How To Winter Car Camp
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- Опубліковано 11 вер 2024
- Two weeks of winter car camping in the mountains coming up!
This is a step by step tutorial video on how to sleep in your car in the winter.
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How to winter car camp:
1.) One of the most important things to consider when winter car camping (this may seem obvious) is the weather and what you sleeping gear is rated to. If you have a -25 sleeping bag, but the forecast calls for -35, don't risk it and just wait until you are within your limit. Better to be safe than sorry.
2.) Have a good down winter sleeping bag that is well insulated along with a winter sleeping pad (I use the ExPed Downmat HL Winter Sleeping Pad and the Malaspina -25C sleeping bag from Kluane Mountaineering). Remember to cinch you sleeping bag draw string closed as much as you can as to not loose the warmth inside the bag.
3.) Layers! Laying your clothing is extremely important! For you base layers, I highly recommend merino wool products (socks, long underwear (pants and shirt), glove liners, neck warmer and hat). They will keep you warm, but if you start to sweat, they will whisk away your moisture (and it's not itchy!). I created a gear & product review video on merino wool specifically if want to learn a bit more about it: bit.ly/2mLaaYl
In addition to your base layers, sleep in your coat and pants (preferably warm fleece pants and a great down jacket). You will want to completely cover your face if it gets quite cold. I have a long hat that pulls down all the way to my chin where my neck warmer meets and I overlap the seams.
4.) You will need to put a few things inside your sleeping bag to sleep with you. First of all is your water bottle. If you don't put this in your bag and it's cold enough, it will freeze overnight and you wont have water to drink. Also keep and spare empty water bottle in the bag for when nature calls and you don't want to get out of your bag. It's also wise to keep your next days cloths in the bottom of your bag. This will keep them warm and putting them on in the morning wont be so painful in the morning. It might also be wise to keep a flashlight in there with you too.
5.) Finding a parking spot can sometimes be tricky. You don't usually want to be caught car camping in a residential neighbourhood. So make sure to pick a spot that isn't directly in front of someones house. Also stay away from street lights. But if you are parking in a public space, put up black blinds over your windows. In the summer, black sheets work fine, but in the winter, invest in some reflective foam insulation and cut them to the of your windows. Paint or cover the outside of the insulation in black as to be inconspicuous to people walking past your vehicle, while keeping the silver/reflective side in the vehicle. This will bounce your heat back to you while you sleep.
Another note is if you have a car alarm, lock yourself in the vehicle. But when you wake up in the morning, make sure to UNLOCK you vehicle before you put the keys in the ignition to turn the heater on. If you don't do this, your car alarm will go off and wake everyone up drawing unwanted attention to you (I've learned this the hard way;).
6.) This one is IMPORTANT! When car camping in general, there NEEDS to be a way for your Co2 to exit the vehicle and a way for new O2 to come in. So make sure that you have a window cracked open at least an inch or two.
7.) Personal safety. Make sure to have a portable stove, warm blankets, extra food, water and supplies just incase you become stranded. If you are going out of cell reception, bring along a satellite phone or emergency beacon. Running out of gas, car problems, or getting snowed in are all very real scenarios that happen everyday and if you are caught unprepared and without contact, this can turn into a deadly situation especially in the cold.
8.) Remember to carry a small ice scraper inside your vehicle. As you sleep, you are exhaling which creates a layer of condensation which freezes in the cold creating frost on the inside of the windows. You will need to scrape the inside and the outside of your windows.
These tips are just my own personal tips that I use and have found useful to me, but everyone is different. Do not go only off this advice. Do your own research and be safe... and have fun!
Remember Kiddies, if it comes down to paying the rent or making the car payment, make the car payment. You can live in your car, but you cant drive your house.
I LOVE this!!
41 Mhz And never buy a car that you cannot pay cash for. If you have to get a loan from a bank to buy a car, you cannot afford the car. Too many ignorant young people driving around $14,000-$23,000 cars you know damn well they are making payments on something that devalues every mile you put on it. Get a beater between $1500 to $5,000 with cash up front, instead of pretending you are something you are not.
been sleeping in cars 2 years now...its tough, stay positive ,dont think to much...where are u from?
I car camped for 8 mo in and around Portland before I finally got into a place.. Portland is easy to car camp because it doesn’t really get cold even at night but it is wet hahaha other than that a great lax place to be car camping and homeless in general
@@bjorn3923 what about right now? Is it cold right now? I live in the bay area and its getting cold.
23+ years in the Army taught me a thing or two about STAYING warm. We are warm blooded and that is what you need to keep in and not keep the cold out.
1. We used to keep our cold weather bags in a "waterproof" bag. Learning to turn that bag inside out and put it over the foot end of my bag was the single best thing to do for cold feet. I slept without socks after learning that trick.
2. Drink a hot drink with a healthy dose of fat in it. Hot chocolate with a couple of spins of butter in it is my personal favorite. Digesting the fat keeps your metabolism running thru the night and keeps you warm.
3. Take 2 DIFFERENT bottles inside your bag at night. They should not only look different they should feel different. One should be full of hot water and it will help warm your sleeping bag. The other is an empty (I use A Gatorade bottle) that you can pee in at night. Nothing sucks more than having to leave a nice warm need to take a leak at 0200.
4. If you wake up cold in the night so some crunches while in your sleeping bag. Working the ab muscles will generate some heat and hopefully give you an extra hour or two of sleep.
5. I put a butane or propane stove within arms reach with a lighter on it. Next to that an empty coffee pot that I fill with my water bottle (not the Gatorade bottle!). When I wake up I fire up the stove, fill the pot and put it on to heat. You can hear when it is ready and your 3/4 the way to a hot cup of coffee.
