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Tesla “Camper Mode” (2016)
- rnernento 9y agoAmazing, maybe someday the Tesla will be as successful as the Pontiac Aztec (as seen in Breaking Bad).
- aaron-santos 9y agoI wonder if we'll see a Tesla tent option just like the Pontiac Aztec. [1] [1] - https://youtu.be/33AP0JnXSOA?t=253 https://youtu.be/33AP0JnXSOA?t=253
- maxxxxx 9y agoA while ago we rented a car for a trip to Vancouver island. We had a tent with us and wanted to use that but the rental company upgraded us to a huge SUV and we quickly realized that there was no point setting up the tent since we could comfortably sleep in the back. So we ended up using the tent only once.
- kazinator 9y agoOnce, not far from Squamish, my wife and I slept quite nicely in a 6th gen Honda Civic DX hatchback. No SUV required.
- maxxxxx 9y agoIt seems more about how flat the surface is when you fold the rear seats. In my Kia it goes up and down. Impossible to sleep.
- c22 9y agoI used to sleep in my 1995 Honda Del Sol by pulling the passenger seat all the way forward and fully reclined then resting with my head on the dashboard and my feet going out the back window! Only worked on clear nights, though...
- maxxxxx 9y agoThis sounds pretty painful :-)
- SwellJoe 9y agoI've slept in vans and cars and tents and a big class A motorhome with a slide out living room and now sleep in a travel trailer towed by a big diesel pickup. But, this is bonkers. While I'd love to improve my fuel efficiency, this takes it a little too far in the direction from "most of the comforts of home" to "no comforts of home". There has been a real move toward fuel efficiency in some categories of motorhome in recent years. Several really nice models are available that are built on the Sprinter chassis, which gets 14-22 MPG if you're not in a hurry. There's class B (van-like), class C (cutaway van chassis with a boxy house and cabover), and even a few class A (has a bus-like body that covers the whole chassis and usually provides the most living space) models. And, I've started looking at replacing my big diesel V8 F250 with a newish Ford EcoBoost 3.5 liter V6 F150; similar towing capacity, much better fuel efficiency (though towing a whole house will drop the efficiency by a lot). What I'm trying to say is, while I love Tesla cars and a mobile lifestyle, this is goofy. A tent on the ground would be more comfortable, assuming you're camping in decent weather. A hybrid minivan or pickup with a topper would be smarter if you wanted to do minor conversions on a fuel-efficient vehicle to make it camp-friendly. I mean, I guess if you already have the Tesla and want to sleep in it every now and then, that's not so crazy (though I couldn't, as I'm 6' and can't sleep comfortably on my side).
- illumin8 9y agoDid you read the article? You can lay the seats flat and sleep two 6'+ individuals side by side. You also get a panoramic view of the night sky, and a climate-controlled, HEPA filtration system. This seems like an incredible way to go camping to me. I've gone camping for years, and this would be great to be able to experience the star-filled night sky, in a comfortable climate controlled environment, without having to pitch a tent.
- whitepoplar 9y agoThings like this are what make a car appealing to me. Lots of cars drive well and are inexpensive to operate. There are only a few that seem to augment one's life. Designers will say It's the little things that people notice and I 100% agree. While Tesla obviously didn't design "Camper Mode" into the Model S, it seems like the sort of company that would embrace it.
- Tomminn 9y agoThere is no reason only Tesla could do this. Minimalist campers are a huge growth market. It has that classic characteristic of a good start up market- people want the solution so badly, they badly hack their own.
- whitepoplar 9y ago> Minimalist campers are a huge growth market. Do you mean the people, or the physical things?
- Tomminn 9y agoThe physical thing. If living in something the size of a large car could be made comfortable, easy and inconspicuous, I suspect the market would be large with your prototypical cash poor/experience rich millennials who might (aspire to) use it as an alternative to renting for a significant fraction of the year. A car is excessive and unnecessary- but a mini camper/"millennial convertable" is aspirational. True freedom. Nothing will stop you taking that trip up north/down south/out west/back east when accommodation is always free. I can see the ads now. And they're coming straight from the mouths of my friends.
