2018 Prius Four Camper

OK. Here is my wanabee Prius Camper.

Earlier this year I was asked to start a thread to describe camper upgrades for a 2018 Prius that I had recently purchased. Before I could do this I needed to first outline a basic concept and plan.

This is a work-in-progress that will provide a running report on developing and installing modifications for a Prius Camper. As such, I will be updating this thread as the build evolves.

 

In May of this year I replaced my gen 2 (2008) Prius with a new gen 4 (2018) Prius Four (shown above). One of the things that I wanted to do with the new vehicle was to configure it as a Prius camper for field trips - both for touring and vacations, but also for special events. Specifically, I wanted to be able to use my vehicle to set up a base camp, /w telescope equipment, for viewing and photographing the upcoming Solar Eclipse in 2024.

This will be my second attempt at putting together a Prius Camper for this purpose. I had tried it with my 2008 Prius during the 2017 eclipse, but discovered that it was not as easy as I originally thought, and wound-up camping outdoors for the event instead.

2017 Solar Eclipse base camp:

 

My old 2008 Prius:

 

This time, I decided to get a head start with the Prius Camper so that I would be prepared in advance.

Below is a list of modifications and kits that I will be installing in my new Prius over the next few years. Of those modifications and kits listed below, some are currently in progress and a few have already been completed. Once incidental modifications are done, I will begin building the camper itself, starting with the simplest configuration - an overnight convertible sleeper - eventually building up to a dedicated 2-seat Prius camper that can be used for extended duration camping trips.

The first step in this process will be to free-up internal space to provide storage for basic necessities, including non-perishable consumables, tools, clothes, accessories and supplies. These provisions will be stocked permanently in the vehicle to support an overnight two-day trip. It is hoped that this can be accomplished while still retaining the ability to revert to a 5-seat configuration during transit. For this reason, rear seats will be lowered to provide a sleeping area, but not removed (hence the name "convertible sleeper").

From there I plan to modify the vehicle for increased storage capacity as a dedicated 2-seat basic camper for extended camping trips. External carriers (see top photo) will be used to store gear for specialized field events. The vehicle will continue to be parked/garaged as a 5-seat convertible sleeper for day-to-day use, but can be quickly set up as a dedicated camper. This will be done with ready-to-use pre-staged kits that will be kept in storage until needed. Final upgrade (if feasible) will be to put together a "cross-country" kit for extended off-the-grid camping without access to public facilities.

The minimum goal is to have a general purpose 5-seat "camper-ready" convertible sleeper for overnight use that can be quickly configured into a dedicated Prius camper as needed.

 

Incidental & Camper Related Mods:

Roof Carrier: Ext storage (completed). Thule Ascent 1500 (removed from 2008 Prius).
Trailer Hitch: Ext storage (partial). Curt Class I, 1 1/4" receiver.
Hitch Carrier Kit: Ext storage (partial). Masterbuilt Hitch-Haul Hitch Mounted Cargo Carrier.
Window Tinting: Privacy/Cooling (completed). Flexfilm Panaflex carbon ceramic film,

50% 35% 35%.​

Window Visors: Ventilation (completed). AVS 894055 Low Profile Ventvisor (4pc set). Spare Tire Storage Mod: Emergency/storage (partial). lohikaarme kit.
Mouseproofing Mod: Equip protection (partial). Modified ebsmythe kit.
Sunroof Mod: Ventilation, Solar Power. Solar power ventilation /w mosquito filter.
Sound Deadening: Music/Privacy (partial). 80mm Kilmat & Spectrum sound deadening.
Qi Charger Storage Mod: Internal storage. Removable Storage Container that will sit in

vehicle Qi charger location.​

LED Conversion Mod: Lighting (in progress). LED replacement bulbs (8 interior and 2

exterior).​

12vdc USB Power Mod: Electrical power. Add 12v USB charger ports.
Road Emergency Kit: Emergency. Tire repair kit, Flares, Triangle, Tire tie-down.
Carrier accessories: Storage. Roof carrier keys, carrier net, bicycle tools kit etc.
Lock Box: Storage. Storage for valuables.
Vehicle Documents: Documents. Owner manual & docs, purchase docs, log, refs &

checklists.​

Mechanical Kit: Tools, spares. Tool: 1/4" socket set, pry tools, etc.
Spares: fasteners, 10mm hardware, etc.
Electrical Kit: Tools, test equip, spares. Tools: Butane soldering iron, crimping, strippers etc.
Test equip: ODB2 dongle, butane solder kit, VOM, etc.
Spares: bulbs, tie wraps, wire, etc.
Bicycle rack: Storage (partial). Thule dual rear mount bike rack (removed from 2008

