Toyota Yaris Forums - Ultimate Yaris Enthusiast Site
 

 


 
Go Back   Toyota Yaris Forums - Ultimate Yaris Enthusiast Site > Second Generation Toyota Yaris Main Rooms > General Yaris / Vitz Discussion
  The Tire Rack

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 08-19-2015, 01:34 PM   #1
rcvmini
 
Drives: 2009 Yaris HB
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Vancouver BC
Posts: 70
YARIS weekend camper conversion

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.










Last edited by rcvmini; 08-21-2015 at 12:22 AM.
rcvmini is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-19-2015, 02:15 PM   #2
NYC-SE
 
NYC-SE's Avatar
 
Drives: 2014 Yaris SE
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: NYC
Posts: 1,076
That is so cool.
NYC-SE is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-19-2015, 02:38 PM   #3
ern-diz
 
ern-diz's Avatar
 
Drives: 2007 Liftback
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: CA all day
Posts: 3,794
Quote:
Originally Posted by NYC-SE View Post
That is so cool.
+1
ern-diz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-20-2015, 06:31 PM   #4
Astroman
Modded Moderator
 
Astroman's Avatar
 
Drives: 07 Toyota Yaris, 71 Galaxie
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Wenatchee, WA
Posts: 3,670
Very innovative! What did toy use for a mattress?
Astroman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-20-2015, 07:31 PM   #5
ern-diz
 
ern-diz's Avatar
 
Drives: 2007 Liftback
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: CA all day
Posts: 3,794
Quote:
Originally Posted by Astroman View Post
Very innovative! What did toy use for a mattress?
"...that a thin Ikea foam matress topper goes on."
ern-diz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-20-2015, 07:31 PM   #6
Thirty-Nine
Small cars are a big deal
 
Thirty-Nine's Avatar
 
Drives: 2007 Yaris Liftback
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Portland, OR
Posts: 3,144
Send a message via AIM to Thirty-Nine
Love it.
Thirty-Nine is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-20-2015, 07:57 PM   #7
nookandcrannycar
 
Drives: 2('14+'07)MT 3d ,wHandCrWndws!
Join Date: May 2009
Location: S.MontgomeryCnty,TX(HoustonMSA) '07=BayouBlue=300,125miles=OrigOwnr '14=ClassicSilvr=29,059miles
Posts: 4,839
Quote:
Originally Posted by Thirty-Nine View Post
Love it.
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 .

P.S. - I just noticed () 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.

Last edited by nookandcrannycar; 08-22-2015 at 11:50 PM. Reason: Added P.S.
nookandcrannycar is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-21-2015, 12:29 AM   #8
rcvmini
 
Drives: 2009 Yaris HB
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Vancouver BC
Posts: 70
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.
rcvmini is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-22-2015, 12:00 AM   #9
BLKHILLSGUY
 
Drives: 2011 3dr LB Polar White
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Black Hills of South Dakota
Posts: 344
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.
BLKHILLSGUY is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-22-2015, 07:12 AM   #10
bronsin
 
bronsin's Avatar
 
Drives: 2009 Base Hatch 2 Dr Auto
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: nj
Posts: 4,790
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?
__________________
Synthetic Oil: Its All In Your Head
bronsin is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-22-2015, 10:52 AM   #11
rcvmini
 
Drives: 2009 Yaris HB
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Vancouver BC
Posts: 70
Quote:
Originally Posted by BLKHILLSGUY View Post
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.
rcvmini is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-22-2015, 03:27 PM   #12
Kalispel
 
Kalispel's Avatar
 
Drives: '15 Yaris SE 5MT
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Arizona (USA)
Posts: 1,058
That's pretty cool. What is the height limit on your Yaris-Camper setup, before you cannot stretch out straight any longer?

-
Kalispel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-22-2015, 10:58 PM   #13
Hershey
 
Drives: 08 Yaris sedan auto / Fit auto
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: northeast
Posts: 2,897
Nice . Making me groggy . Good night .
Hershey is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-22-2015, 11:44 PM   #14
nookandcrannycar
 
Drives: 2('14+'07)MT 3d ,wHandCrWndws!
Join Date: May 2009
Location: S.MontgomeryCnty,TX(HoustonMSA) '07=BayouBlue=300,125miles=OrigOwnr '14=ClassicSilvr=29,059miles
Posts: 4,839
Quote:
Originally Posted by bronsin View Post
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 ) and then everything would be fine .
nookandcrannycar is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-22-2015, 11:56 PM   #15
nookandcrannycar
 
Drives: 2('14+'07)MT 3d ,wHandCrWndws!
Join Date: May 2009
Location: S.MontgomeryCnty,TX(HoustonMSA) '07=BayouBlue=300,125miles=OrigOwnr '14=ClassicSilvr=29,059miles
Posts: 4,839
Quote:
Originally Posted by BLKHILLSGUY View Post
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.
nookandcrannycar is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-23-2015, 12:01 AM   #16
bairjo
 

Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 606
Quote:
Originally Posted by rcvmini View Post
S










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...
bairjo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-23-2015, 12:13 AM   #17
rcvmini
 
Drives: 2009 Yaris HB
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Vancouver BC
Posts: 70
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kalispel View Post
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
rcvmini is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-23-2015, 12:28 AM   #18
nookandcrannycar
 
Drives: 2('14+'07)MT 3d ,wHandCrWndws!
Join Date: May 2009
Location: S.MontgomeryCnty,TX(HoustonMSA) '07=BayouBlue=300,125miles=OrigOwnr '14=ClassicSilvr=29,059miles
Posts: 4,839
Quote:
Originally Posted by bairjo View Post
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...


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 . I remember that car was orange and white .
nookandcrannycar is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
NEWS: TOYOTA REVEALS ALL-NEW YARIS SEDAN AT 2006 LOS ANGELES AUTO SHOW VitzBoy General Yaris / Vitz Discussion 7 09-20-2023 07:50 AM
My 2012 Yaris review... CanIHazYarisHatch? Third Gen Yaris General Discussion 35 02-20-2012 01:03 PM
Consumer Reports Is On Crack!!! doublewam General Yaris / Vitz Discussion 82 05-07-2011 11:03 AM
Has anyone tried a yaris diesel conversion? phyrefighterjay General Yaris / Vitz Discussion 2 01-31-2011 06:46 PM
2007 Yaris Pricing Info ! YarisBueller New YARIS Purchase Forum 104 06-24-2009 04:54 PM


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:31 PM.




YarisWorld
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.