YARIS weekend camper conversion

[rcvmini]

So I have a dirty little secret... the wife and I have been doing a fair amount of camping in the YARIS. We have done a 9 day trip from Vancouver down to Monterrey Bay, several weekend trips down to Washington state and Oregon and even the overnight-er across the boarder to pick up amazon.com deliveries.

No we don't just sleep in the front seats... we do it luxury style. With this set up we can lie down flat (i'm only 5'3 and she is about the same) but we are perfectly comfortable. My wife loves sleeping in the car over a tent. we have stealth-camped when needed.

The set up is basic. but with 1 mod. To get a flat bed area the only extra thing that was needed was an old metal shelf from the scrap yard at work. The self is just a little smaller in size then the back trunk area with seats folded up.

In sleep mode the front seats are leaned forward and pulled 1/2 way forward.

The bottom cushion of the back seat has to be removed (unless you have the model that pulls forward) and the back seats folded down.

*** now the key is the pull the headrest out 2 inches or so so that the metal shelf can be laid on the poles of the headrest on one side and the front folded back of the FRONT seats. This creates a flat sleeping area that a thin Ikea foam mattress topper goes on.

Only other thing I did was make black out curtains with cardboard and black cloth for the back side windows, a screen shield for the back window and a curtain that goes around the front seats creating a total private sleep pod.

In this mode we put our extra stuff in the front seats or in a roof bag on top of the car. We can sleep laying flat, sit up part way leaning against the back of the front seats and its like being in a first class pod on an airplane.

BOUNS is that my wife's cell plan as unlimited Data both in Canada and the US so I take my tablet, put it in a mount and hook it to the handle on the back seat door.... BAM! like my own inflight entertainment system.

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn13/IMike_ILu/NuCanoe/20150305_085934_zpsgavfwto0.jpg (http://s300.photobucket.com/user/IMike_ILu/media/NuCanoe/20150305_085934_zpsgavfwto0.jpg.html)

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn13/IMike_ILu/NuCanoe/20150305_085928_zpst935jlon.jpg (http://s300.photobucket.com/user/IMike_ILu/media/NuCanoe/20150305_085928_zpst935jlon.jpg.html)

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn13/IMike_ILu/NuCanoe/20150305_085947_zpslowfnqxm.jpg (http://s300.photobucket.com/user/IMike_ILu/media/NuCanoe/20150305_085947_zpslowfnqxm.jpg.html)

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn13/IMike_ILu/NuCanoe/20150305_090012_zpsk0guddzl.jpg (http://s300.photobucket.com/user/IMike_ILu/media/NuCanoe/20150305_090012_zpsk0guddzl.jpg.html)

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn13/IMike_ILu/NuCanoe/20150313_114458_zpshxzlnmr7.jpg (http://s300.photobucket.com/user/IMike_ILu/media/NuCanoe/20150313_114458_zpshxzlnmr7.jpg.html)

[NYC-SE]

That is so cool.

[ern-diz]

That is so cool.

+1

[Astroman]

Very innovative! What did toy use for a mattress?

[ern-diz]

Very innovative! What did toy use for a mattress?

"...that a thin Ikea foam matress topper goes on." :smile:

[nookandcrannycar]

Love it.

:thumbsup: I agree.

I often wished that doing something similar with my 2nd Gen would have been practical. However, I'm a smidge over a foot taller than the OP, so that wouldn't have worked :laugh:.

P.S. - I just noticed (:redface:) that the OP has a 5-door rather than a 3-door. Although, IIRC, the inside dimensions are the same....I'd think that this set up would be much more workable with a 5-door 2nd Gen rather than a 3-door.

[rcvmini]

Some other things we have done to make YARIS CAMPER very usable. In sleeper mode there is a fair amount of storage under the gap of the rear seat foot well. A lot of our storage goes there but I always bring a booster pack so I can plug/charge phones in it. Day time we fold he mattress (3 sections) and fold the rear seat back up. The cushion takes the place of my missing rear lower seat. rest of our gear goes in the trunk so its out of sight. From outside it looks like a normal car.

IF we go far and take a lot of gear I put stuff in bags/suitcase and keep it IN the car (keep our fuel efficiency during long trips) and then at night put it on the roof in a roof bag.

I also keep a butane stove under the front passenger seat (use up all the space) and I keep an empty laundry bottle with a bit of soap in it for "emergency use".... for um... number 1

Other things that make it do able - LED flashlight/lamp

we have done a few nights at WALMART when passing through and didn't want to stop off and camp. Most WALMARTS in the US are open 24 hours, have washrooms that are clean and water fountains. Plus if it has a McDonalds then your good for some free wifi.

