Cooking - In And Out Of Prius

A significant amount of space in the Prius was devoted to cooking/eating supplies.

Left to right butane stove & spare butaine bottle, ziplock bag with paper plates, cooking set, large cooking supplied storage bag, small cooking supplies storage bag, dry goods bag.

This stove worked great.  This trip was the first time I had used this stove and I will use it again on my next trip.

This cook set is large for one person but I chose it for the size of the frying pan and large pot.  

The frying pan was just right for a few pieces of chicken, a couple eggs, and stir fry.  

The extra chicken would be saved for another day.  I tried to rotate my food every day.

The large pot was big enough for cooking spaghetti and making hot water for the large thermos.

I didn't use the small pot at all.

The pieces nestled together and the small pot held a dish towel in the bottom, two ceramic bowls and this backpacker kit below.

The backpack kit holds folding flipper, tongs, and scoop.  A small cutting board a pan scraper, and salt and pepper.

This and the larger tool bag I used contain supplies for cooking.  This bag is used the least.

The large tool bag had a roll of paper towels, spare roll of toilet paper on top. 

Under the paper towels and toilet paper, Kleenex,spray cleaner, cooking oil, cooking spray, ziplock bags. Spaghetti, spaghettini sauce, and some can food

The smaller bag contains what I use the most.

I have the gray zippers bag as noted below, dish soap, scouring pad, measuring cup, collapsing funnel, can opener, hot mitten, seasoning, lighter, and some canned goods.

This bag made it nice to put utensils in so they were not floating around the bag.

Some more collapsing cooking tools, small knives, collapsing chopsticks, etc. 

I didn't have room for a large shovel but i did for this one.

It is a small folding shovel.  I didn't use it but I would bring again.

Two very sharp knives.  Only needed one and the white is corrugated plastic that keeps the blade safe.

This was my dry goods and snack bag that I kept up front with me.

I kept crackers, cereal, snack bars, etc in this bag with this collapsing dining set.

Boxed items like cereal before leaving the store parking lot I would open the box and take the contents and put into a ziplock bag.  This made storage in the red bag better and kept the contents fresh.

The collapsing dining set and collapsing fork and spork fit nicely in the supplied MES bag to keep everything together.

Living in a small space the kit was nice for storage.

The collapsing dishes worked very well.

I picked up this collapsing bowel in Walmart and for the price it is great as you can use it for cereal or salad and it comes with a stored spork.  

The collapsing dining set has a hard plastic bottom so you can cut meat on it.  This one is soft plastic so no cutting.

When cooking in the Prius I did not use the stove, although possible I did not feel comfortable with the open flame in the small space.

I did find boiling hot water with the 12 volt heater allowed me hot food items like instant oatmeal and mac & cheese single servings where you just add water.

This thermos mug worked well for cooking 2 hot dogs by putting the hot dogs in the mug and adding boiling water and closing for 10 minutes.

I tried cooking rice in the thermos mug but it didn't work for me.  I need to try instant rice next time.

There is a thermos cookbook online for those interested in cooking in the Prius with hot water. http://www.thermoscooking.com

Managing space for cooking items:

The stove and the spare butaine was stored in the trunk under the refrigerator.  The cooking set and two bags were under the bed.  The shape of the bags did a better job of space utilization.

If I was to cut down on some items I carried I could get rid of some utensils and the small pot.  

I didn't use the small pot as I bought canned vegetables in the single serving cans so I just opened the can took the paper label off and set the can on the burner to heat.  There was no reason to pour contents in the pan only to dirty it.

If I made some serious decisions and store some items where the small pot was I may be able to get down to one large bag. Thus, making room for some clothing and saving space elsewhere.

I had a fire extinguisher that was held to the seat I made behind the driver.  It was available inside or by reaching in from the outside.  There were not too many options for the extinguisher so it would be available and not in the way.

Brent

macaloney@hotmail.com

Hygiene - Living In And Out Of A Prius

(Web photo)

One of the more challenging aspects of traveling in a Prius Campervan is cleaning yourself.  As my last post indicated you need to use a hike camping trip as a bottom baseline for the lowest accmodations in addressing personal hygiene.  Now think of living in and out of your Prius and how could you make the hiking experience that much better.

Your problems are generally solved in staying at a private campground every night as most, but not all, have hot showers and flush toilets.  The problem is that you can miss out on some fantastic places to stay if you only stay at private campgrounds, not to mention the $30.00 and up cost per night that adds up quickly.  Especially if you take a road trip like mine of106 days.  The other issue is how well the bathrooms are maintained too.  If you look for camping resorts that have better bathrooms you may find they don't take tents and if they do they will not want you sleeping in your car.  I never looked to stay at a resort as I did once last year with my Class B Campervan.

