Great car camping setup! I have a '22 niro ev and it is a great camper especially with Utility mode allowing heat/ac to run the whole night! I am also looking forward to the new 2023 Niro EV because that version will have Vehicle 2 Load-- which will be so useful at the campsite!
@Tice Nits not at all. Heat/AC stays on the whole night regarding car camping. In terms of locking vehicle, just need to reach to driver's side door to lock and unlock the vehicle.
I drive a Kia Niro 2018 hybrid and the idea to use it for sleeping in seems to be a practical solution. Personally I try to keep everything as is and work around it to use it for sleeping and travel since it is an economical car and adequate for going places. I just added a roof rack and a cargo box to separate items. I see that in this vehicle you had to remove the front passenger seat.
hi Luigi. Removal of the front passenger seat enabled the installation of a sink with running water and extra storage space. It is not a requirement, and in fact now that my fiancé regularly accompanies me on trips we have put the front passenger seat back in. The 60% side of the 60/40 back seat is still available for passenger, so we have also run it with her in the back seat and the sink up front in the passenger seat area. It is an optional upgrade.
Seems the commenters didn't really listen during the video... 1) You explained that you removed the front seat, and why. 2)There's a refrigerator in the back, so why put a small cooler in the spare tire space? 3) You mentioned that the driver seat being moved up gave you "6 feet for the bed". Also, you can see that the back seat is still there, with only the driver's side folded down to accommodate the bed.
Just saw this and wonder if you've modified this space efficient camper since the original build ? I've just picked up a '24 PHEV Niro and hope to do some extended road trips someday, thanks for sharing this ingenious design!
Hi Chris. Thanks for watching. Yes now that I'm engaged and there are two of us, we've had to make some changes. A twin-size memory foam mattress from Walmart is both comfortable and just sufficient in size. It allows the fridge to sit to the side on what used to be the bed frame by the left side door. We have travelled like this for up to 3 weeks at a time, with bicycles and a rooftop carrier for items that are not daily essentials. That setup can be run with sink/storage in place of the front passenger seat or not. Currently we have the passenger seat back in, and the sink set up is in storage.
Hmm looks pretty, but they're are some bad design choices in there. Two big ones I can think of are... Piano hinge on the desk is the wrong side and would make it annoying to use as a desk. The fridge is too big for the space as the door can't open fully without fouling on the roof.
Hey Blake I'm especially interested in the feature at 1:08 about extending the bed into the foot well in the back seat. I've slept one time in my Niro and that gap is especially not comfortable. Did this require you to take out the 40 seat or can it be done without doing so? Great conversation btw. I just don't need something as elaborate. Thanks!
Hi Peter. If I've understood your question correctly, yes the 40 part of the 60/40 seat back (not the seat base) had to come out to make it flat. It is still a narrow space (18-20") so you'll have to consider if that is sufficient for you.
Great build, I will pickup my Niro EV Friday and I want to be able to camp in it as well You must have some error messages from removing the passenger seat?
Very nice, how do you stop red light on dash when disconnecting the passenger seat air bag. Do the front seats recline flat? Hope Chris can convert my car :)
I've learned to live with the red light. At least it does not flash. And actually when I lower the height-adjustable steering wheel to the angle I want, it blocks that light anyway ;-) And no, the front seats do not recline flat. Nor do the back ones.
The mattress is 6ft long, and about 18 inches wide. A bit wider would have been nice, but I wanted to work with the available space. I've lived in this for up to two weeks at a time and it works great.
There is no spare tire for the e-niro. We removed all the layers of styrofoam shelfing under the back floor and carpeted it to create that large space under the floor. The opening is not big however, so a small soft cooler might fit but not much more than that. It's a better space for less oft-used smaller items.
hi Molly. The seatback for the 60% portion of the 40/60 rear seat remains, so 1-2 people can still fit back there (with seatbelts). But the seatback for the 40% side was removed, so no-one can sit safely/legally behind the driver.
Great car camping setup! I have a '22 niro ev and it is a great camper especially with Utility mode allowing heat/ac to run the whole night! I am also looking forward to the new 2023 Niro EV because that version will have Vehicle 2 Load-- which will be so useful at the campsite!
Totally agree!
It doesn't automatically deactivate at any point in time due to inactivity? Also, do the interior locks hassle you while running?
@Tice Nits not at all. Heat/AC stays on the whole night regarding car camping. In terms of locking vehicle, just need to reach to driver's side door to lock and unlock the vehicle.
