MOBY introduces an article written by a writer who actually enjoys staying in the car and camping car from the web magazine DRIMO, which distributes information on camping, staying in the car, van life, outdoor & car trips, including camping car information. To do. *The contents of the following article are quotes and references from DRIMO
I am traveling around Japan by sleeping in the car.
I bought a second-hand Toyota Light Ace and made it DIY to stay in the car, and left for Tohoku and Hokkaido on June 11 (Daan).
The starting point is Toyama City, Toyama Prefecture.
After passing through Niigata Prefecture, Yamagata Prefecture, Akita Prefecture, and Aomori Prefecture, I am currently staying in Kutchan, the fifth location south of Sapporo, Hokkaido.
The DIY for sleeping in the car that I did by the time I left was not everything I envisioned.
First of all, what you have to do in order to live in the car and what you have to do yourselfImplement only non-negotiable partsDid.
This time, such a beloved carDeparture state of Light AceI would like to introduce
It’s not equipped enough to be called a room tour, but I’d be happy if you could use it as a reference to start your overnight trip in the car with the bare minimum of preparations.
By the way, even if I put up with the convenience of storage and water, I focused on making my sleep as comfortable as possible.
[Around Japan in a car]DIY light ace room tour “About the vehicle”
The car that I chose for traveling around Japan is Toyota Lite Ace.
The battle with the new coronavirus is still ongoing, but when I purchased the Light Ace, the delivery business was booming in the middle of the corona, and the demand for commercial vehicles was high.
Actually, I was longing for a large car such as a camper or Hiace, but considering the budget problem and my travel style, I thought that a compact car would suit me this time, so I bought it.
I have been traveling for about a month and a half now and have no regrets.
You can run on the small pavement at the tip of the cape or in a narrow fishing village without any problems.The luggage compartment is large enough for a good night’s sleep.
The only thing I’m worried about is the poor fuel economy due to the recent high oil prices.
I didn’t know the name of the Toyota “Camroad” that I became friends with on the way, but when I see a large European camper, my eyes twinkle.
You have aspirations.
[Around Japan in a car]DIY light ace “main room luggage room”
At first, there was a slightkitchenI was thinking of installing a
In that case, the bed space isWidth 110cm-120cmThen, the length is the length of the luggage compartment size as it is200cmcan be secured.
However, with the method I thought of, I had to make a hole in the car body to make a kitchen.
In addition, I found that the rear heater is quite large and there is not enough space for drainage.
In that case, I thought about it on the left side, but the width of the bed would be even smaller, so it wouldn’t reach the level of sleep I envisioned.
After careful consideration,Almost the entire luggage space is a bedI thought that if I did it, the sleep problem, which was the most important thing, would be solved.
No need to drill holes in the car body and no extra DIY costs.
Based on my work and life experience so far, I believe that it is better to focus on the most important things rather than doing things half-heartedly.
I thought that the kitchen could be managed by eating out at a relatively inexpensive place and cooking at the campsite.
Of course, you can’t get a good night’s sleep just by securing a space, so the money saved on the DIY cost of the kitchen will be used for the thickness of the mat and synthetic leather.
The thickness of the mat is available online.10cmI searched for the above, and since the interior color of the light ace is white and gray, I searched for a flame-retardant cream or beige synthetic leather.
Also, the bed is not divided vertically at all.
That’s because you don’t have to worry about the grooves between the mats when you sleep.
I especially wanted to use the rearmost part of the luggage compartment as the head of the bed, so I made one of the bed mats large enough to cover the upper body.
By doing so, the area from the head to the waist will be on one mat, and we thought that the comfort of sleep would be improved.
I actually traveled now, and it feels like the bed has settled well.
Sometimes I wake up because it’s hot in the car or because the car is near the road and it’s noisy, but other than that, I’m almost able to sleep soundly.
As for not having a kitchen, I don’t find it too inconvenient.
If I had any complaints, it would be that about 70% of my luggage was under the bed because I made it a full bed, and I had a hard time putting in and taking out my clothes and self-cooking utensils in the beginning.
