What a clever idea! I never saw one of these. And bug screens so you can keep the rear windows open!

I really doubt the door warning LED will drain the battery overnight as that's pretty low draw. After all, cars have those flashing theft deterrent LED's which are flashing all the time. And heck, all the computer systems in cars now have a vampire draw way more than a single LED.

If you are really concerned there are a couple things you can do.

1) Connect an ammeter in series with your battery and see if there is a significant change in current draw when you open the door.

2) Or you could just buy a backup battery and keep it in the car with you. Not really necessary, but you might get a better night's sleep since you won't be worrying about it.

PS. Where do you do car camping? I see you have a road bike. Where do you ride when you go camping?

 

Just moved to Massachusetts earlier this year, so I'm still discovering places. I thought car camping set-up would be super convenient to sleep wherever, but it's been surprisingly difficult to get campsites given the standard summer rush plus COVID. I'm fairly restricted to the weekends, and tend to wait too late to get a site reserved.

That particular trip was to Lafayette Campground in NH's White National Forest. Amazing spot, tucked into Franconia Notch with some pretty epic hikes (and the AT) passing through. There is a decent (albeit extremely hilly) paved bike path - I used my bike to traverse to Echo Lake a few hikes further away. Fun alternative to driving, and it allows me to leave the Subie w/ trunk tent up.

Starting to shop for a mountain bike but having trouble since COVID apparently turned the world into wanna-be fitness gurus. All the bikes are sold out!

 

Or you could just buy a backup battery and keep it in the car with you. Not really necessary, but you might get a better night's sleep since you won't be worrying about it.

I'd get a lithium-ion jump starter. They're cheap, compact (can store in glove box) and hold 90% of their charge after a year. Good for multiple starts on one charge. Here's link to one from Costco for under $50. Also provides an LED flashlight and USB charging ports. Even if you don't leave your hatch open you should have one if in remote areas. Safer than jumping from another vehicle as no danger of sparks when connecting/ disconnecting.

https://www.costco.com/type-s-lithium-jump-starter-portable-power-bank-with-led-flashlight-.product.100425276.html

 

^ I did that, I bought ones of these off Amazon: https://amzn.to/3fNPiYe
Ive had it for about 2 years now. Ive used it 4 or 5 times to jump my wifes car when her battery was on it's way out, and some friends cars. Works fantastic and it very small/portable so I just leave it in the Crosstrek year round. Per the instructions, you're supposed to top off the charge every 6 months even if you have no used it. So I do it every June/Dec to make it easy to remember.

Im assuming you have a Limited Trim model? I do not think the Premium has the door indicator on the dash like you mentioned (I have the Premium trim).

 

How about some no reside duct tape stuck over the button/switch so it thinks the hatch is closed? I've done that with the one on the door while I was working on stuff, to stop the warning beeps. I'm assuming, of course, that the hatch has the same kind of thing as the door...

 

Warning beeps? That must be something on the Limited. My Premium just has the dash icon showing that a door is open.

 

I forget all of the circumstances but there are situations where it will chime incessantly if the door is open. I've had it happen while working on wiring under the dash, for example, with the door open and turning the ignition on and off. A piece of duct tape over the switch (which is on the B-pillar just under the latch) does the trick.

 

In a keyed car, it chimes when the key is in the ignition and a door is open.

One feature I think is nice is that if my key is in the ignition, I have a door open and I try to lock the doors, it will immediately unlock them. Lockout prevention!

 

Leaving the tailgate open results in dead batteries on Outbacks and Foresters that have power liftgates, even with the cargo/interior lights turned off. Not sure about the Crosstrek since it has a manual liftgate. You you might want to try the carabiner workaround in this video to see if it eliminates your door open warning:

 

What did we do before we had our doors self-open for us?? Gawd, have we become lazy!

 

I would say the same about keyless ignitions.

 

LOL, OAK loves not having to rummage in her huge purse for the keys when she gets in the car and complains bitterly when she has to use the other car that has has a key... 😸

 

I'm with OAK. Now that I have numeric coded home door locks I don't have to carry any keys at all.

 

Nice! Unfortunately, we live in an early '60s building. I think they had only just invented Yale locks back then...

 

Hi all! Recently returned to the US and bought my second Crosstrek... all outfitted for some super simple car camping. I was worried about getting too hot during the summer months, so I bought some $10 window covers on Amazon. Surprisingly helpful with airflow, but still felt a little cramped.

Ended up getting a Napier Sportz Cove hatch tent on Amazon. Super easy set-up, and I made sure all the dome lights were shut off so the battery wouldn't drain. Note: I have a manual hatch, so no electricity pull from automatic hatch.

I'm going to try the carabiner trick tonight to see if it actually works (it should, since it replicates the latch locking to a d-ring mechanism). I'll report back if I'm successful.

BTW, Which Sportz Cove did you get -- the smaller 61000 for small SUV/CUVs or the larger 61500 that your post links to Amazon?

 

Oh you're right... earlier link was not accurate. Here's the version I got. Fit like a charm!
Napier Sportz Cove 61000 Easy Setup Small Midsize SUV Tailgate Shade Awning Tent

 

Update:

Carabiner works like a charm. Center display turns off. Carabiner releases easily when you push the hatch open mechanism.

Having a non-powered hatch is actually a blessing in this case!

 

Wow, this is great to hear! I figured it would only work the powered hatch as depicted in the Outback vid above.

