YARIS weekend camper conversion - Toyota Yaris Forums

rcvmini · 08-19-2015, 01:34 PM

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.

NYC-SE · 08-19-2015, 02:15 PM

That is so cool.

ern-diz · 08-19-2015, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NYC-SE

That is so cool.

+1

*Astroman* · 08-20-2015, 06:31 PM

Very innovative! What did toy use for a mattress?

ern-diz · 08-20-2015, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Astroman

Very innovative! What did toy use for a mattress?

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

BLKHILLSGUY · 08-22-2015, 12:00 AM

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.

rcvmini · 08-22-2015, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

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.

nookandcrannycar · 08-22-2015, 11:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

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.

bronsin · 08-22-2015, 07:12 AM

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?

nookandcrannycar · 08-22-2015, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bronsin

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

.

Kalispel · 08-22-2015, 03:27 PM

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

-

rcvmini · 08-23-2015, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kalispel

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

Hershey · 08-22-2015, 10:58 PM

Nice . Making me groggy . Good night .

bairjo · 08-23-2015, 12:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rcvmini

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...

nookandcrannycar · 08-23-2015, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bairjo

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

.

enviri · 08-23-2015, 01:59 AM

looks like you need some curtains!

rcvmini · 08-23-2015, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by enviri

looks like you need some curtains!

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

enviri · 08-23-2015, 02:43 PM

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.

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.

08-20-2015, 06:31 PM	#4
Astroman Modded Moderator View User's Garage 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? __________________ Please visit my online store for computer stuff and Official Yarisworld decals!

08-22-2015, 07:12 AM	#9
bronsin Drives: 2009 Base Hatch 2 Dr Auto Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: nj Posts: 4,783	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

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NYC-SE Drives: 2014 Yaris SE Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: NYC Posts: 1,082	That is so cool.

08-22-2015, 12:00 AM	#6
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08-22-2015, 03:27 PM	#11
Kalispel View User's Garage 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? -

08-22-2015, 10:58 PM	#13
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08-23-2015, 01:59 AM	#16
enviri View User's Garage Drives: 2010 Yaris Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: CT Posts: 1,520	looks like you need some curtains!

08-23-2015, 02:43 PM	#18
enviri View User's Garage Drives: 2010 Yaris Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: CT Posts: 1,520	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.