Can you live out of an SUV full-time?
Living in an SUV or car seems like a great option to save money in a world of ever-increasing rents.
At the same time, living in an SUV has its share of inconveniences and issues you’ll need to address.
Over the past 5+ years, I’ve spent hundreds of nights sleeping in the back of my Subaru Forester or in a tent beside it.
This article will focus on the problems you’ll likely deal with if you start spending weeks, months, or even years at a time living out of an SUV.
I am not claiming to have the best answers to your issues. But, hopefully, this gives you some ideas and resources to have the best experience living in an SUV (it’s a great alternative to expensive van life!).
Where to Sleep Living out of an SUV
Most days, figuring out where to park your car or SUV to get a good night’s rest will be at the top of your mind.
Related: The Best Car Air Mattresses
Apps to Use to Find Car Sleeping Spots
The primary website and app I used was iOverlander.com which is ideal for those living or spending time on the road.
It’s one of the best sites for stealth camping, which is best described as sleeping in places not typically designated for sleeping (ie: parking lots, side of roads, etc).
It’s a community-based website and app where users enter locations and comments on a map. When using the website to find sleeping areas, you’ll primarily want to use “informal camping” as your filter.
I’m not going to address this topic’s legality because it will vary from location to location.
If you’re living out of your SUV for a trip, you can use my free camping guide here.
Other Tips for SUV Sleeping Areas
iOverlander is great for getting a high-level understanding of an area.
However, nothing beats paying attention while driving or walking around.
You can use Google Maps or Gaia GPS to mark spots on your map for future reference. Make sure to add a note or two so it’s easier to remember later.
When I did this, I would pull over my vehicle, add a pin, and a quick description such as “free parking next to open field” or “residential street parking next to a tall fence.”
Rotating Sleeping Spots
If you’re in the same location for weeks, it is best to have a rotating selection of car sleeping spots. If you repeatedly park your vehicle in the same place, you’re bound to draw attention.
Best SUV for Living and Sleeping In
If you’re lucky enough, you’ll have a flat surface when folding down your back seats in your SUV. Then, you simply need a sleeping pad.
If not, you will need to address the uneven surface. You can fill the gap with foam padding or making a semi-permanent DIY bed.
Where to Store Stuff Living in an SUV or Car
If you’re moving into your SUV, you likely don’t have room for all your things. One option is to practice minimalism and slowly sell or donate belongings ahead of time. If it’s temporary, consider a storage unit.
Storage units are convenient because they allow for month-to-month contracts and can be relatively cheap $40 to $150/mo depending on size.
If you have family or friends that will allow you to store things at their place, that is a cheaper solution.
Otherwise, you’ll have to downsize dramatically.
Do You Need a Roof Rack to Live in Your SUV?
Yes, I think you should consider a roof rack to live in your SUV.
I did, and it was a game-changer. I got the XL Thule and I could fit a ton of gear in there to make the rest of my SUV cleaner and look less chaotic.
The downside of a roof cargo box is they are expensive and they draw more attention to your vehicle. If there are issues parking in a certain area, people may not remember a “Black SUV,” but they will remember the “Black SUV with Roof Rack” much easier.
Privacy Curtains for Living in a Vehicle
The best thing I ever did for the quality of life living in an SUV was make DIY car camping curtains.
Not only does this help keep the light out, it allows you to sleep in your vehicle without people noticing while walking by. If it’s not possible, getting some reflectix is a good option to give you privacy.
It also made it easier to change, clean myself with wet wipes, and just feel a bit more normal.
In addition, if you’re in an area with potential break-ins, you can hide all your belongings from street view while out and about.
Where do You Go to the Bathroom Living in a Car or SUV?
Public restrooms, libraries, and other public spaces are the best places to go to the bathroom when living in an SUV or car.
The problem is, many of these places close in the evening. Most libraries will close by 8pm. Many public restrooms may be locked at parks and other places.
Having a Plan is Important
The last thing you want to do is get caught peeing in the bushes by a cop or neighbor. Having a plan for emergencies or going to the bathroom at night is key.
As a guy, it’s a simple solution by just using a bottle of some sort and then dumping it out at a later point.
For girls, I can’t comment much, but you can google this – many van lifers will have discussed the topic.
Going number 2 is an entirely different beast.
There is an app called Flush specifically meant to help with this problem. It’s a database of over 200,000 public bathrooms.
Another solution is to know all the businesses that are open 24/7 in the area. These could be Wal-Marts, gas stations, or other facilities.
Where I lived, most of these places lock their bathrooms after a certain time, so you may need to make a purchase or be a little persuasive with whoever is working.
If you’re in the middle of nowhere, you could also make a DIY camping toilet for cheap.
Heat and the Cold Living in a Car or SUV
One of the biggest issues with living in an SUV is temperature control.
While not impossible, it is impractical to live in an SUV in temperatures below 30F at night. On the other end of the spectrum, the summer can be absolutely miserable as well.
