One way to keep summer road trips on the cheaper side is to sleep in your vehicle. Setting up a simple bed in the back of a car saves on hotel costs.
There is plenty of information out there on how to set up a sleeping arrangement for a standard vehicle or SUV, but not too much on how to sleep in one of the smallest and maybe most awkward cars: the Toyota Prius C.
The Prius C is the smallest (and discontinued) version of the Prius. The “C” stands for City and is a quick, maneuverable, and very fuel-efficient hybrid vehicle. It gets nearly 65 miles to the gallon in highway miles, so this mini ride can get you far in a short period of time.
However, when it comes to wanting to sleep in the back, there are a few challenges. First of all, the interior is quite small and short. There is really no room for an entire family to sleep in the back. The C works best for a single person or a more petite couple. Second, when the back seats and front seat are pushed down, the C has some annoying little humps that stop the back area from being completely flat.
Here are a few ideas from some innovative people on how to convert a Prius C into a tiny camper:
1. Prius C Car Camping and Boat Storage
DIY USA sleeps in the back of his Prius C by putting in a light platform over the seats. He built a storage area in the spare tire space and even carries his homemade boat on the roof.
2.Prius C Conversion in 24 hours with $150
Trista Brianne converted a Prius C into a little camper with only $150. She camped in it part-time for solo female travel.
3. Add a Napier Tent for Extra Space
Napier makes tents that fit onto the back of various vehicles. While Levi & Leah have a larger Prius, the Napier Backroadz SUV and Minivan Tent will also fit the Prius C.
If you want more ideas of how to convert a Prius C for camping, check out the Prius Chat forum.
By Christina Nellemann for the [Tiny House Blog]