Now that I can sort out what I need and what I don’t use, and I’ve gotten used to removing the bed mat, there’s no problem.
I am having a good time so far.
[Around Japan with a night in the car]DIY light ace “3 types of lights for sleeping in the car”
Use while sleeping in the car3 types of lighting availableDid.
One was DIY attached to the ceiling liningLED light.
The wiring hangs down from the ceiling and connects directly to the portable power supply.
As we can turn on/off with one remote control switch, it is convenient.
In addition, we use a USB rechargeable LED mosquito lantern (an LED lantern with an electric insect killer) and a small portable LED light.
mosquito lanternTo be honest, I was half in doubt when I bought it, but when I actually used it several times, I was able to see the dead bodies of small insects.
I don’t know if it’s effective against mosquitoes and gnats, but I can expect a certain effect.
small portable led lightPurchased for use when heading to the toilet or kitchen at night at a campsite or car overnight.
It can be attached to a key holder, so it is convenient to carry.
Moreover, the maximum light intensity is 500 lumens, so it is bright, and it is very easy to use with a carabiner hook (a hook with a part that can be opened and closed in an oval shape), a strong magnet, and a movable stand.
I have no plans to increase the number of lighting fixtures because I have no problems with these three types of lighting fixtures.
[Around Japan in a Car]DIY Light Ace “Side Bar and Hanging Bar”
Since the luggage compartment of the Light Ace is almost entirely a bed,Underfloor main storage spacebecame.
It is troublesome to put everyday items such as towels, mugs, shera cups, etc. under the floor, so as a solutionsidebar and hanging barpurchased.
The sidebar has a short60cmand a special soft case was attached to the hanging bar.
However, this can only be used for items with hooks, so I purchased a separate folding hanging camping shelf.
This is where I store things that I use on a daily basis.
You can’t pack a lot, but it’s very convenient.
When I started my trip, I used to hang various things on the hanging bar.It moves around while driving, so it makes a soundI was worried about it and gradually stopped using it.
At that time, I thought it was a waste of time, but it is working in unexpected ways.
Although it was difficult in terms of storage,laundry poleas very excellent.
It can also be used to dry the towels used in the daily bath, or to dry clothes that did not dry at the coin laundry.
It is very useful because it can be dried while driving.
It’s not what I originally thought, but it seems to be a good fit for my overnight trip in the car.
[Around Japan in a car]DIY Light Ace “Roof carrier and roof box”
I travel with one Boston bag and one rucksack on my two-week trip to America.
Customs often suspected that my luggage was too small for a two-week stay.
I started packing with full confidence that I should be able to pack as little as possible for this overnight trip, but I couldn’t fit my playthings.
Fishing equipment, mountaineering equipment, camping equipment, etc. will be flooded significantly.
No matter how much I reduced my luggage, I didn’t have enough storage space, so I headed to Autobacs.
At first, I was planning to buy a roof box with a large capacity of 500 liters to 600 liters, but I was attracted by the design and color.gordon miller roof boxbuy.
This product320ℓSo it’s a lot smaller than expected.
At this point, I don’t know if this decision was the right one.
From autumn to winter, futons, blankets, and clothes become even more bulky, and we have to bring in new camping gear to protect against the cold.
I will return to Toyama once in September to prepare for a winter trip in the car, so I hope to be able to review it again at that time.
Postscript
It’s been a month and a half now since I started my trip.
Having traveled all the way here to Hokkaido, I have no plans to make any major changes to the equipment in the car.
The only thing I’m worried about is changing from cooking using cassette gas to an electromagnetic cooker.
I’m worried about the power consumption of portable power sources, but there are only a limited number of places that can handle cassette gas cans on the road, so I always carry empty cans.
Other than that, I’m happy with the DIY equipment I put on the Liteace so far.
I plan to return to my hometown Toyama once in September because I have to renew my license and have a vehicle inspection.
If there are any items that I think are necessary or missing parts along the way, I plan to make up for them at that time.
However, at the end of July, the nights in Hokkaido hover around 20 degrees Celsius and are comfortable, but in August, the temperature will rise further, so you will have to seriously think about how to deal with the heat.
Writer: Kazzz
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