Episode 12: Living in a Prius with David Swanson
166 shares Could you imagine living in a Prius? It’s no easy feat! Tom and I lived in a Prius in 2015 in the San…
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Could you imagine living in a Prius? It’s no easy feat! Tom and I lived in a Prius in 2015 in the San Francisco Bay area to pay off debt and save money. That’s why I wanted to interview David Swanson for Episode 12 of The Wayward Home podcast. He lived in his Prius for 7 years, traveling across the U.S., making friends and even appearing in the Oscar-award-winning movie Nomadland.
David tells us about why he started living in a car, and tips for making your care safe, cozy and comfortable.
Listen here:
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In this episode, we’ll cover:
- Why David started living in a Prius
- How he set up his Prius for full-time living, including cooking inside a Prius
- Fermentation and food storage techniques for car living
- What you need to know if you have to live in a car
- Why David no longer lives in a Prius anymore
Who is David Swanson?
Many years ago, David was a successful potter and martial arts enthusiast in Wisconsin. As time went on, he had a harder and harder time using his thumbs. He’d developed severe arthritis from his work.
David had to stop working and start living on disability.
At first, he moved into a 34′ motorhome with a wood stove and solar, spending four winters trading working in sustainable gardens for parking spots.
But he got tired of getting only 6 miles per gallon. David had heard about other people living in a Prius and the minimalistic lifestyle appealed to him.
So, he moved into a Prius, determined to make the experience the best it could be.
How David Set up his Prius Interior
David took out all the seats in his Prius and added a wood slab where he could cook and set his food. He had an induction cooktop, a pressure cooker and a 12-volt Engle fridge.
He slept on a comfortable camping mattress in back with curtains covering the windows.
David thinks the most important parts of making a car comfortable for living are a cozy place to sleep, a way to cook food indoors and privacy, so having curtains over your windshield.
David also installed 200-watts of solar with a lithium battery on his Prius, which he used to power his induction stove for cooking, his fridge and a folding electric bike.
Are You Also Living in a Car?
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Hey there! I just listened to Episode 12 with Snow Rider 3D David Swanson, and wow, it really struck a chord. Living in a Prius sounds wild but also liberating! I can relate to the thrill of downsizing; when I moved into my tiny apartment last year, I had to ditch so many things. It was hard at first but now I love that minimalistic vibe. Plus, David’s tips on finding games for downtime in the car are gold! Game nights have become our favorite way to bond while traveling. Thanks for sharing this inspiring story! Keep up the great work! 🚗💚