Living out of Subaru to climb?

Hey so I will be living out of my Subaru this summer to climb and hike.  I built a bed platform with gear storage underneath and I invested in a Thule roof box, but the last piece of the puzzle is curtains for the inside. I have a reflector/sun shade for the front windshield, but how can I cover up all the other windows to block light and keep the inside shady? Since it's going to be summer I don't know if reflectix is the best idea, but what do you guys think? Thank you!

I had a buddy who made Velcro curtains that could easily be taken down and put up.  Velcro strips were sewed onto the top and bottom ends of the curtain as well as glued in the right places by the window.  Best made out of thick dark fabric. 

To blackout the windows in mine I cut to fit reflectix and stitched black fabric to one side. They press into place easily, completely block out light, and look inconspicuous from the outside.

I always find curtains to induce claustrophobia and my car (Honda Element) has a head space advantage. I would try to park such that the eastern horizon is somewhat blocked instead

Velcro curtains can work well, but you'll want to spring for a more expensive variety or just use your own adhesive as the cheap ones fail to adhere after enough really warm days. If you want to go really cheap/easy, you can also get some of those "baby on board" style sun shades and just pop them up. Not full coverage, but easy and better than nothing.

So I wrote a book and have a YouTube channel about traveling and camping in an SUV. Here's my video on curtains and window coverings:

Let me know if you have any other questions.

I have reflectix cut to my windows, no Velcro or anything just press them in. I'm going to put some black fabric on one side like an earlier poster, sounds like a good idea!

Cut Reflectix and press them into the window from the inside. They will stay by themselves and you cut them correctly. I cut them on the outside of the window using a utility knife (which wont scratch the glass).

Just get up earlier, whenever the sun wakes you up ;)

jdereks wrote:

To blackout the windows in mine I cut to fit reflectix and stitched black fabric to one side. They press into place easily, completely block out light, and look inconspicuous from the outside.

This this this. A roll of Reflectix is $40 at Lowe's and you can cut it to fit all your windows.

I'm also gonna be spending 7 weeks this summer in my Outback.  I'd love a pic of what you did to yours.

I couldn't get Velcro to stick. I bought slider style rails from an RV website that screw into above the door frame (my car, paid off- holes are ok!) and sewed the runners to a cut-to-fit blackout curtain from target. For the rear window I did do Velcro as it did stick to the glass for me.

Reflectix isn't a great option if you want to roll your windows down and have some ventilation. Curtains allow some privacy and also some breeze. 

Thanks for the pic!

Tristan Higbee wrote:

Reflectix isn't a great option if you want to roll your windows down and have some ventilation.

This is totally true, and ventilation is a big problem to overcome. Has anyone ever used one of those car covers for urban camping?

I imagine it would allow you to roll the Windows down, block bugs, and be somewhat water repellent.

Here is the curtain kit I got: The rail screws to the ceiling of my car, and the tape gets sewed to whatever cloth material you want. I used black out curtains because the blackout coating means you don't really need to hem it, plus - it stays cozy!

Link to the kit which is one rail and one tape (enough for drivers seat back to trunk): http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/glide-tape-drapery-system-wall-kit/14754

I would remove the back seat all together. It will add a ton of cargo room and reduce weight.

If you go the platform route, using 1" conduit pipe for legs is a significant weight/space savings over wood. Later I will post pics of my Honda element setup that could probably be altered to a subie, though headroom wouldn't be as much.

Jon Frisby wrote:

If you go the platform route, using 1" conduit pipe for legs is a significant weight/space savings over wood. Later I will post pics of my Honda element setup that could probably be altered to a subie, though headroom wouldn't be as much.

Please do post pics! I haven't seen a pipe set up.

Any one have  any ideas for screens?

2007 Honda Fit. Flat folding rear seat, lay the passenger seat flat with headrest off, pad out the cargo area with cordless pad, one more 1" foam pad laid over it all to smooth it out, park with nose of car gently downhill, legs over front seat = great sleeping rig. As far as the windows go, when the sun comes up, it's time to wake up and go climbing :)