I am finally going out on my first solo car camping trip in my Subaru Forester 2020 tomorrow! I can't wait!! ^^ Thank you for sharing your adventures and giving me the courage to start some of my own ❤ Wonderful safety advice, I will be getting some bear spray tomorrow before leaving Wishing you and your family safety and to everyone in the areas well.
Solo camping is my chosen solitude, and this video paints a vivid picture of the beauty in that choice. Solo overlanding is not just a journey; it's a personal renaissance.
Madison, Thank you for the video. I slept in my Outback for the first time this weekend. You have given me some great ideas to try. Two comments. Your Outback has a roof rack. You only need to swing out the crossbars. Also, you can turn off the dome lights with the switch on each of the three lights. On, Off or Door. No carabiner required and no dead battery.
Be careful just switching off the light. There is an entire system that may be staying awake with the door still open. A day or two is probably not enough to kill the battery, beyond that though it's a complete risk.
⚠️There’s a scammer in the comments using my profile picture telling you to use telegram. It is not me!! I don’t even know what that is. Sorry!! I’ve reporting them but it’s impossible to block them⚠️
That scammer is on many popular videos. He pretends to be the video presenter and he tries to get people to contact him off youtube and then he tries to sucker them in money. He uses the photograph of the person and some variation of their name.
As someone who camps out of their Subaru- the carabiner in the hatch to shut off the lights is extremely smart and it's never crossed my mind before. Very helpful, thank you!!
On older Subarus you can pull the latch on the gate around to the closed position for the same effect, just don't slam the tail down while the latch is down or it may then get stuck.
I like your videos because they present actual situations without theatrics; in other words I believe you genuinely present what you really experience without exaggerations . Keep up the good work !
Not sure why, but I really appreciate your intro and the fact that you work a full time job during the week but adventure every weekend! Truly inspiring. Your setup is also extremely practical and well thought out! I want to pick up one of those power generators because I just started camping, was looking at Jackery but it's quite expensive. Awesome video!
A really nice Subie set-up: well-conceived, practical, and no fuss. I love that the fan, a luxury item, is for Kyro! Such a good boy and adventuring companion!
I've been fighting wildfires for 10 years. My area of Oregon is dealing with several big fires too. My area was evacuated too while I'm fighting one of them. I'll be thankful when the rains come. But the fact that you made a video while dealing with evacuation says so much about your character! You rock! Thanks for giving me something to watch while I'm in my tent rehydrating for tomorrow 🔥 Stay safe up there!
Really helpful video and nice editing. I like how you just roll through and convey so much information so quickly. That table setup in the back is simple but ingenious. Hope you stay safe and get home soon. Thanks for all of the tips.
I have car camped around Australia for 6 months exactly like this with 2 dogs. I put all my belongings in storage and set off. I loved every day. I didn't miss anything that was in storage. You really can get by with only the basics and made life so easy. My car also took a queen size bed.
So my favorite thing about your channel, is your "how to" niche you carved out for it. You lay everything out in such a practical and applicable way. Thanks!
Lots of great info!! My wife and I once had to move quickly from a tent into our Outback when high winds collapsed our tent in a rainstorm. We then dubbed it the "Winnebagaru" and have been meaning to fine tune the program but haven't done much with it yet. This video is such a great help! Keep up the great work and adventuring!!
You have a cozy and useable set up. It works and you're comfortable and that's important. Thanks for sharing, take care and be safe always. Have a wonderful day.
My thoughts are with you and all of those in British Columbia who have been evacuated. I live in Nova Scotia, doesn't seem that long ago that we were under evacuations orders due to wild fires. I hope it rains (without lightning) to help extinguish the fires. Take care and stay safe.
Thank you Madison. I have looked at dozens of suv camper videos and yours is the most sensible one of them all. And your description of your set up was so clear and inviting. Well done!
Genius!! I'm from Australia. Traveling for a bit more than 2 years. Less is More ;-) No Fridge, no solar stuff... 3 X 10'000 mA Powerbanks (30$ each) are more than enough.Charging while driving. Have a Gas ring Burner and a Wood stove. Drive in a small Pick Up (2.4 ltr Holden Rodeo 2006) . I'm a big fan of Hammock,- ist my "Daybed" and observers Plattform. You do a great Job! Thank you for your videos!!!
Madison, thank you for the good info. I have been backpacking for over 40 years. And truthfully most TH-camrs have nothing to offer me. Met three of them in the backcountry, and one is actually deceased. I would not follow anything any of them advised. I had previously seen a couple of your videos, and it brought back memories of the years I was backpacking the Kootenays and Canadian Rockies. Gwillum Lakes is my favorite in one area. And the Rockwall and Mt Assiniboine are co favorites in the Rockies. So I have been sleeping in my Honda Civic front seat and driving to some trailheads way too rough for most people. I just bought a Mazda CX-50 and I caught your video by accident. Gave me some ideas on products I did not know existed. And now my compliments to the people of British Columbia. My favorite people in the world. Friendly, VERY helpful in time of need, and real adventurers who know what they are doing in the wilderness. I have many stories of the people I met and how thoughtful they were. Good luck with your channel and I hope winter picks up and BC/Alberta does not have a fire season like 2023 for decades.
Used to do this all the time in my forester and outback, as a 6ft2 dude it was a bit tight, but a lot better than sleeping outside in the winter. Love the idea of the fridge and the storage container right behind the front seats to help reudce the dip of the mattress where you rest your head.
i love SUV Campers so much. The minimalist style of building it out makes it so attractive. I'll definitely will make notes in future, when I'm building out mine
I love the table idea. Definitely going to consider adding that to my kit. I started SUV camping in my Escape. In October, I upgraded to a ‘24 Outback Wilderness and love it. SUV camping makes life so much easier when making multi-day drives, even though I have an adorable teardrop trailer. There’s no dealing with backing the camper into a site, leveling, connecting to hook ups and unhitching and hitching. I just pull in, get out my chair and Trekkology table, put the window covers on and voila! It’s also great for being able to spend the night near the trailhead when going on backpacking trips.