I drive a Kia Niro 2018 hybrid and the idea to use it for sleeping in seems to be a practical solution. Personally I try to keep everything as is and work around it to use it for sleeping and travel since it is an economical car and adequate for going places. I just added a roof rack and a cargo box to separate items. I see that in this vehicle you had to remove the front passenger seat.
hi Luigi. Removal of the front passenger seat enabled the installation of a sink with running water and extra storage space. It is not a requirement, and in fact now that my fiancé regularly accompanies me on trips we have put the front passenger seat back in. The 60% side of the 60/40 back seat is still available for passenger, so we have also run it with her in the back seat and the sink up front in the passenger seat area. It is an optional upgrade.
Seems the commenters didn't really listen during the video... 1) You explained that you removed the front seat, and why. 2)There's a refrigerator in the back, so why put a small cooler in the spare tire space? 3) You mentioned that the driver seat being moved up gave you "6 feet for the bed". Also, you can see that the back seat is still there, with only the driver's side folded down to accommodate the bed.
Fantastic! I have a fully fitted out Toyota Hiace camper but I'm looking at getting an e-Niro. Think your camping Niro is a treat!
Thank you Peter. Please let us know if you go ahead with this. So exciting
This is great!
Nicely done
Thanks!
Just saw this and wonder if you've modified this space efficient camper since the original build ? I've just picked up a '24 PHEV Niro and hope to do some extended road trips someday, thanks for sharing this ingenious design!
Hi Chris. Thanks for watching. Yes now that I'm engaged and there are two of us, we've had to make some changes. A twin-size memory foam mattress from Walmart is both comfortable and just sufficient in size. It allows the fridge to sit to the side on what used to be the bed frame by the left side door. We have travelled like this for up to 3 weeks at a time, with bicycles and a rooftop carrier for items that are not daily essentials. That setup can be run with sink/storage in place of the front passenger seat or not. Currently we have the passenger seat back in, and the sink set up is in storage.
Very Kewl... Blake.... Love it
Nice
Thanks
Hmm looks pretty, but they're are some bad design choices in there. Two big ones I can think of are...
Piano hinge on the desk is the wrong side and would make it annoying to use as a desk.
The fridge is too big for the space as the door can't open fully without fouling on the roof.
Great video! Thanks....How does one contact Chris in Toronto?
Hey Blake I'm especially interested in the feature at 1:08 about extending the bed into the foot well in the back seat. I've slept one time in my Niro and that gap is especially not comfortable. Did this require you to take out the 40 seat or can it be done without doing so? Great conversation btw. I just don't need something as elaborate. Thanks!
Hi Peter. If I've understood your question correctly, yes the 40 part of the 60/40 seat back (not the seat base) had to come out to make it flat. It is still a narrow space (18-20") so you'll have to consider if that is sufficient for you.
Great build, I will pickup my Niro EV Friday and I want to be able to camp in it as well
You must have some error messages from removing the passenger seat?
It shows an airbag warning light, yes. And I lose the heated seat function for driver's seat (still works for rear passenger seat)
Very nice, how do you stop red light on dash when disconnecting the passenger seat air bag. Do the front seats recline flat? Hope Chris can convert my car :)
I've learned to live with the red light. At least it does not flash. And actually when I lower the height-adjustable steering wheel to the angle I want, it blocks that light anyway ;-) And no, the front seats do not recline flat. Nor do the back ones.
Can you elaborate on the sleeping setup? how long is the matress?
The mattress is 6ft long, and about 18 inches wide. A bit wider would have been nice, but I wanted to work with the available space. I've lived in this for up to two weeks at a time and it works great.
Bery nifty. I am extremely impressed. Is that a Kia ?
Thank you Cynthia. yes it is a 2020 Kia Niro EV
This is super cool. Do you think there is room for a small cooler where the spare tire goes?
There is no spare tire for the e-niro. We removed all the layers of styrofoam shelfing under the back floor and carpeted it to create that large space under the floor. The opening is not big however, so a small soft cooler might fit but not much more than that. It's a better space for less oft-used smaller items.
can you still use the full back seat for passengers or was that taken out as well? thanks for the video :)
hi Molly. The seatback for the 60% portion of the 40/60 rear seat remains, so 1-2 people can still fit back there (with seatbelts). But the seatback for the 40% side was removed, so no-one can sit safely/legally behind the driver.
@@blakepoland227 cool. thanks!
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