Car Camping with your Bicycle - Save Money on Hotel Rooms!

"Camping is an outdoor activity involving overnight stays away from home in a shelter, such as a tent or a recreational vehicle. Typically participants leave developed areas to spend time outdoors in more natural ones in pursuit of activities providing them enjoyment" - Wikipedia.org
A recreational vehicle aka an R.V. is not within this Gravel Cyclist's budget so I've improvised using what I already have. Namely, a 2007 Honda Element that once the rear seats are removed, provide a ton of room inside for bikes, bedding, coolers and so on.
Granted, car camping is not a year-round activity. At the time of writing, summer road trips are typically spent utilizing hotel rooms, as stifling heat inside the vehicle during summer makes sleeping a difficult and sweaty time. I have a solution to that issue that I'm saving for a future video.
Links to purchase items featured in this video:
Thermarest NeoAir Dream Mattress (or similar model) - amzn.to/2BjcqMk
EGO Nexus Power Station (two batteries included) - amzn.to/2MXiIaf
EGO Nexus Power Station (no batteries included) - amzn.to/2VIX2T9
EGO 7.5ah 56V Battery (biggest currently available) - amzn.to/2OXEnRU
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[@bkhsms]

Good stuff. For the mosquitoes you can cut out a section of screen and glue earth magnets to the inside of the screen to attach to the window frame.

[@JasonScottCarter]

Sounds like an adventure can would be a good solution in the future. Gravel bike van!

[@roadglide]

The Element a great car and perfect for your situation. I went the Subaru Outback route and it does this real well and love it too. Good job here JOM. Thank you.

[@wookbba]

It's incredible ... I'm dreaming of camping a car sometime outside of Korea. Your video will make you satisfied! Thank you

[@kimrice394]

Nice set up. Like the power station. Always a fan of the Element also.

[@akissparaskevopoulos]

Hey congrats on yr setup there. It looks really good and comfy. Keep them rolling

[@walcottav]

Agreed - Honda needs to bring back the Element, but on a hybrid platform, not a truck basis. I'd ditch my CR-V in a minute. And funny enough, have been looking at similar power stations as a home power backup vs a generator; another nor'easter in the forecast tonight!

[@GravelCyclist]

Hybrid type Element would be amazing! I did a lot of research and figured the EGO Power Station was the best option vs say the Goal Zero 3000.

[@GG-si7fw]

What’s neat about the element is it is tall enough inside to carry a bike with the wheels on.

[@GravelCyclist]

Exactly... for regular everyday use, I can easily carry around two bikes, takes seconds to load them in.

[@twowheelslater7112]

Car camping is a sore spot with me right now. Car camped for Jackrabbit mtb race and my air mattress blew out. I didnt sleep a wink because of the floor not being flat. I'm blaming my crap performance on it. May not have been the entire reason for my lack of success but thats my story and I'm sticking to it.

[@GravelCyclist]

Definite first world problems here :)

[@twowheelslater7112]

@@GravelCyclist lol. No doubt. Those Elements are pretty slick. To my understanding the floor is completely flat.

[@GravelCyclist]

@@twowheelslater7112 Completely flat, so f'n awesome!

[@joemaki2187]

Ego also makes a simple inverter that connects to a single battery for about $100. I've used that to keep my phone charged for a week while car camping.

[@GravelCyclist]

Yes, that is a nice option without the big coin of the inverter I've got. Thanks for chiming in!

[@DonutEndurance]

I will never sell my Element either!

[@GravelCyclist]

Nice! Mine is an SC with the rare manual transmission, was 5-speed from the factory, now it's 6-speed and way better ga$ mileage at highway speeds.

[@Chader9]

@@GravelCyclist agreed that the Element should still be made. The Ford Transit Connect can be configured in similar ways and is about the closest thing I have seen still available today.

[@nickshores8352]

I just got an Element and I love it! Have you found a hitch bike rack that doesn’t hit the rear tailgate when opened?

[@GravelCyclist]

I don't use a rack with my Element... all bike inside!

[@neilashton9459]

Huh ... I have an Ego mower and all the yard tools but didn’t realize they made that inverter. Batteries are so high $$ though 🙁 Curious did you remove the rear jump seats on your SC to make more room?

[@GravelCyclist]

I removed the rear seats the first day of ownership haha. Agreed, those batteries are insanely overpriced... eBay was a good course for them at markedly better prices.

[@soulsurfer8797]

Do you have recorded routes in the SoCal area you have done as a camping.biking trip.

[@GravelCyclist]

Negative on that, sorry.

[@gifa01fly]

I do The sale with my 19 years oldToyota Yaris Verso... perfect. Wich model it's your honda van?

[@GravelCyclist]

Fabrizio, I did mention that in the video... 2007 Honda Element SC. I don't which markets this vehicle was sold in, but certainly Japan and the USA.

[@MrDogilvie]

For the front windows screens from Www.roadieproducts.com might work

[@greg1083]

Resale value for the Element is off the hook. Dumbest thing Honda has ever done.

[@GravelCyclist]

And mine has low miles, 5-speed (now 6-speed) manual.

[@greg1083]

@@GravelCyclist I always wonder how many come up to a current owner and ask them if they would like to sell . I always have the urge to ask. ;))