Hi Madison, I have a slightly different camping setup in my Subaru Forester, which might interest you. Fold down only the right passenger seat and place a 2 by 6 foot piece of 3/4 inch plywood for your mattress. You can then sit properly in the left passenger seat and even cook on top of the bed plywood if you don't want to open the back. Make a box about 1.5 by 3 feet by 9 inches high from the rest of the plywood and put it behind the left passenger seat. This can hold your dishes, stove etc. On top of this box, you can put a plastic food box, or a duffel with bedding. Happy camping! I love your enthusiasm and fondness for solitude.
Great organizational video. Seems like space is a premium no matter how much you have. My wife and I started watching TH-camrs camping in Korea. We have found some fantastic camping gear and blown away by the way they organize everything. Thanks for another great video.
Unfortunately the biggest water bomber in the world is in BC yet isn't used by BC but rather only other countries. It's a sad reality of the local government who can't even manage to run a ferry system due to lack of qualification regardless of the fact that they took over BC ferries.
I am a truck driver and have been searching on TH-cam about how these fridges and power stations work and none of the videos really explained it simply and clearly somehow, here you are , in a video about camping in car and you explain it much better then all the videos i saw😂(i have no knowledge about these things but you made it so simple to understand)
@e.h97 Madison's power bank has only AC and USB outputs. It's really handy to have a DC 12V "cigarette lighter" output, and to get a 12V fridge that can run off it. The reason is that using AC output means that the power bank's DC current has to run through an AC inverter, then that power runs back through a 12V DC transformer. Both of those steps are power inefficient. My 1800W power bank will run my fridge for four days on direct DC, but only two days going through the inverter.
@@e.h97i agree with Clark, but, one fridge I had got the lighter plug really hot. It actually melted. I wired the plug that goes to the fridge directly to the car(with a separate fuse) and it works real well. The other thing is to make sure the unit has enough power to run the fridge on twelve volts. One of mine won’t and I have to us the A/C power block. Another thing is sometimes the cigarette style plugs don’t want to stay plugged in. I solved this problem with a rubber band and tied it around the cord and handle of the power box. With this in mind if you keep an eye on everything you should do fine good luck!
What you posted was helpful for me and anyone who needs an easy way to turn a car into a car camper without taking out seats or anything like that. I was just thinking today that it can be hard to explain if you had to go to a mechanic why you have a built-in home like a bed, sink and kitchen in back of your car. I would rather not have to do that so that it is true stealth camping. BUT YOU SOLVED IT and with style! I was looking for a way to put down the back seat and put a comfortable bed there. I wanted to put the seats back up so it looks like a normal car if you need to use it that way. I liked so much your table you slid out from under the bed to put a camper stove to cook and can slide back. That was COOL. You solved to not have too much to take with you but had everything you needed. Appreciate your TH-cam on EASY NO BUILD.♥
Love it! Just subscribed to your channel yesterday and as a female down here in Astoria Oregon who's been a backpacker for years and lived in my van on the Oregon coast, so much of this was almost identical to the setup I had in my van as well as the bear spray. I still carry a new can of it with me every time I'm on a hike. If it will stop an attacking bear, it will stop an attacking human. 😎👍
I’m 6’1” and I’ve slept in my Crosstrek a few times. It’s a little short for me, but it’s not bad. It’s amazing how little you need to be comfortable. I like the table trick. I’ll have to try that. Stay safe during the fires. It’s awesome that you already have your car set up to sleep in. It takes a lot of the stress out of being evacuated.
Wow! I have a Forester, pretty good ground clearance. I go bush camping in Australia and nowadays pack way too much. Your setup has reminded me of simple road trips and how relaxing a well planned simple pack is. My tent takes ages to setup. It eats into camping time. I'm going to have a total rethink of what I need to enjoy my precious time off. Thank you.
I have an estate* camper car too, very similar setup. (I think what we call an "estate car" in the UK is what Americans call a "wagon"? Not sure tho.) I went off air beds because they have a tendency of losing air and puncturing too often. You can't deflate foam for storage, but at least it's 100% reliable. If you're camping it combines well with a camping cot too. You can consider a half way point eg airbed + one layer of foam, so you get part of the benefits of an air bed, but if the air bed does die on you at least you still have a minimum level of comfort which is better than resting directly on a hard nobbly car. I invested in a fridge too, absolute game changer for me also. Not only does it open so many options to eat while you're out, you also don't have to worry about leaving food in the fridge at home that might have gone bad by the time you get back and end up being thrown away. Oh and milk for cups of tea and coffee 😀 Yes roof rack is a great idea. I have enough room for a massive roof box on the left and my sea kayak to the right of it. It's not just about how much stuff you can carry, it's about "working space" as i call it - being able to put things out of the way when they're not in use, and being able to separate wet and dry stuff, making sure one thing doesn't crush another thing, etc. Much easier and faster to work with. I'd highly recommend the most "aero" rack possible because otherwise the whistling can get very annoying. It can add a bit more time making sure everything is strapped down securely for the road, and I don't know about where you are but here you have to be conscious of theft too. But it's usually worth it.
You know, it's very fortunate that you have this kind of setup since you had to evacuate Kelowna! I live in the back country of Ontario with one road in and one out (in 2 directions) and I'm thinking that with all the crazy weather and tornado warnings and thunderstorms, it might be a good idea for me to equip my hatchback with enough to keep me going if I had to end up sleeping somewhere with my dog for a few nights. Fortunately I'm on the windward side of a "mountain" (an Ontario ""mountain" - lol!) so we've had a lot of rain this summer and it hasn't been very dry. Thanks for sharing your setup! Useful and valuable information. And I'd also like to do some camping trips like this. I hope you get to go back home soon.