 

Hi all! Recently returned to the US and bought my second Crosstrek... all outfitted for some super simple car camping. I was worried about getting too hot during the summer months, so I bought some $10 window covers on Amazon. Surprisingly helpful with airflow, but still felt a little cramped.

Ended up getting a Napier Sportz Cove hatch tent on Amazon. Super easy set-up, and I made sure all the dome lights were shut off so the battery wouldn't drain. Note: I have a manual hatch, so no electricity pull from automatic hatch.

However... the only remaining issue I cannot solve is the center LED screen stays on with a door open warning. This occurs even if the vehicle is totally off (no key in ignition, etc). Not sure if this even pulls enough electricity to drain the battery, but I didn't want to risk it while out in the wilderness camping. So I had to close my hatch and couldn't enjoy leaving it open overnight while sleeping (which was the entire purpose of buying the hatch tent).

Any ideas? Can the LED screen be shut off somehow? OR is there something I can wedge into the hatch lock to trick the system into thinking the hatch is closed? I called my local dealership and they were clueless. Will return the tent if I can't solve this.

Happy to answer any questions about the car camping set-up... surprisingly comfortable with only a sleeping pad & sleeping bag (Note: I'm only 5'4"). Kept the single seat up in the back for easy access to my clothes/belongings.

View attachment 301028

Camped out of my Crosstrek for 4 yrs with visors on all 4 windows for air flow but didn’t have the hatch open. Switched to a Hiker Trailer 670lbs dry weight with rear galley, screened windows, roof vent and front cargo tray as granddaughters head was almost to ceiling and I got fed up loading the car.

 

How did this work out for you? I also have a 2018 subaru crosstrek and looking at buying this exact car tent! But worried about battery dying since I'll be camping for 3 days. Any recommendations?

Hi all! Recently returned to the US and bought my second Crosstrek... all outfitted for some super simple car camping. I was worried about getting too hot during the summer months, so I bought some $10 window covers on Amazon. Surprisingly helpful with airflow, but still felt a little cramped.

Ended up getting a Napier Sportz Cove hatch tent on Amazon. Super easy set-up, and I made sure all the dome lights were shut off so the battery wouldn't drain. Note: I have a manual hatch, so no electricity pull from automatic hatch.

However... the only remaining issue I cannot solve is the center LED screen stays on with a door open warning. This occurs even if the vehicle is totally off (no key in ignition, etc). Not sure if this even pulls enough electricity to drain the battery, but I didn't want to risk it while out in the wilderness camping. So I had to close my hatch and couldn't enjoy leaving it open overnight while sleeping (which was the entire purpose of buying the hatch tent).

Any ideas? Can the LED screen be shut off somehow? OR is there something I can wedge into the hatch lock to trick the system into thinking the hatch is closed? I called my local dealership and they were clueless. Will return the tent if I can't solve this.

Happy to answer any questions about the car camping set-up... surprisingly comfortable with only a sleeping pad & sleeping bag (Note: I'm only 5'4"). Kept the single seat up in the back for easy access to my clothes/belongings.

View attachment 301028

 

We love our '18 Crosstrek and there are ways to stop it draining the battery, just don't expect to use the car battery for power for three days... 😸

 

Not sure if anyone has tried this, but on your lift gate latch, slide a screwdriver in as if it was the striker on the rear body. The screwdriver can be removed. The car should now think the lift gate is locked & in turn turning off the door/lift gate warning light. If your want to close the lift gate, just press the trunk unlock button to release the lock & the lift gate will close normally.

 

Hi all! Recently returned to the US and bought my second Crosstrek... all outfitted for some super simple car camping. I was worried about getting too hot during the summer months, so I bought some $10 window covers on Amazon. Surprisingly helpful with airflow, but still felt a little cramped.

Ended up getting a Napier Sportz Cove hatch tent on Amazon. Super easy set-up, and I made sure all the dome lights were shut off so the battery wouldn't drain. Note: I have a manual hatch, so no electricity pull from automatic hatch.

However... the only remaining issue I cannot solve is the center LED screen stays on with a door open warning. This occurs even if the vehicle is totally off (no key in ignition, etc). Not sure if this even pulls enough electricity to drain the battery, but I didn't want to risk it while out in the wilderness camping. So I had to close my hatch and couldn't enjoy leaving it open overnight while sleeping (which was the entire purpose of buying the hatch tent).

Any ideas? Can the LED screen be shut off somehow? OR is there something I can wedge into the hatch lock to trick the system into thinking the hatch is closed? I called my local dealership and they were clueless. Will return the tent if I can't solve this.

Happy to answer any questions about the car camping set-up... surprisingly comfortable with only a sleeping pad & sleeping bag (Note: I'm only 5'4"). Kept the single seat up in the back for easy access to my clothes/belongings.

View attachment 301028

Maybe a little gadget called hatch latch. Gonna try that out myself soon

 

An unused carabinier that you have lying around pressed into the door locking mechanism (to simulate the door latch) will do nicely. The car thinks that the door is closed and is quite happy.

 

FWIW: The above YouTube video is (at least for me) marked private. Here is a video with carabiner and Crosstrek Wilderness. Could be the same one? watch

Yes, it take awhile for the guy to get to the point, but hey.....

 

Back in the old days of camping from the back of a station wagon, we used these to disconnect the battery completely so no drain would take place over 3 or 4 days of camping. Easy to connect to charge lights, etc. and then easy disconnect again. I still use one on my lawn tractor battery.

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That's cool. I keep Stanley Powerstations in the cars for emergencies and they're also useful for camping trips for a light or to recharge a phone, or inflate a tire.

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