During this years travels withy Prius I stayed at private, county State, and Federal campgrounds and there are no good standard for what to expect for toilets and showers.   Not all national parks have showers and may not have flush toilets, so if you can't settle for anything other than hot showers  and flush toilets you need to do a lot of planning ahead to get what you want, including the quality of the experience.

Let's assume you decided on the hot showers and flush toilets.  There are many types of showers, such as coin operated, token operated, hold the button to get water to flow, or even push it in and get 5 seconds of water flow.

The quality of how well they are maintained and upkeep varies all over the place too.  Water can be hot or warm and flow can be a good stream or a fine spray.  I had showers with the hook missing on the door to lock it.  I have had no clothing hooks to having 5 of them.  I have had a bench that held my two bags but there was no shower curtain and the seat and bags got wet.

I stayed at campgrounds with hot showers but the building isn't heated and I am talking it is below freezing outside in the am. I would often take the shower in the eve as a hot shower is better at 50 to 60 degrees inside than a shower 40 degrees inside.

The variety of toilets at campgrounds range from pit (composting) toilets to flush and then quality of each ranges too. One place I stayed at had a sign that they were waiting parts for the solar fan and you could tell as the smell was a bit tough to take.  

I hope you get the picture that the quality of showers and toilets is all over the place.  I am not trying to convince you not to travel and camp, you just have to be prepared.

Don't go on a camping trip without flip flops as many showers you don't want your bare foot on the floors and they are cold.  I bought mine in Florida at the beginning of my trip.  I often used them around the campsite too

Most Vandwellers have a plan to deal with hygiene as many Boondock on Federal  Lands or stealth in parking lots or city streets where they need to have alternatives. Many use public places toilets and for showers they get a gym membership and use their showers.  This wouldn't work for me as I kept moving so often.

My plan for dealing with hygiene in the Prius was that I wanted to do everything that I did in my Class B Campervan in the Prius.  My Class B Campervan didn't have a shower inside and I didn't use the flush toilet.

I like getting my hair washed every day possible.  As noted in another blog I wrote about how I made hot water.  I made hot water for cooking as well as bathing.

Putting the hot water in the thermos gave me a good volume of hot water for the day and into the next day.  

I chose not to use a solar shower bag although the bag that REI sells that you pump water with your foot on a bulb was intriguing, there wasn't enough space in the car and not being stationary there wasn't a good way to heat the bag with solar power.  You could heat water on a stove and manually add it.

I have a small basin I used to wash my hair and wash up the rest of my body.

When washing my hair I would sit in my seat behind the driver and put in a cup of hot water and cool it with the squeeze water bottles to the right temperature.  Then with a face cloth I would wet my hair.  Then soap my head and then rinse my head with the other squeeze bottle that had tempered water.  I understand that I have short hair so this would be more difficult for people with longer hair.  The longer the hair the more water you will need.

The soapy water that remained in the basin from washing my hair is the bused to wash the rest of me.  

When done I pour the water out of the basin into my waste water container.  My waste water container is a large laundry detergent bottle that I slide a funnel into it so I am less apt to spill.

I then rinse my body by putting clean hot water in and temper it in the basin and rinse off.  This is discarded to the waste water container.  I use about a quart of water to do all of this.

I shave using a small collapsable plastic parts container that I fill with hot water and wet shave.  This water when done is discarded to the waste water container. If washing my hair and shaving outside I can just toss the water.

Waiting for the water to boil takes about 20 minutes and this is why I preheat water in the thermos the evening before so I don't have to wait in the am to make hot water.  I usually want to get up and get going so il evening I heat the hot water the evening befit the thermos is so efficient the following evening it is still hot.

I certainly would opt for using the shower when there is one.  I may skip a day shaving or use a mini electric razor to shave.  

As for using the toilet, I use public restrooms or the campground toilet 99% of the time but there are times and places that it isn't practical so most Vandwellers have either a portable potty or a pail potty of some various kind.  Many don't like portable potties as it requires chemicals water and management and dumping.  

There are various pail potties, some are composting and others are bag type.  I will not go into detail but Walmart, Bass Pro & REI sell bags and pail covers and complete stand with bags.

Above is  the Luggable Loo.  You can buy the seat and use your own pail or buy the seat with a pail.

I carried and used a small pail and bags for when nature called and public toilets were not available.  My pail was small to fit my available space I had in the Prius. 

Above the picture of the electrosol bucket was my all purpose bucket for the trip.  I used it for my loo, hauling campfire water, storing my electric heater inside (I only used once and would not bring again).  The foam ring is pipe insulation for comfort.  I had the folding frame with 3 collapsable legs like the picture above, but it was too big for the Prius.

I will live it to you to check out these options online or in a store.  I can say that although these options may not be your choice of comfort, a bag system is very sanitary and depending on how bad the restrooms are where you camp you may find this a better option.  As with camping if you want to travel and need one of these options get it and try it at home first before your first trip.

