How to sleep comfortably in a Honda Civic Hybrid | Camping no-build conversion
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- Опубліковано 10 лют 2025
- Watch me set up a 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid so two people can comfortably sleep inside! Even if you just have a sedan car, not a van, you can still camp in it!
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I just wanna let you know that this video got me through a really rought time, thanks so much for posting this when you did.
Aww, I'm so glad I could help. Thanks for reaching out. Best wishes
Honestly thank you! I just moved to Colorado and it’s insanely expensive. I’ve been looking into generators and different things so I can maybe make it in my car. The problem was the trunk like you mentioned. But now that I know I can comfortably sleep… time to brainstorm more
Ah glad this was helpful! Colorado has got to be cold this time of year. I'd start with a zero degree sleeping bag and maybe electric rechargeable heating pad... I'd be interested to hear how a generator would work in a car. Thanks for reaching out and good luck!!
It would have to be a solar generator. With the solar panels in the back, most cars have UV protection in the windshield. But if you’re driving it can be plugged into the car charger port, 782wh-1000wh battery capacity
@@harleyhammock4214 ohh, very interesting! I've never considered putting solar inside the car. Good to know about the windshield vs. back window. I do have a 300wh battery that I plug into the 12v while driving. Works pretty well but not enough capacity for heating.
Slide the driver seat all the way forward and remove the headrest. Then you can fold your driver seat all the way back until it reaches the backseat. They line up perfectly so you can lay flat with minimal adjustment to your car seats. ❤😊
I'm glad that worked for you! Thanks for sharing. In my car, the driver seat actually runs into the bottom cushion of the back seat first (so the head rest doesn't touch even if it's all the way down). That's why removing the bottom cushion really helped for me. Thanks for watching!
can you make a video about it? i’d appreciate it, i’m in the process of getting a used hybrid to live in it
@@ReyKatzCreative So nice of you Thanks a lot happy journey
Where did you put the taken off cushion though?
Just take off and put where? In the trunk?
Lived in my Honda Civic 2014 for some time while traveling. It was actually quite a good experience, can't complain.
That's awesome! Thanks for sharing!
@@ReyKatzCreative i wonder if i can do this with my Honda civic coupe
My old back is aching just watching this. I’ve slept in my Jeep Wrangler, but it’s a lot bigger. Being 6 feet tall I need more space.
That's completely fair! I am 5'3" but I can imagine this wouldn't work as well for someone taller. Thanks for watching!
Awesome, the way you set up your Civic! I've been a car camping nomad for a few years. Last car I camped in was my 2001 Honda Insight. I took 2 passenger side seat bolts loose, so I could fold the top of the seat flat. I cut a piece of plywood, about 2' x 3' to bridge the gap . I had one foam from Walmart and one from Jo Ann fabrics. Now I'm camping in a 2010 Prius. I just have my rear seats folded down all the time with my foams, pillow and a couple of sheets. I am still always thinking about how to improve my car setup. Go Nomads. 😊
That's awesome! Thanks so much for sharing how you made it work with your vehicles! It's neat to hear someone else doing this.
Where do you usually park ?
@@ReyKatzCreativewhere do you usually park??
Homeless.
I take long "camping" trips in my Toyota Highlander hybrid and I thought I might need to switch over to a Sienna Hybrid with more room. Watching your ingenious video piece I feel like I live in a mobile manson. I appreciate my Highlander more. Thank you.
Cool! Thanks for watching. I'm thinking about a Toyota Sienna actually if I was going to do this more full time 😀
Outstanding! you're so creative in converting a small room into a like-queen-sized bed in a small car.
Thanks so much!
I been living in my honda civic 09 for about 3 years everything you mentioned was on point I sleep in the front seat and back seat I mix it up I am 5'6 200 lbs I don't use any memory foam
Thank you for sharing! That's a great idea of switching between different seats in the car. One of the hardest parts for me was sleeping in the same position in the back seat before I figured out better ways. Glad you liked the video and thanks for watching! Best wishes.