- omegaworks 9y ago>(aspire to) use it as an alternative to renting for a significant fraction of the year. BUILD MORE GOD DAMN HOUSING.
- switchbak 9y agoSprinter van conversions are popular these days, I think having a small electric camper van would be popular for some people. Others seem to agree: https://www.treehugger.com/cars/yes-elon-musk-planning-build-teensy-bus.html https://www.treehugger.com/cars/yes-elon-musk-planning-build...
- richardknop 9y agoCash poor millennials can't afford to buy Tesla.
- _ph_ 9y agoIt might be a small thing, but it shows that electrical cars are different and offer many advantages. Here it is operating the cars air conditioning over night while parking.
- twblalock 9y agoOlder Saabs had hatchback profiles similar to that of the model S, and there was a camper shell called a Toppola sold for them.
- csours 9y agoI slept in the trunk of my Chevy Impala a few times, once on a car trip from Texas to Florida while someone else was driving. The rear seats fold down, so there's actually plenty of room. I'm 6 foot 1 inch tall and was about 270 pounds at the time, and I would not have been able to sleep comfortably in the seat due to slouching over. Probably only appropriate for favorable weather. Edit: Incidentally, cars automatically turning off is a HUGE problem for K9 police units.
- sushisource 9y agoOn your edit: Is that really a problem? All police cars are heavily modified anyway.
- csours 9y agoOn further search, I can't cite any specific instances that call out vehicle shutoff specifically, but from what I've heard, it is a big problem. Overheating in cars is the leading cause of traumatic death for K9 units. Police cars are heavily modified, but they are still based on consumer vehicle architecture, much like a shared code base.
- serf 9y ago>Overheating in cars is the leading cause of traumatic death for K9 units. Sounds like handler misconduct to me, but hey -- it's easier to blame the vehicle! Too bad civillians don't have the same luxury of blaming the equipment.[0][1][2] It's ridiculous -- and eye-opening -- that k9 units get that kind of treatment. I was always under the misconception (which is probably purposely portrayed in the media) that the dogs were treated as partners -- not tools. I guess that was too hopeful on my part. [0]: https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2017/10/16/owners-charged-after-french-bulldog-dies-inside-locked-car https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2017/10/16/owners-cha... [1]: http://morgancountycitizen.com/2017/10/03/dog-left-in-car-dies/ http://morgancountycitizen.com/2017/10/03/dog-left-in-car-di... [2]: http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-woman-arrested-dog-dies-hot-car-20170711-story.html http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-woman-arrested-d...
- Zaskoda 9y agoThere are subtle hints online that Tesla may help Bollinger manufacture their electric SUV, the B1. It certainly looks like it would make for a better camper. I would really prefer if Tesla would just buy Bollinger outright and bring a vehicle like this to a broader audience. Heres their website: http://bollingermotors.com/ http://bollingermotors.com/
- milesokeefe 9y agoIf Tesla does buy them hopefully that would lead to a turnaround on the B1's safety aspects - for instance there are no airbags.
- ProfessorLayton 9y agoThis is actually pretty neat, since sleeping on the floor even with padding is pretty awful for me. I really hope an electric car as practical as the now discontinued Honda Element makes a comeback [1]. From what I read, you could even wash that thing down with a hose if you wanted to! I would buy something like that in a heartbeat. [1] https://i.pinimg.com/736x/8c/60/8f/8c608f586b1e0d1b1367ec1b7b5d8775--honda-element-camping-dream-cars.jpg https://i.pinimg.com/736x/8c/60/8f/8c608f586b1e0d1b1367ec1b7...
