Hard Times - Need Help Fabricating Hotel Prius

Wow, sorry to hear about this. I don't have any input on the questions but wanted to wish you well.

 

I have been following this woman online through her blog. She has a section on how she set up her car for a cross country trip which sounds like she is spending a couple months living in her car. I'm very excited to give it a try someday. Not out of necessity but simply because I'm cheap and it will save on motels.
I know her situation is different than your, but it may give you some valuable tips on getting the car ready.
Here is her blog: Suanne Online in 2010

 

Hobbit's "Prius Motel" might give you some ideas:

Prius camping

 

wow. and I was moping around because my marriage in in danger and we may be losing one of the Pri next month back to the bank.

Being unemployed since April is not conducive to happy times. I will be praying for you sir and trust God will watch over you.

 

I've got the Duracell Inverter so I can run my Laptop/Cell/Coffee Maker/Fridge in the Car.

I don't think you can run the Coffee Maker on a simple inverter.

 

If you have the use of a garage, you can use the opportunity to thermal insulate your car. Good for the coming winter months and even summer.

 

Wire your inverter directly to the 12v battery. Use an inline fuse holder to connect the positive lead. Leave the car in Ready when running the inverter for more than a few minutes. Make sure that your inverter is up to the challenge. I have had good luck with the 400 watt Cobra inverter but you may want to spring for the 800W, just pay attention to the rating on your fuse and holder. I like the Cobras because they also have 5V USB outputs for phone and MP3 charging.

Use 12V appliances where possible. Although, a 12V cooler is problematic, as it will drain the auxiliary battery in just a couple hours unless the car is left in Ready. If you have access to a freezer (gym? friends? work?) a good trick is to fill a gallon-sized plastic water jug 3/4 full of water and freeze it. Then this block of ice will last 2-3 days in a cooler, and you don't have to worry about the water getting all over the place as you would with a bag of ice. Actually, you instead have 3/4 gallon of drinking water!

With all of the 12V demand, get an Optima yellowtop battery if you don't have one already. But keep the old one in case you accidentally run down the battery too far and need a jump.

Consider investing in a camp stove. This allows for a hot meal and makes brewing coffee much faster than a 12V maker. Coleman makes a neat-o camp stove coffee pot.

Someone mentioned somewhere cutting down a sheet of plywood to make a bed platform. Being able to sleep comfortably is critical.

 

wow, drastic move. Hope it all goes well.

Did you get a job there? Just curious how much is it per month for rent?

 

Is a Vegabound some sort of vegetarian on the move? :huh:

Seriously, though... good luck. My DH and I have serious plans for moving to Ecuador in a few years, as it is much, much cheaper to live there.

 

Wow, that sounds like a lot more fun than living in your car due to the rat race in the US!

 

ummmm. huh? hard times? EVERYONE is in some type of situation. I would think hard times are living without investments. Retired people (no job) have seen 401k go to zero. Lost their home and cars. You get to travel and live. Doesn't sound too down.
Why not sell your prius and stuff rather than store it? How hard is hard times if you can store items with investments? No kids, no wife, just life ahead. hard times.......

 

I can see DH would love it there...

I'm very glad that you are living the life you love... and, you didn't need to live in your car!