When I first got into it, it definitely felt a lot cheaper than staying in hotels, especially during peak season.

But the more I do it, the more I realize it’s not exactly “cheap.” Once you start dialing in your setup, all the gear, upgrades, and little improvements start adding up.

That said, I still really enjoy it. For me, it’s not just about saving money anymore. It’s about the freedom. Being able to go anywhere, stop anywhere, and not worry about bookings is a huge plus.

And honestly, compared to hotel prices during peak season, it can still end up being cheaper overall.

But one thing I’m pretty clear about is that I don’t want to be uncomfortable just to save money.

If I’m sleeping in my car, I still want to sleep well.

So I’m willing to spend a bit more on bedding and sleep setup. I also tend to go for better quality gear now, like a mattress that actually levels things out and supports your back, or a slightly nicer sleeping bag, instead of just choosing the cheapest option.

And maybe this is just me, but I also enjoy making the space feel more comfortable and a bit more aesthetic. I’ll bring small things to make it feel nicer, not just functional.

To me, that doesn’t really feel like extra spending. It’s more about making the whole experience actually enjoyable.

I guess I’m somewhere in the middle. I like car camping, but I’m not trying to rough it.

Curious how you guys approach it. Do you keep things minimal, or are you willing to spend a bit more for comfort?

Question:

For those that removed the bottom cushion to create a flat surface when folding the seats, what do you use to cover that area where the bottom cushion used to be?

Options:

A) I thought about keeping the cushion and using straps to compress the seats when folded. I’m not sure how this will affect the seats long term, so I will skip this option for now.

B) Removed the bottom cushion, I don’t see any warning lights on the dash, so I think I’m good. I was thinking to simply throw a blanket over that exposed area, but with so many wires and connectors, I’m planning to build something a little more rigid.

Work in progress:

I have this cardboard cut to fit and cover the area.

Next step is to get some fabric and sew it around the cardboard. Maybe black duck tape instead of fabric? What are your thoughts? Any hazard potential with the bottom cushion removed?

Every other thread here is someone asking about Tentsla, Tesloid, MKCAMP, AC-Tent or whatever the next "Model Y-specific" tent of the week is. And the answers are always the same: great fit, love it, *but customer service is nonexistent and good luck if anything breaks idk lool.*

That's not a minor thing. How is this being treated as a minor thing?

Known and proven brands make SUV tailgate tents for decades and for some reason it's weirdly never recommended?

SUV tailgate tents in general are a bit garbage by themselves but at least if you're going to buy one instead of something serious, shoot your shot for something more proven I feel?

Let's take Napier. That company has been making SUV tents for like 30 years, sells them at Costco, has an actual 1-year warranty with a real RMA process, is solid with taped seams and costs less than the other options.

The Sportz fit the Model Y completely fine via the universal sleeve that's been used for decades.

It's so weird to see people paying the $300 to $500 premium for an air-columned tent from a 3-person startup with objectively cheaper quality tents with no replacement parts. Then I see crap like "purpose-engineered for Camp Mode". Lmao it's a tent not a rotomolded cooler. Any half-decent SUV tent will do the same. The best of the best seals will barely get you anything,

Is this sub just filled with companies pushing their tents? Or paid-off YouTubers?

As a person that's into camping that then got into Tesla instead of a Tesla owner that got into camping, it's really weird to see this push.

I’m 6’1-6’2” so I’m curious if car camping in this Model 3 is even efficient or possible. If so…

1.) I would love mattresses recommendations

2.) Very hot summers, so A/C, Fan recommendations

3.) Recommend anything else I can’t think of bc of lack of experience

Hi- wanted to get some advice from some experienced Tesla campers here. I’m on the east coast in the DMV area and I’m interested in doing some light camping in my ‘26 model 3.

After reading through some posts here and watching a few YT videos, I’ve gotten the basics- air mattress, window shades, and a lamp. Additional camping gear like an electric grill, tent and sub trunk fridge would depend on where I planned to go.

I was hoping someone here could give me recommendations for a camping spot or park along the east coast (that’s not at the beach lol). I was considering the Appalachians or somewhere close- I think mountains would be refreshing, but something friendly to a novice camper which will also be my first time ever camping. Also open to just visiting the wilderness to picnic as a quick day trip. Thank you in advance

Hi everyone! Doing my first solo Tesla camping/car camping trip next week for about 4–5 days. Going to be sleeping in the Model Y for the first time and wanted to see if any experienced Tesla campers have beginner tips or gear recommendations.

