Love the fact that you can work on your own car! Labor fees are atrocious! All very practical upgrades and for peace of mind. There’s so many nooks and crannies in a Prius! Who knew! The inflatable kayak was a good addition to do what you love! Just because you live in a car, it doesn’t mean you have to suffer or not have any fun along the way! Embrace the journey, the destination will come whether you enjoy or not!
Yes, I saved a lot of labor fees doing all the work myself, I was quoted almost $900 in labor only to install the lift kit. Yes the kayak is a wonderful addition, thank you very much! Trying to embrace the journey
When you have to leave your dog in the car, for grocery shopping or gym shower, for instance, do you leave the a/c on for her? I recently bought a 2014 PriusV, the wagon, and now I know my dog and I could sleep in it if we needed to. I am so impressed with your resourcefulness and your willingness to share your hard-won knowledge.
I leave the air conditioning on during the summertime for my dog unless it's like a really cloudy day or it's raining or something. Obviously during the winter time you don't need to put the AC on. Thank you very much for the compliment, I'm really glad you enjoy the videos, and yes a lot of this knowledge is definitely "hard-won" haha. Take care.
I don’t live or travel in my Prius, but I use it for my mobile office on construction sites, and I commute A LOT and I have gotten so many great ideas from these 2 videos. Thank you for making them and going into so much detail with them.
Some really great ideas here. Thanks! I’ve been camping in my Prius with my 9-year-old and our little dog, so the set up in the back is a bit different with two people sleeping there, but I’ve got some great ideas from your video. 😊 Cool to see what’s changed (and what hasn’t) from your first vid.
You are amazing. So glad to have found your channel. You are a very innovative, resourceful young man and I have learned so much from your tutorials. I have a Prius Prime and one day would like to travel in it. Learning about inverters is of interest since I'd like to Instypot my meals on the road. I am in the process of making a car tent. There are car tents sold online specifically for the Prius called Habitents but there is a back order until 2022. I will make mine and customize it to my needs. I just ordered some stiff netting and I'm going to make a screen house that fits over the back of my Prius. This is so exciting. Thank you for being an inspiration to me. 👍🤗
Thank you for the compliment, I'm so glad that you have learned some stuff and that it is helpful for you. The Prius prime is great, and yes those habitants have been back ordered for a long time now from what I understand. There are lots of options besides a habitent, you can look on amazon, they have SUV tents and other kinds of shelters. Good luck with it
Your videos are packed with information. I appreciate that. I have grown tired of some van life videos that just go on and on and on about one thing that could have taken 2 minutes....they spend 30 minutes talking about. Thanks for your content.
Dude you are my hero. I just traded my Dodge Challenger straight up for a brand new Prius. Now to get up the courage to live in it haha. Thanks for the super informative and helpful vids
What year challenger? That's cool you got a brand new prius, those new ones are super nice. Glad you enjoy the vids. Just make sure living in your Prius is what you really want to do right now, it's not for everyone. Good luck with it
@@MountainSpringsAdventures it was a 2018 SXT (most basic model). Because of the auto chip shortage, I got about $1500 more than what I paid for it new on my trade and got the L Eco Prius (also basic model). Yeah, I figure even if I don't live in it, I want to use it as an "RV" for road tripping and exploring. I still work full time but I am saving up to take an "extended vacation" haha. You and I have very similar ideas in what I want to accomplish with it. I really appreciate you sharing your experience. Maybe one day, I will do the same.
That's cool, sounds nice. I don't really know much about the new priuses. They're too expensive for me lol. Yeah to live and travel and be a nomad for a while, you need to have some money saved and find a way to make money while you're on the road. You don't need much, but it's just something I'm doing with my life right now. Good luck with it.
I’ve had a Prius and loved it! We used it to move in a couple of times and people can’t imagine what a little workhorse a Prius is! I miss mine so much.
Great stuff. Enjoy your time exploring. In case it helps you with fridge space, you dont need to refrigerate eggs. If you need to test their freshness, see if they float. If yes, they're bad.
I must say, The inverter at 5:21 looks really nice. Having a good, solid power inverter is an absolute, no, ABSOLUTE MUST!!!! I cannot tell you how many power inverters we went through trying to do it cheap. It is worth every penny you put in to a good power inverter. I cannot stress this enough!
Kayaking caught my attention, along with the lift kit you installed. What an addition & improvement it must have been to your outdoor life! Have fun and stay safe, bro~
I love tours from after long term use. Glad you’re still going. 3M exterior mounting tape (heavy duty) is great for reattaching car trim. If your bumper edge has anywhere you can fit double sided tape, give it a try. (the tape is thick like a putty strip, not foam, and held trim on my old car even at full highway speeds.)
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for the suggestion, I've had bad experience with double-sided tape coming undone. I might try the heavy duty stuff. There's stuff called alien tape that I might try.
@@MountainSpringsAdventures Good luck. I had some flappy trim on my old car and nothing worked until I found the exterior mounting tape. There might be more options now - adhesives have gotten really good, but I can vouch for the 3M stuff, which I only found after several other products failed & I lost the first bit. (The thing that is sure to hold is 2 part epoxy, I like the $3 clear epoxy from harbor freight, but it might not be great for your bumper because your bumper would crack before the epoxy gives out)
Omg the tow strap idea is a game changer! You having the tools makes it so almost any passing truck or suv could pull you out instead of a tow trucking having to come to you. Genius
@@MountainSpringsAdventures Oh there's no way I can do it, . i'm really good at calling my mechanic for assistance. Keep sharing your adventure, you have a great channel.