You can use a transfer switch to easily switch your fridge to the car electricity when driving and switch that to the power bank when your engine is turned off. Don’t need to plug in and out the fridge every time.
You are a great youtuber and a rare person i enjoy listening to plus your conservative look and content is great for my daughters! Thank you for recording your advenutues! I do the same type of adventures yet am mostly flying paramotors. Keep up the great work!
I have an Outback Wilderness. Ground clearance is more than a typical Outback. For my 2022, there is an off switch to turn off the interior lights with the hatch or doors open. I once left the hatch light on with the hatch closed and forgot about it. Car battery died. Thanks for sharing the video. It was very educational and helpful. Cheers to safe journeys. Wishing you peace and good fortune. Happy Trails!
Thank you for sharing your set up. Really good seeing the practicalities of your day to day life. I especially love the pull out shelf, which is such a simple but great idea!
Praying for you and the fam Madi! Thanks for sharing your car build. You've put a lot of thought into everything and it looks awesome and it all works great!
I like your setup , everything you need nothing you don’t ! Good layout really , frig , power bank and your bed and one for your pupper ! I’m impressed really how well you have your gear stored but can get to it easy ! Great cooking ideas , easy to set up your Coleman cook stove , I have the same items but I use a refillable propane bulk tank which holds 1 1/4 gallons of propane ( they make those tanks for boats it’s small but can fuel the stove for weeks ! I use the same as you do a butane single stove by Snow Peak for quick coffee making ! Very good setup you have ! Which works great for your adventures!
Backpacking since 1968, I'm extremely impressed and pleased to see the newest generation of hikers really pushing the boundaries. As a Dad and grandfather please get a Garmin inreach mini on you at all times or similar satellite GPS system. Best insurance policy you can have. You know the rule, hike smart, not scared. Get sponsored, these are some of the best hiking videos on TH-cam. Contact Subaru. Happy Trails. Pops
Great video Madison, thank you. I have a 2020 Outback and it has the fold out cross bars for a roof rack. It looks like yours does also. They tuck away when not in use. Fingers crossed!
NOW This is what I'm talking about! I've been watching countless videos on interior Subaru builds and they can be extensive and take forever. I need to live now and this is perfect!! THANK YOU!
Awesome and really inspiring Madison. I've been strugling with going out lately let alone taking my paddle board out and enjoying the outdoors and life in general, but seeing you and Kyro do it every week is definitely motivating. I was born in Ontario but now I live in Malta 🇲🇹 , I've always wanted to vist BC, it's so devistating to see what is happening. I hope you and your loved ones are and remain safe. My prayers and wishes are with!
i also own one of those NOCO car jumpers. They do a good job. I've started a car with a fully dead battery before. When not in my car i actually have used it to charge a cell phone 3 or 4 times in a long camping trip.
Thanks for this informative reveal on possibilities of an Outback. Seeing nice setup without having to construct anything from plywood or spend mega bucks, is refreshing. I’ve been considering various cars to buy, & this shows an Outback could be in the running!
Judy, I just went from an Escape to an Outback Wilderness in the fall. I’m 5’7” and can lay down comfortably in my Subie without having lay at an angle like I did in my Escape. I really liked my 2 Escapes but I love my Outback and can’t imagine not having one.
Ah found your resource on the set-up. Great. I am doing this in my 2007 Subaru Impreza. I got an inflatable mattress and pulled the front side passenger seat out to accommodate the mattress. Compacts away and I can move my gear around. I like the folding table idea you had as a bench. I'm stealth-camping of sorts in my car. Completely new to it all but watching channels like yours for advice, tips and tricks. So do you have a rental during the week and only live in the car on weekends?
Just an FYI in case you didn’t know, most Outbacks come with built-in cross bars built into the roof rail that flip out and and across to the other side rail and then you have your roof rack. Just need to then get your box for more storage. 😊
I love this so much! You’ve inspired me to go car camping without feeling like I need to build out my SUV! Can you do a gear tour and storage video? I always have trouble storing my gear in my small apartment so it ends up in random spots around the apartment
I really like your practical and simple solutions. It does not have to be fancy and expensive. A lot of people kind of want to take their house on trips. I never understood that way. I do understand your way though. Keep it up, and enjoy your walks and hikes.
Thanks for the tour of your set up. It’s very similar to mine. I added a car awning this year, which is nice. Just an FYI if you can plug your fridge directly into 12 V. You will save a lot on your solar generator. You are taking DC power and converting it to AC power which uses some of your battery capacity. if you go straight DC, it saves battery life my fridge will function with either DC or AC adaptor anyway, thanks again. Enjoyed the video. See you on the adventure Trail.
Hey, quick helpful tip. When your driving, plug the cooler into a separate outlet. You can charge the power station maybe twice as fast as the cooler isn't taking any potential electricity away from the power station. I have a similar sized rockpals and did this trick over the nine day road trip I just took.
I also got evac'd from Kelowna and took off to some lesser known rec sites near Merritt to wait out the fire. I like to scope out forestry roads on map satellite view and see if I can follow them to secluded spots for camping.
Love this video! I've seen others where they've spent a lot of money on conversion -- yours is very accessible, yet comfortable. Especially like that you re-purpose things (like the table).
Hey! Fellow female solo traveler/adventurer here. I follow you on IG and see you're in NV. Safe travels -- the weather is perfect for adventuring. Your page and video shares provide much needed inspiration. Thanks so much for all that you do!
I keep coming back to this video again and again! By far my favorite set up and explanation out of the dozens I've seen. Thank you for sharing! I'll be setting up my Forester for adventures soon. I have the exact same fold out table that I don't need for anything but have refused to get rid of and now I see why I needed to hold on to it 😅
Good suggestions! I went car camping in my Outback Wilderness in Colorado without doing any planning and it was rough. Definitely need get some gear (like a bed, storage boxes, shades, jackery or power station, etc). I pretty much only went with a gas camp stove, sleeping bag, and traditional cooler w/ice. I'm looking forward to taking longer road trips and camping trips in the future after I get some better gear.
