Tour of a Nomad Living in a Prius

Today we meet Lester who is happily living in a Prius and getting 40 mpg! After losing his wife, Lester decided to continue their shared dream of traveling! But instead of leaving in an RV as they had planned.. he downsized into a Toyota Prius. Lester loves traveling with his 2 dogs. He has made a wonderful, cozy home and a bed that fits his 6' 1" frame!
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Thanks for watching!

[@robbiewright9573]

Great words of wisdom. "Dont wait for the perfect rig until you hit the road " "Use what you have, work towards what you want " perfect!

[@ketoauntie7301]

...unless you dont have a vehicle at all yet 😩🙏🚵

[@haroldcranford9165]

@@ketoauntie7301 ?

[@MrBillkaz]

I need to follow this advice .. I have a tundra right now

[@robbiewright9573]

@@MrBillkaz A Tundra is a great , reliable truck! I had 2 Tacomas and I had a shell on the back of one. Worked great for camping!

[@AmericanOdyssey91]

@@ketoauntie7301 that's where I am... homeless with no car or anything

[@nmr6988]

Deep condolences to this gentleman on the loss of his wife. How wonderful that he was able to go forward with the plans they had made and that he has a rewarding life that he will enjoy for hopefully many many more years.

[@colleenmercer3408]

Beautifully said.

[@itsmimiyallxoxo5624]

I am always amazed by how ingenious nomads can be! I enjoyed your story Lester, keep on keeping on!

[@seanh4841]

When I left sticks n bricks, I went with what I had, no regrets

[@CaseyLouis]

A good description of minimalism. Hats off to Lester.

[@thanhhoale3886]

I used to live in my 1991 Honda Accord when I was in my deepest hole of darkness, it was the most rough time in my life that I had no other choice but to throw everything that was important to me in my car and just drove around town day after day and realized I ended up living in my car as my moving home. There was a time I didn't even have a penny if someone asked, no money for gas to drive here and there, no money for food. But time went on and I got through some way, somehow, and still survive until this moment. Thanks Heaven above !!!

[@timgoodsell4053]

There is no freaking way I could live like this but I have endless admiration for this guy. Talk about taking control of your life! Very, very well done.

[@samreh6156]

You will only really know if you try it.

[@lordvelos1]

I said I would never even own a Prius and now I do lol I don't live in my Prius but I travel a lot in it. My maximum timeout is 6 months. It's so cheap to operate and that's why you could travel all over in it.

[@timgoodsell4053]

@@samreh6156 No, you’re right but that level of heroic minimalism is probably well beyond me. Doesn’t stop me from admiring this guy!

[@DavidDrivesElectric]

a few years ago I thought like you. Today I'm free :)

[@stanbyme7874]

He hasn’t pared down belongings. I started out same way. You slowly pare down. It’s amazing what you don’t need.

[@switchpathbyamypreston5428]

I'm only 4 minutes in to the video and already love Lester's attitude! God bless him and you as the adventures continue!

[@bque9444]

Congrats Lester. Just go! Time is ticking for us all. Nice setup.

[@h2hcamey]

I have a 2021 Prius. I’m 68. Female. Eager to get set up and Goooooo!

[@robbiewright9573]

Good for you! You can do it. And you're going to love it! ...👍

[@maggie0285]

I'm 50 and live out of a 2021. Can't wait for retirement so I can travel EVERYWHERE

[@fenraven]

I have a paid for Prius, and I'm giving serious thought to hitting the road in it. Its small size gives me pause, but everything else about it is a plus, especially environmental control. I also bought a Habitent. I keep wondering what I'm waiting for! Lester gives me encouragement to get out and do it!

[@lordvelos1]

I too own a Prius and I started going out by just doing small one-day trips. From there I built up and did 3 days and then a week to see how I liked it. My max time out is 6 months. It's so cheap to travel in and I love it. I did Route 66 before the pandemic and the entire route of about 3,000 mi only cost me $200 in gas.

[@Jibbie49]

@@lordvelos1 You did what I always think is smart. Here on the beautiful Gulf Coast I see RVs from out-of-state all the time coming to enjoy the beautiful beaches and camping sites. I talk to several people who say "Oh, I want to hit the road", yet they don't even do an "overnight" here. You don't have to go a 1,000 miles away to see "if you like it."