I hope these ideas help. Look to other "experts" like backpackers etc for other ideas.
Very useful info for me except the gatorade part since I'm a woman 😂
snowyconfession, you need to Google "female urinary device".
I couldn't understand anything you said. would you mind explaining a bit more on whatever army technique you learned. thanx
General Antiseptic No I haven't. When I said "DIFFERENT" I meant two bottles that were different in size and shape. As soon as I touch either bottle muscle memory would tell me which one I had.
I'm sure there are a great many experiences that a Soldier would consider routine that a civilian would have a hard time comprehending.
Shawn I am not sure if you are serious or not.
When I first started camping in my sedan, I somehow managed to pull the emergency trunk release with my foot, setting my alarm off at 5am 😅🤣
When I was 23, I left for Boulder,Colo, in March from Indiana!! I had a shell on my pickup truck with a bed and 1 thousand dollars to my name!! I so enjoyed the winter camping that now I'm 68 and do the same thing every once in a while!! It still reminds me of my youth, what fun!! Thanks
The best heat source I've ever had while winter van camping is my pitbull.....those little buddy heaters are ok but nothing beats a nice warm dog under the covers with you in sub freezing weather!
Gah! I would love to have a dog come along for something like this. 100% yes!
Liam Kelly , 2 or 3 beat 1.
What do you call a really cold evening?
A: 3 Dog Night.
I was going to say the same thing, except my pup is a small yellow rescue lab named Katy. She loves to snuggle on cold nights in the Colorado Rockies. Dogs are the best!
Liam Kelly Best idea yet! Dogs are nothing but love!!
You dont have a nice warm sleepingbag if you wake up freezing, you have a crappy cold one...spend some money on a norwegian sleeping bag with comfort temp down to -40c and you will never wake up shivering again..
Norwegian sleeping bag?
dont care how good your bag is. When you wake up at 3 am to piss your dick is still going to freeze to your hand..lol.... Car camping (or van) camping can be cold. I have a little buddy heater on a 25 lb propane bottle. Thats my solution. But kind of hard to have in tighter quarters like a car....
CHANCE Cayenne when can we go camping bud?
@@BackcountryNomad You can use a bottle to piss in during night, so you don't have to open the doors and take in the cold (or freeze your most precious bodyparts).
Link me a sleeping bag?
Use newspapers to make a pattern for Windows then use it to cut the window insulation
That probably would have been easier haha
About point number 6, I would suggest you to invest in some window rain guards. They allow you not only to keep the window opened when it's raining or snowing, but they also hide the open window. Your tupperware lid is a good idea when caught by surprise, but it would look sketchy in a residential area and would attract unwanted attention. Depending on your vehicle, you can find some for under 50$, but it's worth it.
Stay safe! :)
Hey! That is a great idea! I was actually toying with that idea earlier this week. Smart and very low profile. Thanks for the tips!!
So low profile that you might forget about it! I left the window cracked while I went hiking around on a trip across California and there was a sandstorm and now 6 months later, I'm still finding pockets of sand in my car!
Oh no!! I don't want to imagine that mess.
check out wellvisors com I spend alot of the summer sleeping in my 4runner and having an inch or two to roll all the windows down and stay dry is dreamy.
Awesome, thank you Logan!!
What he forgot to tell you:
1. Always change out of your clothes into dry clothes before bed, always!
2. Use a wool blanket under you on top of a sheet of styrofoam to keep yourself warm.
3. Don't keep your window cracked in weather under 45 degrees. Unless there are more than 5 people in the car. Then have someome open a window thru out the night a few times.
4. Get a sleeping bag rated for -30 That has an area for your head head to be inside the bag.
5. Shower only after you wake up. You never want to shower right before bed with wet/damp hair or skin. Unless you shower and wait 2hrs before bed.
6. Electronic cars with push start need a secure system. When you have the key inside the car it doesn't always keep the doors unlocked.
7. Always sleep with a hat on.
8. Remove your shoes before you sleep
9. Rain X has a product that keeps the windows from fogging up.
10. Park your car sunrise for morning sun on your windsheild.
Here’s my suggestion for heat: if the car is not running, you don’t have to have the window open for fresh oxygen. The car has plenty of air drafting areas for that. Also, tea candles put under terra-cotta vases provide excellent heat that is slowly released. Getting a few round stones to absorb the heat from the heater while driving, then tuck them in with you at night is also a great way to keep the inside warmer for longer. If you don’t want stones, then find something that can absorb the heat throughout the day and slowly release it at night. Using cloth between the windows and the styrofoam blackouts will reduce the frost on the windows. The cloth will absorb the moisture more than the window will collect it. Try to reduce the space that you want to keep warm by using partitions such hanging heavy blankets. Or make a small tent just large enough for you to fit your bedding in. This will help to capture your own body heat and insulate you from the larger area of the interior. Foam padding is also a great insulator for a bed, as well as making it softer. Also the direction and location that you park makes a difference also.. try to park on the south side of a large building or structure. If you are in the wilderness, try to park on the south side of an embankment or hill. And park as closely to it as possible. Parking under some cover also helps to protect from heat loss. So if you can park under a thick branched tree that would be good. Just be aware of any snow that has accumulated in the tree that might be a problem if it fell or broke a limb. Of course don’t park under a tree if there is a thunderstorm or high winds.
Thank you for these great ideas Vincent!
I know this comment was from 6 years ago but honestly I’ve found that if I don’t sleep with the window open i wake up heavy breathing and gasping for air a bit. I’d suggest keep the window open or at least In my car I find I need to! Have fun all
I've lived for a while in the high Alps and it gets pretty cold there too (i.e. minus 40). I find your video useful and informative but would like to add one chapter. Parking. Before you park for the night think about where you park.
