Easy NO Build Car Camper Conversion + all the ESSENTIALS you need! From a 3+ yrs full timer! 

It always surprises me that so many people don’t know about Leave No Trace. I’m Australian so maybe it’s more commonly taught here. But typically the main rule is “Take only photos, leave only footprints.”

I've recently decided to change my lifestyle dramatically and spend 3-4 months/year on the road. This video just made the transition so much easier. Thanks for speaking honestly to true beginners. Seriously, I think this video just saved me weeks of frustration.

My husband and I lost everything in a fire so we are going to be living in a car. Your videos have been really nice to learn from! Thank you.

Tip for super cooling a standard cooler. If a Yeti is out of your price range or you are going to be in areas where a Yeti would attract attention or get stolen, you can super chill a standard cooler with a couple things from the hardware store. Most coolers have insulation on the sides, but the lid is hollow. You lose a lot of cold through the lid. Pick a cooler that you can pop the lid off. Drill two small holes in the back of the lid where the lid attaches to the cooler. Get a can of Great Stuff expanding foam. You may or may not need a whole can, so plan this project with a friend to do their cooler or fill any gaps around the house with the leftovers. It's just hard to reopen the can after you've used it once. Do this outside and have newspaper or paper bags to lay under the lid if needed. Insert the straw and spray the foam slowly into one hole just until it starts to come out the other. This foam will expand to fill the whole lid. Let it cure overnight and there should be a bubble of foam over the holes if you did it right. Trim the excess off and clean up the outside. This is why you don't want to drill holes in the inside of the cooler where your food will be exposed to it - it's impossible to seal it up at this point. So pick a spot in the back that's easily concealed. While you wait for the lid to dry, you need some Reflectix bubble foil and foil tape. Measure and cut a liner with a fold over lid that fits perfectly into the cooler. Basically you are going for a flat fold box type shape with the corners cut out. Use those to do covers for your small windows! Use the foil tape to put the liner together inside the cooler so it fits perfectly. Then pull it out and do the tape over the seams on the outside. So with the liner in place and the foam filled lid, I've had ice last days longer than just the cooler alone. You can pull it out to rinse it off and the liner won't absorb water. I pull mine out of the cooler every few days to let the cooler air out. I hope someone finds this helpful.

I just did 37 days in my rx350. 11 states. It was amazing. Nikki’s channel helped me so much.

You won me over in the first two minutes. As a father of two daughters "safety first" really hits home for me. This was a great video. I am going to be taking a car/camping trip this fall and I will be incorporating some of your ideas. Thank you!

Great video Miss Nikki. In my Prius V setup, I have converted my stove to electric plus a 700 watt microwave. Use a shower tent with a solar bucked to heat water. No TP, just baby wipes. Baby wipes for everything. Vinegar for dish washing plus disinfecting my water. You can also get premade screens from a company out of England. Also use a portable Teardrop Awning for the back to cook under or just hang out. I removed all the seats except driver and put the bed on the floor from the dash to the main battery pack, more room in the back. I put the Engel 40 quart fridge next to the bed behind the driver's seat. (very little draw). I added an extra 12 volt battery that is wired in parallel to the other Toyota battery which gives me 90 amp hrs of storage, all hooked into a 2000 watt pure sinewave inverter. At night, I run the AC/Heater on low fan and use a USB fan to circulate the air. I use about 1/2 gallon of fuel a day. Basically, I watched every Prius Camping/Living video out there and just took all the best things that worked for me. Comfort plus fuel efficiency. 👍

I was traveling last month and saw these nice ppl. Started chatting with them. Apparently their car was wrecked by a deer and it is in the shop for 8 days : while the 4 of them sleep at a gas station outside during 45 degree nights with no jackets. The difference between them and I: I have full coverage insurance, rental, road side and monies for a hotel. They only had liability insurance so they were out Please get good insurance with all the bells and whistles if your living in your car or away from home Rental and Roadside is only an extra 30 bucks Hotel is tricky bc some require a few hundred dollar deposit, some only accept card or cash. And one time I needed a hotel and the cheapest one was 250 😞 Then there is a cab fee. But what will you do if you wreck at 9pm... where will you go Safety first 😀

People often forget all the things they need or the emergencies that could arise, so great video Nikki. Proving you can go small and still have a great experience on the road. I hope you have a wonderful trip in Europe stay safe and enjoy the moments.