@@ReyKatzCreative in the back I move position constantly its very uncomfortable I use the handle on ceiling to turn position the most comfortable position for me was face down legs up this was the way I can stretch my legs somewhat i look like a face planted letter L 🤔🤔🤣😭
@@dd___dc ohh interesting. I would lay on my side with legs tucked. All the positions in the back seat are fairly uncomfortable I think. one of my best was putting the front passenger seat all the way forward then filling the floor space behind the seat with bags so I could put my legs a bit forward and not as bent
Thanks for the suggestions. I have one of my own. In summer a car can get uncomfortably warm. A battery-powered fan can help. Get one that's USB-rechargable and you can charge the battery from your car battery while traveling the next day.
Good idea, thanks for sharing! Battery powered fans are pretty neat!
I really like your style because there is no need to change the interior of the car much.
Yes, exactly - it's easy to put the car back together for inspection or other passengers. Thanks very much for watching!
Omg! Thank you so much, I've been trying to figure out how to sleep in my honda civic hybrid! Great tips! Looking forward to my camping trips!!!
Hey Naomi, awesome!! So cool to hear from another Honda Civic Hybrid owner. Good luck!
So rad. 6'2" here and just took the seats out and built a bed for my Honda Accord. lets go!
Amazing! Thanks for sharing!
You go girl! I have a 2.5 year old sedan, and I won't mess it up by removing the back seats. I always sleep with my legs bent a little, like semi fetal position anyway. So sleeping in the back seats will be fine for me. I'm going to try it for the first time this summer when going to the Oregon beaches. Because in warmer months they charge an arm and a leg for hotel rooms at the beach. My only issue would be where to go to bathroom. I will have to figure that one out first before going. Enjoy your travels!
Thanks for watching! For what it's worth, I've taken out and put back the back seats in this car several times. It doesn't cause damage. But you know your car best! Hope your trip to the Oregon coast is lovely!
I have skoda octavia, its A hatch back design sedan. Folding rear and putting cheap foam to even out makes bed for me at 5'10" . In cold weather its ok, but not in hot humind weather.
I live in Northern India where Temp can easily reach 0 to -20 in winters and +40 in summers.
From October to May its doable.
Thank you for sharing! Sounds like you built a great setup! That makes sense about the hot humid weather for sure, I have seen a lot of water condense in the car when it's too hot. Only works in some seasons and places within the US. Interesting to hear you are car camping in India also! Thanks.
This gave me an idea. This is great. I was actually going to consider taking out the front passenger but I'm trying to hide that I'm sleeping in my car but I would definitely take out the bottom rear seats and put in a board and customize it a way like that. It's enough space for me since I already can decently stretch in the back. Just gotta consider the space it needs to slide back when I drive.
That sounds great! Thanks for sharing. I wonder if you could take out the rear seat cushions, and push the front passenger seat as far forward as it goes, then fill the space flat so you can lie down diagonally. It's tricky sleeping in a small car but I've done it. Good luck and best wishes!!
For me at 5'8" the key was to support my legs. I would put a rolled-up sleeping bag in the passenger footwell to get an extra foot of room to stretch out. Then I could sleep comfortably on my back with the seat back all the way down. For your Civic hybrid I might try one of those small folding stools in the footwell, with the memory foam on top of it, to get extra length. At 5'3" you have a great advantage. I've always been comfortable enough travelling in small cars and economy class airline seats, and sleeping on 3 seater couches. Short is best sometimes. :)
Thanks for watching and for your suggestion! A stool with foam on top sounds like a great way to lengthen the seat.
Excellent! Safe travels!
Thanks so much!
Excellent solution when de main cabin is not connected with the trunk. Very nice!!
Thanks! I'm glad it's helpful!
This is a good idea, i have a kia spectra and its just so small on the back... Its me -5'9" and a sixty lb lab, and ee both like to stretch out 😆 this would be great to save money so we can go on longer road trips. Id rather sleep in my y car than a tent for safety and warmth. Thank you
Thanks for sharing! I hope it works out in the Kia spectra! I tend to be a little more comfy in a vehicle than a tent also.
Currently setting up a similar thing for my Corolla wagon - great tips in this video keen to try them out :)
Awesome! Thanks for watching. Hope it goes well!
Fascinating, Inhad never seen a car with a trunk like that. Clever inginuity!
Thank you for watching! Glad you found it interesting!
