2004 Toyota Highlander Sleeper Build

[@BradOber]

The Highlander is the most reliable suv I’ve ever owned. Mine is now 257k miles going strong. Thanks for this video, great ideas! I’m thinking about similar sleeper hacks for weekend getaways. Well done!

[@joecutro7318]

Great build! Like so many people commenting, I have a 1st gen '07 Highlander that I am scoping videos for a similar re-purposing! Thanks a ton for some great ideas. Hope your trip went well +5 years ago. The world has certainly changed since, but rocks and trails will always remain friends for life.😉👍🏼

[@eaglerider94]

One of the best 1st generation Highlanders I've seen. I just picked up a well kept '07 Highlander and have been scouting various ideas for them. I really like how you set yours up. Nice pup too!

[@brianellis4912]

Very cool build!!. You've inspired me to do something similar to my 2013 GMC Terrain V6. I've always thought why bother when it's only FWD, but I can still add some customized items to do some light overlanding/remote camping. Again, great build!.

[@DWsSouthernCookingBBQ]

Nice! I picked up a tip or two for my Highlander build, I got a little more to do to mine can't wait to try it out, I did one video on it back earlier in the year I do another one here soon on all that I add to it Great video thanks for sharing!

[@mikailahoran1920]

i love it! thanks for the video! I just got a highlander with the intention to make it a "camper"- I love your ideas!

[@michellemaile8877]

Ooo! Good luck! I'd love to see a video of your build when you're done!

[@johnsonbayou4273]

Me, too! A 2006 I bought from a friend. I want to make a car camper out of it!

[@jamesbinns8528]

@@johnsonbayou4273 Me too. I used to travel in a pickup with a camper shell. I just a 2013 Highlander.

[@Shaeblack1234]

i never thought my (also inherited) highlander would be good for living in but this totally won me over!! very impressed:)

[@seanyfpv]

this is really cool and well thought out! i have a highlander too and wanted to make it a bit more living friendly

[@janejingle9267]

absolutley amazing! esp since most suvs dont lay completly flat anymore.love the hinge on the bed base and clips to hold up to access storage. and the sofa option!! u rock girl. retro fitting my sante fe as we speak..summer home for the win!

[@stevenmattson3164]

I like what you did. Horizontal vs vertical video would make it a lot easier to watch-because the image is so small.

[@funnntimz]

excellent conversion. Looking to do that to my 2005 limited.

[@jo-annharvie9411]

Thank you for the great ideas. By the way, there is a little town in Saskatchewan, Canada called Moosejaw which was used for alcohol storage during prohibition.

[@laurenkz6181]

Thanks for the video. My boyfriend and I are looking to do something similar for my 2013 highlander. Excited to get started!

[@michellemaile8877]

Yay! I hope it's going/went well!

[@kennystringer]

Brilliantly done!

[@bayargelenkhuu1007]

I really love your set up. Can you please make another video with wide angle and a little bit more details how you removed seats as well as bed making. As you mentioned there are not many Highlander sleepers and I am planning to make mine but I have no idea where to start so please, please make another video with details. Than you in advance.

[@tomyheap]

nice and simple build

[@bravesoulchannel1685]

Looks great.

[@tenzo773]

Thanks for the video! I am about to start my build out and wondering (now that its been a couple years, ha!) if there is anything you wish you would have done or have been able to rework! Great work, hope the climbing was fun!

[@mjcfsutton]

A lot of great ideas. I have a 2003 highlander, don’t think the backseats are removable. Love the couch situation!! How exactly did you secure the top corners of the bed to create the couch?

[@shawnnoname9291]

I understand why you removed the seats. But could rhe 2nd and 3rd row lay flat for someone th a t may still need them

[@peteryum1711]

Thanks for sharing, got some ideas for my conversion attempt!

[@jamesbinns8528]

Simple and practical.

[@johnhetzel6317]

Super clever, creative, stealthy and simple. So many van lifers go way too big, and wonder why they get the cop knock.

[@skywatcher4602]

What did you put on your reflectix? Its black but what ? And did you use glue ? What kind. ? Thanks

[@BlakeWRoss]

Nice design! Do you have plans or an equipment list for this?

[@jesusaluz]

Congratulations

[@markg4459]

Very neat set up and gives you & your traveling companion more room than the Prius car campers. Just wonder if a newer hybrid version of your rig would give you the generator/climate control benefits those folks enjoy? Nice video. Thanks!

[@MyCoolBrett]

Loved you as Daisy on the show Bones.

[@susankerkhoff201]

This is so cool!! Great job! Inspiring :D

[@JWCFB]

Beautiful dog.

[@daneisenhart6916]

So glad to see your video. I've been developing my 2006 as a camper for a while now. Can you comment about what was involved in taking out the second row seats? Did you do it yourself? Was it hard to do? Have you tried to reinstall them? Did you have a hard time finding a place to store the seats during your adventure? Great tip regarding the steel pipe and flanges. I've been searching for a better way to support the forward part of my sleeping deck. My deck is single width since I carry my bike inside the vehicle.

[@blueskyandgoldenlight]

I have the same year and model. We got the seats out pretty easily, theyre just heavy.

[@adamdavies2670]

So how did it go?!

[@MiauxCatterie]

this is so rad. i'd love to know more about your bed build.

[@garretttalkington4416]

If you're still answering questions - What did you do with the torn out seats? That's my biggest question/concern. Awesome setup!

[@garyabc]

If you can find a place to store them you will have them when it comes time to sell the car. Otherwise, you could try to sell them on Craigslist.

[@grizzlyaddams3606]

I like that you built the platform out to 6'3" even though you're 5'10" max. Somehow it gives me hope. Always thought I was too tall for my Highlander to sleep in. Perhaps I was wrong?

