SUV Camper Conversion for under $100: Subaru Forester
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- Опубліковано 13 вер 2021
- We built out our Subaru Forester for winter camping and it's been awesome! Since we missed sleeping in our 3rd Gen 4Runner camper that we just sold, we wanted to try and sleep in our new subi. Surprisingly, it was super cheap and easy. We used spare plywood, some string, washers, and two foam pads, that's it! The rest is just blankets, sleeping bags and pillows from home. Add some string lights for flair and you've got yourself a car camping extravaganza.
Visit our website for more details on the build out and how to make this for your own SUV.
www.outdoorgoyo.com/journal/h...
You don't necessarily have to own a Subaru to make this buildout, just an SUV that the back seats fold down flat. And if you happen to need more headroom like me, then you can cut out the wood pieces as an extension.
Let me know if have any questions or you've attempted your own buildout and want to share your experience.
Items in video:
- Foam pads: amzn.to/3zlkzvH
- Goal Zero Lantern: alnk.to/e712DdP
- LED string lights: amzn.to/3EfILTM
- Plywood or any thin wood
- String
- Washers (4)
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As someone who's never really been much of a camper but would love to get out into nature more, I'm so excited I found you guys. I just purchased a Forester Premium recently after my old car desperately needed to retire (235k+ miles), with the intent of being able to grow a family and get more into nature. Thank you for this video, it was so helpful!!
I made a platform just like yours, just added a layer of carpet on it (and wrapped around the edges) so it's a little nicer to grab onto, no splinters, etc. Great idea, I'm so glad I found your video. Thanks
Cool! Glad it inspired you
I’m 6ft3. Oh my goshhhh finally someone who’s almost as tall as me. I am sold on this vehicle. I love the way the Outback looks. But really love the Forrester as well. I’m so glad I’ve found your video.
Nice! Yes, you can make it happen, especially moving the seats up and making a platform. Also the outback is longer but less light/windows and the forester is a bit shorter with wider windows, more light and bigger moonroof. Trade offs…
Excellent! I think this is both the simplest and cleverest solution I've seen!
Thank you!!
Nice setup, I like the rope around the front headrest. We turned our rear headrests around for better support of the plywood.
That's a great idea!
Nice, I love the Subaru Forester.
Simple and effective. I like it!
Thanks!
sweet and simple!
Thank you 🙏🏼
Great set-up brooo yo
Thanks!
This is a nice setup and easier than others I've seen but still effective. I have a 2020 Forester Premium that I'd like to take out sometime.
Thanks for the comment! Let me know if you have any questions or find new tricks
@@OutdoorGoyo you're welcome! I can't think of new tricks but maybe someday!
Where does the doggo sleep? Just bought a Forester and looking to do something similar. I’m thinking he’ll be sleeping cramped up with us inside 😂
Yep, dog slept at our feet. We have a 80 lb lab and didn’t feel too tight tbh
So cool! Easy and cost-efficient set-up! I'm jazzed because we just bought a brand-new 2022 Forester Premium in autumn green metallic as well, and I can't wait to start using it for some sweet outdoor camping adventures as well! BTW, what kind of bike rack are you folks using and how do you like it? Thanks! Liked and subscribed!
Thanks! We love our subi! We have the 1Up bike rack after installing a hitch. Best way to go!
Love this video and the utility of the setup. Looking at the 2024 Forester now. But, most important for me at 5'9" is can I sleep completely flat in the Forester? I have arthritis issues. Thanks. Looks like you are in the Alabama Hills in CA.
Yep! Alabama Hills CA! Have fun out there
Any chance you can give a direct link to the head rests? I’d love to make this!!
Nice video man. I’m debating between a 2023 outback or forester. Which would you pick if you had to buy a new one?
Forester has more headspace, Outback has more cargo space but being 6’2” I love having the light, a larger moon roof and visibility. That’s why we went with the forester.
Love the simplicity. What year and trim is your Forester?
2021 limited I believe
How do you get the lights that go on automatically, how do you switch off? The two above rear vision mirror.. In my forester they would not go off if I had the tailgate up (I had a neat wee canopy tent at back but couldn't use it coz of those two lights being on all time.
I slept in the back of a generic U-Haul van in 10 degrees. It's not the vehicle it's the sleeping bag that's key. I was warm because I had an old military surplus ECW mummy bag. Inside of that I had a onewind top quilt and wore insulated sweatpants and hoody to bed. I tried the same in 26 degree weather and I sweated my arse off. Stripped in the middle of the night and got back in lol. Also, I don't always use that bag traditionally. Sometimes I use it top quilt style because it's firm enough to hold itself up like a little burrow fort if used upside down like that. I just have one question, does leaving the hatch open drain the battery?
Ya the sleeping situation makes all the difference for sure! Insulation, I should say. We don’t leave the hatch open at night, only crack a window.
❤
damnn good idea with the plywood! How did you like the pads? would you rather use something like an exped back there?
ya the exped is the way to go for sure, just more expensive, but now that we have one, that's our upgrade!
Do you have the measurements for the plywood cuts? I’m keen to try this
www.outdoorgoyo.com/journal/how-to/suv-camper-conversion-for-under-100
Nice, simple effective design. I see you took out the rear seat belt strap. Did the dealer do that for you?
Also, when the rear seats are lowered, did you notice the floor is not completely flat, being slightly lower at the rear half than near the front seats? Probably not a big deal, just was wondering if you addressed that or not. My Forester is a 2014 just for the record.