Thank you for this. Keep seeing people telling me to put the rear seat down but I have a 2006 civic hybrid aswell …
Thanks for watching! Yes, the rear seat doesn't go down on a lot of sedans but this one especially there isn't a lot of room with the hybrid battery in there. Good luck!
Interesting setup at the end, looking to sleep better in my car. Sending some Light food
Thank you from Morocco.
Thanks for watching! I hope it helps!
I've done a set up in a similar way in the back of a 2007 fiat panda which is a very small car. I've not tried it overnight but have tried it for a brief while and can stretch fully out... just. I'm 5'4... It's surprisingly comfy
That sounds like a nice setup! Thanks very much for sharing!
@@ReyKatzCreative Maybe i should do a video to show what i did...
@@stephenclayton7052 that sounds cool! Go for it!
What's really good is to get the black foam board to cut out for windows. Looks like tint.
Great idea, thanks!
But wouldn't that be too hot in the warmer months?
Thks sharing . Seems folding seat not 100% flat. Set a plywood and a memory foam, u feel much better and save your back in long run
Thanks for watching! It seems like a very small space to me to put a plywood or platform in, but I'd be interested to see if anyone else has done it!
You should come to Taiwan. Its the perfect place to do this kind of thing. I am getting a cmc veryca next month and will turn it into a camper van.
Cheers from Taiwan 🇹🇼
Thanks for watching and commenting! Cool to know that this is possible in Taiwan!
@@ReyKatzCreativeOf course. But it's really better with a camper van That has air conditioning
I have a 1998 Honda Civic that I want to do some car camping in and I like this design. I don't want to rip my car apart for something I'm going to use a few times a year.
Awesome! Yeah I love how non destructive this method is to the car. Hope it works out well!
You have inspired me. I begin next month.
Cool!! Good luck!
Very nice! I love Hondas. 😊 I have a 2019 Sentra and both seats fold flat too right where the backseat meet it! Just have to remove both headrests 😅 That drop wedge in the front is nerve wrecking but i throw pillows or clothes in it too. Driver seat is power so I try to limit dropping it back too often but me and my partner are doing this and love it. Compact cars rock! 😉
I love that you figured all that out for your car! Thanks for watching. Rock on!
The 2004 honda crv seats fold also
Rey this is crazy but fun. Good luck
Thank you!
That looks really cool thanks for the tips
Thanks very much! Hope it is helpful!
soo nicee, I will make my trip on my 2007 civic and this video is exactly was I need , thank you I hope we can meet on the street's!
Glad you found this helpful! I hope your trip goes well!
Good on you Rey! Best from UK
Thanks very much!
Cool idea
Thanks!
Good idea...I will try...😊
Hope it works out for you!
My 2008 Lx model I have my space folding the back seat down and add some woods of the trunk
Awesome! Sounds great, thanks for sharing
I'm fully stretched out in the driver's seat of a camry hybrid without removing the seats but face down only. Face up there is a small hip and knee bend. I sleep a mix of curled up and stretched out, so it's perfect for me. Cant imagine anybody would want to do this next to me.
It's definitely a tight space. Okay for a road trip but I wouldn't do this long term with two people in this car! Thanks for watching!
I like it I have a 2021 hatchback and it's given me some ideas
Great! I'm so glad it's helpful.
Actually really smart - thanks for sharing
Glad it was helpful! Thank you!
Can you show more in depth on how to get the bolts out of the back seats to take them out? Or anyone that could explain or link another video that shows this?
Yeah this is the video I watched to learn how to do that: ua-cam.com/video/iMQNQHAaxJE/v-deo.htmlsi=gqvtGOJAFv6IeO8d
@@ReyKatzCreative thank u!
Great idea 💡 👍 👏
Thank you!
This is some of the best shit out there seriously thank you but did I miss the video on how to actually remove the back seat I really need to see that.
Thanks so much! I'm glad it was helpful. This video has more close up views of removing the seat and it was helpful for me to figure it out: ua-cam.com/video/iMQNQHAaxJE/v-deo.html
I'm 5,7 and I just tried on the passager seat and it work 😅
That's great! I'm so glad this worked out for you! Thanks for watching and your comment.
That's a great idea
Thank you!
What an idea mam..
I like your creativity..
I apply your video in my future ..