1. Ideally you want to park with the car pointing in the direction you wish to move off in then next morning.
2. You want to put the car into first gear. In extreme cold the gear box oil can become so stiff that you will otherwise not have any chance of putting the car into gear.
3. Release the handbrake. More often than not the brake will freeze closed.
4. All things being equal, can your chosen spot receive sunshine tomorrow? It may be needed to get the car started. I remember trying to start guest's diesel cars in particular that even with winter diesel were not going to start on account of the fuel being too waxy. However, an hour later with the bonnet/hood up and the sunshine pouring into the engine bay and they were good to go.
4. What about things like wind direction? I once woke up and couldn't get the car started. When I opened the bonnet (hood) I found that the wind had driven the snow into the engine compartment which was ram full of the horrible white stuff.
There are loads of other tips but these will do for now.
Thank you so much for these tips Hundseier! I love the idea of planning ahead to park where the sun will be in the morning!
These tips are still just as helpful a year later. Ha! Yes indeed so nice to learn through someone else’s previous experiences. AND to read the comments!! So much wisdom out there from around the world. I will put these tips into action. I thank you for sharing these tips here.
My childhood friend's Father,brother, uncle died in a snowstorm in Idaho from Co2 poisoning parked in a car during a snow storm. The snow blocked the tail pipe and they had the heater running. Always check it is not covered before using the heater.
I am very sorry to hear that Linda. That is a very real and scary reality with snowstorms. Thank you for sharing, I will be keeping that in mind for sure in future winter travels.
CO , carbone monoxide. That's what come out of your exaust not carbone dioxide co2
Linda Moses Wow good tip. Sorry for your loss.
Dummies
With the heater running, wouldn't it be pulling in fresh air?
More tips...
Sleeping on an air mattress can be cold. Try a foam one that will trap your body heat.
Also, if you truck has remote start, activate it in the middle of the night if you wake up. The truck runs for 15 minutes and shuts off automatically so you can fall back asleep and not worry about it. That's usually enough time to warm up the interior and you don't waste too much gas. Do that 1-2 times a night on those really cold nights.
There are couple of cheap ways to prepare for a cold night in a car which I have tried.
1. Take out the seats , carpets, door panels and roof lining, insulate using heat shields or like sound proofings.
2. Make good window shields using heat shields and clothes like what you see in the videos (most of heat escapes through the glass).
3. Fill your cabin with comfy blankets, bags and clothes.
4. Take 4 or 5 good plastic water bottles, if possible fill it with hot water from surrounding outlets and tuck them in between the blankets (make sure its tight and sealed ) dont sleep directly on top of them.
5. If possible buy your personal hot bag (there are electric ones available )
6. Install extra deep cycle battery on your car with an inverter and an isolator, that way you could use low watt electric blankets (some even with power banks are available ).
There are also other expensive ways to get cozy.
Good sleep to all campers.
Once I decided to drive alone from the Netherlands to Sweden. Had a couchsurf in Helsingborg which was great. And next day afternoon driving to Stockholm. Late in the night wanted to go to a hostel somewhere in the middle of the route but all of them where closed. Some point I had to sleep in the car in the night. I had a cheap cotton sleeping bag and just other cotton clothes. Temperatures went down just to bit below freezing point and it was horrible! Every 30min woke up to start up the car to heat up enough so I could sleep again 30min. I really learned from this experience and tried afterwards to learn more about sleeping in a car. Well 8 years ago there was actually none information about it on the internet. Just an American article I founded that your best place to sleep was at a car parking at a Wall mart. Rest none! But I read that cotton is a killer since it holds moisture. So bought a goose feather sleeping bag, thermarest sleep mat. And the best thing you can buy for your money... FLEECE BLANKETS! they are cheap and hold almost no moisture.
Last couple of years when I leave Friday's after work to drive to Austria for a week of winter sports I drive as far as possible I can. And sleep in the car somewhere in Germany near to a highway resting place or so. But If I do that I do not park my car next to the highway because of the noise. And not next to trucks since they have automated trailer cooling or heating systems which could wake you up. Then I take off most of my clothes and wrap my self in a thin layer of fleece blanket into the goose feather sleeping bag. And it works like a charm! Even when it's freezing. Next morning if I wake up just turn on the engine to make it toasty and get my self ready for the last bit of driving. Sleeping in the carIt's a little adventure and saves you big money sleeping in hotels or so. Good luck! :)
that's right cotton is very bad for winter; unlike wool or synthetics it does not keep you warm if it gets moist, say from body heat, sweat and it's a poor insulator.
The music is as loud as your voice. I did not finish the vid.
Good tips thx gooiee reisen..
Frost guard for your windshield. Privacy and no scrapping the frost off in the morning.
Took my two oldest daughters(9&7) car camping last week. Had a freaking blast! Camped in a state park the provided electricity. Put an extension cord in through the sun roof and plugged in a mini heater with a thermostat. Took two dogs and a cat.lol
tip: buy a $200 car starter. On the cold mornings just remote start your car with the key before getting out of your sleeping bag. Best investment ever!
Ah, I never would have thought of that! Good idea!
Awesome idea
Why not save the $200 and just crawl to the ignition while in your sleepibg bag?
I put one in my Transit T350 and it is awesome. Additional security and the ability to start the van (pre set the heater etc) them roll over and snooze only to rise in a toasty vehicle is worth the expense.
My Fusion Titanium has that and Ive used it when I slept in the car exactly as you say and yes its a game-changer in the mornings
Get a stainless steel water bottle and stop at the gas station before you go to bed. The coffee makers usually have a lever for hot water only on the side. Fill your water bottle up with hot water and place it in your sleeping bag.