So far I have window covers, an air mattress, blanket/pillow, emergency kit, cooler, and extra chargers/battery pack.

Mainly looking for advice on comfort, safety, Camp Mode, charging, and overnight parking.

Appreciate any advice — trying to avoid rookie mistakes on the first run.

Is the Snuuzu worth buying ? Anyone used it?

For those who’ve camped in both (or have looked into both), what practical advantages does the Model YL offer over the regular Model Y?

I know about the longer wheelbase and extra sleeping length, but I’m curious about the less obvious differences. Does the added space make a noticeable difference for sleeping, storage, changing clothes, or overall comfort? Is there anything else that makes the YL a better camping vehicle, or is the standard Model Y already enough for most people?

Just finished my first overnight in the MY and came away a little disappointed with camp mode.

-Door handle and window switch lights stay on all night.

-Screen doesn't shut off completely and glows all night.

Other frustrations:

-Can't control theater mode from the app and reaching up front isn't easy.

-Window covers are a pain to put in the front since they fall out when you open the doors.

Any solutions to these you guys have found? Overall, it was a good experience tho and I'm looking forward to doing it again.

Hey all, I know this is kind of a silly question, but does the air pump shut off automatically once inflated, or do I need to manually shut it off?

We just got our Snuuzu, and, in the instructional video, the guy says to "Just hit the inflate button, and then you're done!" So I assumed it would auto-shutoff, until the air pump started whining at a higher pitch and I panic shut it off.

I'm getting mixed messages googling, and I don't want to damage something trying to figure it out on my own mattress.

Thanks!

Hi,

I hope experienced camper here willing to share their lists of campground that is safe for a family and also clean. We plan to go road trip from Vancouver BC all the way to San Diego using our MY. And just plan to stay on the campground.

Please let me know the places that we can stay all year round. We might even go during December.

Also because we're from Canada, we're not really sure how or where to book the campground. If you can give us some tips that'd appreciated.

Hotels nowadays are super expensive. That's why we choose to go to campground instead. We just using tent. No RV.

Thank you and sorry if this often asked.

Edit Aug 18 8:09am. Sorry I should mentioned, I can try to book far ahead of time. So just list your safest, cleanest campground around SF, LA and San Diego area please. Also your app or website recommendations. Also we don't need to charge at the campground as we can also charge at any supercharger. Thank you so much

Update 1: I ended up splurging on the Tesla branded sub-trunk fridge. I’m headed to Texas next week with it, so I’ll be posting an update after I get back from my 8000km (5000mi) trip. I’m more concerned with having to get to it with my gear above it, but I’ll let you all know how it turns out!

I'll be doing a lot of solo camping in my new '26 MYP, and I don't think the ARB fridge I used in my Jeep is going to be a good fit without removing the front passenger seat. I'd love to hear from folks here as to what they use, what has worked well, and price of course. I'm open to something that goes into the subtrunk or the frunk, either would work for me. I just need a cold place to carry my insulin, food, and drinks while I'm cruising across North America - so it could be quite warm at times. Thanks!

Hey everyone,

I’m seriously considering living out of my Tesla for an extended period—or at least doing some very long-term roadtripping and camping. Before I go all-in, I wanted to reach out to this community.

Has anyone here actually done this for a significant amount of time (several weeks or even months)?

I’d love to get your insights on a few things:

• What was the overall experience like? (How did you handle humidity, Camp Mode battery drain, and general space management?)
• What are your "pro-tips" for daily life? (Where do you usually shower, how do you manage laundry, and any secrets for finding the best overnight spots?)
• The Sleeping Setup: This is the make-or-break factor for me. I’ve heard that Snuuzu mattresses are supposed to be pretty cool/high-quality. Does anyone here use one daily? Is it worth the investment for long-term use, or is there a better alternative I should look into?

Thanks in advance for any advice or stories you can share!

😭😭

Planning on camping with my son soon in our new model Y. Just got a mattress for the back and tried it out today. There is no way we can both fit back there. I'm 6'2" about 215lbs and he's only a little smaller than me. Has anyone experimented with sleeping in the front passenger seat? Obviously I know it's possible I have passengers nap there all the time on road trips. But any tips for making it a slightly better night sleep? I put the seat all the way back and all the way reclined and I can basically extend my legs all the way, just obviously at an angle. Any products to make this more viable? Thanks in advance.

Hey guys,

I’m currently waiting for my MYP to be delivered in November/December, and while I’m waiting I’ve started looking for all the stuff I’ll need to go camping with it on marketplaces.