I had a 2005 Prius with 440k, and now my 2009 Prius has 383k. Had to retire my 2005 after I lost the water pump belt and fried the head gasket. My 2009 still going. I put a hitch on my 2009, and pull my SeaDoo. Can also pull my mower and 4wheeler. I'm gonna start filming my storm chases this year and my boondocking and camping experiences. I think it will be fun.
Man I've been binge watching your channel while recovering from an infected tooth removal and gotta say your vids have made it a lottt easier. Keep it up your doin it right!
You're making me want to follow in your footsteps. I own a Prius, and I'm constantly thinking about buying a camper, converting a van, etc. to travel. It's cool to see that someone is making it happen with a Prius. Looks fun, good job!
Woo Hoo! How's it going with your new Prius? I am on the waitlist for a 2022 Prius LE. I am so excited! I doubt my husband and I will camp in the Prius (we have a truck, and we also backpack), but these videos are still getting me even more stoked to be a Prius owner! Mountain Springs Adventures is a wealth of info for the car.
I just bought online cat security ccm catalytic converter shield to help prevent theft . Appreciate your videos . P.s. when I got a dog & wanted to attach leash to car I always attached leash to drivers side door mirror so I wouldn't forget my pooch . No Chevy chase vacation .
You know, I was wondering what that big screw hook in the trunk of my Prius V I got last year, was for. Now I know it's for towing... thanks! That strap and clamp is probably a good idea if you are in the Forest much.
Watched part 1 a few weeks ago. This is a great follow up. Im in a 05 magnum. Im almost 60. I will be using your ide in my magnum as i start car camping around new mexico, colorado and utah. Thanks for showing sll your ideas and sources.
Really glad I found your channel recently, you give off a great vibe and are super informative. I can tell no matter what the subject you can find a way to present it well and make it interesting. I dont believe it's in the videos but would you ever consider a video showing how this is financially possible? I think 99.9% of us would like this life, but dont know how to pay our regular essential bills while doing so?
Thanks man, I appreciate it. Yeah I will try to make a video about finances, I know that money is one of the main things that holds people back from being able to do stuff like this. There are lots of different side hustles and things you can do for money, I'll try to make a video soon about it. Basically, I've gotten it down to where I can live on about $400 a month, because I don't have rent or utilities, and I get 50 miles a gallon and I always sleep in my Prius.
@@MountainSpringsAdventures I would also like a video of that too, please. I was camping out of a small Nissan truck. I'm hoping to get back out and do some traveling again. I loved it.
I always think that too but I was watching this video the other day about a vanlifing couple and they recommended to just work out your finances on the road. Made sense to me, my job is NOT transferable but I could waitress or something if I got really stuck for cash. You'll never know till you go I guess
There are 1,000 videos on TH-cam and 1001 articles and blog posts on ways to make money on the road. It never hurts to get a new perspective but I would still do additional research on this well established, well discussed subject.
Nice man! I am on the same wave length with my 2006 prius, all self contained. I hope to get the lift kit and a kayak. I might look into the coroplast kayak instead of inflatable.
That's cool, where in Virginia do you live? I've been in Virginia for the past month. California is a long way away! Good luck with it. Yes my bed is very comfortable, the sheet makes it even more comfortable.
Nice! I didn't realize that I could have a lift installed on my Prius. My bumpers look like yours and the splash guard under the car was so shredded that my mechanic just left it off the last time I took it in for service! Great tips 😁 Thank you
@@MountainSpringsAdventures you do. So many vanlife videos I start watching cos I'm trying to research a particular topic and their video pops up in my search but they spend ages rambling about other stuff and cutting to other footage 🙄 I usually give up
Happy to see you got a kayak ... it's a game changer for sure. Mine is like yours but I have only one seat, which is great for me. Have a lot of fun with it.
Yes the kayak is so much fun, I saw the one-seater version of my kayak, I almost bought it but went with the two person instead so I could fit my dog and some gear
You need to look up rangemate or microhearth they’re basically the same thing for your microwave. Turns the microwave into a grill. I have two and for the convenience they’re awesome. Just make sure it’ll fit in your small microwave
That's so cool, I just looked it up, I didn't know they sold stuff like that, they're a bit expensive at $70 but that's really awesome, so you can fry chicken breast or hamburgers in your microwave, I might get one of those, thank you
Thank you for the video. Looks like nice improvements. I would put a set of "Deer Alerts" that cost about $6/set on your front end. Cheap insurance to prevent animal collisions that do great vehicle damage. Or prevent being without your vehicle while being repaired or totally not able to being repairable at all. Thank you for the video. Blessings to you.
Your girl is gorgeous - nice to see her featured in your awesome videos! Your Prius set up is a game changer! I went with a Dodge Caravan for me and two puppers in Ontario, Canada.