If you do this again, check out a 12 volt electric blanket. they come with 30 to 45 minute times so you can warm up your bag before getting into it. Hobo ovens: smaller steel can that can hold votive candles and a larger can that goes over it (with holes for air). Look up heat a seat which will warm you up without electricity.
Huh! Thank you for this! I'll look into this for this winter!
I have used a normal electric blanket, with a 12v deep cycle battery and a 120v inverter. The battery can provide enough power for 2 days use, before a re-charge is needed. A queen sized blanket is 130 Watts. Using a separate battery ensures that you can always get the car started.
Paul , can you tell me a bit more about deep cycle battery , ??
@@erumkanwal8179 Its also known as a marine battery, they are able to be drained down without the same issues as normal car batteries.
@@nhcharmedone False, marine batteries are hybrid type of battery. They can start a car and provide some cycling ability but will die fairly quick. The batteries you see at walmart are not deep cycle.
Why not just toss a few hand warmers in your sleeping bag over night? They're about 25 cents in bulk, and they last 6-8 hours.
That’s brilliant
I've slept in my car when it's really cold maybe once or twice. Both times I had two sleeping bags, one inside the other, some thick boot socks on top of regular socks, long johns, sweat pants and snow pants, a tee-shirt, a hoodie, and my winter coat, a snow cap, my hoodie's hood as well as my jackets hood, and last but not least, a good thick pair of gloves. Stayed pretty warm and was able to fall asleep
Nice! That would make a good picture;)
Lol I don't think I own that much outer covering. Impressive.
All that clothing is actually keeping ypu colder
.
Winter car camping, baby. I love it.. And like you said it's all about the journey.
Yes it is!
A hint for the inside freezing of the windows, get a moisture capture thing from dollar tree, it helps keep the moisture down and also keeps the car smelling fresh.
There's a cool idea! Thank you Jessie!
Jessie Gilbert. Those things are so cool! You can see the water it pulls from the air.
A dehumidifier?
keep a lot of newspaper at few places in your van, trow them every 2 days or so, and keep replacing them with fresh ones, they suck up a lot of the humidity naturally. Grantee less in your windows
Put up a heavy curtain blocking the front seat area from the rear sleeping area. Get 2-4 big deep cycles and run a small 12v heater and electric blanket. Super comfy
That's a good tip with the foam insulation! Single mom van dweller here also if you can go to a thrift shop and fine like an ice bucket, we use glass and it's fairly large ish, but we get candles the big thick candles from like thrift stores for $2 maybe 3 or put them in there and we lite those and we just let those go and let all the residual heat from the candle help keep the inside of the van warm while we have a little cracked window. Also there is our mr. Buddy heater, it uses a lil propane tank or a big one, up to you. we only use the 1 pound cylinders and just buy a couple of those a week s
but that's being used as needed seeing as we're in the mountain tree line next to a city vancamping for free
I’m watching this because I’ll be homeless soon
Lmk if u need any tips ive done it before...
Same
Same
Same my dude. My landlord sold the house from underneath me
I'll be semi homeless. Jacked up my rent to be unaffordable and I've got problems with bugs that won't go way. They can F their rent. My car is paid off and I intent to stick close to work. On super cold days I'll get a hotel. Fam's house on weekends (they are hour away) just temporary but it's going to be interesting to see how it does in really cold weather. Warm weather it was fine. Guess I'll find out. Lol
Fought with my then wife, took a break to Bishop, CA for almost 3 weeks. Wear jeans, long socks, shoes, t-shirt, sweater, nylon light jacket, 2 blankets and wrap yourself up like a burrito and try not to move as much. Use the hoodie on the sweater to cover your face. Find a cardboard so that you can pitch a tent on the hoodie so you can catch some of the warm breathe air
Spent lots of cold night in a truck while hot shotting cars. Wax the hell out of your windows and keep all the moisture control packets you find in food or electronics. Place them everywhere. I always used woolto keep warm. Good luck
Moisture packs in an interesting idea!
Mike Lewis Awesome tip
I hate when my windows get all moistured up, I have to remember to do this
Absolutely loved this video man. Well done sir!
From a technical standpoint: Your video quality, editing, sound track and commentary were all on point.
From a personal standpoint: I just got done with a six week road trip ‘stealth car camping’ down the entire East Coast from Portland Maine, all the way down to Jacksonville Florida. Having done that over the past six weeks, I COMPLETELY relate to some of the points you had in the video.
1. ALWAYS DISARM THE CAR ALARM (Loved it! Thought I was the only one who’d done that): I was in South Carolina and made COMPLETE jerk of myself in a Walmart parking lot at 3am doing that.
2. Frost on the inside of the window. This is such a pain right!
3. Sleeping in the car will be miserable. But it’s all about the places you go. I loved that point and completely agree. Only way I’ve been about to take the trip I’ve taken is because of my willingness to make the plunge into ‘stealth car camping’ as I call it. Wouldn’t trade the experiences I’ve had over the past six weeks for anything.
Sorry for the long comment, but keep up the good work. Just wanted to let you know I dig the video and know your struggle brother.
p.s. if you come through Chattanooga TN in the next three months, give me a heads up, you can crash on the couch.
James! It's nice to meet you and thank you for your kind comments and support, that means a lot! It sounds like you've had some pretty great adventures yourself! That's awesome! It's not the easiest thing to do that's for sure, but it can be worth it as you know;)
You don't need to crank a window, just make sure the heaters are not set to recirculating and you have a feed for fresh air at a lower height, keeping more hot air in that way.
Cars are not designed to be air tight. Think how many times 4 people have travelled in a car for 2hrs+ with windows shut. Equivilant of 8hrs breathing of one person and not even close to being a problem.
With all the windows shut the heat will stay in longer as well.
The Ferret So true
These people all want to sleep with the car turned off. They think they're going to die if the car is running. Do you die when you're awake driving around.