[@Karen-qx7jw]

Just do it Theo t see if you like it , baby steps at 1st , one night then two , a week etc to c if it suits you , find a caravan of friends thou' for inspirations on This channel

[@DavidDrivesElectric]

Go for it! There is nothing to lose

[@blazerlazer5526]

do one day trips to give the nomad life a try, thats what i usually do in my free time, i love sleeping in my car in scenic places lol shes a big old ford sedan :D just make sure to keep warm or stay cool and have food with ya!

[@WanderingVagabondYT]

Thanks Lester. I just hit 1yr in a 2004 Prius with solar. Minimalism is key in such a small space. 🤠🙌😎

[@alicecain4851]

Lester is darling and full of wisdom! I'm so sorry for his loss as I'm sure he and his wife would have had so much fun. I'm glad he decided to go ahead and live their dream - him and his puppers! His home looks very reasonably comfortable and I hope it continues to keep him and his furry family happy. Thank you Bob for bring us Lester's story of his life in a Prius! It still seems a bit crazy but we really could see he's making it work for him!

[@ellpat2928]

This was perfect for me to see. I have old Yukon Denali. 2 very large dogs. Your in a Prius with a pup. I think I can do this. Thank you!!!

[@djordanjere2911]

2 pups

[@lauraj.4721]

Use what you have until you get what you want. I really like that!

[@DeeDee-he1cc]

Lester is so positive despite the loss of his wife. Still, he continues honoring her memory by not giving up on their dream of traveling. Very clever setup. Loved this video.

[@jsso2845]

This is great info I was always wondering about replacing the Prius battery $1700 is a lot but not a complete emergency fund breaker

[@Seashellsbytheseashore21]

Plus, the money spent on gas more than makes up for it !

[@mn2mx563]

Monthly apt rentals in some places (studio apt too) are that much ( $1,700 ) or more so a battery one time purchase for a few years or more -- money well spent

[@ChrisRI1000]

I like the Rav4 hybrid idea. I too lost my wife unexpectedly and had a nephew 41yo who died in his sleep the same day as my wife. And lost my aunt 3 weeks before they died. So I'm just feeling like I need to hit the road too. I think I'll check that Rav4 out.

[@maggie0285]

Do it! You need this!

[@scottslotterbeck3796]

Life is short. Take nothing for granted. Live to the fullest.

[@michelleglidingswan4334]

Bob is still the best KZbin interviewer I've seen. He has such a nice way of talking to just about anyone, and he stays on topic and makes others feel comfortable. Kudos Bob!

[@dohandavid]

I definitely would recommend a roof rack and biggest cargo box you can find. Cargo box completely changed my game

[@virginiatooker5271]

Lester, you give me and my chihuahua, Dusty, hope. My husband passed on suddenly 2+ years ago. I bought a Prius in anticipation that one day I may need to live in it. Was in a new relationship living in his home, but that has ended. In two weeks, my pup and I will be full-time in the car. There are so many details to be worked out, it’s overwhelming at times, but I think it’s doable. I’m in Florida but would like to travel. I’m so sorry you lost your wife. I admire your positive attitude and hope to continue to have hope and peace myself. Your pups are adorable!

[@buckjones6334]

One thing Lester has that is very important in all aspects is a great attitude!! Thank you both for staring my Sunday off we other d S inch positivity!!!

[@zorazorazorzzora8333]

With 2 dogs and he’s on a cpap machine .. amazing.. hat’s off to him .. I’ve been a nomad.. it’s amazing what you can adapt to ….

[@cheryllovestoread]

Loved seeing both a Prius AND a Kern River Valley business sticker 🤩 We have a 2010 Prius that actually has a solar panel built into the roof to power an internal venting system when temperatures get too high inside. I’m wondering if anyone has successfully used or modified it to help as a secondary power source.

[@tedfort1698]

Most likely not. I don't know specifically, but I would assume that the built in solar panel is 15 watts at most, so it wouldn't provide enough power to justify the complexity and risk of modifying the vehicles stock wiring. You can get flexible 100 watt solar panels for under $100, and simply mounting one of those onto the roof would be infinitely more effective and simple. I'm sure that solar panel is a great asset for keeping cool, though!