I love your videos. You should pick up a tool called ( A COME ALONG) it's a simple ratcheting tool that you hook to a tree or something. And then you ratchet yourself out of a mud hole. Side note. The lift kit seems like a smart investment. Love your videos they are inspiring
Second video of yours I’ve watched and the detailed explanation is not too much and not too little either and you keep it moving along at a decent pace gj…I don’t have a Prius but have a friend who has one and is doing similar modifications to his so I’m pretty sure if he hasn’t already seen your stuff there has to be something you’ve already been through he can find useful…stay safe in your travels and have fun! Thx
Nice video and hoping you may have time to procure your fire extinguisher especially whenever youre on wild within your sight leaving behind your compact stealth RV. Kodus for nice innovations!
just watched a video from "The Car Car Nut" about cleaning the air filters for the Hybrid batteries. I think he said they are under the Front Drivers and Passenger side seats. He said if you clean them every 10k miles the batteries can last you 200k-300k miles.
Thanks, yes I think I've seen that exact video. But didn't he also say that the 2nd generation Prius (2004-2009) doesn't have an air filter for the battery?
@@MountainSpringsAdventures thank you to! I like your videos; I like what you do. I'm thinking of getting a Sienna Hybrid or Highlander Hybrid for my long camping trips. anyways, thanks for the videos, please keep them coming.
I love this. Amazing and inspiring. Have you seen the Prius Habitent? It looks cool. Can I make a suggestion? you need a fire blanket and a fire extinguisher. The fire blanket is really light weight and takes up no space. Both will cost about $20. Sorry, it's the science teacher in me. :) You're doing a great job. I love how organized it all is.
Great to see your updates! I wonder if you could use your air compressor to pump up your kayak and ditch that huge pump tho. Did a bit of research and found out they can be used for bike tires and air mattresses - you just need to purchase a special valve. Might be worth looking into?
Love your content you did such a great job for stealth camping you have seemed to have thought of everything you would need to do just very that and that's awesome. Thank you for taking the time and making such an informative video. What brought me to watch your video is because I am wanting to live in a car because I live in California and the rent here is insane. Right now I am paying $1,800 a month just for rent it's crazy I have to work 50plus hours a week on my primary job as well as gig jobs like DD UE etc. and I am just done lol been doing this for a few years and I am just done lol. So my last month is February this year of apartment living, and I am on the market to buy a Prius because of all the reasons you mentioned in your first video so yeah it's the best car for what I want to do. Thank you again for your video I definitely will be implementing some of your tips N tricks when I get my Prius.
Love the "Almost Heaven" music. Are you from West Virginia? I was born along the Elk. I've been wanting to go "down home" for awhile now. Thank you for sharing your life with all of us. You inspire and inform.
It's really nice!! I really like it 👍 Edit: it's gonna be really sad when you have to get rid of it when you get to 300,000+ miles because everything in this one is set up so good
I got the trailer hitch and cargo basket to go with my 2006 prius, super handy for extra gear. Can bolt a deck crate to it with a lock for extra storage too
thats cool, i was actually about to buy one of those also but i cant really afford it right now, i put the money torwards a lift kit instead. what kind of hitch reciever did you get? did you get a hitch with a riser? what kind of rack?
@@MountainSpringsAdventures I have the CURT 18110 , It works great overall, but I notice that when going over steep terrain or even just accessing a steep driveway straight on (instead of at an angle) then the back of the cargo rack will scrape the ground (especially when loaded) If you drive slowly then it's less likely to scrape, but since you have that lift-kit on your Prius it might be a non-issue. Mine doesn't fold up when not in use like some of the others either, so that might be a better option to rig it vertically when not used for "offroad" mode !
Wow, that rack even has a 2-in shank riser and it still scrapes on the ground. That's one reason I didn't get one, I read lots of reports of Prius owners saying their rack scrapes the ground. Look at getting a hitch riser like this: amzn.to/3yc7jJi
@@MountainSpringsAdventures Yes I did look at that but one of the issues is even with the standard setup is how far the cargo basket sits off from the cars bumper already. That riser would make it stick off even MORE! Another interesting thing is when I did have it loaded with 300lbs (of oak logs) that the counterweight of it from the back would elevate the front of the Prius resulting in less traction due to beign front wheel drive. Another thing to consider when playing around with weight distribution.
Yea that makes sense. That's why I would only put lightweight gear in the storage box on the rack like my sleeping gear, clothes, etc. I still might get one. Did you get a 1.25 in hitch receiver or a 2-in receiver? I'm guessing you got the 1.25 in because only a few companies sell the 2-in receiver, it's kind of a specialty item. The two inch receiver is more expensive but it's much stronger and more sturdy
Love your videos brother and think you are definitely helping to inspire many. I heard you mention that you dump your gas every month or so so for it not to expire. Can I ask why you dump benefit from it by putting it into your tank instead of just throwing it away? Just a thought brother. Look forward to watching your next video. Sending prayers may the lord keep you and your dog safe and well. God bless you brother 👍🙏🤗♿️
If you are a single person, you can consider remove the whole back seat to build a storage cargo. And even remove the front passenger seat to make more room for storage. Any hatchback car can be modified to be a camp car, except sedan car. Of cause a van can do that too. But van consume more gas.
Wrap the lettuce in paper towels and place it in a paper bag. The moisture will be absorbed by the towels and bag. The lettuce will discolor some but the usability of the lettuce will be extended.
It's good to always be thinking how u can do things - just in case. I need to convert my Malibu into a hotel RM so I can make trips to city to take care of business.
If you haven’t already, they have a theft protection shield you can install to protect your catalytic converter. The theft of ccs has exploded. Your’s might be one of those cases of better safe than sorry.