I use 3 or 4 hot water bottles. An alternative would be to use plastic water containers. Build a fire in ur camp and heat up enough water to fill ur containers. keep the containers under a thick comforter. I never use sleeping bags just lots of thick fluffy comforters.
1972 Blazer under 2' of snow but a sleeping bag down to 5 degrees did the trick and I was 25 years old and now almost 65!
Wow! What an adventure!! I bet you'll never for get that!
nick acoutin I woke up to an inch snow on me once but only 2 blankets bundled up with 12+ hand warmer shake heaters pasted to me kept me toasty!
1989 I used to travel around in my 77 Dodge Van. This is before Internet and UA-cam. I followed the 70* line north and south, sometimes it got colder and there was frost on the screws that held up the headliner and frost on the windows inside and out. All in all I was warm enough on my platform bed. I did have a 50 caliber bullet box wood stove mounted on an all metal milk crate with a 3" diameter stove pipe going out sheet metal mounted in the window. If I burned 3 paper grocery bags filled with tumble weed stems I could cook a small pot of rice.
Small cut wood sticks were way better.
Love the ammo box stove! However my '66 Bronco was a convertible in '83 & '84, with no suitable flue location. Lots of air leaks... Sure is a lot more comfortable in the van now with the the Wiggy's bags and pad, but that old green Bronco was the ultimate stealth camper. All you needed was space between trees and a gate in the fence. 229k on the factory clutch when the rust won the war.
I dropped everything and packed all my possessions in my camaro and drove up to Maine, took me three days, and two more when I was here to get situated into a pkace. On my extremely limited budget this video made the difference between if I would've made it or not. So this us just a genuine thank you, don't know if I would've been able yo without this
a "damp rid" bag significantly reduces frost as it absorbs condensation.
hmm, gotta look into that!
olddogtrainer olddog Also if you're cheap try kitty liter in a thin sock or patyhoes.
always a challenge. I like to line up water bottles on the dash and let the defrosters heat them up for washing up in the morning. 4 bottles will wash your hair and the rest of you if you practice. lol.. stay warm out there!!!!
I swear, you have less subs and views that you should have. Video quality, the fact that you timelapsed a lot of stuff and you edited every second is something you see at channels with 300k+ subs. I subbed to you, man. Good job! I'm waiting for new videos. Have a nice day!
Mihai, thank you very much for your kind words and support! I love doing this stuff and will keep doing it. It's a blast for me, I'm very happy to hear you like what I'm making. Are you a hiker or traveler?
Neither. I'm a watcher for now. I just like these things. Maybe in the
near future I'm gonna go camping, but for now I need to finish college.
Ah, fair enough. I do a fair bit of watching this sort of stuff too. Good to know for when the time comes.
Exactly.
Agree this vid is so good and well edited, but without losing the realness of it. First winter car camping vid I watched. My vid is just pants in comparison :p Thank you for putting it up and out there :)
You don't need to crack your window. The ventilation system, when set to external, is an open pipe to the outside, but has the benefit of not giving you drafts. Even when set to recirculate, there are two vents towards the rear of the cabin section which open directly to the outside via baffles.
To be completely safe, I guess we should crack the window as long as it's possible, but still your insights are awesome! I never knew about this mechanic system
if u can pee in a water bottle, bring a big empty one so you don't loose heat getting out to tinkle in the middle of the night. Also a good snuggle buddy right after.
snuggle with your piss bottle? You'd probably shit in a plastic bag & do the same too.
Regardless what size vehicle you have a 12v fan (usually wigh a suction cup for the windows) only draws 1 AH. The smallest passenger vehicle has a 50 AH battery. You are only supposed to drain no more than 25% of your battery so it will still crank the starter the next day. So, if you are laying and/or sleeping with a fan on for 12 hours straight with the vehicle OFF, that is only 12 AH drained from the 50+ AH battery. Less than 25% drain. You are fine without a 120v fan on a power inverter.
Also, as a trucker we has a bunk heatet. It is 12 volts as well. quite a bit more expensive but you can get heat with the truck off. But if it is -20°C or colder the you risk your truck not starting the next morning. LoL!!
Those are my heat and fan solutions.
My roomate bout to be doing this cuz we kicking his ass out lol!
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I was told several years ago, by a trucker, that a candle will keep the temperature above freezing in inside the cab. I would suggest, maybe, a candle in a glass? A Ball jar would probably most likely not to break from the heat. Any empty glass jar that you get from the super market should be heat resistant. Put it in a cup holder in the console. You have two cup holders, maybe two candles. Light one and when it burns down light the other. Even if this works it will still be cold, but you won't have any frozen water or sweat. You can find cheap candles in thrift stores. Some are used, but others are not. There are five hour candles too. I found mine at the Dollar Tree. Four candle stick candles for a dollar. Twenty hours of flame. I haven't burned one, so I don't know if they really do burn for five hours.
Neat idea! I'll give that a go and see how that works. Thank you for the suggestion!
Another suggestion. Did u know if you wash your mirrors w shaving cream humidity, as in shower steam won't fog up mirrors soooooo I figure it will keep Windows looking good even though your humid breathing steams it up. Come on this may work..... Try it.
Lisa Morrow, makes sense to me. I like you, you think outside the box!
Great idea! Thanks!
Lisa Morrow Wow
This was fun and interesting. I once got stuck out too far to get to a hotel and did some unplanned car camping in winter hehe, about 30 or 40 degrees Fahrenheit, and it wasn’t too bad. We kept our layers on, cracked the windows, shivered a bit and were just fine. Car camping saves a lot of money if you can find safe enough places to do it. This video had awesome tips!