The one thing I would add to this set up would be to devise some detachable screens for the windows so they could be left open on warm nights and still keep the bugs out. And maybe one for the moonroof when it's a really warm night. Could probably be done with some sort of quick release velcro attachments perhaps.
The same issue with our 2017 Forester. The bed is not flat when the back seats are down. Three is a Ridge in the middle. We may have to add extra foam in the back.
The seat belt strap can be undone yourself. The middle one I’m guessing? There is a tab you can use another part of the metal clicker to push in there to release.
The seats are slightly raised towards the front of the car but we put our heads facing that way so it works fine for us.
As for bugs, pantyhose work great around the door, cheap and effective.
Clever! Pantyhose. Yay@@OutdoorGoyo
Looks like joshua tree park?
Do the seats slightly tilt upward, or do they fold perfectly flat?
They have a slight incline so make sure your head is at the front of the vehicle. With the foam and all we couldn’t notice it to be honest
Hey guys! I came from doing VanLife with decent size camper vans to downsize to a 99 Subaru Forester and even on my one I struggle. Don't get me wrong this is a cute little video but I am looking and thinking, where have you got you water supply, clothing, kitchen utensils and stove, fridge. I travel solo and haven't figured it out how to do it in the little capable forester. Bear in mind that I don't go out for a camp weekend but rather weeks and months of travelling. Hopefully I find a way as I am loving the Subaru Forester and don't want to go straight back to a big van. Hope it helps questioning it or even show more about you build. All the best and safe travels !
Hey there! We mostly go out for a week or so at a time. We’ve done longer month long trips but not totally off the grid for that time. We have the Thule box up top and that’s a game changer. I guess if you’re downsizing you’d have to think more like a backpacker and less like as RVer.
@@OutdoorGoyo Hey man, And Rui, I go in a little toyota pickup truck, I have a cargo case uptop where I keep saw, hatchet, ax, pads, chairs, etc. Then I have A cooler, A dry storage box, and a gear box, and a foldup table, two water tanks (one for drinking one for cleaning) I roll up all the bedding and put everything in the back up against the bedding, table goes on top, backpacks on top of that, its slammed full but upfront me and the copilot are comfy! When I pull up to the spot, takes 10 mins to pop up my table, set everything in its place and roll the bed out, a bit of a pain, but like you said, waaaay better than backpacking. Works perfect for me, and it forces you outside more which is the whole point! Cheers yall
@@jonathankuhn2180 Love it!! Have fun out there!
@@OutdoorGoyoThanks! And thanks for making the video! I have a CR-V took the seats out years ago, a 2nd gen, thinking of making this platform I saw in a guys video tailored to the cr-v, it was simple and sweet. His water on the roof is cool, I like his cheap, simple, removable approach. And to Rui - I travel months out of my cr-v with a tent, and months out of my truck, you really learn how to figure out what you need and dont, and how to store efficiently, and what size gear you need. I suggest backpacking some, or atleast watching backpacking videos to realize how little you roll with out of a pack, then think about how much you can bring in a car.. Heres that guys video
ua-cam.com/video/CtfNQ3v0dJo/v-deo.html&ab_channel=RileyMonthule
I carry a 2 person back packing tent. When I get to where I'm going to camp I quickly setup the tent and empty the contents of the Forester into the tent. Then setup the sleeping area for the night
Curious if anyone knows the answer to this question. He is 6'2'' I am 6', how much extra space does he have? Which is longer inside the outback or the forester? I saw a guy with the outback claim his be length is 6'6'', is this forester more or less than that. This guy has the seats folded down correct? Which is more level with the seats still installed and folded down, the outback or forester? I think the outback guy took his seats out, I am open to doing that, I have a cr-v, took the seats out, love all the space, never looked back, way better than folding down, so which vehicle is better/flatter with seats in, and which is better with seats out? Thanks so much! Happy Trails!
Hey Jonathan, the outback is longer of a car, and I’ve tested it with the forester. If you take the seats out, you still have to make a platform to level the sleeping area so I found it easier to just fold them down. Depends on how long you’re sleeping out there and if you want access to a back seat while traveling. If it’s a longer term move, you could make some cool storage solution in the back seat area with a platform. Let me know what you end up doing!
@@OutdoorGoyo Thanks for the reply. Quite a loaded question I put out there lol. I was strongly debating trading my cr-v and getting a subaru, so I was curious which would be better. But I am putting a little money in my 5 speed 2nd gen cr-v, keeping the seats out, and going to make a simple platform that will have a hing near the front seats to fold forward when I slide the seats forward and bend them towards the dash! Roof rack on top, with thule case, maybe add a cage up there too for jerry cans and misc, bike rack on the back.
Nice, the cargo bin on top is a game changer too.
Did you budget the entire bottle of melatonin I would need to take to fall asleep in this?
Ha! It’s really comfy actually.
Can the windows be closed completely at night without ventilation problems ?
No you absolutely need some kind of ventilation and you’ll find especially with two people, you’ll want that window cracked quite a bit bc it gets warm. You can get netting for mosquitos or use panty hose.
@@OutdoorGoyo Isn't warm a good thing though?
Okay, you have place to sleep but where is rest of your gear?
Front seat or in the roof top box
The back trunk area is not level at all with the rear of the seats. It's like a 2 inch difference. At least in my 2014 version. So I'm skeptical when you say it's super comfortable unless your a contortionist. A 2inch piece of foam is most definitely not enough to close that gap.
It’s not exactly level, no, but my wife, dog and I slept like champs. Do what works for you.
That's what I was thinking too.
Do you shut the boot when you sleep? Lol
The trunk? It shuts just fine