Yo awesome setup :) idk if anyone suggested yet, but maybe you would want to invest in a snatch block pulley system for your emergency tow setup. If you need a rundown about pulleys Smarter Everyday made a good video explaining how to use and set them up :) Looks like your are having fun out there! Have a good one, and take care!
great idea, i dont know how a snatch block pulley system works. can you use one without a winch? i dont want a winch on my prius. do you have a link to that video?
hey man love your videos, super helpful! is there one with more info on how you did the sleeping platform? I'm curious how you built it, especially where to safely screw into to avoid hitting the battery. maybe you can make a video for it!
Glad they are helpful! For the sleeping platform, I just measured the height at different spots where it was safe to screw in a screw, you can see where it's hollow underneath, and cut the 2 x 4 supports to that height.... Then put a piece of plywood on top
Have you considered removing the passenger seat for more room and to make it easier to move around inside without opening the doors? I camp in my Prius and I have been wanting to for years but could never figure out how to handle the air bag sensor.
you're welcome, glad you enjoyed it. I'm just using the stock tires, I don't want bigger tires because they put more strain on your engine and you get worse fuel economy
Saw a guy (Prius Dave) who said he only uses a 0 degree and sheets otherwise. Recommend checking him out - he doesn't have much on TH-cam but has done some interviews and has a website. He's my hero
Love the fact that you can work on your own car! Labor fees are atrocious! All very practical upgrades and for peace of mind. There’s so many nooks and crannies in a Prius! Who knew! The inflatable kayak was a good addition to do what you love! Just because you live in a car, it doesn’t mean you have to suffer or not have any fun along the way! Embrace the journey, the destination will come whether you enjoy or not!
Yes, I saved a lot of labor fees doing all the work myself, I was quoted almost $900 in labor only to install the lift kit. Yes the kayak is a wonderful addition, thank you very much! Trying to embrace the journey
Mail you
Hey m meeting you at about my meeting today I will bllł km bi
When you have to leave your dog in the car, for grocery shopping or gym shower, for instance, do you leave the a/c on for her?
I recently bought a 2014 PriusV, the wagon, and now I know my dog and I could sleep in it if we needed to. I am so impressed with your resourcefulness and your willingness to share your hard-won knowledge.
I leave the air conditioning on during the summertime for my dog unless it's like a really cloudy day or it's raining or something. Obviously during the winter time you don't need to put the AC on.
Thank you very much for the compliment, I'm really glad you enjoy the videos, and yes a lot of this knowledge is definitely "hard-won" haha. Take care.
How do you power your ac without draining battery?
I don’t live or travel in my Prius, but I use it for my mobile office on construction sites, and I commute A LOT and I have gotten so many great ideas from these 2 videos. Thank you for making them and going into so much detail with them.
Right on!
Some really great ideas here. Thanks!
I’ve been camping in my Prius with my 9-year-old and our little dog, so the set up in the back is a bit different with two people sleeping there, but I’ve got some great ideas from your video. 😊
Cool to see what’s changed (and what hasn’t) from your first vid.
I’ve also got a channel documenting how we’ve gone with our camping, if you’re interested. 😊
Love your content living that dream that we're all after. Much love dude.
Thanks man, glad you enjoy it, same to you 👍
@@MountainSpringsAdventures what year is your prius
@@evilgabe666 06
You are amazing. So glad to have found your channel. You are a very innovative, resourceful young man and I have learned so much from your tutorials. I have a Prius Prime and one day would like to travel in it. Learning about inverters is of interest since I'd like to Instypot my meals on the road. I am in the process of making a car tent. There are car tents sold online specifically for the Prius called Habitents but there is a back order until 2022. I will make mine and customize it to my needs. I just ordered some stiff netting and I'm going to make a screen house that fits over the back of my Prius. This is so exciting. Thank you for being an inspiration to me. 👍🤗
Thank you for the compliment, I'm so glad that you have learned some stuff and that it is helpful for you. The Prius prime is great, and yes those habitants have been back ordered for a long time now from what I understand. There are lots of options besides a habitent, you can look on amazon, they have SUV tents and other kinds of shelters. Good luck with it
Your videos are packed with information. I appreciate that. I have grown tired of some van life videos that just go on and on and on about one thing that could have taken 2 minutes....they spend 30 minutes talking about. Thanks for your content.
No problem, glad you like the videos, I try to be to-the-point.
Dude you are my hero. I just traded my Dodge Challenger straight up for a brand new Prius. Now to get up the courage to live in it haha. Thanks for the super informative and helpful vids
What year challenger? That's cool you got a brand new prius, those new ones are super nice. Glad you enjoy the vids. Just make sure living in your Prius is what you really want to do right now, it's not for everyone. Good luck with it
@@MountainSpringsAdventures it was a 2018 SXT (most basic model). Because of the auto chip shortage, I got about $1500 more than what I paid for it new on my trade and got the L Eco Prius (also basic model). Yeah, I figure even if I don't live in it, I want to use it as an "RV" for road tripping and exploring. I still work full time but I am saving up to take an "extended vacation" haha. You and I have very similar ideas in what I want to accomplish with it. I really appreciate you sharing your experience. Maybe one day, I will do the same.
That's cool, sounds nice. I don't really know much about the new priuses. They're too expensive for me lol. Yeah to live and travel and be a nomad for a while, you need to have some money saved and find a way to make money while you're on the road. You don't need much, but it's just something I'm doing with my life right now. Good luck with it.