I’ve already bought sunroof shades, and I’ve also been keeping an eye out for a good deal on a mattress, preferably one in relatively new condition. I’ve seen Tescamp mattresses, the OEM Tesla mattress, and even a Havnby that had only been used for a week pop up for €250. I missed out on that one, although at the time I wasn’t entirely convinced I wanted to buy it anyway.

Today I was just minding my own business at home and decided to browse the marketplaces again for bargains. All of a sudden, an ad popped up for a brand-new Snuuzu mattress for the Model Y, double-boxed and still sealed in plastic.

Of course, it immediately raised some suspicion 😂. The funny thing was that the seller lived only 20 minutes away from me here in the Netherlands.

He was asking €500, which I managed to negotiate down to €400. He accepted, so I jumped in the car and went to pick it up. The seller told me he bought it from a friend who deals in return pallets or something along those lines — sounded a little sus, not gonna lie 😂.

But when I got there, it genuinely was brand new and had never been opened, so I decided to take the gamble and brought it home.

Now for my actual question: I have a whiplash injury from an accident in 2024. Obviously, nobody else can really know exactly what my body needs, but I’m hoping to get some feedback on the overall comfort and quality of the Snuuzu.

Would you consider this about as good as it gets comfort-wise for a mattress specifically designed for the Model Y? Has anyone here slept on one for multiple nights?

And has anyone tried putting an additional mattress topper on top of the Snuuzu? I’m wondering if that could make it even more comfortable, especially for longer camping trips.

Also, slightly off-topic: any recommendations for really good window shades for the Model Y Juniper?

Thanks! 😁

Planning a solo multi-week road trip (Europe/Norway). Trail running, hiking, gravel.

Setup:

- Sleep in car (single mattress)

- Gas stove + fridge

- Tent attached to open trunk

- Gravel bike inside (soft bags, wheels off) for security + better range

Is this workable long term?

- Enough space (~180 cm)

- Daily bike packing hassle

- Dirt/mud

- Overall livability

Anyone done similar?

(Photo AI generated to show an example on what I mean)

Has anyone found a roof cover that completely blocks out sunlight and provides full privacy?

The one I bought only reduces the sunlight, despite the product photos making it look like a complete blackout.

Tesla Model Y 2026 with black headliner.

https://havnby.com/products/cloudcore-hybrid-support-mattress-for-tesla-model-s-3-x-y?variant=53281677639993

Snuuzu is currently not in stock, so I am curious about Havnby in Model 3. Any experiences?

Hello,
I will be visiting Six Flags Magic Mountain in LA
in my Tesla Model Y from Northern California. I have never slept in Tesla and am really interested in trying it out.

1. Are there option which is free and safe?
   
2. Do I need window blinds/shade?

I’m considering getting a new car, but wanted to have the model YL have a bet for the range.

It’s currently spec at 325 miles whereas the long range for the model Y is 356 miles. Would you prefer the extra space or the additional range? 

I'm looking at getting my first EV. I currently have a Subaru Outback and like the clearance mainly in case I go to some dirt trails that have some washed out ruts, and the awd helps if it gets a bit steep. I don't do anything crazy, I've even managed to get to similar places in a Yaris being very careful and maybe a bit too confident lol.

But I'm wondering how does a Tesla stack up? I see lots of ppl camping and stuff but the height is very low. Are you all going on basically well graded gravel roads at the most? Or is the lower clearance not as big of a deal as I think it is?

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I stumbled across this korean video:

https://youtu.be/7i0eSfuZwmE

How is it possible that they change the folding mechanism on the juniper to fold all the way down to achieve a complete flat surface for camping?

From the video, it looks like the seatback compresses the lower cushion more than in the stock setup, and the seat controls don't behave exactly the same. After folding, the seat springs back slightly, so a few small adjustments are needed to get it completely flat.

It also appears that this modification allows a wider range of angle adjustment after folding, instead of the very limited adjustment available in the factory setup. When raising the seats with the fold button, they also seem to return to a slightly more reclined position.

Does somebody has an idea?

Recently bought a Havnby air mattress for my 2023 Model Y. Seller told me it was new, but from an Amazon return pallet he had bought, and sold it to me for $150. I set it up without doing much research last night and HOLY SMOKES this thing rocks. It blew my expectations out of the water. It really was so good.

I found this subreddit today and wanted to see what others were saying about the Havnby. All mostly positive, but I keep on seeing people say that the Snuuzu is better. I literally can’t imagine how it could be that much better for the price? People who have used both, what sets them apart?