Almost the exact set up I have but in a Skoda superb ! Only reason I went for this car is that I can almost get 1000 miles out of a tank of diesel! And it’s easy to keep clean !
Looks good. I have a 2015 OB. Just bought it and have camped once. I love it EXCEPT when your be tried to take off quickly I get in a cranked it. And it didn’t start but I had lights working I tried to start again. No go. I had to wait 20-30 min and then turn power on and let dials blind blind and stop. Then crank to start and it worked. I’m mention it to dealer and he checked my battery and it was new. Thanks
I really like the way you explain things, even the most basic stuff. This is rare. Yet, it really helps newbies see clearly HOW to do things without having to guess all the time. THANK YOU for getting that concept! You're an amazing young lady First time watcher. New subscriber Victoria gal
One upgrade I do to any car is getting an Optima Yellow Top. You can recharge them and it is deep cycle so it’s great for vehicles that have a lot of devices or constant energy draw. Thank you for sharing these ideas! I live in Hawaii and it is hurricane season now. Some of what you shared may help us in an emergency.🤙
I'm sorry you were forced to evacuate. Sending prayers North to our Canadian friends. PS: thanks for linking everything below. I'm getting those nets, generator, and fridge!
Another item you might consider is an air horn. One loud blast will send a Grizzly or a Drunk Hillbilly running. I live in Idaho... The drive from Salmon, via Challis, to Stanley is beautiful. The camping at Redfish Lake is so stunning, you'll likely make it an annual Pilgrimage. Safe travels and thanks for the video.
I think you're very clever Madison and I like your vehicle set up for travel and camping. I hope things will go well for you concerning the fires may the Lord bless you and keep you safe in the troubled times we are in nowadays.
Great video, thank you for sharing your setup. I have a Forester and I’ve wondered if I could car camp with my dog in it. I’ll have to measure the back with the seats down to see if we’ll fit.
This is one of my favorite videos!! This is so helpful, I'm also looking to get a Subaru Outback. My only option is grey and wasn't too sure of that, but this video has turned me!! You look so awesome and your dog is adorable!
She is solid in her prep. Gave me good tips and I'm generally pretty squared away when car camping. My only tip, and not making a "good, bad" debate but if you're in the back country, consider a firearm. Get a lever action rifle in .357 magnum. Easy to operate and effective on both two and four legged predators. With her dog, she has pretty good defense, but some predators will target the dog, or you, and wading in with a knife or depending on spray maybe not best option. Just my opinion. Also, most states will not bust your chops about having one.
I wouldn’t trust the battery with the hatch open for too long. It’s not just the lights on; there’s a drain on it from somewhere else. I always use the carabiner hack. Btw, they make a magnetic screen for the hatch similar to the windows. Stick them to the the inner rain channel instead of the car side. The magnets can scratch with the wind or any pulling.
I have a Subaru Crosstrek and when car camping, we can turn off all the lights so they don’t turn on at all. There’s a switch on all of the interior lights you can turn them all off! Might be the same in the outback :)
Sweet setup! I have a 2016 outback with just very basic bed setup (wool rug, reflective tarp, yoga mat). The bump between seat and cargo kept me up at night. I may get a foam mattress to be more comfortable.
Like your set up :). I've been boondocking full time a few years now when I'm not driving OTR, which is basically the same thing except I get paid to camp. I use alcohol and water for dishes and I see throwing away food as a waste so I toss it out. Critters get meat bits and birds get my bread stuff. Cool video.
I am finally going out on my first solo car camping trip in my Subaru Forester 2020 tomorrow! I can't wait!! ^^
Thank you for sharing your adventures and giving me the courage to start some of my own ❤
Wonderful safety advice, I will be getting some bear spray tomorrow before leaving
Wishing you and your family safety and to everyone in the areas well.
Congrats!! You will have so much fun. Cheers to new adventures ❤
Hows your social life
Pretty sure Alexandra daddario has no home that she knows of... I'm going to 3 lakes in Idaho real soon
@@magiclovelinu7234Why? 😂
Solo camping is my chosen solitude, and this video paints a vivid picture of the beauty in that choice. Solo overlanding is not just a journey; it's a personal renaissance.
Madison, Thank you for the video. I slept in my Outback for the first time this weekend. You have given me some great ideas to try. Two comments. Your Outback has a roof rack. You only need to swing out the crossbars. Also, you can turn off the dome lights with the switch on each of the three lights. On, Off or Door. No carabiner required and no dead battery.
Be careful just switching off the light. There is an entire system that may be staying awake with the door still open. A day or two is probably not enough to kill the battery, beyond that though it's a complete risk.
⚠️There’s a scammer in the comments using my profile picture telling you to use telegram. It is not me!! I don’t even know what that is. Sorry!! I’ve reporting them but it’s impossible to block them⚠️
They are all over You Tube, sadly. Lots of channels have these scammers. 😬
i ❤ you so much, marry me come to Malaysia
That scammer is on many popular videos. He pretends to be the video presenter and he tries to get people to contact him off youtube and then he tries to sucker them in money. He uses the photograph of the person and some variation of their name.
@@MieudangMiezaimisimp 😂
@@ElRabitothat is an understatement lol. Madness i tell you, these dudes need to touch grass.
As someone who camps out of their Subaru- the carabiner in the hatch to shut off the lights is extremely smart and it's never crossed my mind before. Very helpful, thank you!!
Happy to help 😊
@@MadisonClysdaleebeautiful khoobsurat❤
I wonder if it works on other vehicles? Going to try it. Thanks for the tip!