[BLKHILLSGUY]

Easier in a Honda Fit with the magic seats, but I had a Fit, and they aren't built nearly as well as a Yaris. Prettier dash though. And the current design of the Fit is horrendous.

[bronsin]

GREAT!

I removed the front passenger seat from my ECHO and built a removable platform level with the rear seat when folded down so I could drive to AK from NJ and sleep in the car. Unfortunately the trip didn't become feasible until I sold the ECHO and bought a Yaris.

I think if you remove the front seat of a Yaris it wont run?

[rcvmini]

Easier in a Honda Fit with the magic seats, but I had a Fit, and they aren't built nearly as well as a Yaris. Prettier dash though. And the current design of the Fit is horrendous.

Yeah it would be easier. I've also seen yaris HB that have seats that fold flat (buttom slides forward allowing the back to fold flat) but I think those are only options on the RS models.

I didn't buy the YARIS thinking I'd do that it was just more of an inspiration out of necessity.

The metal shelf that made this all possible was something I picked up at work in the scrap pile out of a whim. Thought I'd use it at home for something but then I saw it in the garage and had a "light bulb over my head" moment.

One thing I've seen compared to other "camper vans" are that my black out panels for the windows fit more snug where as people who just hang curtains on a string lose some interior space.

[Kalispel]

That's pretty cool. What is the height limit on your Yaris-Camper setup, before you cannot stretch out straight any longer?

-

[Hershey]

Nice . Making me groggy . Good night .

[nookandcrannycar]

I think if you remove the front seat of a Yaris it wont run?

My understanding is that you'd only then need the bypass module that CTScott designed (provided the DIY 'install' of same is done correctly :biggrin:) and then everything would be fine :thumbsup:.

[nookandcrannycar]

Easier in a Honda Fit with the magic seats, but I had a Fit, and they aren't built nearly as well as a Yaris. Prettier dash though. And the current design of the Fit is horrendous.

I'd also imagine that a person taller than 5' 3" could stretch out flat (or almost flat) in a Fit.....especially a '15 Fit.

[bairjo]

S

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn13/IMike_ILu/NuCanoe/20150305_085934_zpsgavfwto0.jpg (http://s300.photobucket.com/user/IMike_ILu/media/NuCanoe/20150305_085934_zpsgavfwto0.jpg.html)

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn13/IMike_ILu/NuCanoe/20150305_085928_zpst935jlon.jpg (http://s300.photobucket.com/user/IMike_ILu/media/NuCanoe/20150305_085928_zpst935jlon.jpg.html)

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn13/IMike_ILu/NuCanoe/20150305_085947_zpslowfnqxm.jpg (http://s300.photobucket.com/user/IMike_ILu/media/NuCanoe/20150305_085947_zpslowfnqxm.jpg.html)

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn13/IMike_ILu/NuCanoe/20150305_090012_zpsk0guddzl.jpg (http://s300.photobucket.com/user/IMike_ILu/media/NuCanoe/20150305_090012_zpsk0guddzl.jpg.html)

http://i300.photobucket.com/albums/nn13/IMike_ILu/NuCanoe/20150313_114458_zpshxzlnmr7.jpg (http://s300.photobucket.com/user/IMike_ILu/media/NuCanoe/20150313_114458_zpshxzlnmr7.jpg.html)


I could have used a setup like this back in the day at the drive in movie theatre. Instead, I had something very similar with my 75 hatchback mustang using seat cusions from outdoor furnature....not as nice but served its purpose...:headbang:

[rcvmini]

That's pretty cool. What is the height limit on your Yaris-Camper setup, before you cannot stretch out straight any longer?

-

well in our setup we don't have the front seats pushed up all the way because the shelf isn't that wide. I you were to make a shelf with wood you could push the front seats all the way up and I'd say maybe someone 5'7 at a guess?

we also use thin small/narrow pillows from ikea to give as much head room as possible

[nookandcrannycar]

I could have used a setup like this back in the day at the drive in movie theatre. Instead, I had something very similar with my 75 hatchback mustang using seat cusions from outdoor furnature....not as nice but served its purpose...:headbang:

:laugh::laugh::thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:

Also, your car type and year for some reason takes me back to a night at Malibu Grand Prix....I was driving a 77 (IIRC...re the year) Pinto that my dad had as a dealer car for a few days....and I locked the keys in the car and had to pry and pop open the rear seat side window hinge :eek:. I remember that car was orange and white :barf: :eek:.

[enviri]

looks like you need some curtains!