They also sell all wheel drive Prius is good for dirt roads
I’ve had a Prius and loved it! We used it to move in a couple of times and people can’t imagine what a little workhorse a Prius is! I miss mine so much.
thanks
Great stuff. Enjoy your time exploring. In case it helps you with fridge space, you dont need to refrigerate eggs. If you need to test their freshness, see if they float. If yes, they're bad.
I am astounded by the functionality of your design. Outstanding! I want a Prius now.
I must say, The inverter at 5:21 looks really nice. Having a good, solid power inverter is an absolute, no, ABSOLUTE MUST!!!! I cannot tell you how many power inverters we went through trying to do it cheap. It is worth every penny you put in to a good power inverter. I cannot stress this enough!
Inflatable Kayaks are great fun. We picked up a Sevylor Waterton, similar to that. Enjoy!
Kayaking caught my attention, along with the lift kit you installed. What an addition & improvement it must have been to your outdoor life! Have fun and stay safe, bro~
thanks, same to you. yes the lift kit in the kayak are very nice to have for sure!
Would love to see a video on how you stealth camp with a dog! IE going in to grocery stores, showering at the gym, taking her to the bathroom, etc.
I love tours from after long term use. Glad you’re still going.
3M exterior mounting tape (heavy duty) is great for reattaching car trim. If your bumper edge has anywhere you can fit double sided tape, give it a try. (the tape is thick like a putty strip, not foam, and held trim on my old car even at full highway speeds.)
Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for the suggestion, I've had bad experience with double-sided tape coming undone. I might try the heavy duty stuff. There's stuff called alien tape that I might try.
@@MountainSpringsAdventures Good luck. I had some flappy trim on my old car and nothing worked until I found the exterior mounting tape. There might be more options now - adhesives have gotten really good, but I can vouch for the 3M stuff, which I only found after several other products failed & I lost the first bit.
(The thing that is sure to hold is 2 part epoxy, I like the $3 clear epoxy from harbor freight, but it might not be great for your bumper because your bumper would crack before the epoxy gives out)
I can also vouch for the 3m tape and other 3m products. They make really great stuff in general but their tape is pretty incredible and incomparable.
Always improving your rig, really nice work. really light the light-bar and looking forward to seeing a Kayak video this summer.
Thanks man, glad you enjoyed it, yeah I plan on showing some cool kayaking stuff soon
Omg the tow strap idea is a game changer! You having the tools makes it so almost any passing truck or suv could pull you out instead of a tow trucking having to come to you. Genius
Yes exactly. Most trucks/SUVs don't mind pulling you put either
That light bar is 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
HELLO MOUNTAIN SPRINGS ADVENTURES!!!!
Can’t wait to watch this video
Hope you enjoy it!
You inspire me to do the same with my Prius and have some adventures. Thanks so much for the great videos 🙏 👍
Glad you enjoy the vids, and your welcome! Let me know if you have questions
Thank you for all your content!
You're welcome
I’m looking for my Prius. I follow your lead. Thank you for sharing with us! You’ve convinced me to get the lift kit. I want the night bar too :)
Cool, good luck with finding one, and you're welcome. Just to warn you, it can be a bit tricky to install the lift kit and the light bar yourself
@@MountainSpringsAdventures Oh there's no way I can do it, . i'm really good at calling my mechanic for assistance. Keep sharing your adventure, you have a great channel.
Ok well good luck with it, and thank you very much. I wish my channel was doing better but I'm grateful for how it is doing
Just bought a Prius at auction to do the same. Thanks for the tips and inspiration. 😎👍
Cool, good luck with it, and you're welcome
I had a 2005 Prius with 440k, and now my 2009 Prius has 383k. Had to retire my 2005 after I lost the water pump belt and fried the head gasket. My 2009 still going. I put a hitch on my 2009, and pull my SeaDoo. Can also pull my mower and 4wheeler. I'm gonna start filming my storm chases this year and my boondocking and camping experiences. I think it will be fun.
A Lift Kit and Snow Chains !! Bad Ass Dude !!
😎✌️🌄
In Australia use them as taxi and they do 1000000 KMs mate. Secret is regular services
Man I've been binge watching your channel while recovering from an infected tooth removal and gotta say your vids have made it a lottt easier. Keep it up your doin it right!
That's awesome! so glad you're enjoying them, good luck with your surgery recovery!
You're making me want to follow in your footsteps. I own a Prius, and I'm constantly thinking about buying a camper, converting a van, etc. to travel. It's cool to see that someone is making it happen with a Prius. Looks fun, good job!
Thanks for sharing dude! I have a 2022 Prius Prime on order... been waiting 4 months... they said the ship just unloaded it! Can't wait to get it!!!
Right on!
Woo Hoo! How's it going with your new Prius? I am on the waitlist for a 2022 Prius LE. I am so excited! I doubt my husband and I will camp in the Prius (we have a truck, and we also backpack), but these videos are still getting me even more stoked to be a Prius owner! Mountain Springs Adventures is a wealth of info for the car.
@@pamelajoy67 I love it! I have 7k on it already… getting 177mpg plugging in once a day…
I just bought online cat security ccm catalytic converter shield to help prevent theft . Appreciate your videos . P.s. when I got a dog & wanted to attach leash to car I always attached leash to drivers side door mirror so I wouldn't forget my pooch . No Chevy chase vacation .