On older Subarus you can pull the latch on the gate around to the closed position for the same effect, just don't slam the tail down while the latch is down or it may then get stuck.
I like your videos because they present actual situations without theatrics; in other words I believe you genuinely present what you really experience without exaggerations . Keep up the good work !
Not sure why, but I really appreciate your intro and the fact that you work a full time job during the week but adventure every weekend! Truly inspiring. Your setup is also extremely practical and well thought out! I want to pick up one of those power generators because I just started camping, was looking at Jackery but it's quite expensive. Awesome video!
+1
A really nice Subie set-up: well-conceived, practical, and no fuss. I love that the fan, a luxury item, is for Kyro! Such a good boy and adventuring companion!
I've been fighting wildfires for 10 years. My area of Oregon is dealing with several big fires too. My area was evacuated too while I'm fighting one of them. I'll be thankful when the rains come. But the fact that you made a video while dealing with evacuation says so much about your character! You rock! Thanks for giving me something to watch while I'm in my tent rehydrating for tomorrow 🔥
Stay safe up there!
Really helpful video and nice editing. I like how you just roll through and convey so much information so quickly. That table setup in the back is simple but ingenious. Hope you stay safe and get home soon. Thanks for all of the tips.
I have car camped around Australia for 6 months exactly like this with 2 dogs. I put all my belongings in storage and set off. I loved every day. I didn't miss anything that was in storage. You really can get by with only the basics and made life so easy. My car also took a queen size bed.
So my favorite thing about your channel, is your "how to" niche you carved out for it. You lay everything out in such a practical and applicable way.
Thanks!
I really like that pullout table idea.
Lots of great info!! My wife and I once had to move quickly from a tent into our Outback when high winds collapsed our tent in a rainstorm. We then dubbed it the "Winnebagaru" and have been meaning to fine tune the program but haven't done much with it yet. This video is such a great help! Keep up the great work and adventuring!!
You have a cozy and useable set up. It works and you're comfortable and that's important. Thanks for sharing, take care and be safe always. Have a wonderful day.
My thoughts are with you and all of those in British Columbia who have been evacuated. I live in Nova Scotia, doesn't seem that long ago that we were under evacuations orders due to wild fires. I hope it rains (without lightning) to help extinguish the fires.
Take care and stay safe.
No lightning is key😅. Thank you for your wishes and enjoy the east coast!
Thank you Madison. I have looked at dozens of suv camper videos and yours is the most sensible one of them all. And your description of your set up was so clear and inviting. Well done!
Genius!! I'm from Australia. Traveling for a bit more than 2 years. Less is More ;-) No Fridge, no solar stuff... 3 X 10'000 mA Powerbanks (30$ each) are more than enough.Charging while driving. Have a Gas ring Burner and a Wood stove. Drive in a small Pick Up (2.4 ltr Holden Rodeo 2006) . I'm a big fan of Hammock,- ist my "Daybed" and observers Plattform. You do a great Job! Thank you for your videos!!!
Those trousers are so cool!
.,.👍
Madison, thank you for the good info.
I have been backpacking for over 40 years. And truthfully most TH-camrs have nothing to offer me. Met three of them in the backcountry, and one is actually deceased. I would not follow anything any of them advised. I had previously seen a couple of your videos, and it brought back memories of the years I was backpacking the Kootenays and Canadian Rockies. Gwillum Lakes is my favorite in one area. And the Rockwall and Mt Assiniboine are co favorites in the Rockies. So I have been sleeping in my Honda Civic front seat and driving to some trailheads way too rough for most people. I just bought a Mazda CX-50 and I caught your video by accident. Gave me some ideas on products I did not know existed.
And now my compliments to the people of British Columbia. My favorite people in the world. Friendly, VERY helpful in time of need, and real adventurers who know what they are doing in the wilderness. I have many stories of the people I met and how thoughtful they were.
Good luck with your channel and I hope winter picks up and BC/Alberta does not have a fire season like 2023 for decades.
Used to do this all the time in my forester and outback, as a 6ft2 dude it was a bit tight, but a lot better than sleeping outside in the winter. Love the idea of the fridge and the storage container right behind the front seats to help reudce the dip of the mattress where you rest your head.
i love SUV Campers so much. The minimalist style of building it out makes it so attractive. I'll definitely will make notes in future, when I'm building out mine
Happy to hear. Cheers!
I love the table idea. Definitely going to consider adding that to my kit. I started SUV camping in my Escape. In October, I upgraded to a ‘24 Outback Wilderness and love it.
SUV camping makes life so much easier when making multi-day drives, even though I have an adorable teardrop trailer. There’s no dealing with backing the camper into a site, leveling, connecting to hook ups and unhitching and hitching. I just pull in, get out my chair and Trekkology table, put the window covers on and voila! It’s also great for being able to spend the night near the trailhead when going on backpacking trips.
Hi Madison, I have a slightly different camping setup in my Subaru Forester, which might interest you. Fold down only the right passenger seat and place a 2 by 6 foot piece of 3/4 inch plywood for your mattress. You can then sit properly in the left passenger seat and even cook on top of the bed plywood if you don't want to open the back. Make a box about 1.5 by 3 feet by 9 inches high from the rest of the plywood and put it behind the left passenger seat. This can hold your dishes, stove etc. On top of this box, you can put a plastic food box, or a duffel with bedding. Happy camping! I love your enthusiasm and fondness for solitude.
By far the best setup I've seen and I love that you do it without a huge plywood build
I love how you manage those stuff. I think, roof box is a must, it fit on Subaru perfectly. You stay safe out there Madison 👋
Great organizational video. Seems like space is a premium no matter how much you have.
My wife and I started watching TH-camrs camping in Korea.
We have found some fantastic camping gear and blown away by the way they organize everything.
Thanks for another great video.
