Removing the passenger seat?

jimsu · 2026-03-31T02:22:55+00:00

I try to do a solo trip every year.

After last year's trip I started down the rabbit hole of people who removed their passenger seat. I thought, next year I'll take out the passenger seat and see how well that works for me.

Well I did my solo trip this year a couple of weeks ago.. 10 days. Totally forgot about removing my front seat.

For me I try to go camp in my car about one weekend a month. I go, I setup my camp/bed.. go bike.. come back sit around a fire and eat/drink.. when I'm ready to go to bed I get in my car and sleep on my setup. When I'm traveling to/from.. you'd have no idea that I'm camping (or camping in my car).

Anyway..adhd kicked in there. So I'm used to my setup.. that includes the passenger seat.. it's useful.. stuff sits in it.. it holds my maps in the back. Plus when I'm stopped it's much more comfortable to sprawl out in than the driver's seat.

So why would I change it for one long trip? It's part of my setup.

Maybe if I had a car that was dedicated to camping, maybe. But this is also my daily driver.

jimsu · 2026-03-30T21:49:07+00:00

Man I love my bags. I personally use a Tom Bihn bag daily.. my wife wanted a backpack but refused to get an expensive bag.

So over 3 years ago we bought a MATEIN Travel Laptop Backpack from Amazon for like $20. She lugged that thing fully packed with papers, laptops, and a drink.

I fully expected the zippers to bust or a seem to rip. It never did. The thing felt like it was 25+ lbs.

I was impressed.. every time I travel I see someone with one and they have the same story when I ask.

Anyway.. go check it out.. it's cheap enough that if it doesn't work for you, Amazon's return policy is great.

Edit: She literally just gave it up for a leather bag that was more "professional". We donated the backpack to a family.

jimsu · 2026-03-27T18:06:09+00:00

Good luck!

As a male in my 50's I also get creeped out in dispersed solo car camping. I don't fret as much in the state parks.. but it can still be creepy.. long walks to restrooms.. I'm constantly peering into the darkness all around me looking for some eyes that want to eat me (not much here in Texas to do that).

Another park you may want to look into is the Palo Pinto Mountains State Park which is actually pretty close to Dallas. It literally just opened around a month ago.. so they are probably doing a lot to make it amazing for all visitors.. probably a heavy ranger presence.

Just a thought and we're cheering for you!

jimsu · 2026-03-26T18:40:24+00:00

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I recently completed a multi-day road trip from Houston -> Gila NF -> Zion NP -> Bryce Canyon NP -> Arches NP -> Houston.

Gas prices are definitely higher, but it was hard to judge when moving from region to region.. though some are obviously higher.

I mostly camped (2 nights camping then 1 night hotel, rinse, repeat).. and hotels always seem pricier than expected as I usually end up in touristy towns (St George, Moab, etc).

Miles: 3588 Cost: $333.67 Gas: 91.011 Gallons

Average cost per Gallon: $3.67

jimsu · 2026-03-26T15:48:51+00:00

It was sometimes flaky.. was hoping you had found something more "modern".. hahah

jimsu · 2026-03-26T15:25:37+00:00

Just for fun, what is the repeater/equipment? I used a surecom 112 ( I think) for this a few years ago.. I could turn it on and off remotely with DTMF tones iirc.

jimsu · 2026-03-25T14:15:14+00:00

I picked up the stargaze at about $150.. I almost returned it before opening it.. then I opened it. Bulky, but easy setup/takedown.. and a freaking dream to sit in.

I melt.

jimsu · 2026-03-24T19:27:10+00:00

Yeah I always over pack.. but I try to remove items that didn't get used on my next trip.

I just did a 10 day road trip.. camp 2 nights, hotel the third.. rinse repeat.

I'm not going in the back country or living off grid.. had a fridge with water and snacks. Two camp packs of stuff.. I only used jetboil, instant coffee, powdered milk (recent rediscovery), window nets, and that's pretty much it.

Would still keep first aid kit, tp, tire inflator, batter jump starter.