You know, I was wondering what that big screw hook in the trunk of my Prius V I got last year, was for. Now I know it's for towing... thanks! That strap and clamp is probably a good idea if you are in the Forest much.
Yea many people don't know what that hook is for haha. Glad you enjoyed it
Watched part 1 a few weeks ago. This is a great follow up. Im in a 05 magnum. Im almost 60. I will be using your ide in my magnum as i start car camping around new mexico, colorado and utah. Thanks for showing sll your ideas and sources.
Glad it was helpful! Good luck with yours and have fun in new mexico, colorado, and utah! i love those states, so much beauty out there
Really glad I found your channel recently, you give off a great vibe and are super informative. I can tell no matter what the subject you can find a way to present it well and make it interesting. I dont believe it's in the videos but would you ever consider a video showing how this is financially possible? I think 99.9% of us would like this life, but dont know how to pay our regular essential bills while doing so?
Thanks man, I appreciate it. Yeah I will try to make a video about finances, I know that money is one of the main things that holds people back from being able to do stuff like this. There are lots of different side hustles and things you can do for money, I'll try to make a video soon about it. Basically, I've gotten it down to where I can live on about $400 a month, because I don't have rent or utilities, and I get 50 miles a gallon and I always sleep in my Prius.
@@MountainSpringsAdventures I would also like a video of that too, please. I was camping out of a small Nissan truck. I'm hoping to get back out and do some traveling again. I loved it.
I always think that too but I was watching this video the other day about a vanlifing couple and they recommended to just work out your finances on the road.
Made sense to me, my job is NOT transferable but I could waitress or something if I got really stuck for cash.
You'll never know till you go I guess
There are 1,000 videos on TH-cam and 1001 articles and blog posts on ways to make money on the road. It never hurts to get a new perspective but I would still do additional research on this well established, well discussed subject.
Nice man! I am on the same wave length with my 2006 prius, all self contained. I hope to get the lift kit and a kayak. I might look into the coroplast kayak instead of inflatable.
Cool, good luck with it. I've never seen a coroplast kayak
i have a10' raft from sea eagle.
yess!! youre in my hood in central va!!! such perfect timing that you're coming out with these since im planning a prius trip to cali
is that bed like really comfortable? my current plan is really comfy couch cushions but its a lot of space LOL
That's cool, where in Virginia do you live? I've been in Virginia for the past month. California is a long way away! Good luck with it. Yes my bed is very comfortable, the sheet makes it even more comfortable.
By the way, thanks for the patreon sub 👍
Charlottesville👏👏
Nice! I didn't realize that I could have a lift installed on my Prius. My bumpers look like yours and the splash guard under the car was so shredded that my mechanic just left it off the last time I took it in for service! Great tips 😁 Thank you
Thanks for another great video. I like how you get down to business and don't spend ages rambling on about things that aren't pertinent to the topic.
I appreciate that! I try to keep things to-the-point
@@MountainSpringsAdventures you do. So many vanlife videos I start watching cos I'm trying to research a particular topic and their video pops up in my search but they spend ages rambling about other stuff and cutting to other footage 🙄 I usually give up
Happy to see you got a kayak ... it's a game changer for sure. Mine is like yours but I have only one seat, which is great for me. Have a lot of fun with it.
Yes the kayak is so much fun, I saw the one-seater version of my kayak, I almost bought it but went with the two person instead so I could fit my dog and some gear
Fantastic video! It's insane that you have a full 6'7" for your bed platform! A prius has a lot more space than you'd think.
Always look forward to your Videos !!
Great Job on Your Prius !!
Glad you enjoy them, and thank you
This showed up on my feed this morning. Im not even looking to do any sort of camping, but i was intrigued by this whole video. Great job!
One of the most comprehensive set ups
I learned from this channel more than I learned from other channels , good job sir
Glad to hear that!
YEAH, for the kayak. Really hope that works out. Lift and Snow chains, the light bar, the towing hookup -- Wow, tips Galore.😉
You need to look up rangemate or microhearth they’re basically the same thing for your microwave. Turns the microwave into a grill. I have two and for the convenience they’re awesome. Just make sure it’ll fit in your small microwave
That's so cool, I just looked it up, I didn't know they sold stuff like that, they're a bit expensive at $70 but that's really awesome, so you can fry chicken breast or hamburgers in your microwave, I might get one of those, thank you
You’re welcome. You can find nice cheap ones on eBay
New sub! Enjoying your channel… I’m hooked already. I envy your freedom. Keep up the great work bro. 👊🏼
Cool, glad to have you! And thanks
Great video man! Keep it up 👍. thanks for sharing
Thanks, and your welcome!
Carabiner dog leash hack just changed my entire prius life bless you
cool, glad that was helpful, i use it often
Have you thought about using a "Come Along Winch"? Best thing to have since you cannot put a winch on the front like I did my old Scout.
New subscriber! Love your videos! Thank you and please keep putting out content. I really enjoy watching it!
Thanks for subbing! Yes I plan on putting out more content, glad you enjoy it!
Thank you for the video. Looks like nice improvements. I would put a set of "Deer Alerts" that cost about $6/set on your front end. Cheap insurance to prevent animal collisions that do great vehicle damage. Or prevent being without your vehicle while being repaired or totally not able to being repairable at all. Thank you for the video. Blessings to you.