So helpful! I love this! Hope you guys are doing ok with the fires x hope everything is put out soon 🤍
Thank you!! ❤
Unfortunately the biggest water bomber in the world is in BC yet isn't used by BC but rather only other countries. It's a sad reality of the local government who can't even manage to run a ferry system due to lack of qualification regardless of the fact that they took over BC ferries.
I am a truck driver and have been searching on TH-cam about how these fridges and power stations work and none of the videos really explained it simply and clearly somehow, here you are , in a video about camping in car and you explain it much better then all the videos i saw😂(i have no knowledge about these things but you made it so simple to understand)
@e.h97 Madison's power bank has only AC and USB outputs. It's really handy to have a DC 12V "cigarette lighter" output, and to get a 12V fridge that can run off it. The reason is that using AC output means that the power bank's DC current has to run through an AC inverter, then that power runs back through a 12V DC transformer. Both of those steps are power inefficient. My 1800W power bank will run my fridge for four days on direct DC, but only two days going through the inverter.
@@clarkmorrison7243 clark , thank you for explaining
@@e.h97i agree with Clark, but, one fridge I had got the lighter plug really hot. It actually melted. I wired the plug that goes to the fridge directly to the car(with a separate fuse) and it works real well. The other thing is to make sure the unit has enough power to run the fridge on twelve volts. One of mine won’t and I have to us the A/C power block. Another thing is sometimes the cigarette style plugs don’t want to stay plugged in. I solved this problem with a rubber band and tied it around the cord and handle of the power box. With this in mind if you keep an eye on everything you should do fine good luck!
What you posted was helpful for me and anyone who needs an easy way to turn a car into a car camper without taking out seats or anything like that. I was just thinking today that it can be hard to explain if you had to go to a mechanic why you have a built-in home like a bed, sink and kitchen in back of your car. I would rather not have to do that so that it is true stealth camping. BUT YOU SOLVED IT and with style! I was looking for a way to put down the back seat and put a comfortable bed there. I wanted to put the seats back up so it looks like a normal car if you need to use it that way. I liked so much your table you slid out from under the bed to put a camper stove to cook and can slide back. That was COOL. You solved to not have too much to take with you but had everything you needed. Appreciate your TH-cam on EASY NO BUILD.♥
Huge respect. And your recent evacuation proves the point regarding alternative options & preparedness.
Love it! Just subscribed to your channel yesterday and as a female down here in Astoria Oregon who's been a backpacker for years and lived in my van on the Oregon coast, so much of this was almost identical to the setup I had in my van as well as the bear spray. I still carry a new can of it with me every time I'm on a hike. If it will stop an attacking bear, it will stop an attacking human. 😎👍
I’m 6’1” and I’ve slept in my Crosstrek a few times. It’s a little short for me, but it’s not bad. It’s amazing how little you need to be comfortable. I like the table trick. I’ll have to try that. Stay safe during the fires. It’s awesome that you already have your car set up to sleep in. It takes a lot of the stress out of being evacuated.
Crosstrek is a little shorter, I did the lay down test when deciding to buy 😅. I agree though, less is more 😊
Wow! I have a Forester, pretty good ground clearance. I go bush camping in Australia and nowadays pack way too much. Your setup has reminded me of simple road trips and how relaxing a well planned simple pack is. My tent takes ages to setup. It eats into camping time. I'm going to have a total rethink of what I need to enjoy my precious time off. Thank you.
I have an estate* camper car too, very similar setup.
(I think what we call an "estate car" in the UK is what Americans call a "wagon"? Not sure tho.)
I went off air beds because they have a tendency of losing air and puncturing too often. You can't deflate foam for storage, but at least it's 100% reliable. If you're camping it combines well with a camping cot too.
You can consider a half way point eg airbed + one layer of foam, so you get part of the benefits of an air bed, but if the air bed does die on you at least you still have a minimum level of comfort which is better than resting directly on a hard nobbly car.
I invested in a fridge too, absolute game changer for me also. Not only does it open so many options to eat while you're out, you also don't have to worry about leaving food in the fridge at home that might have gone bad by the time you get back and end up being thrown away. Oh and milk for cups of tea and coffee 😀
Yes roof rack is a great idea. I have enough room for a massive roof box on the left and my sea kayak to the right of it. It's not just about how much stuff you can carry, it's about "working space" as i call it - being able to put things out of the way when they're not in use, and being able to separate wet and dry stuff, making sure one thing doesn't crush another thing, etc. Much easier and faster to work with. I'd highly recommend the most "aero" rack possible because otherwise the whistling can get very annoying. It can add a bit more time making sure everything is strapped down securely for the road, and I don't know about where you are but here you have to be conscious of theft too. But it's usually worth it.
You know, it's very fortunate that you have this kind of setup since you had to evacuate Kelowna! I live in the back country of Ontario with one road in and one out (in 2 directions) and I'm thinking that with all the crazy weather and tornado warnings and thunderstorms, it might be a good idea for me to equip my hatchback with enough to keep me going if I had to end up sleeping somewhere with my dog for a few nights. Fortunately I'm on the windward side of a "mountain" (an Ontario ""mountain" - lol!) so we've had a lot of rain this summer and it hasn't been very dry. Thanks for sharing your setup! Useful and valuable information. And I'd also like to do some camping trips like this. I hope you get to go back home soon.
You can use a transfer switch to easily switch your fridge to the car electricity when driving and switch that to the power bank when your engine is turned off. Don’t need to plug in and out the fridge every time.
You are a great youtuber and a rare person i enjoy listening to plus your conservative look and content is great for my daughters! Thank you for recording your advenutues! I do the same type of adventures yet am mostly flying paramotors. Keep up the great work!
I have an Outback Wilderness. Ground clearance is more than a typical Outback. For my 2022, there is an off switch to turn off the interior lights with the hatch or doors open. I once left the hatch light on with the hatch closed and forgot about it. Car battery died. Thanks for sharing the video. It was very educational and helpful. Cheers to safe journeys. Wishing you peace and good fortune. Happy Trails!