Great info! Sounds like there is no way to get away from humidity when car/van camping. If you crack the window open and it’s humid out the humidity will get in...and if you don’t, it will get humid inside🤷🏼‍♀️Love that bag thing to absorb moisture! I have watched at least 300 videos and have never seen that👍

Great how to video. I'm amazed at the items you have packed into your Prius. You and Camper have a wonderful and safe summer!

I love "delving" into your life Nikki. To me, you are perfection!

This was an awesome video. Your set up now looks very comfortable. Lots of great tips and info.

An amazing amount of stuff! I travel around the country on my motorcycle and I love to pack as simple as possible. I stay in motels so it's easy to do, but less is more and most all motels have laundromats. You sure have a great outlook on life. Doing what you love!

Thanks Nikki. I have almost everything I would need for solo overnight camping. And it is all in my 08 Jeep Liberty.

Omg the new intro was so cute! It totally suits you and Camper, Nikki. I love videos like this so much! Now that I'm coming down to the wire as far as getting on the road, it's so great to have reminders of the little things I definitely need to think about and prepare for now, before I set off! I hope I meet you on the road someday, Nikki! You're the best 😁

Hello Nikki.I did the same 2 weeks ago in the French central mountains in a rainysummer .I got asked to come.I want to thank you for your joy,your sense of teaching and for showing places I will never see any more.have a great day.

I didn't know that about coolers. Thank you so much!!! Also, I think our next time car camping will go much better than the first!! We took couch cushions to put behind the seats for our heads... It was awful and they took up so much room. Thank you for this awesome video!!!

Some of these tips are genuinely so incredibly nifty, thank you so much for this video.

Been in 90s and 100 for many days in metro Colorado but very little humidity!!!! Great you are the repair woman!! Many men are helpless with some stuff

Great video, I travel full time and have learned to keep my batteries out of my headlamp until I need them. In the past they have coroded in the headlamp. I do keep everything together in a ziiplock and my EDC bag.

I been watching these types of videos for about two months now. Just bought a large Renault Espace to start doing on weekends … excellent video thank you

Highly informative vid! Thank you, Nikki! I went with a new-to-me low mileage '19 Honda HR-V EX-L (ditched the old car) and just got my 4" foam mattress, recently retired, late Fall I will be starting my nomadic journeys, no home base any longer! Yay! Guitar in tow! i sing so campfires! Outer Banks of NC first to reflect and plan my adventures west. You are an inspiration! 🇺🇸

Thanks for sharing your experience. My 2002 Honda Crv was looking like your before pictures with a mess of stuff. . My goal is to not overpack , but include the essentials and have fun. I really enjoy kayaking and camping and your tips will really help when I hit the road. You are really cool. Be safe and have a blast .

Nikki...Terrific video. Thorough, articulate,conscientious, inventive( your window covers..think patent, seriously). You are definitely more help than the "experts" at certain outdoor gear stores. And you don't come across as a know-it-all, Nikki. That's refreshing! I'm guessing that comes from "learning about life through living it" attitude? It's the only way! Thanks Nikki, Safe Trip Home to Connecticut & Camper! Steve....

been watching so many car camping videos lately and i just came to say this is the best one. no dead space, super informative and i love the very clear labels for different sections of the video. thank you

I’ve been road tripping and camping out of my Prius more here lately. I Love it. Great video and good information but you really had me when you stressed the no trace principles!

Nikki…fun and informative video to watch. Way to go!

Very well equipped! Well done!! Aside from being a veteran I've always been a naturalist. living as close to a natural life as I can. And being one with and connecting to nature as often as possible! You got a nice setup. And of course Any good on outdoors person is will be revising re-revising all the time. I'm impressed!

Love Nikki. Hoping you video your entire trip for work Nikki. You give me calm in a world that has lost all reason. Thank you beautiful.

This is awesome because I don't have that car, but I needed EVERYTHING and you cover it ALL!! Yay!!

Thanks for this tutorial. I'm presently living out of my PT Cruiser after a humiliatingly bad relationship breakup. I used to travel in a van. Now I'm in the city until I can get out of debt and, hopefully, start traveling again. Some of your ideas are very helpful. Thank you. Cute doggy, too, BTW. 😉

Long time fan of you and unstoppable Morgan, just wanted to say one of your best videos sharing all your cool stuff !

