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Going To Be Living In My Cruze for awhile...

17K views 26 replies 22 participants last post by  Snipesy 
#1 ·
Like the title says, I am unfortunately looking down a grim road in my near future. Long story short, I will be trying to live out of my Cruze for hopefully not too long...

Does anyone have any tips on this? All of my stuff will be in storage. I'll keep the essentials in my car with me. I'll shower at my gym and do general hygiene wherever else I can.

The real trouble I'm thinking I'll run into is A) where to park my car so I can sleep without being noticed/bothered and B) if I will even be able to FIT in the Cruze to sleep. If not, I have a decent sleeping bag that will keep me warm IF I can find a safe and inconspicuous place to crash.

I haven't tried to lay down in the back of my Cruze, but I think it would be a tight fit if I can even fit at all. My thoughts were to clear out the trunk and fold the back seat(s) down forward so I can stretch out as much as possible. I just don't want the police to try and get me in trouble if I'm sleeping in my car somewhere - which I am not sure is even illegal/legal?

Thanks!
 
#2 ·
According to YouTube and all the stealth camper videos, 24Hr WalMarts kinda are open to you using the far far end parking spots to set up camp since they assume you will come in for products eventually when you do pee breaks. $10 monthly membership at Planet Fitness or equivalent gets you showers and mirror to shave in front of. I lived out of my Subaru for a few months before but I had a heated garage at my old job in Tysons Corner, Va to park in. I knew the staff so they wouldn't hassle me. When it was warmer I ended up sleeping outside of my other job until I moved back to Ohio. A Prius strangely was my better cool weather sleeping car as it only turns the car on a few times to provide you with heat but you need to be somewhere a car turning on and off won't be an issue/nuisance.
 
#3 ·
Another option for sleeping if your driver/passenger seat gets uncomfortable. Put your front passenger seat all the way forward and fold the rear seats down you can lay at an angle with a few pillows/blankets stacked on the rear passenger floorboard, you will also need a foam pad(cheap) or even memory foam on the trunk floor to make it more comfortable and to compensate for the lip at the front of the trunk.

I also have lived out of my car/tent for a summer, might be worth getting a state park sticker and getting a cheap campsite at least a few nights a week. This will also give you access to a shower & you can have a campfire to cook or stay warm.
 
#4 · (Edited)
I used the CRUZE for storage and moved into $10.99 a night Hotel Rooms for November & December at Harrah's Laughlin. I had a killer premium room at the end of the hall overlooking the Colorado River & the "Strip". It was the best stay of my life. The CRUZE is too small to be comfortable in, and you are not supposed to apply continuous pressure to a back seat that folds down.

Plus somebody might steal you?
It may surprise you to learn that a person living in Colorado is twice as likely to have their car stolen as a person living in New York City. According to the Colorado State Patrol, Denver has five thefts per 1,000 cars and a surprisingly large number of those thefts are carried out for the purpose of committing more serious crimes.

MORE: http://www.avvo.com/legal-guides/ugc/the-rise-of-auto-theft-in-denver
 
#5 ·
My thoughts were to clear out the trunk and fold the back seat(s) down forward so I can stretch out as much as possible.
You might try sleeping on a diagonal with part in the trunk and part on the back seat. That way you can still store some stuff in the trunk. But you're probably going to need some padding, because I don't think the seats lie completely flat.

You might try building something that looks like you have non-valuable "junk" in the backseat but actually is covering you. That way it's not obvious that you're sleeping there.
 
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#6 ·
Walmart or any 24 hr store is legal and fine.

Folding down the back seats and sleeping 1/2 on the back of those and 1/2 in the trunk works (I switched my head/feet every few hours). Or you can lean all the way back in the drivers seat, goes down pretty far.

Hope all is well and you're not living in the car for too long!
 
#7 ·
You are a veteran and I do think that there could be a Veterans center or such that you might look into .. also I do think there is shelters and housing for Homeless Veterans .. so why do you want to sleep in your cruzen ? just thinking about it I would prefer to sleep on the ground under the stars on a cott preferably , but then again you's guys out there in colorado prefer inside ......
 
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#20 ·
With friends involved with foster child care and getting involved with social services the first time in my life. Not talking about the kids as much, the reason why they are taken away from the biological parents is because they are not taking proper care of them.

But social services is also taking care of the biological parents as well!


Some foster parents are even making money off of taking care of kids. Abused wives can go to a home, get three hots a day, free counseling, medical, and job training. Had no idea how socialistic this country has became.

See no reason to sleep in your car, visit social services. And wondering why we are working. Must be pride.
 
#8 ·
Hello
1st sorry about your situation. I had to live in my Iroc back 20 yrs ago for 7-8 weeks. I know what I did was the gym for showers & rest areas for sleeping. I also had a big enough storage area I slept in there once in a while. Weekends I would crash at a buddies apartments that was not bad sometimes. During this time I had a lot of time to think & made me appreciate things a lot more. It really made me a better man for this too. Going to the gym a lot & not take a lot of things for granted. I really wish you the best. please keep us updated too. GOOD LUCK
 
#13 ·
Good luck bud. i had to do a few weeks in my grand prix and being 6 foot 5 it was never "comfortable" but i made it work. I parked at walmart and was never bothered. found a nice piece of shade under a tree so the morning sun wouldn't bake me inside the car.
 
#14 ·
Have you talked to the VA down on Colorado and 8th by Rose medical hospital? I'm sure there has got to be another option.
 
#18 ·
I'm a measly 5'7" slender guy so I can sleep well in my Cruze. Walmart is great as everyone mentions. I rotate through a couple of them but they are all so busy so I don't think anyone has caught on. Get yourself a carbon monoxide detector just in case. Not sure about your tint laws, but I have limo on my back windows, 35% on my front. Then use a sun shade for the windshield for privacy. I hang my work shirts and pants with a rod going from my seat to rear window. I keep a small cooler with some water bottles that I fill up at work before leaving. I use the work microwave for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Gym for shower and coin laundry for clothes. Cell phone for music and occasional Netflix TV episodes. Spend as much time out of your car as possible. Go to parks, lakes, take hikes and do stuff on your days off to not get stir crazy. Only try and be in the car for driving and sleeping to keep your sanity in check.

Hope your situation improves but you may find that this life style is pretty cool, just it might be better with a larger vehicle like an SUV or truck with a camper shell down the road.
 
#19 ·
I have attempted to lay down in the cruze. Im 6'1 and to successfully lay down entirely I had to lay down the backseats of course and lean the front seat forward. I sort of rest my back and head on the back of the front seat while my feet were in the trunk. Its a tight squeeze but its certainly possible. I wouldn't mind sleeping in my cruze its not that bad. Just don't expect to have much fun with a girl.
 
#25 ·
Why didn't I think of this before? Perfect place to go for maximum comfort and safety, an underground parking lot. I worked in Century City CA at the abc Entertainment Center. You can pull in, never pay, and stay forever!

The strip at the top was floors 44 & floor 45 where I worked. NO windows, spooky, Yes!
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