Thank you for sharing your set up. Really good seeing the practicalities of your day to day life. I especially love the pull out shelf, which is such a simple but great idea!
I really hope you can post more videos! I love watching you before i sleep, i find you soooo soothing. Have safe adventures! ❤
Praying for you and the fam Madi! Thanks for sharing your car build. You've put a lot of thought into everything and it looks awesome and it all works great!
Thank you so much!!
@@MadisonClysdalee I've seen the fires in B.C are very severe in number and size, I wish you and your family the best.
@@MadisonClysdalee madison bhai, aapke kuttey ka breed konsaa hai?
I like your setup , everything you need nothing you don’t !
Good layout really , frig , power bank and your bed and one for your pupper !
I’m impressed really how well you have your gear stored but can get to it easy !
Great cooking ideas , easy to set up your Coleman cook stove , I have the same items but I use a refillable propane bulk tank which holds 1 1/4 gallons of propane ( they make those tanks for boats it’s small but can fuel the stove for weeks ! I use the same as you do a butane single stove by Snow Peak for quick coffee making !
Very good setup you have ! Which works great for your adventures!
Backpacking since 1968, I'm extremely impressed and pleased to see the newest generation of hikers really pushing the boundaries. As a Dad and grandfather please get a Garmin inreach mini on you at all times or similar satellite GPS system. Best insurance policy you can have. You know the rule, hike smart, not scared. Get sponsored, these are some of the best hiking videos on TH-cam. Contact Subaru. Happy Trails. Pops
Thanks!
Thank you 🤍
Great video Madison, thank you. I have a 2020 Outback and it has the fold out cross bars for a roof rack. It looks like yours does also. They tuck away when not in use. Fingers crossed!
NOW This is what I'm talking about! I've been watching countless videos on interior Subaru builds and they can be extensive and take forever. I need to live now and this is perfect!! THANK YOU!
Absoslutley! In TOTAL AGREEMENT!!!
Awesome and really inspiring Madison. I've been strugling with going out lately let alone taking my paddle board out and enjoying the outdoors and life in general, but seeing you and Kyro do it every week is definitely motivating. I was born in Ontario but now I live in Malta 🇲🇹 , I've always wanted to vist BC, it's so devistating to see what is happening. I hope you and your loved ones are and remain safe. My prayers and wishes are with!
Thanks for sharing, as a solo female car camper I always keep my driver's seat empty and ready for a fast get away. I camp in my 2017 Nissan Sentra.
Just bought my 2024 Outback and this is one of the most useful videos Ive seen so far on gear! Thanks for the links!
i also own one of those NOCO car jumpers. They do a good job. I've started a car with a fully dead battery before. When not in my car i actually have used it to charge a cell phone 3 or 4 times in a long camping trip.
Thanks for this informative reveal on possibilities of an Outback. Seeing nice setup without having to construct anything from plywood or spend mega bucks, is refreshing. I’ve been considering various cars to buy, & this shows an Outback could be in the running!
Judy, I just went from an Escape to an Outback Wilderness in the fall. I’m 5’7” and can lay down comfortably in my Subie without having lay at an angle like I did in my Escape. I really liked my 2 Escapes but I love my Outback and can’t imagine not having one.
Great idea with placing the folded table under the air mattress! 👍🏼
Ah found your resource on the set-up. Great.
I am doing this in my 2007 Subaru Impreza. I got an inflatable mattress and pulled the front side passenger seat out to accommodate the mattress. Compacts away and I can move my gear around. I like the folding table idea you had as a bench. I'm stealth-camping of sorts in my car. Completely new to it all but watching channels like yours for advice, tips and tricks.
So do you have a rental during the week and only live in the car on weekends?
Also you're generous for doing a video during the harsh times in bc!! Please take care of you and your familly before youtube! ❤
Just an FYI in case you didn’t know, most Outbacks come with built-in cross bars built into the roof rail that flip out and and across to the other side rail and then you have your roof rack. Just need to then get your box for more storage. 😊
I’m so sorry about the fires. Thanks for the tour, excellent setup!
I love this so much! You’ve inspired me to go car camping without feeling like I need to build out my SUV! Can you do a gear tour and storage video? I always have trouble storing my gear in my small apartment so it ends up in random spots around the apartment
I love efficiency ! You really put a lot of thought into the way your gear is stowed ! Nice
Thanks!
Mattress idea is great. Fishing rods, and other ideas are awesome Will integrate the ideas in my travels.
I really like your practical and simple solutions. It does not have to be fancy and expensive. A lot of people kind of want to take their house on trips. I never understood that way. I do understand your way though. Keep it up, and enjoy your walks and hikes.
Thanks for the tour of your set up. It’s very similar to mine. I added a car awning this year, which is nice. Just an FYI if you can plug your fridge directly into 12 V. You will save a lot on your solar generator. You are taking DC power and converting it to AC power which uses some of your battery capacity. if you go straight DC, it saves battery life my fridge will function with either DC or AC adaptor anyway, thanks again. Enjoyed the video. See you on the adventure Trail.
I find it interesting to see what gear people are using even if I’m not into the same activity. You got your gear dialed in. Love the videos!
I have that car jumper too, have used it several times. It's a life saver.
Hey, quick helpful tip. When your driving, plug the cooler into a separate outlet. You can charge the power station maybe twice as fast as the cooler isn't taking any potential electricity away from the power station.
I have a similar sized rockpals and did this trick over the nine day road trip I just took.
I also got evac'd from Kelowna and took off to some lesser known rec sites near Merritt to wait out the fire. I like to scope out forestry roads on map satellite view and see if I can follow them to secluded spots for camping.
