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.

[UkuleleLady]

I've seen the Prius RV blog... i'm going to have to go back and look at it again.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by UkuleleLady

I've seen the Prius RV blog... i'm going to have to go back and look at it again.

Her spirit is the best thing about the blog . One thing I learned from reading it that wowed me was that (with the hybrid system Toyota employs) you can set the temperature on the climate control system when you go to sleep, and it will be maintained (if need be, the engine will kick on to help the battery and then off (either as needed, or for multiple 8 minute periods...can't remember which).

More power to you for bringing your dog and being comfortable . After my cousin was approved to adopt, she decided to buy a larger vehicle (traded in a Saab 900 convertible for a new Ford Escape) and take one last 'no kid' trip. She brought her beloved yellow lab with her. She drove a few thousand miles through mountain and west states. She said the Escape provided barely enough room....an opinion of course, but where my thought was coming from.

[roxy1]

as a dog lover, I always strongly encourage people to never drive with their dogs unsecured. this is a true story. my best friends wife was driving from mi to IL to visit her folks. her 50 lb Australian cattledog was laying in the back on a blanket. as she entered her hometown, an elderly woman crossed the center line and hit her head on. both cars were determined to be going about 30 mph. the dog smashed into the windshield with enough impact to almost go through it, catching the side of her head. in addition to losing her dog, she had partial paralysis and, even 18 yrs later, has never fully recovered.

up to that point, I had always just let my dogs jump in the car for rides and trips all the time. after that I decided that I cared for my dogs quite a lot and decided they should have some degree of safety while in the car.

id say get the vehicle that will allow you to safely transport your dog and all your supplies. or, one of those small tow behind cargo trailers. then you get the mpg's during you daily driving and the extra space when its needed.

[UkuleleLady]

sprinter's do get decent mileage since they are diesel. and are quite spacious and you can stand up inside... but it's a lot more time and money.. but maybe for an extended period of time it's way more comfortable and worth the money.

and whoever mentioned the issue with fixing older vans, yep, that is definitely a concern and part of why i had to walk away from the van i was looking at - an old vanagon. it was sweet though.

[dj92]

How about a Mercedes station wagon?

Big compared to the Yaris and nearly indestructible.

[Kal-El]

Originally Posted by dj92

How about a Mercedes station wagon?


Big compared to the Yaris and nearly indestructible.

Except for the million expensive repairs it will need.

[dj92]

Huh?
I have the sedan version of its smaller sibling and it needed only half a dozen repairs in more than 25 years...
(and still looks fine)

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by Kal-El

Except for the million expensive repairs it will need.

(even if this isn't true, it's still funny).

[WingIt]

Get a Van, gas is cheap in America.

Or get a tent, sleeping in the back of a Yaris is crazy

[Kal-El]

Originally Posted by WingIt

Get a Van, gas is cheap in America.

Or get a tent, sleeping in the back of a Yaris is crazy

Relative to most of the world where socialist governments tax the hell out of it.

However, to us, it's still very expensive because up until 2008, we paid far less for gas. Half the price of today. The US average today is $3.47/gal. In the late '90's, we were still under $1 at some points.

Cross country trips in a van will cost a fortune. That said, I wouldn't sleep in a Yaris. I guess a van makes sense if you really don't want to stop at cheap motels.

No one in this world should be paying a lot for gas. There's more oil than we know what to do with. It's just that governments aren't allowing for the full exploration/drilling of it.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by Kal-El

Relative to most of the world where socialist governments tax the hell out of it.

No one in this world should be paying a lot for gas. There's more oil than we know what to do with. It's just that governments aren't allowing for the full exploration/drilling of it.

+1000 . I'll leave it at that. Debate isn't going to change any opinions, and keeping the thread open is a good thing .

[dj92]

Originally Posted by Kal-El

The US average today is $3.47/gal. In the late '90's, we were still under $1 at some points.

Keep calm, it's twice that here ;)

[nookandcrannycar]

Combination of GasBuddy.com + this metro area = $2.92 (2.91.9) at last fill up on 3-4-14

[JustPassinThru]

Originally Posted by Kal-El

Cross country trips in a van will cost a fortune. That said, I wouldn't sleep in a Yaris. I guess a van makes sense if you really don't want to stop at cheap motels.

There's the other problem; that of local law enforcement not allowing overnight camping/sleeping in a vehicle.

It's a serious problem in most urban/suburban parts of the country. The police see a strange vehicle, or one with out-of-area tags on it...they'll be investigating. Routing you out; and they'll tell you to move on. And they won't be friendly about it.

Arguing with them will get an invitation for arrest for vagrancy. Even if you can prove assets, the trip to Central Booking will take hours - and your van will be towed, if only for spite.

Even stopping in rural areas invites problems. Farmers have theft issues these days; cattle or equipment. A strange van could be casing or doing a lookout. And most farmers know how to use a gun.

Motel or marked campsite. Which means most of what a finished-out van offers, isn't really very useful.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by JustPassinThru

There's the other problem; that of local law enforcement not allowing overnight camping/sleeping in a vehicle.

It's a serious problem in most urban/suburban parts of the country. The police see a strange vehicle, or one with out-of-area tags on it...they'll be investigating. Routing you out; and they'll tell you to move on. And they won't be friendly about it.

Arguing with them will get an invitation for arrest for vagrancy. Even if you can prove assets, the trip to Central Booking will take hours - and your van will be towed, if only for spite.

Even stopping in rural areas invites problems. Farmers have theft issues these days; cattle or equipment. A strange van could be casing or doing a lookout. And most farmers know how to use a gun.

Motel or marked campsite. Which means most of what a finished-out van offers, isn't really very useful.

What about official rest areas off freeways/interstates ? It is my understanding that in most states you can sleep in your car at one for up to 8 hours. I've only done this when really tired and, given the time, a motel would be a waste. I've only been hassled by a cop (CHP) once (on I-5 in California ). Also, what about Wal-Mart parking lots? Doesn't Wal-Mart have a policy that this is okay (possibly hassled in a passenger car, but in a van?) ?

One guy on another website (who has income from rental properties and a military pension) has a delivery van that he converted for living and divides his time between a very small apartment in Southern Caifornia (almost always uses the van there rather than the apartment), the van in WA state, and a small boat he has in Hawaii. He writes that there are quite a number of places in Southern California where you can park a van and sleep in it without hassle....Venice, CA + a few designated places in Santa Barbara come to mind. I know the Santa Barbara part is (or at least used to be) correct, as a friend of mine lives in Santa Barbara (owns a house and a condo there) and this relaxed policy has gotten on her last nerve for years.

[WeeYari]

http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/sho...51&postcount=1
http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/sho...09&postcount=6

[dj92]

I have slept once in the passenger's seat of my Yaris.
Really uncomfortable, maybe due to the cold weather.
Only hanging over the engine bay for some hours fiddling with the cooling system made my back hurt worse :/