Prius).​

Cross Country Bicycle: Transportation. Need to replace old bicycle.​

 

Camper Mods:

Storage Kit #1: P/o convertible sleeper mod. Interior storage incl bins, organizers, etc.
Storage Kit #2: P/o basic camper kit. Interior & exterior storage for basic camping.
Storage Kit #3: P/o cross-country kit. (placeholder - may not be required).
Consumables Kit #1: P/o convertible sleeper mod. Water, snacks, electrolyte drinks for 1 day;

toiletries, meds & other non-perishables for 5 days. Cooler will be used for storage (turned off) until needed.​

Consumables Kit #2: P/o basic camper kit. Food, water, fuel, for an additional 2 days.
Consumables Kit #3: P/o cross country kit. Food, water, fuel, for an additional 2 days.
Gear kit #1: P/o convertible sleeper mod. Sleeping bags, mats, pillows, fist aid, emergency,

etc.​

Gear kit #2: P/o basic camper kit. Pup tent & tarp, hammock tent, mess kit, stove,

fire starter kit, laundry kit, cooler,
portable generator, etc. stowed in carriers?)​

Gear kit #3: P/o cross country kit. Luggable loo, solar shower, privacy tent (stowed

carriers).​

Clothing kit #1: P/o convertible sleeper mod. 3 changes of clothes (2 warm weather, 1 cold

weather), windbreaker, tevas, wool socks.​

Clothing kit #2: P/o basic camper kit. 2 additional changes of clothes (cold weather) incl

wool, Patagonia, wool dickey, cap & glove liners, poncho, hiking/climbing boots, garters, extra wool socks,​

Clothing kit #3: P/o cross country kit. (placeholder - may not be required).
Daypack Kit: P/o convertible sleeper mod. Day pack, camel-back, small first aid kit.
Backpack Kit: P/o basic camper kit Backpack & frame, hiking/climbing shoes,
Off-the-grid Kit: P/o cross-country kit (placeholder - may not be required).
Shades & Curtain Kit: P/o convertible sleeper mod Interior curtain & dash covers, light

baffles, window shades.​

Night kit: P/o basic camper Flashlight, headlight, night-vision, cpap. CO monitor.
Electronics Kit: P/o basic camper Shortwave, Iphone, USB charger, batteries, cables.
Entertainment Kit: P/o convertible sleeper mod Reading material, playing cards, etc.

Convertible Sleeper: Overnight Camping (1 day) Modifications for 5 seat configuration

equipped for 1 day (/w or w/o carriers).​

Vacation Kit: Vacation (5 seat addon) Items for family trips (stowed in carriers).
Camper Upgrade Kit/Mod: Camping (3 days) Modifcations for basic camper kit for up to 3

days using public campgrounds (/w carriers).​

Basic Camper Kit: Camping (2 seat add-on kit) Comprised of camping kits for 3 day (using

carriers).​

Telescope Kit: Astronomy (2 seat add-on) Astronomy field trips with 18" telescope (stowed

in carriers).​

Cross-Country Kit: Camping (2 seat add-on) Extended off-the-grid camping for 5 days.​

 

Accessories:

Miscellaneous Various (partial). Armsaver, center consol cover, head rest covers.
12v power Electrical (installed). Cigarette lighter 12v dc splitter /w dual USB charger

adapter.​

Air Filter Environment (installed). Quietpure (auto) portable air purifier with hepa filter.
Qi holders Electrical (partial). Boslisa Qi charges (2ea - vent mount broke on one).
Electronics Misc devices. Iphone, player, USB storage, etc.
12v Cooler Refrigerated storage. (TBD)
Consumables Misc (partial). New car spray, spare batteries, cables, etc.​

Mods under consideration:

Dash Cam Upgrade Safety/securtiy. Replace old dashcam and add new dashcams for

multiple views. ​

Fog lights Safety. Yellow, adjustable (not projector type).
Seat Cover Mod Equip protection. Alter seat covers to prevent interference with SRS.
Subwoofer Mod Entertainment. Low power supplemental sub-woofer /w pre-amp.
Amatuer Radio Emergency/entertainment. Veganbiker configuration modified for Yaesu

FT-7900R (underseat).​

IT Mods Information/entertainment. Support for laptop computer and entertainment.
Rear Seat Mod Storage Investigate if back seat can be opened up for

additional storage.​

Aux Power Mod 12v power. Backup 12v battery & inverter for radio, computer,

charging, etc.​

 

Prius Camper Status (5 Nov 2019):

Window Tinting:

Flexfilm Panaflex carbon ceramic film (50,35,35). (completed).​

 

Trailer Hitch (partial):