Good idea on the deer alerts, I need to get those because I have deer jump in front of my car all the time when I'm in the mountains and forests
Thanks for providing your updates… I’m a new subscriber…
cool, you're welcome, glad you subscribed
GREAT, informative videos!!! The product links are super valuable. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
Your girl is gorgeous - nice to see her featured in your awesome videos! Your Prius set up is a game changer! I went with a Dodge Caravan for me and two puppers in Ontario, Canada.
I love your videos. You should pick up a tool called ( A COME ALONG) it's a simple ratcheting tool that you hook to a tree or something. And then you ratchet yourself out of a mud hole.
Side note. The lift kit seems like a smart investment.
Love your videos they are inspiring
Second video of yours I’ve watched and the detailed explanation is not too much and not too little either and you keep it moving along at a decent pace gj…I don’t have a Prius but have a friend who has one and is doing similar modifications to his so I’m pretty sure if he hasn’t already seen your stuff there has to be something you’ve already been through he can find useful…stay safe in your travels and have fun! Thx
Nice video and hoping you may have time to procure your fire extinguisher especially whenever youre on wild within your sight leaving behind your compact stealth RV. Kodus for nice innovations!
just watched a video from "The Car Car Nut" about cleaning the air filters for the Hybrid batteries. I think he said they are under the Front Drivers and Passenger side seats. He said if you clean them every 10k miles the batteries can last you 200k-300k miles.
Thanks, yes I think I've seen that exact video. But didn't he also say that the 2nd generation Prius (2004-2009) doesn't have an air filter for the battery?
@@MountainSpringsAdventures IDK! But you are probably right. I was just posting it here because I wanted to help you.
Yeah I'm not sure if it does or not, I'll look into it more, thank you
@@MountainSpringsAdventures thank you to! I like your videos; I like what you do. I'm thinking of getting a Sienna Hybrid or Highlander Hybrid for my long camping trips. anyways, thanks for the videos, please keep them coming.
I love this. Amazing and inspiring. Have you seen the Prius Habitent? It looks cool. Can I make a suggestion? you need a fire blanket and a fire extinguisher. The fire blanket is really light weight and takes up no space. Both will cost about $20. Sorry, it's the science teacher in me. :) You're doing a great job. I love how organized it all is.
Thanks for the tip!
Hey keep it up! Your videos are great!
Hey thank you :) Thanks for watching
Great to see your updates!
I wonder if you could use your air compressor to pump up your kayak and ditch that huge pump tho.
Did a bit of research and found out they can be used for bike tires and air mattresses - you just need to purchase a special valve.
Might be worth looking into?
That lift kit makes all the difference in the world having clearance in some places
Mind blown-Prius lift kit!
Glad to see you still on the road. You are having a great adventure
Always!
Wow, very inspiring! Great job!
the electrical stuff, it's beyond me. you have a lot more skills than I do.
Thanks for the review, I really like your Prius I have mine and I love camping with it
Right on!
Even more impressed! Thanks so much for sharing all your knowledge! Enjoy the kayak...so much fun! Prayers for safe travels. Blessings! 👍👊🙂🙏
Thanks so much! Blessings to you too
Love your content you did such a great job for stealth camping you have seemed to have thought of everything you would need to do just very that and that's awesome. Thank you for taking the time and making such an informative video. What brought me to watch your video is because I am wanting to live in a car because I live in California and the rent here is insane. Right now I am paying $1,800 a month just for rent it's crazy I have to work 50plus hours a week on my primary job as well as gig jobs like DD UE etc. and I am just done lol been doing this for a few years and I am just done lol. So my last month is February this year of apartment living, and I am on the market to buy a Prius because of all the reasons you mentioned in your first video so yeah it's the best car for what I want to do. Thank you again for your video I definitely will be implementing some of your tips N tricks when I get my Prius.
I just found your first video n subscribed... thanks lots for your update.
Spoiler Alert... Get a set of Truck Claws and you'll NEVER be stuck again... Good stuff, thanks for posting...
Really impressive update! thanks again from Vancouver B.C.
Thanks for watching!
Man, you are good! Great job doing it all yourself!
Thanks so much :)
Love the "Almost Heaven" music. Are you from West Virginia? I was born along the Elk. I've been wanting to go "down home" for awhile now. Thank you for sharing your life with all of us. You inspire and inform.
It's really nice!! I really like it 👍
Edit: it's gonna be really sad when you have to get rid of it when you get to 300,000+ miles because everything in this one is set up so good
Glad you like it. Yeah, I'm not sure what I'll do when that day comes haha. I might just get another Prius
It’s a Prius... why get rid of it at 300,000 miles when they go over 500,000 easily👍🏼
@@MountainSpringsAdventures what Prius year would be this time? 😮
@@aaronosborn7395 well maintained prius will run forever.
I got the trailer hitch and cargo basket to go with my 2006 prius, super handy for extra gear. Can bolt a deck crate to it with a lock for extra storage too
thats cool, i was actually about to buy one of those also but i cant really afford it right now, i put the money torwards a lift kit instead. what kind of hitch reciever did you get? did you get a hitch with a riser? what kind of rack?