The ideal range for me was 45 to 75F outside temperatures (I naturally tend to run a bit warm compared to others). The cold down to 15F was easier to handle than 95+F.
How to Handle Cold Weather Living in an SUV
The best way to handle cold weather is to spend winters in a location where it is warmer. If that’s not an option, then you need to buy a nice down sleeping bag and extra wool blankets.
You can also use an electric blanket with a small power station.
You should not run your car while you’re sleeping. I’ve heard of people using electric heaters and a power station, but I am no expert on it. In such a small space, you really need to be careful with heating sources.
Additionally, if it’s really cold, the condensation from breathing will freeze onto the inside of your windshield. This makes each morning a huge pain as you wait to melt it or try and scrape some of it off.
How to Handle Hot Summers Living in an SUV
The best way to handle hot weather living in an SUV is to spend summers in the north or at high elevations. And bring a battery powered fan and have a small spray bottle to wet your skin and help cool you off.
Hang out in public spaces with air conditioning. I spent time working remotely at a library to get in the AC.
In addition, you’ll want to limit the sun exposure to your vehicle by parking in shaded areas.
In many places, bugs and mosquitos accompany warm and hot weather. Getting window screens is a one of the most important things you can do for for comfort.
One of my worst experiences was in the middle of summer near Klamath Falls, Oregon. It was 100+ during the day and my vehicle cooked in the sun all day. When I got to my sleeping spot (national forest land), the outside temperature was 70F, but the inside of my car registered at 90F.
The mosquitos were so bad, I couldn’t roll down my windows because I didn’t have window screens.
I ended up spraying myself with bug spray and walking around until about midnight and it was still like 85 in my car. I barely slept that week.
That was when I realized the importance of window screens, fans, and a spray bottle.
Showering and Hygiene while Living in a Car or SUV
Maintaining a basic level of hygiene while living out of a car or SUV is important.
I usually brushed my teeth in my car and used a gatorade bottle or something similar to spit into.
For showering, there are many options. If you’re spending time in the same area, consider a gym membership with access to showers.
Additionally, some will have day passes you can use. Public swimming pools may have them. Lastly, look for campgrounds in your area. Some will allow you to use their showers because they are coin-operated.
Between showers, I would typically use wet wipes and a little bit of Dr. Bronners soap.
Food Options and Coolers While SUV Living
I feel like I was at a grocery store every single day when living out of my SUV. Whether it was for ice, fresh fruit, or a sandwich, I frequented them often.
Stocking up on foods that don’t need to be refrigerated can help, but it also takes up space. I did my best to avoid using a cooler, but my diet was poor without one.
It will be tempting to eat out more because cooking is not always convenient.
My go-to meals were turkey, lettuce, and tomato wraps. In the middle of summer, a lot of foods will spoil fast, so I ate the same meals over and over. My cooler wasn’t big enough to have much variety.
Reddit will probably have better ideas on that topic.
Can You Save Money Living in a Car and SUV?
Yes, you can save money by living in a vehicle. The amount will depend on a variety of factors.
Whatever amount you think you will save, you should probably cut it in half.
The primary way you’ll save money by living in vehicle is by eliminating rent and associated costs.
It’s easily quantifiable because everyone knows how much they pay in rent, so many focus on this.
However, it’s important to remember that you’ll have new or increasing costs you didn’t have before.
Cost of Living in an SUV
Ongoing costs that will likely be higher than if you did NOT live out of your vehicle.
- Gas
- Vehicle maintenance – oil changes, tires, routine items
- Gym membership or paid showers
- Pre-made food from grocery stores or eating out
- Storage costs – storage unit or other solutions
- Phone & internet – I got a Verizon Jetpack wifi device for internet
- One-time use products: wet wipes, etc
- Occasional hotel – sometimes you need a break or your car is in the shop.
One-time costs to consider when switching to SUV Living SUV:
- Roof Rack or vehicle storage solutions
- Sleeping bags, sleeping pads, and related gear
- Window tints, DIY curtains, etc
- Portable car safe
- Any other upgrades to make it more comfortable
Having an emergency plan for major vehicle issues is something you need to think about. What if your car breaks down and needs 1 week to get a part and 1 week to fix?
Do you have insurance that covers a rental car, can you sleep in that vehicle? Do you have a friend or family member in the area that can give you a temporary spot? Can you afford to get a hotel during that time?
Planning those things ahead of time will alleviate a lot of stress when something stressful does happen.
Conclusion: Should I Live Out of My SUV?
I hope this article helps in preparing you for some of the reality of car and SUV living.
In my opinion, it’s best to live in a car / SUV with a purpose such as getting outdoors more for a few months, go on an epic road trip, etc.
If you’re in a pinch and tight on money, it can also help you save up for a few months.
However, long-term car and SUV living can be extremely tough and uncomfortable at times. Preparing will help. Saving money for occasional hotel day or “reset” days can help.
There were times my SUV was dirty, I was dirty, it was 100+ degrees, and I hated it. Other times I got to do some awesome hikes and saw some cool areas I wouldn’t have been able to without mobile living.
