost efficiency is very impressive. You also explained things very well. Very well done!

This is an awesome setup, I gotta gen 1 too which I wanna convert into a camper

Excellent advice, thanks.

I got them same shorts. Sweet build

Great video 🙌

Riley, thanks for the great tutorial! I’m wanting to take my RD-1 into the mountains and this is a great start to getting myself prepped. What tires do you have and in your opinion do you think A/T tires are important enough to get over regular all season? Thanks again!

I’m doing a smaller bed build on my 2003 2nd Gen V. Manual transmission model. I removed the right rear pass seat entirely. I only need 30 inches wide for my foam mattress because it’s just me and 2 cats. It’s off to a Baja adventure hopefully in Jan 2024.

bought my 00 crv from family friend for 1500 for my first car. i remember being sooo upset about the high milage and i lowkey thought it was a pos. now that i’ve worked on it i love it so much. the day it sells will suck

I had considered adding curtains to my crv when I go to festivals coz at festivals I generally don't wake up when the sun comes up ;) I need it darker for a bit longer 😂

Love the build! Would you be able to share how you build your platform?

TYSM for the dimensions part of this, my girlfriend has a CRV and it'd be fun to make when we go camping :p

Nice job! Thnx for the inspiratn!

Great video, great idea, i will turn my dad crv to campervan too 😊

I put a portable Weber bbq on the spare tire !

That’s actually pretty nice. I think my Suzuki vitara is almost the same type of car.

Love your set up. I totally geeked out on mine. Do you have the factory picinic table? Itll be in the very back floor.

Hey Riley, loving your new series. What thickness plywood are you using?

Love a honda CRV!!

Nice lil setup 😊

"hi5, namaste" very good video buddy:-*

Buying a 1st gen today lol i I’m stoked it’s even got the little table in the back

The rectangular cubby on the trunk door behind your table is meant for a fire extinguisher but you can use it for a lot of different things I keep my battery jump box in it with cables

Nice build we have a 2013 done something similar to your buildnin my 2006 Nissan Pathfinder SE and 2006 GMC Envoy XL travel a lot during work cheaper to have a build like this than go to the motel

im coverting the second gen crv thanks for the tips

Can you make a video of the dimensions

Pretty 😎 A Honda element is way more versatile. I’ve owned a 2001 CRV manual. But currently own an 08 Element and ❤️ it!

The little rectangle hole in the tailgate is for the tire tool and jack handle that originally came with the car

Awesome build bro. I was thinking of doing something like Josh Wolff did but I think I’ll do something like yours considering I can leave the back seats in. Appreciate the video 🤙🏽

Very informative video, what do you use for climate control? Heater for the cold times and air conditioner for the blazing hot times? Thanks

Thanks for the video, I like your pvc pipe water tank , how long is your bed ?

Riley, this is super cool and I have this exact car. Do you have a video on how you built the platforms or how I can find the dimensions??

I got a 99 manual AWD CRV too!

I just got one of these, i still don't even know all the functions really. it's not a standard and I didn't want an automatic but this was crazy low dollar, i mean amazing. LOL your roof top tent thing you were talking about is baffling me though. I don't understand how that even works. one of the reasons I got mine so low is the roof was bent in, the guy didn't know much about the car but I talked him down of every point I could find, the roof being one of them and it was a big discount. after I got the car , on the way home I stopped and opened the side rear door and with my open had i whacked the roof liner had asfk and the whole roof popped right back like it was supposed to be. LOL I mean instantly, it was holding a puddle of water and that flew up . I dont see how anyone could sleep up there. ( I'm big but not even a small person ). very weird. one of the other things was the radio was blocked, I still can't believe I did it but on the 9th try I guessed that number. I was going to pull the head unit and call the dealership with the serial but I didn't have to. another thing that I talked him down on was it pulls to the right. I didn't realize whats up with the all wheel drive, i thought it would be like my 01 yukon denali all wheel all the time. is the automatic that way as well? I mean is it like you said, the rear wheels only drive when the front wheels slip? cause thats kind of a game changer as the wheels should be all the same on a awd vehicle right? if they are not driving when normal driving is happening the front wheels will wear faster correct? at the moment, the car has 3 different brand tires so I think that is why it pulls to the right. but i might have to align it after I get 4 new tires. when i say i just got this I mean, I have not even been to the DMV to transfer title yet. i really don't know anything about the functions of everything. I only got 1 key and no key fobs. do all of these come remmot access locks? Mines and EX, I looked up some remote instructions for the 99 and it has some things that make no sense for programming, stating I have to push the valet button that is between the am/fm and the CD button. my radio has 6 presets in a single row and there is no button between the am fm and CD button. so I dont know if I should invest in fobs.