[@mhayes6864]

The best decision to hit the road and be free to experience whatever his heart desires! Very inspirational! Blessings and safety to Lester for many years on the road!

[@Splash99]

As a retired Trucker who's now disabled, I've often thought of becoming a Nomad. I love being alone, I'm a minimalist and I know the road. My concerns are heat and cold. There's no optimized idol in a 1993 Jeep!

[@blackcoffee.]

Lester makes such a great point about not waiting ... especially for perfection which is such a trap. The lift kit and tires are great. Sorry to hear about your wife. How great that you have 2 buddies to be with you on the road. All the best.

[@KarmicPatina]

I love this! Those dogs are loving life too!! Prius is the most amazing vehicle ever made. I love my gen 2 with 220k.

[@stevekirby6034]

"use what you have and work toward what you want". Gold!

[@drchen6424]

Wow this is so inspiring! My 2006 Prius is being tuned up as we speak so I can take her another 100k miles. I am so motivated to take her on real adventures next. Thank you for this game changing video!!

[@kemi1486]

I love what the Prius is capable of. Nearly all Toyota models of vehicle are Hybrid capable. If my 07 Toyota Sequoia ever goes out on me, I’ll be buying the Hybrid Sienna Minivan. I personally need more room than what the Prius offers.

[@cindychurch925]

Lester, I am so sorry to hear about your wife passing. It was unfortunate to have to medically retire, however, it was fortunate you were able to spend time taking care of your wife. Your two doggies are adorable. I had always dismissed living in a prius and I am short lol Your philosophy is inspiring. You have an air about you that is calming. Life handed you lemons and you made lemonade. I am 67 and retired. I live in a 32' Prowler LX with my adult daughter, her 2 dogs and my 3 dogs. I have a Mitsubishi mirage and so obviously, I don't tow it haha. Thank you and Bob for this interesting and thought provoking interview. It is August 2022 when I watched this. I like the idea that you can control the inner climate using the battery. Very important. And chase the good weather. Get out and try it. Don't plan to plan to plan and never do it. Seize the day. Safe travels to you and Bob

[@FRANKNITTYTV]

Use what u have and work for what u want 💯

[@joansidor3409]

Way to go! I'm a widow, maybe we'll meet one day. Joan Quartzite in December of 22! J

[@microgreensgrower3946]

I have a Thule roof-top cargo box on my Prius and that works really well to keep gear out of the car. Love it!

[@LoveWins1960]

I would love to meet this gentleman. I lost my husband a year ago. Les is a kindred soul.

[@lordvelos1]

Fellow Prius traveler here. Bob and a few other Prius dwellers definitely were the ones to help in my decision to choose a Prius for traveling. My max time out is 6 months. Would love to know how this guy got his Prius lifted and if it affects the gas mileage at all. I've done Route 66 before the pandemic and my total gas cost for 3,000 miles was only $200 in the Prius.

[@h2hcamey]

Lord Velos, what year is your Prius? Do you sleep with AC/heat running at night? I have a 2021 can’t figure out how to keep car running at night. Help!

[@richardrobinson3105]

@@h2hcamey Hey, a man had a workaround for this. KZbin search : "Kevin's vanlife sleeping in sienna" He mentions something abt locking doors in that video. It may work 4 your '21 prius. Please check his vid & let us know if it works for u😊👍

[@kiwitraveller6451]

WOW!!! how amazing is that...would love to be doing this...but cannot get into USA from NZ with the restrictions in place...a man after me own heart...love it...keep them coming Bob love your updates and the way of living. I live in a 3 bedroom home with others in the city is why I wanna get out of this situation...just do comes to mind BUT.....thanks for sharing with Lester...

[@darwel007]

I am waiting for the nomad superstar living in a Miata! Bonus points if the front seat is intact!

[@usatennisproff]

Sleeps on top of the car!

[@stephanywilkes3598]

Oh my gosh - the dog bike is too cute! What a sweet, resourceful soul.

[@JulieAiken]

I keep going back and forth -- I'll get a Prius; no, I'll get a hybrid Sienna. Yes, the Sienna is a lot more space. But I traveled in a Prius for over a year and absolutely loved it. It calls to me. Loudly. We'll see what I end up with... I'm recovering from health issues so I have 2 years to make the decision. Thanks for another amazing video, Bob! See you down the road.