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f332/xienji/vitz%20misc/0c6953e7.jpg

[rcvmini]

looks like you need some curtains!

http://i50.photobucket.com/albums/f332/xienji/vitz%20misc/0c6953e7.jpg

NICE! did you buy or make them? if made how?

[enviri]

bought them. they are medium sized and you can get them at car VIP sites or even ebay.
its just curtains that attach to 2 stick on rails. I got mine when i went to japan.

[shepd]

You're from BC so you can blackout tint the rear windows for privacy! :) In Ontario you can put 35% on the front windows as well (that's the lowest that tends to not get you tickets, the law isn't by percentage but based on if the officer can see into the car), but in BC you're out of luck.

[rcvmini]

You're from BC so you can blackout tint the rear windows for privacy! :) In Ontario you can put 35% on the front windows as well (that's the lowest that tends to not get you tickets, the law isn't by percentage but based on if the officer can see into the car), but in BC you're out of luck.

yeah windows are already tinted. The back out inserts I made was for light control and privacy (Both in and out). When say camped at a walmart I want to not see the parking lot lights other cars headlights etc. Also I can stealth camp easier and hang out in my yaris watching movies on my tablet (as I often did) without people seeing the light.

I also made a heater with a small travel candle and mini clay pot plant that I use for light and a little heat. I hang it form the middle seat belt retractor and I sometimes sleep leaving it on. I don't want the flickering light to be seen outside the car windows so another reason I do the full black out.

[justjesus]

This is neat. I've done similar for drive-in movies. At 5'6", i didn't think I'd fit full length for sleeping.

The overnight at Walmart idea is brilliant!

[rcvmini]

This is neat. I've done similar for drive-in movies. At 5'6", i didn't think I'd fit full length for sleeping.

The overnight at Walmart idea is brilliant!

Acutally because the shelf is only so wide we don't push the front seats up all the way. You might be able to get a few more inches esp if you made a board that was wide enough and layed it a little higher then the hight of the folded back seat.

Also it was the wife and I in the back so if it was just you then you could lie at a 45 degree angle bottom left corner to top right corner and get a bit more distance.....

OR just sleep slightly curled up ;)

[bentjazz]

I've gotta admit....that's pretty darn cool. Thanks for posting.....

[justjesus]

... layed it a little higher then the hight of the folded back seat.

Also it was the wife and I in the back so if it was just you then you could lie at a 45 degree angle bottom left corner to top right corner and get a bit more distance.....

OR just sleep slightly curled up ;)

putting it up higher is a great idea. I can see how you can get some extra length doing that. Another benefit: you can stick things under the board (like under bed storage!

Yeah, if it were just me, I'd just remove the pass front seat. But I'll likely have the gf with me, so the curling up part might be the preferred method. :wub: She loves cuddle time.

[cparker]

Nice setup !! You can get tents that hook up to the back of a car,makes a nice place to change your clothes or eat during rain. That's if you're parked in a place where you can also pitch a tent. A lot of camp grounds have a separate gravel or paved parking space, so that might not always be possible. There are also hatchback tents that hook up to your open hatch door and also to your bumper. You don't have to worry about poles or staking it to the ground . I just checked out my open Yaris hatch door, and found that someone 5ft. 9in. can stand straight under it. I'm 5ft, 6 in. Drape a tarp over the hatch door, then find a way to tie it down or stake it at ground level. Then figure a way to close the opening. You have expanded room . This makes me want to go camping . It's almost that time of year again !!

[YAR1S]

This is a full size topper? I don't see this exact mattress topper on the USA ikea website...

[Raymond]

Can somebody send me a pic or the belt number for the 2002 toyota vitz

[cparker]

I like this sleeping setup the original poster did. If someone wanted to add some extra room, you could either buy a hatch tent or attach a tarp over the open hatch. I experimented with a 10 x 20 foot tarp with my Yaris. It turned out to be too large, so I'm thinking something like 16 X 10 would work fine. I tucked one end under the rear wiper and pulled the other ends and sides down tightly. I was parked on a concrete driveway, so I couldn't stake it down. But as many grommets as there are on this tarp, you could stake it down pretty tight on the ground. I would add short stretch cords to attach it to the hatch. This would allow a tall person to sleep in the back of a Yaris on an air mattress, sticking slightly out the back under the tarp. This set up allows for 6 foot standing room for changing clothes. This is something my dad used to do with his station wagon.

[greyg00SE]

Recently drove to South Florida to visit my granddaughter. Stopped at a rest area in Georgia to take a two hour nap. Brought my couch cushions and put them inside a zippered futon cover. I'm practically a midget (not PC, I know), so I slept like a grand baby..