Thank you so much
Most welcome 😊
Rey i like you ,like your simplicity.. awesome 😊
Thank you for watching!
Very well explained. Thanks
I'm glad this was helpful. Thanks for watching!
Great but Where do you put the back seat ?
I stored the back seat in the house. Definitely no room for it in this small car. Thanks for watching!
great video! can you run the ac with the engine off in your civic? i live in Florida, summer nights are brutal
Unfortunately I can't run the ac with the car off in my '06 Civic. I think the Prius hybrid can do this, but not mine. Window screens are one way to get some ventilation, but yeah, summer nights in FL sounds rough.
Thank you so much. Very helpful.
Glad it was helpful! Thank you for watching!
this is so amazing!
Thank you! It was a fun project.
That is too cool!!
Thanks so much!
very cool. How do you get the cardboard window covers to stick to the windows?
Thanks! These pieces of cardboard can be wedged into the window frame from the inside, and they stay pretty well. You could also use masking tape or something to secure it to the window frame.
@@ReyKatzCreative Thank you.
Helps if you’re 5’4”, too😊
Yep, for sure! This works better for short people like myself. Thanks for watching!
Where can i park in NJ for sleeping all night?
Depends on where in NJ... have you checked out iOverlander? Lots of places to camp/sleep in a vehicle on there
I love it !!!
Thanks so much!!
I think is just too much work taking those sits at the back out. However it looks very comfortable..
That's fair! Taking the seats out helps with some extra room but it's not for everyone. Thanks for watching!
What do you do with the seat cushions when you’re sleeping?
Seat cushions are stored in a house, there is no room for them in the car
Awesome idea, thank you for the video.
I'm glad it was helpful! Thanks!
Very cool! Thanks for posting.
Glad you liked it! Thanks!
Very smart setup❤🎉
Thank you! I am glad you like it
Where do you put the back seat cushions while you are sleeping? Im guessing they dont stay put in the snow. Genuinely curious.
Good question - I store the back seat cushions in a house. There is no room for them in the car (except in the back seat lol)
Great job!
Thanks so much!
Thanks from germany ❤❤🎉
Thanks for watching! I'm glad you liked the video. It's so cool to hear from someone in Germany!
Thank you dry clever. One question I have since I’m 6’1” how tall are you?
I am 5'3". It would be a little tight at your height unfortunately. Maybe if you padded it enough to sleep diagonally across? 😅
Perhaps a bigger vehicle would be best for me. None the less your video is very encouraging! thanks!
Your voice reminds me of Phyllis from the Office lol
Interesting haha
Seek help soon Hun! ❤
Hey Roger I'm living my best life, are you? 🩵
Damn you’re good. You’re super awesome
Thanks for watching!
@@ReyKatzCreative no thank you for helping all of us
@@francoiscamara9383 awesome, glad it was helpful!
Very ingenious.
Thank you very much!
Very informative. An easier method would be to buy a piece of sturdy plywood and lay through the back windows. Then sleep on the plywood.
Thanks for watching! Interesting idea. I haven't tried this particular arrangement, but my gut feeling is the space between/inside the windows would be too small to comfortably sleep (and I am a small person). It would also leave the back windows open and unscreened. Some larger vehicles like cargo vans have space for great wooden bedframes.
@@ReyKatzCreative I always forget about the bugs 😂. Forget the idea.
Nice job Rey! You've really squeezed the max out of this little space. I think I know the answer, but did you have to get ride of-- or have a friend store-- the back seat pieces you removed? They're so big, I can't imagine hauling them around with you. Thanks! And if you get out to Boise, ID first beer's on me
Hi Joe! You are correct - the back seat pieces are stored in someone's garage. They are way too big to fit anywhere else in or on the car. It yields a surprising amount of extra space in the back seat! Thanks for your kind feedback!
Don't forget to take care of the engine that charges the main battery of the vehicle. A majority of hybrid drivers forget this. Read the owner manual on this. God bless you on your journey.
I do bring the car for regular oil changes and other maintenance. Thanks for watching and your good wishes!
Hey, how about removing the back wall from the seat back? :D
The cardboard window cover is a really cool idea, I thought about it for a long time and couldn't come up with it, thanks!