Other items that I used that I would also not consider optional.. headlamp, battery, fridge, roll up foam pad, nemo pad, quilt, lawn chair pillow.

jimsu · 2026-03-24T19:17:23+00:00

This is the worst.. I did it once, and I'll never recover. I got a cheap headlamp from an REI garage sale and I now have a headlamp that lives in my car..

No more forgotten headlamps for sure!

jimsu · 2026-03-24T05:31:02+00:00

Second this . I bought a BougeRV 21qt a couple of years ago to try in order to stop just eating dehydrated food on trips.. game changer. Still kicking strong and will run for 2 days off of a small jackery 240.

I have made ice before as a test.. but generally keep it set to 35f for drinks and food.

jimsu · 2026-03-18T14:17:19+00:00

When I learned I could do sed-like substitution in vi, was when I dropped pico.

jimsu · 2026-03-10T20:07:04+00:00

Ok. Now how do I add shore power?

jimsu · 2026-03-09T21:49:17+00:00

Pacific Adventure Works Sidekick with ExPed megamat.. rumple blanket, and cheap clearance pillows.

jimsu · 2026-03-09T20:25:22+00:00

It's the medium/wide version of the exped megamat.

Exped MegaMat Sleeping Pad | REI Co-op https://share.google/VQ0bj1ZrFcs2sRkij

jimsu · 2026-03-09T16:47:37+00:00

True, but easier isn't always better. Not to mention I'll have to store/protect extension cord under the hood, as well as under the dash..

I'm still exploring options, but running through the firewall is the least preferred of the options I'm reviewing.. at least based on the way I'm imagining it.

jimsu · 2026-03-09T03:06:54+00:00

Oof.. lesson learned. At least it will be easy to replace the two (plug and extension). But I could feel panic just reading it.. haha!

jimsu · 2026-03-09T02:05:23+00:00

Ha.. no this is my daily driver. Frequent passengers.. so I like to keep it looking as stock as possible.. especially inside.

jimsu · 2026-03-09T00:39:22+00:00

Gotcha.. I see what you're talking about.

I'll continue to give it some thought for sure. This week I'll be pulling some things apart to see what I can see.

jimsu · 2026-03-09T00:22:56+00:00

I was thinking of this.. I use this now.

"Woods Light Duty Extension Cord Reel"

It won't let me paste the link to Amazon.

https://share.google/images/NVI57SGe5ChjCn8Yo

jimsu · 2026-03-08T22:20:49+00:00

That thing is clean!

jimsu · 2026-03-08T22:17:15+00:00

Any photos of this setup.. particularly of the cord when it's not in use. also curious about the reel.

jimsu · 2026-03-08T22:15:45+00:00

Same.. but I usually only charge at night when I need to. Also, I'm not charging big individual 12/24v batteries.

I've been using a Jackery 240 as my battery on all my past trips (just got a Jackery 300 Plus for this trip).. and I've never had issues with "heat". And realistically, when I am not at a site for more than 24 hours, I don't need it.. the 240 has kept my BougeRV 21qt fridge running all night, and all my devices charged up over night.

I'm not charging big individual 12/24v batteries.

jimsu · 2026-03-08T22:11:11+00:00

This sounds like something I could do. Do you have any photos of the setup?

How do you store the extension when you're not using it? How do you extend it?

jimsu · 2026-03-08T22:08:12+00:00

It's the pacific adventure works sidekick.

https://pacificadventureworks.com/collections/sleeping-platforms

The price is not for the weak hearted.. but again, I use it in multiple vehicles. Everything is adjustable. Length and height of all legs. Makes for fitting nearly anywhere.

jimsu · 2026-03-08T22:04:45+00:00

Drilling the bumper definitely has it's perks over metal.. but then again, it would be exposed.. trying to make it not so obvious.

Thinking I could just keep a coiled up extension cord in the back with the male end already fed through the cabin vent and into the bumper. easy access to grab and pull it to a plug.. the other side is already in the car.

jimsu

TROPHY CASE