Cool idea with the foam. My favorite camping vehicle would be the prius its automatic idle shut down and low cooling and heating cycles make it affordable to conventional car idling. But planning out makes all the difference if you have to ruff it out without modern conveniences.
Oh interesting! I haven't heard of that before. I'm a bit confused though, does that mean that the car is idling throughout the night?
Lol a Prius isn't driving in the snow...
MILE30 Adventures the car starts up periodically to recharge the battery
There are also Heating Pads, Hot water bottles, & electric Blankets, if you don't mind carrying an extra long lasting good size car battery. Plus with an inverter, you can watch netflix with your computer, or Smartphone, Charge your stuff, & there are actually Many solar appliances now. This woman WILL find a way to have coffee & stay warm still stiff ol bones are ready to move...or Not LOL Also lighting candles will provide quite a bit of heat just put them down in coffee cans in a safe place Like a Cake pan & some I've heard use heated rocks put unto coffee cans & set in a baking pan.
egn83b what about a Tesla? I think a Tesla would be the great camper car (° ͜ʖ°)
I am surprised that no outdoor winter campers have spoken up. I have recently started winter camping in a tent. We try to keep the tent as openly ventilated as possible. Just so we get rid of as much moisture as possible from our breath. Even doing this, every surface inside the tent is covered with a layer of frost. A bag of rice won't help much as I see it. Plus. You dont wear your outside clothes in your sleeping bag. Look up some basic winter camping skills. Then adapt them for inside your vehicle.
Was once in the middle of Kansas on a cold 10-0 degree night. Had to sleep with nothing but a jacket. Was the longest night I've ever spent.
Oh wow! That doesn't sound nice:s
Bruh, what happened?
Lame sauce
Hey, LOVED the video, nice job! I live in my RV full time and RVers often use a heater called Mr. Heater Buddy. It's a small propane heater that can be used indoor and outdoor and doesn't require any electricity. I use them when my power goes out for backup, a really handy dandy heater and not expensive. You can use the disposable 1lb. propane bottles (convenient) or with the use of hoses you can use a larger tank (economical). I plan on using this heater this fall on a trip across the country that I will be sleeping in my van. You do not have to freeze! Best of luck to you, keep on keepin on!
That's great advice Patty! So cool you live in your RV, what a cool way to live! Very inspiring! I've done the buddy heater before and it worked, but I have the large version and I wasn't comfortable sleeping with it on as everything is so close inside this SUV. But maybe the smaller model with more breathing room could work. Thanks you!
Watching this because I am behind on my rent, also I have used my car before at festivals, estate's rock push the seat down and your off, good video
Thanks Billy! It's a great way to save money that is for sure!
Billy Ramone Billy I can relate.
I found out, if you have large box of candle put it in the jar lit one candle touch the metal top increase 20 to 30 degree upper but open the window very little. I learned from Minnesota people. That's a wonderful idea
This video was in my recommended clicked on it and first thing i see is my apartment building. So cool to see your from Etown
That's awesome! Funny how things work out like that. I've got some other videos in Edmonton. And some of my next ones will be back in Edmonton again actually.
Just stumbled on this video after taking my 2004 Honda Pilot on a couple of winter overnight dispersed camping trips. When you added to remember to unlock your car with the fob before starting the car (or opening the door) I had to laugh because that happened to me and had me scrambling to figure out how to quickly turn it off at 2:00AM.
Test out a UCO candle lantern. It solved my tent winter camping condensation and in a vehicle it can add the slightest amount of heat.
Take it from me, who has spent a lifetime in the wilds in all seasons. Sleeping in a good sleeping bag inside a high quality tent erected beside the car is far warmer and dryer, with a lot less condensation, than sleeping inside a cold metal box (your vehicle).
not that long video, but to the point. Thank you for pointing the important things out.
No problem! I'm glad it helped! Are you planning to do some cold nights in the car?
Buy an extra battery and wire it to your car body. Put an on/off switch with it. Turn it on when you go to sleep. Makes an excellent deterent for 4 legged and 2 legged animals. You can wire it to your alternator so it will recharge when driving just make sure you wire it up with an isolator.
Interesting idea!
Hi just saw your video. I live in MN, so am familiar w moisture in the car. Get a pair of tube socks and a bag of rice. Fill the sock w Rice, tie the end, and put it near a window or vent. Might need to try a few places. It helps keep the windows from fogging up if you get over heated. Good luck!
Huh! Well theres an idea. Thank you for passing this along. I'll have to give that a try!
Thanks for the honesty about the cold. Some of the conversion van videos are essentially house on wheels with dangerous propane heaters, etc $$. I do what you're doing. It's not a house, it's a van.
the foam thing is pretty clever! thanks!
Yeah, I've found it quite helpful and multi-functional. Just takes up some room is the only downside.
I've had a propane portable heater in my truck before. As long as there is a window cracked, are super careful and turn it off before you sleep it works better than great.
Huh, thank you for the tip Otto!
I did it for two years in my station wagon. Parked next to a light pole got me electricity from the pole and I got me an electric heater that one look like a radiator.
You sir are a very smart man
How? Please share I can't find any convince with this one.
thanks for the great vid 👍 good thing you mentioned about heating yourself before sleep - takes so much time to naturally heat yourself in sleeping bag in -C conditions. Food with lots of energy right before sleep does wonders too.
Yes! Very good call with that.