- chadgeidel 9y agoFYI - if you do get a Honda Element don't wash the interior out with a hose: http://www.elementownersclub.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-104.html http://www.elementownersclub.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-... (I am an Element owner - I have not hosed out my Element however)
- jsmthrowaway 9y agoOTOH, even modern Jeeps are fine to wash out with a hose or leave in the rain. It seems weird, but there is even a drain plug under the carpet on each side. The only two components to watch out for are the clockspring in the steering wheel (which lasts about 50 miles on a Wrangler anyway) as well as whatever radio head unit came with the trim. Nothing else seems to care. It's awesome. I've inadvertently driven mine with the top off in a persistent downpour, where I learned that (a) windshield wipers don't work on the inside, (b) wearing glasses presents an annoying set of challenges, (c) expect an especially wet left butt cheek from the tire flinging water past the fender at speed, and (d) other drivers will take pictures at traffic lights. Fun, though. Radio still worked and everything. Just drained it when I got home and let it dry in the sun. I bet your Element would do better than you think.
- chadgeidel 9y agoYep, I've owned Jeeps (YJ, TJ) and regularly ran with no top/no doors. Rain gets in, pull plugs, rain goes out. Also mud and deep water. But that's another story. :-)
- elif 9y agoCan anyone confirm whether that's really as far forward as the front seats will go? https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2016-tesla-camper-mode/img/triptych01.jpg https://www.bloomberg.com/features/2016-tesla-camper-mode/im...
- olivermarks 9y agoTesla's marketing communication is brilliant, great way to keep the engagement up....
- andrewtbham 9y agoThe latest Tesla update makes "camper mode" much easier. https://electrek.co/2017/10/12/tesla-new-software-update-convenience-features/ https://electrek.co/2017/10/12/tesla-new-software-update-con...
- selectout 9y agoI'm still awaiting for the update myself or to hear from others on what kind of battery drain to expect from 12 hours of use. Super excited for this feature though.
- post_break 9y agoLooks like the DRLs stay on. That's a problem.
- Reason077 9y agoTesla fixed that with the "official camper mode" software update, just in the last few weeks: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crfLwj-rOG8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crfLwj-rOG8
- microcolonel 9y agoBack in my day, they called this sleeping in your car.
- taneq 9y agoBut if you give it a slick new name then it's a new thing and people will think it's cool again!
- deleted 9y ago[deleted]
- ChuckMcM 9y agoPerhaps we need a Model W the Westfalia edition :-). Car camping has a long and rich history, the '71 Chevy Impala was used by travelling salesmen because the bench seat in the back would fold flat into a decent bed. It is interesting that with a small number of 'tweaks' to where things were laid out you could really improve the experience in the Model S.
- got2surf 9y agoThe rise in popularity (and price) of Westafalias recently has been interesting to watch! Huge demand (even on $100k pre-upgraded versions), which seems to be driven by younger folks.
- netsharc 9y agoI feel like the van-life idea is growing, there are many videos of "here's me converting a moving van to a house on wheels!". I guess the lack of traditional show-up-at-the-office-everyday jobs (if a college grad can still even get one of those these days) and easier access to high-speed internet mean people are willing to try the nomad lifestyle. Of course all the youtubers say "follow me on Instagram" so they can tell companies that they're "influencers", would they like a mention for some money?, which to me feels like an unsustainable line of work...
- ChuckMcM 9y agoOne of the things I've noticed about the high cost of housing in this round of expansion of the Bay Area has been more campers on the curb acting as houses. I now see a number of places where people are clearly living out of an RV in lieu of permanent housing. I attribute some of that to the cost of housing and some to the relative ease of connectivity with a cell phone. There isn't any hard and fast not to live in such a space if you don't mind it and have a PO box and a cell phone.
- protopete 9y ago> Perhaps we need a Model W the Westfalia edition :-). http://cafeelectric.com/stretchla/ http://cafeelectric.com/stretchla/
- tempestn 9y agoMan, I'd love to get a Model S. If only they weren't so expensive... Anyone have opinions on the ideal model year and trim to target for max bang-for-buck? From a cursory look, I'm thinking something like an 85D (not P85D). Probably either 2014, for first gen autopilot, or a 2013 without. (I've heard a lot of stories about quality control issues with early cars, which hopefully were ironed out somewhat by 2013.)
- rconti 9y agoshould be no need for a "D"ual motor car, which likely didn't exist in 2013 anyway.
- jjtheblunt 9y agoHow about Tesla "delivery mode"?
- trumpownsyou420 9y agosleeping in a car is news? lol you fucking idiots.
