Road Tripping Yaris... or should I just buy a van?

[UkuleleLady]

Originally Posted by CTScott

Making a platform for the rear is pretty easy and would gain you the thickness of the folded seat in headroom/volume.

Toyota used to offer, in some countries, a tent to mate to the hatch. There are a couple of aftermarket companies that still offer generic hatchback tents.

Yeah, I am thinking more about making a platform. I have never built anything like that, but I'm sure I could figure it out.

Originally Posted by nookandcrannycar

Very interesting thread, OP. I thought about doing the same thing, but I'm too tall (a bit over 6' 3" guy). I thought about getting a standard Prius or Prius V (do a search for 'Prius RV'...there is a lady who has driven a 2004 Prius abouk 50k miles around the U.S., using it as an 'RV') as my next car (my height wouldn't be an issue), but I don't know if I would use this aspect often enough to justify the extra cost.....and I recently decided against any Prius, as I still want to have a manual transmission.

What about getting a tent? I spent over 4 months in 2006 driving across Canada (Vancouver, BC to St. Johns', NL (Newfoundland and Labrador)) in a 2001 Suzuki Swift 3-door Hatch (same body as the last generation Geo Metro...smaller than a Yaris). I brought a 12' tent from Wal-Mart with me. The tent folded down to a very small footprint. Sometimes I stayed in a hotel or a motel, and sometimes I pitched my tent. The first time I used the tent was also the first time I'd ever put up a tent by myself. Five minutes after I finished, and had set up my air bed, it started raining (I was in Jasper, Alberta). I stayed dry, and the sound of the rain on the tent = . I ended up getting my Yaris (once back in the U.S. on this trip), because the roads at campgrounds in Newfoundland pretty much fried the remaining life of the steering rack in my Suzuki. I was already looking at the Yaris before I left on the trip .

I loved driving my Swift around Canada . I've been to 46 states in my Yaris (all but ID and MT (visited those in an AWD sedan), and of course HI and AK) and to Ontario, Canada...and I've never regretted doing so in a Yaris. If you are like some members (definitely not me) who can fix anything (or just about anything) that might go wrong on a van, that option would give you more room. Personally, I can't imagine doing that (because I wouldn't want to spend the extra money on gas..and would be worried it would break down).....and having already camped in your Yaris, you might find the van to be a waste.

Pic of dog = adorable. One thing that would definitely tip the scale in favor of the van would be if you plan to bring a dog with you. Person + Dog on long term camping/road trip in a Yaris ....NOT a good idea .

Yeah, I have a tent, and every time I've brought it, I haven't used it. It's just easier to set up the car, enough space for me and my dog, no chance of getting wet. And I'll always have my dog with me, so it would be nice to have more space. Sounds like a nice trip you took.

Originally Posted by JustPassinThru

Okay. I've wrestled with this, as a rider and as a van-lover, for many moons.

The Yaris is cheaper. Cheaper to buy; and MUCH cheaper to run.

Living in a van...oh, for a weekend, or for a party, it's fun. For a month...IT BLOWS.

A van uses gas. BIG TIME. A customized van either costs money or time to finish it.

When you're riding to work, 40 mpg Yaris versus 15 mpg Van doesn't much matter. Cross-country...IT DOES.

Take the Yaris. By gum and by God, take the Yaris. Pack camping gear, but you can use some of the savings for clean, fresh hotel lodgings.

And you'll enjoy the drive that much more.

i do plan to "live in it" / camp out of it for at least a month this spring, with one particular area in mind. I'm also considering a road trip along the west coast, and possibly learning to surf. i'm seeking some adventure for an extended period, and hotels will add up. It will be interesting to look at some numbers.