Hmm, interesting idea! I feel safer removing just the pillow from the seat and not the metal plate though. Glad the cardboard window cover sounds like a good idea. Hope it helps!
Looks cosy
Yes, it is very cosy set up like this!
@@ReyKatzCreative Maybe use black or dark coloured cloth to black out your windows. It will give it a more stealth look.
@@ScotmanUK2000 good idea! Maybe if the black cloth was glued to or wrapped around the cardboard it would make more stealthy window covers.
Awesome
Thanks for watching!
How do you manage to store your daily supplies and bathroom needs?
I store stuff in the trunk, a Thule box on the roof, and under and between the seats. To be honest, this setup is better for a relatively short camping trip than living in the car full time with two people. I've lived in a Mitsubishi Outlander Sport for 3 months and that was doable.
@@ReyKatzCreative GOTCHA! Thanks!!
Lovely
Thanks for watching!
Is your vehicle a hybrid? I’m looking into Vanlife, I own a Honda hybrid and am seriously thinking about getting a mattress and putting seats down. A decent campervan is 50k 😳
Yes my car is a Honda Civic Hybrid, better gas mileage than a van too. Good luck!
Good idea
Thanks!
Cute 😊
Thanks for watching!
The fact that we have to watch this…
Fun fact: you do not have to watch!
@@ReyKatzCreativeoh you think we want to sleep in our cars for fun?
Ah, I'm sorry. I thought you were talking about the video not your situation. I wish that no one was forced to live in a car and I wish you the best of luck.
Good video
Thank you!
Excellent
Thanks so much!
Thanks
Thanks for watching!
Hey just I subscribe to your channel I have question it Honda civic have Clima Control Air Conditioning some Toyota Prius hybrid
Thanks for subscribing! My 2006 Honda Civic hybrid has air conditioning but you can't run it without the engine running. Or you will drain the battery almost immediately. The nice feature of the Prius is it turns on the engine only when needed if you run the ac overnight for example.
Where do you put the back seat? Outside?
Yes, I stored the back seat in a house because there is definitely no room for the seat in the car like this. Thanks for asking.
Wow.
Thanks for watching!
Nice, how do you undo the cushion bolts
I had a socket wrench with 6 inch extender part to help reach where the bolts are. There is a video by someone else on UA-cam about removing the 2006 Honda Civic hybrid back seat that was helpful. I've put the seat back in a couple of times but never reattached the bolts 😅 so I didn't have the bolts for this video
its cool
Thanks for watching!
Smart ideas you have here .................. >1k likes ..................i subscribed ..............
Thanks very much!
Jugaad ❤😅
Yes, it's a hack but it kinda works! Thanks for watching! 🙂
Very simple n very sick
Thanks!
Some 2006 Civic models have back seats that fold down....apparently yours don't.
Yep, the honda civic hybrid has a big battery under the back seats and there's no access to the trunk from the main compartment
Super
Thanks for watching!
What would you do if you needed to leave in an uncomfortable situation or confrontation quickly?
In this setup, I'd have to toss all the padding and blankets into the back seat, put the front seat back up, get in the driver seat and drive away. Often the window fogs when you sleep in the car so I keep a towel for swiping the window clear quickly.
Sleeping just in the backseat is a lot less comfy, but it's what I used to do and I could get into the front seat and drive away pretty quick if needed.
where to keep our back seats cushioning
Good question! Do you know anyone with a house who could store them? That's ideal. I guess if you have any other items in storage they could go there.
Hey Rey! I want to do this to my car which is the exact same as yours so I can have more room to sleep but I am worried about the hybrid battery being exposed when you removed the back seat. Is this is an issue at all? Or is it okay to do this?
Hi Marcus, when you take the back seat cushion out of this car, what you see underneath is a box of solid material, with a couple of holes with rubber-coated wires coming out. The battery itself is not exposed - it is inside the box. There does not seem to be any live electrical contacts exposed by removing the cushion. Using the car in this way I'm sure is not manufacturer recommended. I'm just sharing what I did, and I can't tell you it's 100% okay. You could potentially use some smaller piece of foam and electrical tape to seal off some areas further after removing the large cushion.
How to tip #1: be a very small person
It's true! Being short definitely helps for sleeping in a car