Stay safe from the fires and thanks for all the tips! I have 4 dogs and we camp quite a bit and I've learned quite a bit from your videos!
Looking good to me. Thanks for sharing. Prayers for your safety and looking forward to the next camp out.
Love this video! I've seen others where they've spent a lot of money on conversion -- yours is very accessible, yet comfortable. Especially like that you re-purpose things (like the table).
Hey! Fellow female solo traveler/adventurer here. I follow you on IG and see you're in NV. Safe travels -- the weather is perfect for adventuring. Your page and video shares provide much needed inspiration. Thanks so much for all that you do!
Looks better than my bedroom / kitchen. Stay safe out there.
Madison seems like a happy person 😀 Her SUV camping really works
Watching Madison makes me also be a happy person
I keep coming back to this video again and again! By far my favorite set up and explanation out of the dozens I've seen. Thank you for sharing! I'll be setting up my Forester for adventures soon. I have the exact same fold out table that I don't need for anything but have refused to get rid of and now I see why I needed to hold on to it 😅
I love this. I had a camper van, but couldn't afford to pay $300 in gas everytime I wanted to go somewhere. This is the way to go for me!
Good suggestions! I went car camping in my Outback Wilderness in Colorado without doing any planning and it was rough. Definitely need get some gear (like a bed, storage boxes, shades, jackery or power station, etc). I pretty much only went with a gas camp stove, sleeping bag, and traditional cooler w/ice. I'm looking forward to taking longer road trips and camping trips in the future after I get some better gear.
Great set-up. Good tips with the fridge, the carabiner light stop. Thank you.
This is wonderful! I'm thinking of car camping in my 2022 Outback for the first time. Thanks for the breakdown and for showing the possibilities.
Almost the exact set up I have but in a Skoda superb ! Only reason I went for this car is that I can almost get 1000 miles out of a tank of diesel! And it’s easy to keep clean !
Looks good. I have a 2015 OB. Just bought it and have camped once.
I love it EXCEPT when your be tried to take off quickly I get in a cranked it. And it didn’t start but I had lights working
I tried to start again. No go.
I had to wait 20-30 min and then turn power on and let dials blind blind and stop. Then crank to start and it worked. I’m mention it to dealer and he checked my battery and it was new. Thanks
Another tip my friend who works in remote areas told me is to always try and back in to your spot so you can make a quick escape if need be.
I really like the way you explain things, even the most basic stuff. This is rare. Yet, it really helps newbies see clearly HOW to do things without having to guess all the time. THANK YOU for getting that concept!
You're an amazing young lady
First time watcher.
New subscriber
Victoria gal
One upgrade I do to any car is getting an Optima Yellow Top. You can recharge them and it is deep cycle so it’s great for vehicles that have a lot of devices or constant energy draw.
Thank you for sharing these ideas! I live in Hawaii and it is hurricane season now. Some of what you shared may help us in an emergency.🤙
I'm sorry you were forced to evacuate. Sending prayers North to our Canadian friends. PS: thanks for linking everything below. I'm getting those nets, generator, and fridge!
Another item you might consider is an air horn. One loud blast will send a Grizzly or a Drunk Hillbilly running.
I live in Idaho... The drive from Salmon, via Challis, to Stanley is beautiful. The camping at Redfish Lake is so stunning, you'll likely make it an annual Pilgrimage.
Safe travels and thanks for the video.
Prayers that the fires subside and that you & your family stay safe❤ Enjoy your videos! Watching from Rochester NY 🇺🇸
My goodness you're beautiful!
I think you're very clever Madison and I like your vehicle set up for travel and camping. I hope things will go well for you concerning the fires may the Lord bless you and keep you safe in the troubled times we are in nowadays.
Great to see this. I have a 23 OBW and am finally planning to take a long trip this coming year in 24
Great video, thank you for sharing your setup. I have a Forester and I’ve wondered if I could car camp with my dog in it. I’ll have to measure the back with the seats down to see if we’ll fit.
Heard about the fires there. Stay well. Kelowna and the entire valley are beautiful.
The simplicity is inspiring for a no build weekend warrior set up
Hi Madison, I live like that here in Finland 6 months, try hiking with rubber boat and small outboard. I use big trailer for gear.
This is one of my favorite videos!! This is so helpful, I'm also looking to get a Subaru Outback. My only option is grey and wasn't too sure of that, but this video has turned me!! You look so awesome and your dog is adorable!
I love the card table as a table idea. You have a great set up all around.
Stay safe! I hope your home is still ok. These fires are so horrible to see.
She is solid in her prep. Gave me good tips and I'm generally pretty squared away when car camping. My only tip, and not making a "good, bad" debate but if you're in the back country, consider a firearm. Get a lever action rifle in .357 magnum. Easy to operate and effective on both two and four legged predators. With her dog, she has pretty good defense, but some predators will target the dog, or you, and wading in with a knife or depending on spray maybe not best option. Just my opinion. Also, most states will not bust your chops about having one.
I wouldn’t trust the battery with the hatch open for too long. It’s not just the lights on; there’s a drain on it from somewhere else. I always use the carabiner hack. Btw, they make a magnetic screen for the hatch similar to the windows. Stick them to the the inner rain channel instead of the car side. The magnets can scratch with the wind or any pulling.
I have a Subaru Crosstrek and when car camping, we can turn off all the lights so they don’t turn on at all. There’s a switch on all of the interior lights you can turn them all off! Might be the same in the outback :)
Sweet setup! I have a 2016 outback with just very basic bed setup (wool rug, reflective tarp, yoga mat). The bump between seat and cargo kept me up at night. I may get a foam mattress to be more comfortable.
Like your set up :). I've been boondocking full time a few years now when I'm not driving OTR, which is basically the same thing except I get paid to camp. I use alcohol and water for dishes and I see throwing away food as a waste so I toss it out. Critters get meat bits and birds get my bread stuff. Cool video.