- tmh79 9y agoI drive a volvo XC70 (the outdorsy station wagon) and its incredible for sleeping in. I've probably logged 8ish days in the past year or so. The best benefit is that most campgrounds in places like Yosemite are limited in capacity and you can't really plop a tent down anywhere, but the parks service and land management folks have not seemed to be bothered by my parking wherever I want and sleeping for the night. I highly recommend it to avid campers.
- jjtheblunt 9y agoThe Swedish SAAB 900 models were _great_ for this, in my experience.
- timthelion 9y agoIt's a real pity that sleeping in your car is illegal in most cities. Otherwise, with free parking and high rent, I suppose that cars would become the pods everyone has been dreaming of.
- sova 9y agoCapsuleHouse
- vilhelm_s 9y agoPresumably parking would not remain free though.
- timthelion 9y agoThis would be another advantage to my plan. Maybe free parking would become a thing of the past and you could perhaps even get rid of all the parking lots and stop having a concrete death valley in front of every building in America.
- santaclaus 9y ago> It's a real pity that sleeping in your car is illegal in most cities. Is that the case? I know it’s legal in NYC (much to the consternation of yuppies in the upper west side). In Oakland people sleep in cars and rvs parked on major roads, same in San Francisco.
- IgorPartola 9y agoI don’t think I’ve ever dreamt of living in 60 cubic feet of space. Maybe instead we should, I don’t know, create more places where people want to be, rather than trying to cram everyone in the world into NYC and the Bay Area. One of the biggest resources in the US is cheap abundant land. Why the hell are we concentrating all the talent in a few square miles of it?
- leggomylibro 9y agoBecause all the talent likes being able to walk places in a few minutes. I propose jetpacks, to vastly extend peoples' comfortable walking radii.
- jonaswi 9y agoKind of off topic: I went on a long trip with my tesla last week. While researching for a matrices that fits in the back of my Model S I found dreamcase [0]. This + camping mode made the nights in my car pretty comfy. Will definitely plan a longer holiday trip now. [0] https://dreamcase.eu/ https://dreamcase.eu/
- newman8r 9y agoif this becomes a bigger thing in the future, would be interesting to see a 'climate control out port' that you could use to connect to a tent/camper/tiny-house via ducting. It could close the car's internal a/c vents and direct out to the port.
- enduser 9y agoThe article neglects to mention that with the right adapters the car can connect to RV electrical hookups and get a full charge overnight.
- taneq 9y agoAre these generally individually metered and charged for supply? If not, I can't see this lasting long once people start pulling 80+ kWh per night out of them.
- jsjohnst 9y agoThere’s almost no chance you’ll pull 80+ kWh from a campsite jack in a night. Typically you’ll be provided 15amp @ 110v at best. That’s only ~2kWh. Also, most camp sites charge ~$10/day for electricity. Depending on the electric rates, they likely won’t lose a dime covering your usage at that price.
- antihero 9y agoI thought this would be an article about putting the car in some sort of mode below "standby" so it doesn't use up power doing things whilst you're camping in your tent.
- whamlastxmas 9y agoI've heard o people doing this in their Prius. You can run the AC all night and the engine supposedly only turns on every half hour for a minute or so. Not enough fumes to worry about killing yourself in the car and there's virtually no way you'd run out of gas overnight.
- e2e4 9y agoThis is one of the reasons I am considering buying prius as my next car. I imagine prius V would be event better for the camping purposes. Interesting examples of prius camping: http://www.rosipov.com/blog/urban-prius-living/ http://www.rosipov.com/blog/urban-prius-living/ http://www.nagelphotography.com/blog/2014/10/prius-camping-generation-iii http://www.nagelphotography.com/blog/2014/10/prius-camping-g... http://www.dogcampcity.com/blog/prius-camping-tips-tricks http://www.dogcampcity.com/blog/prius-camping-tips-tricks https://www.habitents.com/ https://www.habitents.com/
- zeroping 9y agoThe Chevrolet Volt handles this much better. It will fit two 5' 8" people fairly well with a little effort.