I just found and watched you video. \you mentioned that it is going to be cold and miserable in your car during the winter. I have to tell you that you are absolutely wrong. If you go and get you a terracotta flower pot and a baking pan with 2 small bricks or other item about 2 inches high. Also you will need some tea light candles. Take the baking pan and turn it over so that what you set it on will not get hot or catch fire. Take you four tea light candles and turn the flower pot over so the opening is facing down. Take the candles and put them under the flower pot. Once you have done this lift the flower pot and put the brick pieces next to the candles so the pot is held up about 3 inches or so. Light the candles and cover the candles with the flower pot but the flower pot should be holding it off the baking pan so that a little air can get thru. In no time you will have a convection heat source that will do a great job heating and will not put much of a added strain on the budget. It will last a couple of hours and make the inside of the vehicle warmer then it would be without them. I used it a few times while driving trucks over the road and had engine problems. Yes I stole the idea but if it works use it.
Hey! Thanks for the idea! That sounds like it would give off some good extra heat. Thank you for passing the idea on.
Great idea. Nothing like an open flame to keep you warm in a confined space.
Raven Feather Improving your reading skills helps you to better understand presented ideas within your brain meat.
Spank Sir my suggestion too
Raven Feather yep, it's a great idea, learn to use them safely and the pot is heavy and stable. We cook in vans, RVs and various other vehicles, I bet propane freaks you out. He can get various lanterns or forms of a small controlled flame.
Good vid. Couple thoughts: 1) maybe try blocking off the front seats area with like a space blanket? Less area for your body to heat, kind of like if you make a snow shelter, you want it as small as possible. 2) if you are worried about carbon monoxide, you can pick up a battery powered detector for cheap. Then no worries. more of an issue if you are running your car. 3)Maybe a double sleeping bag system like the US army 2 bag+bivy? Even a cheap coleman sleeping bag would make a huge difference.
These are all great ideas! Thank you!
All you need is good sleeping bag I go snow camping and just sleep under a tarp
Nice! I tried that too last winter. I want to do that more this year.
Invest in a couple of good wool blankets. One on the inside of the sleeping bag, one or more in the outside of the sleeping bag. Also, you can wrap up in a emergency blanket that has the reflectors on it--- the thicker ones so that it doesn't tear. It will bounce your own body heat back to you. Also, put some of those hand warmers down in your sleeping bag with you.
Good tips Jamie! Thank you!
My car has drafts that form ice around them in the floor of the vehicle. Had to create a small sealed box with the top open to seal out so many drafts from the side and bottom.
You don'tabsolutely need a great sleeping bag as long as you have a number of cheap ones. Preferably one mummy bag and a couple larger rectangular bags so you can nest them. The idea 9f one super cold weather bag is mainly a backpacking concept. People slept in the cold for millennia before the invention of lightweight backpacking. They used piled up blankets and furs. Same idea.
You do absolutely need a great winter sleeping hat. Trapper style is great. Won't fall off your head bcs of chin strap.
Currently I have a -30 mummy bad but the zipper is broken so it's more like a comforter now I also have 3 relatively light blankets.. It's getting around freezing at night and I'm fine sometimes I wake up sweating.
I'm probably gonna have to buy a new sleeping bag when it gets colder
Best way to winter camp in a car is to drive to a warmer climate.
Agreed!
Yup just quit your job and drive to where its warmer.... SMH
@@danielszabolcsik1610 LOL
Got Gas?
If it was only that easy
Have you never heard of Mr. Heater - Little Buddy or Big Buddy? I run my heater in my camper shell (5 winters now!) Roasty-toasty. I put my 25 lb. propane tank between my seats (I have an extra cab) and run the 8' hose through my sliding rear window and across my curtain rods (yes I have curtains - I am after all a woman and have womanly needs!) I also have a hospital mattress - and plenty of pillows and sleeping bags. Also, a bookshelf and various racks. It is "homey."
I might be evicted next month. Definitely needed this advice. Thank you.
Best bag I found ,,,. Army surplus winter bag ! And a sock filled with cat litter cuts down on the frost ! N always a wool hat !
Keep socks full of kitty litter in your car. They will absorb a majority of the moisture so the windows don't freeze on the inside
Interesting idea! I've heard rice works too. Thanks for the idea!
Don't worry about the condensation being uncomfortable. Worry about the damage it's doing to your car. The open window will help, as will the kitty litter.
Thank you - headed to Montana and it will be cold. Nice to know how to prepare!
You're welcome! Enjoy your trip and stay warm!
Excellent video thank you. I'm in the process of moving into my wife's Honda Fit. This and many of your other vids will be helpful. I'll be in touch. Thanks again!
A Honda Fit! Wow, that's quite the move! I've slept in one a couple times and considering the size of the vehicle it's not bad at all. But it's still a tight fit! Good luck with your move!
Thank you . It's a necessary evil. I'm so looking forward to it. A major life change I'm hoping for the better. I want to move in asap before the death of winter comes so I can have time to slowly get used to it.
David Kanyan where does your wife live?
Jacob In the house like normal.
David Kanyan excellent idea thank you :)
People who live in freezing cold weather probably would follow this video. I’m from SoCal, coldest winter gets is 55 degrees F.. basically warm to some people
When I lived in my truck in the winter, I would burn a small candel and it would shoot up the temp and keep the humitiy low
I'll be giving that a go this winter. Thank you for the idea!
That candle is burning your breathing oxygen, forcing you to breathe carbon dioxide, and a massive fire risk. Not the best idea.
If you have a hybrid like a Prius, it will automatically start the engine every so often, warm the car up, then shut off. This helps the engine stay warm...and you....and doesnt run enough to cost hardly any money, and doesnt run enough to build up CO gas. Its awesome summer or winter because the engine doesnt have to run much, and all fully automatic like a house thermostat.
Very informative. Awesome video. If I could give you thousands thumbs up, believe me, I would bro!!!!!
You're awesome! thank you so much! I'm glad you are liking my videos!!
