Best Suv To Sleep In Chevrolet Equinox
Check out the Chevrolet Equinox for a great large SUV to get a good nights rest in. Ive seen them on Auto Trader for under $4000 in decent condition.
With 24 MPG on the highway, its fuel-efficient and has plenty of space. The windows are also a little smaller allowing for more privacy. Its high off the ground too in case you are going on rough terrain.
You could also consider a crossover like a Mazda CX-5 as a decent alternative.
How Much Does All Your Camping Gear Weigh
Lets pack up for a virtual weekend camping trip and find out what kind of weight a typical trip could add to a vehicle. These weights are just an approximation and could vary wildly depending upon what you might want to bring. We are packing for two people on this mock adventure who each weigh 180 pounds, plus a 40-pound dog.
Rooftop tent: 130 poundsSleeping bags and pads: 6 poundsClothing and toiletries: 15 poundsFour gallons of water: 32 poundsThree days of food: 12 poundsPropane stove and fuel: 20 poundsCooking equipment/mess kit: 6 poundsTwo folding camp chairs: 20 poundsLarge cooler: 25 poundsShovel and tool kit: 10 poundsMiscellaneous : 20 poundsGear total: 296 pounds
The combined weight of our adventurers and all this gear is 696 pounds. Thats quite a bit of weight. The good news is that plenty of SUVs carry a payload rating right around 1,000 pounds. However, packing for longer camping trips could require more weight capacity.
Toyota Land Cruiser 80 Series
Sadly, its nearly impossible to find a 60 or 70 Series Land Cruiser that isnt a pile of rust and is running for under $10,000. But if you shop smartly, you should still be able to find an 80 Series Land Cruiser around that $10,000 threshold.
Price: You can get a quality 80 Series for $10,000, but expect it to have high miles. The Toyota tax is in full effect here, as fans have continued to pine after nice examples. Prices for nice examples are only going up at this point.
The good: With a Land Cruiser, youre joining the ranks of legions of devoted fans. These things have been everywhere and are well-respected off-road machines anywhere in the world. They are excellent expedition vehicles, and customization options are endless.
The bad: Get ready to choke when you fill the tank. The 1990 model gets 11 mpg in the city and 13 mpg on the highway unless you can find a rare-in-the-U.S. turbo diesel model. Watch out for head gasket problems and valve gasket oil leaks.
Why Land Cruiser 80 Series? Comfortable seating for up to five passengers, legendary reliability, and genuine off-road capability are just some of the reasons people around the world love these beasts.
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Dwayne Lane’s Skagit Subaru
- Access your saved cars on any device.
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- Access your saved cars on any device.
- Receive Price Alert emails when price changes, new offers become available or a vehicle is sold.
- Access your saved cars on any device.
- Receive Price Alert emails when price changes, new offers become available or a vehicle is sold.
Make the most of your shopping experience!
The Honda Civic Hatchback
The Honda Civic typically isnt thought of as a car camping car, but it really should be. The reasons for this are many. I personally owned a standard Honda Civic sedan for 15 years and with over 200,000 miles on the odometer, it still lives on today in my younger brothers garage.
With a $5,000.00 budget, you could buy 2 used Honda Civics to use for camping and theyd still have plenty of life left in them. In fact, these have gotten so inexpensive that youd probably still have some money left over.
Advantages of The Honda Civic Hatchback
- Reliability
- Maintenance
- Gas Mileage
Firstly, Honda Civics are incredibly reliable. When youre driving out to remote areas with limited cell phone service, you want to make sure you have a reliable vehicle.
The 2000 Honda Civic was nicknamed the car with the bullet-proof engine and I can personally attest to this. I wouldnt hesitate to buy another one even if it had over 200,000 miles on the odometer.
Additionally, Honda Civics are great on gas. A Civic will typically give you a combined gas mileage of over 35 miles a gallon. This is great for those long trips to far-away camping destinations and it will certainly save you money in the long run.
The maintenance on this vehicle is inexpensive at the shop and as a DIYer. Parts are common and plentiful and the vehicle is easy to work on even for a novice.
Disadvantages of The Honda Civic Hatchback
- Low Ground Clearance
- Limited Hatchback Availability
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We Hope You Find The Best Car To Live In
Theres no single best car to live in. It all depends on how youll be using your car and what you hope to get out of it.
Think about gas mileage and roominess before picking the car youre going to live out of.
Theres everything from a Toyota Prius hybrid, to a Chevy Astro conversion van, to a large Ford Transit or Mercedes Sprinter. A lot of this also depends on your budget.
You can get a very affordable used vehicle off Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. I bought my van for just $6,000 with only 57,000 miles, with barely any issues whatsoever.
So, dont think price is a barrier when youre thinking about living in your car.
We hope this guide gives you some ideas about the best cars to live in.