[@anio1349]

I went from a Prius to a Sienna !

[@backroadsusa6915]

Whatever one that you won't have a car payment.

[@MechayaAlta]

@@anio1349 did you remove second row seats

[@JulieAiken]

@@MechayaAlta No, I just folded the front seat the whole way back at night to sleep, and used an air mattress on top. In my model they folded flat, but I don't know if later models do.

[@happydays9613]

He is spot on to use what you have and work towards what you want. You have to live and stop preventing yourself from taking the plunge, with what if's. I car camped in.a small Cheverlot Spark for 3 years and made it work, to part-time camp around work. I recently upgraded to a C3, Citeron once I knew I enjoyed car camping and figured out what I wanted.

[@LifeTripped]

I also live full-time in my Prius

[@pamelamarshall3665]

Love this! I just bought a 2022 Prius, and though I am not likely to camp or live in it, you just never know. I am loving finding all the different Prius camper set up videos that different folks post, just so I know what is possible with my new "Solstice" (got on the waitlist on June 21'st and finally got her on Dec 21st!). I love that he did not let life - or death - keep him from his dream. I'm sure his wife is watching his adventures and cheering him on.

[@gailjohnson6670]

My condolence. You are very inspiring. Thank you for sharing story. Thank you the video. Blessings to you.

[@SaffyFoo]

Having dogs makes everything good 🐶❤️

[@dianeyoung8068]

Sweet little puppies, you are never alone when you have such wonderful companions. Travel safe.

[@offgridrooster]

Very inspiring and great use of room. Love the idea of a generator on wheels. Don't let fear stop you of your life the way you want to live it. ☮️🙏☯️ Much kudos to you sir. A true survivor

[@grannyonthego8752]

Lester I’m right there with you. I love the outdoors. Our country is so beautiful. I don’t mind being alone. If ever I do I stop in to see family and friends and after a few days I’m ready to hit the road again.

[@sofarokintn8166]

They make tents that connect to the hatch back of the Prius hope you get to try it and give us your opinion.

[@bettybrigance6784]

Wonderful..! It's good to get out and go and have that two dog nignt...hope he gets many more miles to go....stay safe

[@georgeelder8415]

If it's a three dog night, it's time to head south!

[@momentomori1747]

Love to see a prius overlanding setup. Definitely top 2 for when I go, next to the Sienna. Climate control seems like a huge plus, as is the whole thing being a generator/inverter out of the box.

[@florasonners1635]

I hear many times that being in nature and being with like minded people promotes healing. Glad for this guy.

[@StellaDavila]

I have a Prius V and would like to see more builds for the station wagon. Thank you for your hard work and tips.

[@morrisshepherd1637]

Great job Lester such a great buildout and inspiring way to live in a Prius. Thanks Bob great tour.

[@dohandavid]

Nice prius setup. I have a same prius and I love my roof rack and cargo box. Thule force XXL cargo box is worth every PENNY

[@bigred8933]

1,700$ for a new battery hybrid of corse not talking normal 12v ,, that’s insane that’s legit a really really good price for the hybrid battery!! Great informational video

[@myyoutubechannel3161]

Prayers to this man. He's doing what makes him happy amen 🙏

[@MrEroshan]

My wife and I toured extensively in our Prius. We had a Habitent for the back hatch and covers for all the windows. We had plenty of room. The best thing about the Prius is you can leave heat or cooling on and engine will cycle on and off as needed to keep batteries up.

[@treasuringpricelesstime5962]

Hello. I am looking into a used Prius for my husband and my self. Can you tell me if the climate control feature is only for certain years or model of Prius'? I appreciate your time and feedback, Tamara.

[@rogerthat1553]

Wow, 6'1" living in a Prius. Now i don't feel so bad camping in my Toyota Sienna at 5'10" tall

[@darwel007]

10:51 "That's a lot of space"! - Bob puts a good spin on things!

[@michaeltichonuk2176]

Yeah, always in progress. We all are on all levels. Rav4 (hybrid) is excellent suggestion. But paid for is the best. I fish so it is refreshing to see another Angler on your channel! Great video with two great Souls!

[@infopocalypse5006]

I like the little circle pop up shower/rr tents. They don''t take much space & give you privacy when showering or using a bucket.

[@kuladeeluxe]

"The Road goes on Forever" Greg Allman.

