Thinking about a tour of the lower 48 with the Yaris...

[firebird1999us]

Maybe in June or early September of next year for 3 weeks. Was thinking about building some sort of level, lightweight sleeping surface on the passenger side from the cargo area and removing the passenger seat to accomodate it.

Maybe getting some camping gear like one of those portable shower/hot water things from REI so I don't have to pay $50 or a lot more everytime I want to sleep or shower. I'm in Georgia and would probably go west and loop back up and around to canada and down the east coast...

Anybody ever done something like that? I saw a guy at the VW forum a few years ago who did and it was pretty awesome:thumbup:

[swidd]

May I recommend a nationwide 'Planet Fitness' gym membership to give you access to showers? It costs as much as $10/shower at trucker's gas stations... P.F. have something like 400 locations, and assuming you drive by some of their locations anyway, will pay for itself ($40 registration + $20/month + no commitment).

[detroiter]

If your able to find one, they used to make a camping thing that attaches to the yaris hatchback trunk area. I don't really know too much about it but I've seen it posted on here a few times before.

Another thing is do you have a rear sway bar? If not, get one. Your tour will be much funner :D

[Freedan]

3 Weeks? You don't need a shower. :laugh:

[nemelek]

I had a 77 Celica HB I was able to sleep in. Plan your trip. There are places you can stay for free. BLM and National Forest are a few. The big savings comes in food. Avoid eating out by getting a cooler and fix most meals yourself. Hot springs and pools are a good place to clean up every once in a while.

[swidd]

Or buy bulk boxes of processed food from Sam's Club. For just three weeks you can sustain yourself without proper nutrition, i.e. just eat two lbs of brownies every day, its cheap.

[CTScott]

I've wanted to do a trek like that ever since I read the book "Blue Highways".

[Idahotom]

I did it with a Metro, plenty of room even in that! Over 7' of bunk (long, not wide).

The shower can be as simple as a (brand name I think) "Solar Shower". Clear vinyl on one side, black on the other, with a simple hose/nozzle. The 2 .5 gallon size is plenty for one, and less then 20 bucks, a lot less. Being able to get cleaned up at the end of the day? Priceless. I've used them for decades now, take a rope as you'll want to hang it from something.

[eht13]

just eat two lbs of brownies every day

If he did that he may end up spending more time in gas station bathrooms than on the road. :laugh:

[john21031]

Did a trip exactly like you described in an 84 Celica. Slept in it, with 5% window tint around, I could sleep on a busy street and noone would see me inside.

The solar shower was impractical. I was looking for colleges, gyms, parks with showers, etc... and when it's warm, just washed myself using 2 liter bottles.

24 hour fitness is a great membership when it comes to showers. Just get the navigation and internet access to find the clubs.

Sounds great. Good luck and definitely do it. You will have an unforgettable experience. I will do it again one day. :) In my '10 fit (:) plenty space to sleep there without removing the passenger seat.. im 5'8 and can fit diagonally).

Good luck.
http://i870.photobucket.com/albums/ab262/john21031/toyotatirechange.jpg?t=1291621496http://i870.photobucket.com/albums/ab262/john21031/oregon1.jpg?t=1291621532http://i870.photobucket.com/albums/ab262/john21031/kansas8.jpg?t=1291621565

[dli7319]

"5% window tint around"

isn't that illegal

[why?]

"5% window tint around"

isn't that illegal

depends which state the car is registered in. Most states it is.