Please just be safe and have fun as I am sure you are having because I sure as hell know I would be loving doing what your doing. Fun , happy and safe travels. And Camper looks like he is having a blast as well. The solar fan I am getting one today for when I go camping.

Thank you for the tips Nikki. I'm going on a cross-country trip and I plan to sleep in my Prius, your advice really helps.

Been doing the truck/SUV/RV/car camping thing for years and have always brought backpacking an LNT ethics to that life. It takes a lot to get me to sub to a new channel but love your enthusiasm, presentation and passion. I did a video here last year that was a Ford Fiesta camper conversion that served me and my two BCs well for almost two years in the UK. Only just upgraded to a VW Touran (fixed bed) but love it. Car camper life is very unique and takes a certainly mentality.

Love how you discuss safety first before the main topic. Especially the car emergency!! Yes its the little things that can be over looked.

I have a driving licence but I suck at everything that has to do with cars! Just to make you understand, I went once (without realizing it) with like 50-60 km/h on the highway! Drivers went nuts and I just couldn't understand what the heck they wanted ha,ha! Now I am more decent at driving and even made a Romania tour by car on my own 2 years ago (damn how brave of me)! That being said, if the car I'm driving has issues, I'm dead! :)) Great to see you again Nikki dear!

Wow! You're very organised, such a great list! 😊 a great reminder for some essentials and very good tips for new ones. Great vid 👌 😊

Tal vez no hables nada de español pero he descubierto tus videos hace poco y estoy alucinando con el valor que tienes y tu actitud a la hora de cumplir tus sueños y propósitos. Mi admiración hacia ti. Eres grande!

I'm on my 2nd month of living in a 2004 Prius with solar, and an electric cooking setup. I LOVE it!! Thanks for showing your setup. 😁👍

Nikki, is UNIQUE and ORIGINAL, I love this brave woman.

You are by far the most practical and down to earth on car conversions from the 4 conversions i've seen yet

The best video I found to show me the essentials. No nonsense. Pratical, easy and important. Thank you so much. I just did not find the info on your backpack and something else I can not remember now. I am going to check your Amazon page again.

My "favorite" video of the year. Your vulnerability in being open about this journey has been pretty eye catching to say the least. Best of luck in your nature quest :)

Super awesome, so many people ignore important details like tire inflations kit and the ability to jump start yourself.

Your the 1st person I've watched that have mentioned the essentials as far as car emergencies go! Subscribed!

That was very good. Lots of info. No time wasting. "cuteness " Thank you

Best video ever, this is the most helpful and informative info ❤

Nikki, great presentation many thanks to you and camper !!!!!

Its amazing how your setup for 🏕 in your little car🙏bless you and the 🐕

BEST LIST EEEEVVVVEEERRR! thanks so much. I'm a semi retired wanderluster! I've been traveling full time for over 3 years via house sitting but after recently completing a short Camino de Santiago, I want more hiking/camping experiences. I am still in the process of converting my old utility trailer into a camper when I visit my son and family in Florida. I am also minimalizing. I no longer keep a place of my own.....why pay for a place I am never in? My daughter calls me fabulously homeless. I love it You are a true inspiration! Can't wait o buy and try out some of your stuff. "Trust your journey" and "live a great story!"....as you are! Abrazos!

Great video. Doing this with my honda civic hatchback. Got a foldable memory foam mattress so when I use my tent i can also use it for that. Never have done this yet, going to take a nap at a rest area on my way to West Virginia then use my tent for 3 nights and then may try it again on the way home at a river side hipcamp.

All those things are good to have, me being prior service and being a Field Sanitation NCO. I learned a lot about "leaving no traces," when it goes to digging soakage pits and other things when out in the field. I'm starting my car journey in December, yeah it's crazy that I'm starting out in a cold month lol.

Great video, and your recommendations seem very sensible. It's clear you know what you are doing.

Good stuff and advise, looks pretty comfy to me!! One thing you mentioned but is important based on other video's i've watched is a quality tire repair kit. Kit's from wally world can work, better one's with metal handles on the jungle store as well book sized air compressors are much better(save some coin), i don't venture anywhere too far without them. Thanks so much for sharing, Cheers, Happy Trails!

I'd love to do weekend car trips where I can safely sleep in my car on the way to the destination (or even there!), and this video makes me feel so confident about going about it. You covered any questions I had and so many I didn't know I needed to be asking. Thanks for sharing and making this!