There are a number of folks that buy a one person privacy tent (vertical) that they set up at their camp for washing and toilet.  This is a good option for a couple traveling in a Prius as it provides privacy.  It also is good if you are Boondocking in one place for awhile with no available toilets.

I brushed my teeth with fresh water from the sneeze bottles and then used the funnel & waste water container.

Like last year I cut my own hair on this years trip too.  The large red cutters with various length attachments works well and I can cut the back of my head by feel.  The sides and top I need my camp mirror seen on the picnic table above shaving photo.  I power this through my 400 watt inverter.

The small trimmer that is rechargeable is good for trimming and you can change the head on it to a shaver and shave this way as well.

Like most people I would want a shower from time to time while primitive camping so I will head to a Pilot or Flying-J truck stop and get a hotel quality shower for $12.00.

Since I didn't have running water I would wash my hands during the day with wet wipes.  They were handy for cleaning hands before handling food and when primitive camping I would conserve water.

No matter what you decide, try it at home before you travel so you are prepared on the road.  Then test what you plan on a weekend trip.  

Brent

macaloney@hotmail.com

Privacy Living In A Prius

There are a number of reasons you may want privacy when traveling with your Prius, especially when stealthing in parking lots, or a quick change of clothes, or if nature calls and other options are not close by or convenient.

First, get your side and rear windows tinted with the legal amount allowed by your state.  Any tinting is better than nothing.    My picture above has the side and rear tinting that still complies with Massachusetts tinting laws.

Second, install all side window rain guards.  This allows you to crack your windows to get cross ventilation using all four windows while you are in the back of your car seeking privacy.  The rain guards also block any gaps you have at the top of your curtain in the window.  I purchased WeatherTech rain guards as seen the picture above.

Third, install black lightweight curtains.  I found curtains are best to block visibility to the public into your Prius road home.  The fabric I chose was light weight, not the heavyweight light blocking material as some may suggest.  Above visitor same window with my lightweight black curtains.  You can't see in at all in the picture above compared to the first.

The Prius is small and my curtains are hung on lightweight bungie cord.  The use of bungie cord allows for the curtain behind the front seats to rest on the back of the seats.  When I am in a semi inclined position, when in bed, my back is to the curtain and if it was hard fixed to something like a rod or Velcroed, and if I inadvertently slide down into my bed and pull on the curtain nothing breaks and you can feel the resistance and release the curtain.  

My experience also found that windows in the Prius are not square and having a lighter weight material and bungie cord I could successfully use Velcro dots to hold the curtain sides to the car posts to close the gaps.  I'm so the picture above I use clips & pins to hold the budgie cords to the headliner of the car making no permanent holes or marks to the Prius

In full daylight sitting in the front drivers seat I can lean and reach and close the two rear side curtains as well as the long curtain behind the front seats.  I Velcro the sides back when I get into the back seat.

Once the three curtains are drawn I get out of the drivers door and enter the rear drivers side door and step in and sit.  I then Velcro the sides if needed and close the rear curtain.  The privacy cover over the rear hatch area is already closed as this is how I drive to hide my fridge and sleeping bag.  I do not generally advertise I am a Vandweller by people seeing into my car.  This also means I close the rear side curtains when I park wher I don't want people looking in. The above picture shows the rear curtain installed from inside.

With all four curtains closed all people see from outside are the darkly tinted windows that look black because the curtains are drawn.  Yet on the inside you don't need a light on to shine out as the black curtain material is somewhat thin light comes in through it sufficient to see perfectly fine during the day and in a lit parking lot like Walmart or a trucks stop.  The picture above shows black curtain & privacy screen that comes with the Prius in place with hatch open.  When closed there is no viewing in.

Many a day I had on long pants to start the day and wanted to change into hiking shorts for a mid morning hike.  I would be parked at trail heads or busy parking lots and often changed my clothes in privacy.  In Casino Parking Lots or truck stops, where I stayed the night, I would fully change for bed, wash up, brush my teeth, wash my hair & body, wet shave or randomly used my homemade potty and never had a problem with privacy.

I am not saying all this is as easy as living at home to start, but is is reasonable to do and with just a little practice each activity becomes a new normal.  All privacy items I mentioned I also did in my 2014 Travels when I had my Class B Campervan and this year all I did was create the ability to live in my Prius much the same way I did in the Class B.

I know this way of living is not to everyone's liking.  If you are finding what I have written here difficult to consider, think of this.  Would you hike the Appalachian Trail camping every night?  How would you manage your privacy for the activities I mention above.  There are not always bathrooms, you will not be putting up a tent every time you want to change your clothing.  Sleeping in a car offers advantages in bad weather.  When it's cold outside the car is always 10+ degrees warmer than outside.  I slept fine at 19 degrees in Bryce Camyon with only my sleeping bag.  There is nothing to pick up in the morning that is damp and dirt is stuck to it.  The list goes on.