[@visigothe]

2017 Prius with over 180,000 miles still on original big battery. Love this car, wish someone would make a hybrid van.

[@Railroadchick]

Once again Cody is the star of the show !! ❤️ love to hear him whimpering too! So cute !

[@anitasimmons3599]

Thank you for another great video. I love that Lester has figured out what works for him and his puppies. Thank you for both for showing us the possibilities. Safe travels.

[@lone982]

prius camping saves so much money, you could go to a hostel or cheap motel from time to time.

[@yoyojoe9240]

Life gives us a hard kick in our butts..! Sad, about your wife's departure. Enjoy, be safe out there.! Love Da Toilet "cover all"😁😄!

[@Loud2013]

So excited to see a Shower Toga in use, I've only seen them on TV, awesome life you've built for you and your fur babies 🎉💜

[@carlosespinal1434]

so much respect for this man

[@kevinhenry177]

I so admire people that just go for it! There is no perfect time. Then you will say after you have taken that chance why didn’t I do that so much sooner? What a inspiring video!

[@noseefood1943]

Shows you don’t need much to be happy just couple of dogs and endless road.

[@12HourTravels]

I love car camping in my 2nd Prius.

[@lateepiphany]

Very informative and helpful info, thanks!

[@gurubhaikhalsa9337]

The Prius seems like the perfect combination! I really like the shower toga also.

[@oceanlover3530]

This guy is awesome! Great attitude and he really gives people food for thought. Great inspiration! Thanks for posting! ✌🏻🙂✌🏻

[@TheEdelKampers]

It is so true that you find stuff you don't need over time. We are in a Class A full time for the second year and we have empty cabinets. Love the shower toga that is so cool. We may have to get one for our truck camper that we pull behind our class A. Love it. Mary💕Fred

[@01fxstsi]

I really want to give this guy a hug.

[@davidleigh443]

I loved Prius with its simple efficiency. My question to Lester would be has he done anything to secure his Catalytic Converter against theft, I understand that Prius' are a valued target for such thieves.

[@KabobHope]

What a friendly guy and sweet build. 👍

[@teresaforsyth6185]

My 2017 Prius Prime is so challenging to set up since the storage is raised compared to the older regular Prius.

[@kevinfenn9672]

Thanks for the video

[@flubberlane8437]

I like this channel !😀

[@rhondacooper3565]

Wonderful interview! Thanks Bob

[@fernando.3352]

Awesome video! God bless Lester!

[@theresa337]

I took mine out and replaced modules for $150. Was time consuming and needed help with the battery removal and insert.

[@robinwheatcraft6034]

Fantastic! This guy is living his dream and such an inspiration!!!

[@bmbildung]

Thanks for your great job and inspiring others

[@castirondreams]

More people need to be like Lester!! 🤙

[@Seashellsbytheseashore21]

Love the puppers! Love the set up and outlook on life!

[@ob1smom]

What a great video! Thanks, Bob and Lester.

[@janp7660]

This is interesting. The only suggestion I have is that your pups seem to be squinting in the sunlight. I'm thinking maybe they could use a cover of sorts over part of their enclosure for shade. Hope you continue to enjoy your travels. Thank you for sharing your story.

[@lonestarlaurel8620]

Talk about news you can use!! Answered most of the Big questions on my list re taking off in my paid-for 2011 Prius! Big thank you’s to all, y’all, for all you do for all of us of us. Happy trails. 🐾🎶

[@trishmorton2035]

What a cool guy. I loved this interview, very inspiring.

[@bobclarke2242]

Simple and doable. ⭐ Enjoy your travels.

[@CBAmakingAusername]

Brilliant interview bob, as usual. Good luck to this gentleman. I hope he has many years of adventures ahead of him

[@ridelocalride]

Hello Bob, Its always about living your best life and for each of us it is different. Thaks for the video!

[@chriwri]

Love this!

[@xmet1]

Thank you so much For this interview optically like the part about his trailer hitch add on. In the future please spend more time videoing the car and taken shots of such a great feature, as the trailer hitch add on. It would be great if you had a split screen. One shot of him talking and one shot of you getting great video of the vehicle. I love the stories and the vehicles and your videos covers both of those very well, thank you for that!

[@ramontoro]

Interesting video Bob , thanks