[@jamesbinns8528]

I'm 6' and can stretch out in a 2013 Highlander (as well as a 2014 RAV 4 I've learned).

[@carlyphan3951]

i have a 2007 one and have tricked her out a few times. Such a great car :D

[@douglassullivan3717]

Awesome, thanks for sharing

[@jaimelinwu]

How is your fuel economy after all the extra added weight? I have the same vehicle and have been thinking about having a similar setup

[@michellemaile8877]

It actually didn't change much at all. Since I removed all the seats including the third row, I was able to basically just replace the weight with the bed.

[@jaimelinwu]

@@michellemaile8877 Thank you!!!

[@jonathanschwartz9965]

Love the build! Just bought a used 2011 and hoping to build out a similar set-up (totally new territory for me). Did you remove both rows or just the third?

[@MarcillaSmith]

Both

[@Vishnu190291]

First off this is brilliant! Was wondering how you got the middle seats out? Iv got a 2006 highlander that looks exactly the same. Also are the lights in the back connected to the car battery or are they a separately powered system?

[@polarbear2014]

Those lights aren’t attached to the car, they are battery powered, as in probably double AA batteries.

[@hopscotch1019]

Love my Highlander 👍

[@Corolla_Beau]

Nice! About what kind of mpg do you get in that Highlander fully loaded and also how is the sleeping space?? I’m trying to trade my civic coupe for something similar because my car is a bit too small for me to live out of, just weighing my options towards a highlander awd, a awd 08 Subaru Impreza wagon, or a 04 Nissan Pathfinder... let me know what you think please and any advice would help! Thank you!

[@Corolla_Beau]

@George Planter so personal experience, after trying my 06 civic coupe for a few months, yes, it was too small.... upgraded to an older 95’ Corolla wagon and my thoughts at first are the room is perfect for a single male/female 6’4 and below height. Mpg is perfect and Toyota’s last forever, I’m now at 250k starting at 200k noting this is on the upper end of engine mileage yet very minimal maintenance only oil changes and did one set of tires. Only thing I would say is the down side to getting a car vs suv vs truck/4x4, is the no 4x4 unless you’re lucky to find the 4x4 version. As for highlander you might be set if it’s awd I don’t think they have 4x4 but I could be wrong. If you’re okay with the mpg range and have an income to support your travels then more to you! I traveled from Vegas back n forth to San Diego up to LA and back down before driving all the way up to SF on PCH and back down inland, no problems all while having no job and just doing post mates when I needed gas money. I was super budgeting as I had no money and lost my job “hours” due to Covid shutdown but wasn’t fired so no income.... so the whole mpg was EXTREMELY important to me and at 28-35+ mpgs it was easy for me to keep going where I pleased. Even stayed at a few motels to get that once a week restorative shower/sleep. If you’re doing it full time you should go with the suv/v6 cause hauling more is a plus when you need to and you won’t lack engine power while going up hill, although I had packed light and had no engine power problems driving my 1995 4banger Corolla. Overall it’s really what you prefer and how much luxury you want and how much space you need. Try fitting all your stuff you think you need in your car and then you’ll have a better idea how much room you need. Half the stuff you pack ends up “overstock” that you don’t really need. So just all good for thought, good luck!!🍀👍

[@missdesireindependance5194]

Great video! So do you park at camping locations?

[@jerryjenkins5739]

Get a free app called Campendium

[@invictawarrior]

Michelle did you take out the 2nd row bottom seating?

[@bethanyedens3156]

This is awesome! How did you mount your lights to the ceiling??

[@michellemaile8877]

Thumbtacks! haha! I was trying to get the build done for as little money as possible and since I already had tacks, I decided to use those. They worked great and I wouldn't have traded them for anything else. They were easy to stick into the ceiling and didn't leave any marks so I was able to move them if I wanted to.

[@Animalwon]

I like what you accomplished but why did you let the video be shot in portrait mode when it would have been better in landscape to fill the youtube window? Ii feel as I am viewing you thru a keyhole. :)

[@michellemaile8877]

You are totally right. Sorry to make you feel like you are looking through a keyhole haha! I just didn't think to have the filmer turn the phone sideways. Rookie mistake!

[@toby621]

well done 👍👍👍

[@ziggy33399]

Ingenious ❤️👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@ziggy33399]

@George Planter corrected. Thank you.

[@kirkendahlvoyd]

The audio is too low.

[@TG-ru3bu]

Very nize!!!

[@johngungortekin453]

👍 👏 good job

[@crazykicks99]

This is amazing! What is the bed hinge?

[@michellemaile8877]

Thanks! It's been working out really well. I just used heavy duty hinges from the hardware store. I used two on each side of the bed (front and back)

[@BrookeMaile]

You are amazing!

[@Fusion991]

The one dislike is from Sage since you stepped on her!

[@drue2283]

Cool Highlander , how bout tinting the windows a lil bit darker. Great for privacy while your sleeping 😴

[@patriciakruger2695]

cannot hear you talk volume is up max

[@lewcrowley3710]

Cool 'Chick' (are people allowed to say that anymore?). I have a 08 Hybrid HiHy.....

[@gretchenlhommedieu6352]

Did you step on Sage? Child abuse.!!! She sure looks like a good dog/companion. 😘

[@andrewruvira8355]

you are so cute

[@goldenhourkodak]

Don’t film sideways. It isn’t hard.

[@KrazyBear918]

I read all the comments and no one mentioned what an attractive young woman this is, just sayin.

[@yes55504]

Bro, stop being a simp. Jesus...

[@kirkendahlvoyd]

Speak up!

[@absolu222]

I need a Highlander! Or a girlfriend who has one ..

[@savjottoor7910]

You are amazing!