As Suanne, who has been living in and out of her Prius many more years than my one year, has said if you can hike camping then the Prius should be easier.  She is right!  It is easier and offers much more comfort and security.  I met Suanne for the first time this past winter in AZ.  Check out Sianne's Prius Travels blog at suanneonline.blogspot.com

She has a completely different approach to her Prius living that works for her.  She has a tendency to stay put for a period of time before moving again, where I move most days to a new location.

I met a woman Saturday night at a church dinner and we discussed my travels and I could tell she was interested and had hopes that her friend who was with her my consider the concept.  I gave them each a my Travels business card and I hope they read these blog posts as you only need to take small steps first.

The Prius is not the Campervan vehicle for everyone.  For two people the Prius is possible but you must make significant trade offs from what I did.  For two people you may want to live more out of your Prius than in it.  You may want to look at minivan for more room to sleep, to a full size van to live more in than out. 

In blogs I read most that ask think about 2 people in a full-size van.  For some couples find that over time the small space will become a problem even in s full-size van. To me it all depends on what you plan to do for how long.  I concur that if anyone that desires to travel / live this way is to start off slow and try it on short trips and see what works for you.  I had my own doubts that I could last a month in the Prius never mind 3.5 months and in the end it worked for me and I liked it.  The key to small spaces is to ensure comfort and organization with the fewest things possible.

I will be reviewing more tips from my trip and living a minimal life on the road. 

Brent

macaloney@hotmail.com

 

Sleeping In The Prius

I designed the Prius to sleep by removing the back seats and replacing them with multi-hinged plywood that would form a bed platform that would give me 6 foot 2 inches of bed space behind the passenger seat to the rear hatch.  

This space would accommodate me at 5 foot 11 inches and the mattress and sleeping bag. 

I chose this design over others involving folding the front passenger seat forward as it gave me a truely flat surface and although the front passenger seat was pushed nearly all the way forward. The back of the seat was at the center post and this allowed me to run a curtain across the back of the seats and when I stealthier in parking lots it looked like the vehicle was just parked as the front seats didn't look odd in that position.

At night I could also lean my back on the back of the front passenger seat and this semi reclined position basically gave me another position of comfort vs only laying down.

Being able to fully recline was important for me along with having a full-size sleeping bag.  This gave me ability to move around and change positions for variety of comfort.

I chose a very well insulated full size sleeping bag as I am normally cold and I was traveling where it got down to 19 degrees at night.  

I had a homemade sleeping bag liner made from a full-size flannel bedsheet that was folded in half and sewn across the bottom and knee high on the zippered side.  This worked very well and I washed it weekly with my clothing.

I also carried this fleece sleeping bag for when it was too warm for the regular sleeping bag.  Near the end of my stay in Arazona it was in the 90's during the day and 60's at night.  For storage I just laid it undefvthecsleeping bag as it was the same size.

My mattress was a Therm-a-rest mattress that was self inflating as it has a foam core.  It worked very well but it wasn't the same width of the sleeping bag so my body could end up off of it at night on either side.  I would prefer a pad that was wider as I had the space for it under the sleeping bag.

I have to say that I can generally sleep on any surface but I also knew that my 106 days on the road would start to wear on make quickly if I didn't have a good night'so sleep.  I did already have a mummy bag that was warm enough but I knew I would appreciate sleeping in more like a bed vs a bag.

I did design the rear of the Prius so you could fit two people in the back, but this would require a change in other aspects of living in and out of your Prius.  Although I did not try two people the room is there.  I would suggest two sleeping bags zippered together for the space.  There would not be any place to sit in the back so once your in bed you are in either a semi reclined position old laying down.  

Since I was by myself I could use the area behind the drivers seat as a seat for yet another position of comfort.  When I would stealth I would open the rear door behind the drivers seat and get in angle sit down then sit on the edge of the bed platform and change to get ready for bed.  

With two people stealthing would just mean getting into bed and changing clothes laying down.  This may be doable but it would be interesting to see wirk for day after day.  

It seems to me that two traveling in the Prius would use the back for sleeping thus eliminating the need to set up a tent.  Stealthing could be possible but with a lot of work.  

Since my fridge is located in the rear drivers side under the hatch, you can see in the picture that having this stay in the car with two trying to sleep would not work.

As I have stated in a previous blog if I was using the Prius for two people I would have a clamshell roof storage unit to store items as the space will be more than welcomed.  You can rough anything for a weekend but living in and out of the Prius for months takes very deliberate planning and decision making on what you bring as every cubic inch counts.

Brent 

macaloney@hotmail.com