Curt Class I 1-1/4" kit U-Haul P/N CMF11473 - Installed. U-haul Bicycle strap U-Haul

P/N: CMF18050 - need to replace.​

Need to replace Uhaul strap with multi-strap suspension for increased load and stability.​

 

Hitch Carrier (partial - see top photo):

1-1/4 inch Hitch-Hall trailer hitch carrier - Complete.
Hitch stabilizer - Complete.
Locking pin - Complete.
Cargo net - Complete (p/o carrier accessories).
Straps - Complete (p/o carrier accessories).​

Need to buy/build light weight container. Restricted to ight wieght bulk items until

multi-strap suspension is installed (see Trailer Hitch, above).​

Stow cargo net and staps with carrier accessories (see carrier accessories and spare

tire storage mod below).​

Roof Carrier (complete - see top photo):

Thule Ascent 1500 (removed from 2008 Prius) - Complete.
Keys (p/o carrier accessories).​

Bicycle Rack (partial - see top photo):

Thule 910X Passage trunk mount, 2 bike (removed from 2008 Prius).​

Need to resurface clips with plast dip to protect hatch window from being scratched.

Also need to pad tube members to prevent contact with rear hatch and need to
replace lower strap hooks with sling-loops (hooks can detatch from mounting
points).​

Carrier Accessories:

Straps.
Cargo net.
Roof carrier keys.
bicycle tools.​

 

Window Visors:

AVS 894055 Low Profile Ventvisor (4pc set) - installed.​

 

Spare Tire Storage Mod (partial):

Spare Tire Donut; T125/70D17 98M - Installed.
Carrier (Spare Tire Retainer) Toyota P/N 51931-47010 - Installed.
Box, deck floor LH Toyota P/N 64997-47050 - Installed.
Box, deck floor RH Toyota P/N 64995-47040 - Installed.
Box, deck floor (Center) Toyota P/N 64993-47090 - Installed.
Road emergency kit
Carrier accessories​

Need to cut deck floor boxes Toyota P/N 64997-47050, 64995-47040 & 64993-47090 to provide

space for road emergency kit, and carrier accessories (cargo net, straps, roof carrier keys & bicycle tools - see hitch carrier, above and road emergency kit, below).​

Road Emergency Kit (p/o spare tire storage mod):

Tire Repair Kit, Sealant Toyota P/N 42606-47160
Tire Repair Kit, Compressor Toyota P/N 44890-47060
Tire Tie-Down Belt (removed from 2008 Pruis).
15 Minute Flare (3 pack - 2ea) Victor 00205-8 (removed from 2008 Prius).
Road Triangle Custom Accessories 96667 (removed from 2008 Prius).​

Need to modify deck floor boxes to stow kit (see spare tire storage mod, above).​

 

Qi Smartphone Holder:

Boslisa Qi wireless charger (vent mount broke on 2nd, passenger charger) - Partial, 1 installed.​

Need to fabricate mount support to stabilize smartphone holder during use. ​

 

Mouseproofing Mod (partially completed):

1/4" steel screen mouse gaurds (2 ea) for Rear left and right vents.
K&N washable cabin filter p/n VF2054.
1/4" steel screen mouse guard (1 ea) installed on cabin filter.​

Need to determine if the cabin filter mouse guard will completely deny rodent access to

cabin.​

 

Foam board window inserts!!! ...Well that fixes one problem I was trying to solve. I still have black foam board left over from the 2017 solar eclipse.

I have been collecting Prius Camper DIY videos as a source of ideas, and had seen some of his videos, but not these. Thanx.

 

There actually are quite a few videos out there. Though on occasion they can be a bit eccentric, they all have something to add to the subj. The most often cited is "Hotel Prius".

 

Well, you know the big thing about the gen 4 is the cargo area step-up to the rear seat. You need an insert to level the sleeping area. For my gen4, the lohikaarme's spare tire undelete kit accomplishes this without the insert. The added spare donut, plus the gen3 cargo deck storage boxes, levels out the area effectively enough, so that all you need is a gymnastics or thermal pad to cover rear seat flap.

"Hotel Prius" doesn't address this because the gen2 doesn't have a step. However, what it DOES provide is one of the most important things that people often overlook - the "Camper" concept itself: You absolutely HAVE to be organized and develop efficient routines to be successful at it. That's where I failed in my first attempt at a Prius Camper. I didn't have enough time to perform dry runs with the camper before I had to leave for the eclipse, and I hadn't efficiently organized the camper...

...It's hard to explain. For those who have never experienced it - if you ever try camping without the right equipment (or without knowing how to use it) you will understand very quickly. Practice doing it before you try to do the real thing, and you will save yourself a lot of misery. Lessons learned.