Me and my wife car camped at a Loves Truck Stop in Alabama in the middle of the summer in a 13' Subaru Outback 2.5 we had our bed mats and blankets, cooler, carbon monoxide detector, and we I let the car idle all night (about 8.5 hours) for use of the AC, because at night with the high humidity/temps were still in the high 85-89° that car only used barely over 2 gallons of gas at a cost of $5.00. So for the occasional car camper and the more fuel efficient cars and if you take the appropriate safety precautions I have no problem letting the engine run all night to keep me comfortable.
My tip for keeping warm. Make sure you have peed before sleeping and pee when you feel the urge. Otherwise your body will try too keep it warm instead of yourself. I simply use a juicebottle with a extra big opening myself
I didn't know that. Thank you Johan!
Johan Sl Excellent tip. I also heard eat right before bed as your body generates more heat to digest it.
Hello Sailor
😍😍😍😍😍😍😍
12v deep-cycle rechargeable battery and tiny 12v heater that uses little watts. Can put inside sleeping bag and use as desired.
Just so you know, about the heat, you can easily get a lot of heat, you can bye a noiseless oil heater that uses diesel. You have to make a few modifications to your car, but then you can sleep in 86F if you want to:-)
Wow! Thank you for the idea!
You are welcome, try to look at the oil heater for the piaggio ape, it is small and works, you should properly look for a used one, they are wary expensive:-)
Good advice, thank you!
MILE30 Adventures i am a firefighter and first responder. That is a very very bad idea. The risk of co2 exposure is very high. Starting your vehicle with a window cracked is much safer. Be sure that your exhaust is no blocked.
John Davis Yeah. I wake up dead all the time.
They have things called heaters you know like small ones. Small air heaters are really great too because they suck out the cold air and give out warm air. It’s not going to be toasty warm but it’ll still be more bearable from freezing cold.
Seen April 5, 2018. Your video is excellent. Thanks for a informative video. 👍
Thank you! I'm glad you liked it and maybe got something new out of it!
You can buy Mass Loading Vinyl or Sound deadening foam sheets and install them behind every piece of plastic trim, under the carpet and roof. They will insulate the car from the weather :), besides obviously making the car quieter on the road.
Also try sleeping bag inside black sleeping bag. Double up. Black to be invisible yo see through windows
The advice is good, but personally I think there many aspects about winter car camping can cozy and peaceful, not all “cold and miserable”. In line with that quote “there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad gear.
Required items for Car Camping.
1. Highly Recommended/optional Chubby Girlfriend (if current one is skinny, feed n fatten her up ASAP!)
2. Van, newer no one like the pedo/rape van in their hood. Or put bobs repair on side
3. Insulation on windows, if your smart layer a few moving blankets on walls and roof. The blue thick ones.
4. Park at 24 hour spot if possible Walmart, Safeway, Denny’s etc. they don’t trip ever.
5. Poo bucket, collapsible if possible and the best is trash bags small and the hole is not hard to miss. Your not dropping smart bombs so never turdunken in your car. Pink eye for example, and bacteria will build up in the car and stink it up. It’s distinct.
This guy is legit for short term as he has good advice.
5 years lived anchored out and 3 in a car up n down the coast of NorCal surfing and hunting. Questions pm me.
Top tips bro...
They are getting better at those electric blankets to where they are portable. They even made a jacket version that I would like to get.
Even the small heaters are good. 1 winter my apartment Air/Heating unit broke down. I didn't have to much money so I ended up get a Holmes® Oscillating Ceramic Indoor Heater. It worked "Really" well for my studio apartment, and it has a thermostat dial that kept my place at a steady temp. You might want to set it up on the passenger side foot spot.
best way to car camp in the winter is do it in Arizona.
Faaaair enough!
libertyn jeopardy just not north arizona where snow storms happens... Phoenix isn’t all of Arizona
I just came from Arizona.. night time temperature was 22 F
@@bloubrown802 I'm just heading INTO AZ from Northern NM, not what I wanted to hear after doing a couple nights in Denver lol.
appreciate your honesty about it being cold and miserable at night, period. that was also my experience. Just Miserable the entire night ...
Yeah, not the funnest of adventures;)
Darth & Kali Tru Dat
Put a bag of rocks in the engine compartment during the day then at night I'd put them in my sleeping bag.
@Shorty you can do the same thing with rocks around a fireplace camp fire.
@Shorty some day
Terracotta pot heat is amazing as long as you can truly provide a safe place in the car to use it
buy a foam mattress and put that in the back. Much warmer and comfortable
Link me one i can cut off?
cut up*
@@brendanmcanally3309 just go to place that sells beds and find one that is made of all foam like the memory foam ones, you can find them quite cheap now or even free if ou don't find a second hand one xD. If it is all foam you just cut the fabric open, use a stanley knife or electric carving knife and cut the foam them bam stitch it up and you got a custom size mattress.
Good video! Just to tips, first of all, click the lock button inside the car (normally on the door), this will lock it without the alarm being activated, so you can move around or start it without setting it off, secondly, with a good -30/-40 sleeping bad you shouldn’t have any clothes on you, that is how you will keep warm inside it, your body heat warms all the special layers on the sleeping bag and you won’t be cold at all!
Trying using Yoga Mats and lay on while sleeping. It retained the Body heat in while laying on it. I have a Video in my Channel explaining it!
I am a student, canr afford to work and go to school. I need to make my car safe to live in.
A good pee bottle is a key item to keep handy.
And when it's really cold, the pee bottle makes a nice hand warmer - or whatever body part is coldest - for about 15 minutes or so. Really cold is really cold and necessity is the mother of invention.
Have lived homeless in car
A small diesel heater is great
A small diesel heater? I have never heard of this I been living in my car for 3 weeks now and these winter nights are becoming long. Any info would be great? Thank you
Wash your Windows inside w shaving cream. It might keep frost off. It works in bathroom from shower .