@@MountainSpringsAdventures I have the CURT 18110 , It works great overall, but I notice that when going over steep terrain or even just accessing a steep driveway straight on (instead of at an angle) then the back of the cargo rack will scrape the ground (especially when loaded) If you drive slowly then it's less likely to scrape, but since you have that lift-kit on your Prius it might be a non-issue. Mine doesn't fold up when not in use like some of the others either, so that might be a better option to rig it vertically when not used for "offroad" mode !
Wow, that rack even has a 2-in shank riser and it still scrapes on the ground. That's one reason I didn't get one, I read lots of reports of Prius owners saying their rack scrapes the ground. Look at getting a hitch riser like this:
amzn.to/3yc7jJi
@@MountainSpringsAdventures Yes I did look at that but one of the issues is even with the standard setup is how far the cargo basket sits off from the cars bumper already. That riser would make it stick off even MORE! Another interesting thing is when I did have it loaded with 300lbs (of oak logs) that the counterweight of it from the back would elevate the front of the Prius resulting in less traction due to beign front wheel drive. Another thing to consider when playing around with weight distribution.
Yea that makes sense. That's why I would only put lightweight gear in the storage box on the rack like my sleeping gear, clothes, etc. I still might get one.
Did you get a 1.25 in hitch receiver or a 2-in receiver? I'm guessing you got the 1.25 in because only a few companies sell the 2-in receiver, it's kind of a specialty item. The two inch receiver is more expensive but it's much stronger and more sturdy
first of all, your videos have been so interesting, inspiring and just plain helpful! but also what year is your prius?
Looks like a gen 2 prius
Love your videos brother and think you are definitely helping to inspire many. I heard you mention that you dump your gas every month or so so for it not to expire. Can I ask why you dump benefit from it by putting it into your tank instead of just throwing it away? Just a thought brother. Look forward to watching your next video. Sending prayers may the lord keep you and your dog safe and well. God bless you brother 👍🙏🤗♿️
thank you very much, glad you enjoyed them. what I meant to say was I dump the gas into my gas tank, yes. thank you for the prayers.
If you are a single person, you can consider remove the whole back seat to build a storage cargo. And even remove the front passenger seat to make more room for storage. Any hatchback car can be modified to be a camp car, except sedan car. Of cause a van can do that too. But van consume more gas.
Wrap the lettuce in paper towels and place it in a paper bag. The moisture will be absorbed by the towels and bag. The lettuce will discolor some but the usability of the lettuce will be extended.
Thank you
Godbless you,your a fine example of why we dont have to live in big fancy houses 🙏🏴💜
Thank you very much, yes having a big luxury house is not where I want to be right now :)
It's good to always be thinking how u can do things - just in case. I need to convert my Malibu into a hotel RM so I can make trips to city to take care of business.
this is so cool
Man do your thing! Blessings my friend!
Thanks, you too!
Really good video. Very instructive.
I was wondering if you have a video on suggestions on where are good places to steal camp and problems you may have encountered.
Have you tried putting some slightly more aggressive tread on slightly taller tires yet? I feel like that could help a lot.
If you haven’t already, they have a theft protection shield you can install to protect your catalytic converter. The theft of ccs has exploded. Your’s might be one of those cases of better safe than sorry.
love you videos dude!! so helpful, especially the sleeping in walmart one. a question tho, what do you do to refill your fresh water?
Glad you like them. I refill my water at Primo water stations (most walmarts have them) for about $1 for 3 gallons
Yo awesome setup :) idk if anyone suggested yet, but maybe you would want to invest in a snatch block pulley system for your emergency tow setup.
If you need a rundown about pulleys Smarter Everyday made a good video explaining how to use and set them up :)
Looks like your are having fun out there! Have a good one, and take care!
great idea, i dont know how a snatch block pulley system works. can you use one without a winch? i dont want a winch on my prius. do you have a link to that video?
@@MountainSpringsAdventures I don't think I can comment a link, but search on TH-cam "smarter every day pulleys" and it should be the first video :)
hey man love your videos, super helpful! is there one with more info on how you did the sleeping platform? I'm curious how you built it, especially where to safely screw into to avoid hitting the battery. maybe you can make a video for it!
Glad they are helpful! For the sleeping platform, I just measured the height at different spots where it was safe to screw in a screw, you can see where it's hollow underneath, and cut the 2 x 4 supports to that height.... Then put a piece of plywood on top
thank you.... i didnt know that was a tow hook. you should look at a 12v atv winch. and a curt tow hitch.
yeah a winch would be nice. the problem is I don't have room for it, and they are pretty expensive
Have you considered removing the passenger seat for more room and to make it easier to move around inside without opening the doors? I camp in my Prius and I have been wanting to for years but could never figure out how to handle the air bag sensor.
Another thoughtful video, thanks! The lift looks good. What size tires are you running?
you're welcome, glad you enjoyed it. I'm just using the stock tires, I don't want bigger tires because they put more strain on your engine and you get worse fuel economy
Question. Why not just use a 0 degree bag all the time? Could you not open it up like a blanket in the summer? Trying to decide is I really need two
Saw a guy (Prius Dave) who said he only uses a 0 degree and sheets otherwise. Recommend checking him out - he doesn't have much on TH-cam but has done some interviews and has a website. He's my hero
I want a prius I have an18 elantra...I may have to start my adventure in that...but great job!
Go for it! And thanks
Awesome info. Thanks so much!
If you ever get stuck, you can also use a ratchet strap and wrap around a tree and slowly ratchet the car out by a hand. Just a tip
Great update, thanks!
Your welcome