Check out our latest van life stories:
Top 5 Used Cars For Camping Adventures
If you love to camp, then why not splurge on a used car thatsespecially good for those adventurous journeys? There are plenty of cars outthere that offer the perks needed. Here are a few options.
1. The Honda Element
If you can get your hands on a used Honda Element, its well worthit! While this car might not appear as stylish on the outside as do other largecars, The Element has everything you need for a well-planned journey. Youllappreciate that the back seats can be taken out, thus creating more space forcargo. This car also offers good visibility in case you bring a trailer alongwith you. The Elements hatch tent accessory makes it an ideal car for campingexpeditions.
2. The Subaru Outback
The Subaru Outback carries a little bit less mechanical bulk thando other SUVs, which makes it great for long drives. Theres a raisedsuspension that can help if youre trying to force through a bushy trail ormuddy road. Theres also a good amount of cargo room: 73.3 cubic feet ofstorage. The Subaru can even tow up to 2,700 pounds however, youll requirethe correct equipment to set this up.
3. The Nissan Xterra
4. The Toyota Camry
5. The Honda Odyssey
The Honda Odyssey is another convenient camping option. It alsooffers a great deal of interior space for its size , so you can easily transport all you need. Also, you can check for theavailable HondaVAC accessory, which is a great add-on to help you clean upafter your journey.
Image via Flickr by RL GNZLZ
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Best Cars To Sleep In Finding The Perfect Car
Thinking about getting a new vehicle for your road trip?
The most important thing when looking for a car to sleep in is to check that the seats fold completely flat! It is significantly more comfortable when you have enough space to lie down flat in the back of the car.
The other key things to consider are price, reliability, storage space, and fuel consumption. Tinted windows and the ability to have some privacy whilst inside are also important. Modern cars such as the Tesla Model 3 even having special camping modes.
The main benefit of finding the perfect car you can sleep in is the travel flexibility it affords you, as well as the cost savings when compared to using hotels. Here I will run down the best cars to sleep in that you might want to consider purchasing.
This guide does not take into account the other factors you should consider when buying a car. Instead, it gives you helpful information when deciding which cars will be good to sleep in.
Useful Articles
Ram Promaster City A Small Cargo Van You Can Live In
If youre looking to put a camper set up in the car youre living in, the Ram Promaster City offers a combination of stealth and open cargo space.
This little van has a highway fuel economy of 28 miles per gallon and a cargo capacity of 131.7 cubic feet.
The Promaster City drives with a 2.4-liter, 4-cylinder engine, and can be loaded down to 1,886 pounds. It also has a nine-speed automatic transmission.
One level up from the basic cargo van model, or the SLT, gets you a van that needs oil changes every 10,000 miles, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, cruise control and heated seats.
Check out this cool video of a Ram Promaster City conversion:
Want to learn more about small cargo vans?The best 4 cargo vans for a camper van conversion
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Volvo V90 Cross Country
Starting Price: $54,900
The Volvo V90 Cross Country is a smart camping choice because despite looking elegant both inside and out, its a hard worker. Fold down that rear seat and youll have almost 70 cubic feet of hauling space, plus an additional 2.7 cubic feet hidden from view in an under-floor compartment. Volvos all-wheel-drive system is very effective and thanks to its generous 8.3 inches of ground clearance and five drive mode settings, the Cross Country can hunt down a remote campsite without scraping up the undercarriage. Theres even a hill descent control function that automatically engages when the off-road mode is selected. Want to tow a small camper? The Volvo can handle a 3,500-pound trailer. Thats impressive. And on the days when its not scrambling up a two-track to a campsite, the Cross Country is a luxurious and potent daily driver. See Volvo V90 models for sale near you
Honda Ridgeline: Truck Plus Suv
The Honda Ridgeline is Hondas only truck, but more than a truck in looks, its a crossover vehicle that rides like an SUV, while giving you all the space convenience of a truck. The truck bed is a bit unique in that it can open outward or down, and when in the latter position, it is a bed for tired campers to nap on.
Inside the truck bed is a waterproof trunk to protect any electronics or valuables you are carrying along. Honda also offers a tent that can fit into the Ridgeline for sleeping for campers you like hit the road as soon as they are up. The downside, it is not an off-roading vehicle much.
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Also Consider: Used Cars & Suvs For Camping
The pictures and descriptions youll see below are of new vehicles from the 2021 model year. However, most of these vehicles havent been redesigned in a few years, which means you can get nearly identical models on the used market and save thousands of dollars.
Below each vehicle, youll see a description of which model years to look for, and a link to Carfax used car listings. Every listing at Carfax comes with a free Carfax Vehicle History Report, for peace of mind.