The captions on the video brought me here. Beauty and brains. Wow!!. Great content to

Having things in cute little compartments😁❤ . Love your smile, and your dog❤ You both are awesome energy😎☕

I think you're beautiful... the road is a great place to go searching for nothing in particular or every single thing... happiness is a great place to be in... safe travels amigo.

I service many cars and have 2015 Prius in for maintenance it’s amazing you do this I’m 6’1 and can’t stretch out in back with seats down lol

I'm here a year late, but I just bought the ust sleeping pad as well and it is INCREDIBLE! Love seeing it here!!

Great video. So many good smaller but important items

This is an incredible vid, so much good info packed into a short time. Thank you!

Wow this girl is amazing and i cant believe how she does what she does!

Thanks for the pointers I'm going camping soon so now I know more less what to bring also I wanted to mention these rechargeable head lamps I have that work amazing and last forever they sell them at Walmart I would suggest thanks again for your content

That's so much neatly packed, very exciting to see. Ty!

Thank you very much. What you are doing is very tempting.

Huge credit for this amazing video goes to you. Thanks for sharing,take care my friend!!!!

This was so informative. Thank you so much!

Just subscribed and I am part of the 129k subscriber! Let's get Nikki to 500k this year!! Really appreciate your contents and keep it up.

I have seen online some people use a special type of tent (can't remember what it's called) that they attach to the back of their car when opening the boot giving them more space at the back when stopping. It also looks really cool from the inside.

Great video! A little with ice is that if you freeze it in a block it will last WAY longer than cubes.

Also looking up what park or parking passes you may need before heading out can save you a bunch of money.

As usual enjoyed the video very informative & definitely unique. Stay safe out there. Wishing you both nothing but the best. Oh yeah you should get some disinfectant spray to spray the shower and handles down prior to using them because you never know who's been there prior to you and how well the staff has cleaned them.

Omg THANK YOU SO MUCH! I saw this few months ago n saved it cuz my friend wants to do this. I just sent him the video to help him convert

Big fan.. Watching your vlogs 2 days before.. Loving it..

Hi there. It' s great for someone to see your videos related to car camper conversion ideas. It is my first time that I had the occasion to see your present video, which I would like to take a look at for more relevant details. My respect and greetings from Greece.!

I am so grateful for you!!!

As usual awesome video!!! Greetings from Costa Rica! Thanks for the tips for sure buying some of these items.

Very informative. Just bought the pop up tent from Amazon, used but like new for $35. Steal. A lot of the things you have I’ve found at thrift stores. Except the yeti. I would flip if I found 1 at a thrift store. The mesh window coverings are brilliant. Thanks for the video. Safe travels.

Your my hero!!! I love watching your videos!!! Keep up the good work!!

You are such a great help and you are a gorgeous young lady and thank you for making this old mans eyes happy

Amazingly well done. Great presentation and editing.

That’s awesome! I recently bought a Toyota Matrix and Im fixing some mechanical issues in order to start my camper build! Thank you for sharing your experience 💝 you are awesomely amazing! 💪🏻💝🫡

Like the new intro. Very 70s retro sitcom. Love it

I just found your page. I love it. I will be starting small at 50 years old

I got some great ideas to put some work into my hatchback...im gonna make a new car camping rig.... Thank you Nikki...

Amazing the amount of things u pack into that car

Great advice. I bought my 2009 Prius new. 380k. No major problems. Love my Prius.

Outstanding tutorial! Thank you

I prefer Flour sack towels over microfiber because there even more compact & work BTW the bungee cord for drying is such a good idea!!

Hello Nikki, I've recently subscribed to your Channel. I always enjoy your and campers videos. You have the best personality! So fun to watch. Keep up the good work.

Great tips here. Have a good weekend everyone

Instead of a duffle, I use latching footlocker style tool boxes. They compress my folded clothes and people think they're ironed out something. I set my mattress diagonal to first, fit, second to balance the driving load. Picked up a great set at Walmart made by hart for like 120$. Doubles as a table for one, and a shelf for the other

So I just sold my house and everything I essentially owned to travel around like this in a Fiesta ST. 😅 I'm so anxious but super excited.

Best Prius camping video on RU-vid. Thanks!

I have a twin XL mattress from Purple in my rig. It's amazing

Very helpful, thank you so much ❤️ I might consider buying the light 💡 Have a great day 👋

Been watching for 3 weeks. ❤ your videos.