Super cool

Hey man, nice video! Do you need the platform or is it completely optional? I imagine it probably looks a lot better with the platform but I figured I’d ask.

For the small storage compartment in the back door, I would put some spices in there

Good job, I had a car like this 👌

super cool

I put a Kings 2x2.2 meter awning on it & has 3 sliding walls to enclose can put 2x2 person tents in it table cooking entertainment 15.6 laptop internet & movies on the gocan sleep in the car too.

Nice set up. Did you make your 4.5 gallon water tube? If so, do you have a video on that. Thank you

Had a 1998 honda crv it was even the same color green... I accidentally hit a deer going 40 mph and it just leapt over the thing! Killed the deer graveyard dead. I don't waste anything so we just loaded it up took it home and cleaned it... had venison steaks. First gen crv are the most useful capable vehicles ever made in my opinion, far more of a people's car than a VW beetle and the AWD can nearly climb a block wall. I have pushed snow with the bumper and in icy weather drove past jeeps and trucks in the ditches that had chains on while I was sporting bare rubber. I even pulled a loaded Chevrolet 2500hd diesel box truck UP HILL back to a guys house... you should have seen the look on his face!😅

Hi Riley! this is awesome, I have a 2008 CRV and I would really love to create something like this for my car, but honestly I have no idea where to start 🥴 do you have any advice or tutorials on how to make the bed frames for someone with no experience making this sort of stuff at all? I do have a lot of determination though ... that is one thing I do have lol

Cool af I want to do this with mine so I can go snowboarding overnight up at tline

Nice build 👍👍

16:45 is that a brand spanking new 5th gen CR-V parked over there? Nice.

Saludos desde la paz bcs Mexico 🇲🇽 tengo una camioneta igual,quiero hacer lo mismo excelente

Wow I love it. I've had my 97 crv for about 7 months and i got it at 220k miles now it has 245k and has been so reliable been thinking of taking it camping over in Yosemite and this setup is literally perfect ! Great job brother Whats are the measurements for your bed setup it fits exact.

For more pressure, tilt the pipe in an angle :) could be so easy 👍 great ideas!

How much would you say it costs to make the whole bed support thing? also where did you get your window/rain guards? I love the build man it’s amazing!!

Pretty cool Riley! Do you have the parts list and instructions for building that water pipe/storage container? Thanks

Amazing build out! Any chance you could share the exact dimensions of the bed platform? I’m thinking of just copying it, it’s perfect.

I'm trying to build a table for my RD1 tailgate too! Having a bit of trouble though, any tips from yours?

Amazing build! What kind of wire did u use to attach to the table on the trunk? I can’t figure how u made it look so clean

Awesome stuff thanks for this! Would be nice to have a list of the items you mentioned, esp the charger thingy which I would like to buy. Just an idea, thanks. Also how do you attached the water pipe to the roof, just strapped on or what? (I have no idea why you wld put your water in a pipe, why not just in water jugs?)

Love the bed mod!!! Can you send the dimensions of your material top boards legs?? Looks like a perfect set up I want to duplicate!