2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon / Photo Credit: Stellantis
Subaru Outback Best Cars To Sleep In For Camping
All models of the Subaru Outback are ideal cars to sleep in. But the 2019 Subaru Outback offers up to 73.3 cubic-feet of room if you fold the rear seats, which is more than what the VW Golf wagon has to offer. This car is also equipped with Subarus proven symmetrical all-wheel drive system that offers relentless traction and grip whether youre exploring sand dunes, dirt roads, or some other frigid place in the far north. The 2.5-liter 175-horsepower Boxer engine is standard but you can choose the more powerful 3.6-liter flat-six motor that churns our 256-horsepower and 247 pound-feet of torque. Prices for the 2019 Subaru Outback starts at under $27,000 for the 2.5-liter motor and $35,000 for the 3.6-liter model.
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Volkswagen Vanagon Westfalia Diesel
Mileage: 139,000 Location: Mount Sidney, Virginia
What we like: The original Westfalia diesel engine wasnt that great, and even the rebuilt 1.9-liter unit in this camper is fairly gutless, but the extra add-ons might make up for it. The upgraded suspension, tires, kitchenette, 200-watt solar charging system with roof panels, 200 amp-hour house battery, Blue Sky solar controller with maximum power point tracking, NOCO Genius Gen1 10-amp onboard battery charger and ARB awning make this one well-equipped light-overlander.From the seller:The North American High Top and custom rack were added by the seller. A 7-foot ARB awning is attached above the passenger side sliding door to provide shade and weather protection. The seller added the solar panels/charging system within the past 10 months. BFG KO2 tires, including a full-size spare, were mounted to Mercedes CLK-style powder-coated wheels in the last 2k miles.What to look out for: Poor tune-up condition, malfunctioning oxygen sensor, poor oxygen sensor ground, faulty values from coolant temp sensor, throttle switch and idle control components are among the most common problems but fairly easy to fix.Expert opinion:They are strong running, and produce about 30% better fuel economy than a typical gasoline-powered Vanagon. However, these vehicles have many of the shortcomings of all the older Vanagons , and the cost and trouble of converting one of these to the newer turbo diesel power plant is formidable.GoWesty.com
Best Cars To Sleep In Resources
I would suggest opening up Autolist and filtering by style for large SUVs. Input other information such as your budget.
Cars Direct is another decent car listing service. Take your time to view all possible options and if you do not find anything suitable, consider widening your search range.
Its much better to ask a friend to take you to pick up the perfect car than settle for something that isnt going to give you everything you need whilst out on the road.
If you have already purchased your vehicle you can check out my ultimate sleeping in the car tips.
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Tips For Sleeping In Your Car
Park out of the way and understand what permits you Want
The very first question each automobile sleeper has to reply: Where to park? With programs like AllStays and Hipcamp, you can determine where youre able to remain legally and never be bothered. They offer you an assortment of paid and free places to install home for the evening. Instead, U.S. Forest Service roads are available to overnight camping and parking. Just be certain that you arent blocking the way to many others, and exhibit some necessary passes or permits indicated.
Buying A Car Camping Tent Should I Take Anything Into Consideration
It is my first time purchasing a car camping tent. Should I consider a specific brand? It is also very helpful to know the first car camping tent value! Thanks for your kind words!
Consider carefully before buying a car camping tent. You should nevertheless do some online research before choosing car camping tents, even though you’re asking here. You can find here a reasonably detailed description of your request.
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How Much Cargo Space Do You Need
Once you have an idea where you might travel and for how long, you can zero in on the best vehicles for that lifestyle. No surprise, a larger SUV, pickup truck, or van will provide the most space and have the ability to carry more weight. But smaller vehicles are more maneuverable and easier to manage on tight trails.
Many campers strike a balance they get vehicles that can carry lots of equipment and remain highly maneuverable. Thats why its essential to know how many cubic feet of cargo space is available with the seats up and with them folded. This will provide a standardized number for comparisons, and it will help you figure out if the vehicle youre eyeing can carry what you will need.
The Deeper You Go The More You Bring
Pack your vehicle for just one overnight, and you will realize just how much stuff is required to camp out. The longer your trip, the more things youll need to bring with you. Extra food, water, and clothing take up space and add weight. Venture further into the wild in a 4×4 and you might want some specialized off-road equipment, too. To be well prepared for off-road exploring, stock your vehicle with basic emergency supplies, recovery gear, and perhaps a few tools, too, should something break and something usually does. Yes, this stuff will add even more weight to your vehicle.
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Jeep Wrangler: For The Classic Jeeper
One cannot mention things like camping, off-roading, road trips and not include in the Jeep Wrangler. A classic off-roader, the Wrangler is as American as you can get, and tough enough to tackle many a bad road with ease. The body-on-frame construction gives it a unique edge over other cars, and the newer models come equipped with all modern driving features like traction control.
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The Wranglers of today have also gotten smoother and more luxurious than before, which has won over many new customers but also lost a few Jeep loyalists down the road. Space isnt a luxury in the Wrangler, but there are plenty of camping accessories to splurge on. Just take off the doors and the roof, and carry on camping.