Car Living

I've lately been thinking about how I can live as cheap as possible but not causing any really bad health problems in doing so. I want to live our of my car for some years and start some businesses from there. Ofc this isn't the end goal, but it will be the start of my journey to self sufficiency. I just binged some youtube videos and to summerise, I found that you need the following: -gym mebership - shower, workout, brushing, bathroom -thing to block light from windows and stop people looking through -Laptop or something to work on my businesses from, could also go library but would rather not since my productivity would be bad (my dwm vs library windows 11) -Fans for ventilation -Something for cleaning the car, wipes and a vaccum would go good. -Powerbanks and something to jumpstart my car for emergencies -Firestarters and a fridge (not a cooler, since fridge is better and around the same price) -Then I just need basicc neccesities but take a small amount of things What I need advice on is how to pick a car to sleep in, ik I need seats to go down, but I am 6ft 1, so idk if I will be too tall. Any other tips and tricks people can give as well as advice for when I am starting out would also be appreciated. Thanks.

People typically go for vans for the obvious benefit of space, but going by the thread title I'm guessing you're looking for something smaller and low-key. A minivan would probably be your best balance between space and stealth. I vaguely remember a sedan from hyundai that has a pretty long trunk and lay-flat back seats, Sonata I think? I did about 45 days on the road in a toyota matrix (hatchback) a few years back. I'm about your height and I was able to stretch out a bit if I put the passenger seat all the way forward and laid diagonally. Was even able to fit a date in there for a few days but we were pretty cramped (or cozy) at night. Pic related, took this shot while chilling in the back after doing some river laundry.

I've lived homeless out of my prius. Mileage is a nice money saver, big enough cabin with the seats down to fit my legs if I lay diagonally, can comfortably drive out to random coasts and the like whenever I feel like it. I'm 5'11, I'd honestly go to a used car dealership and check random spots out, try laying down in some cars, see what works. I recommend the prius just for the simplicity, but I'm sure you could find some larger sized hatchbacks or even a station wagon with decent mileage and maintenance costs. Biggest things to me are knowing your car, knowing how to fix it, knowing how much you need to pay when you can't fix it, and having a good AAA membership in case you're soykaf breaks. Also, if you get a prius, be ready to fight for your cat. Only kinda kidding.

>>13196 Totally forgot about this. A prius can be particularly great because of its camping mode, lets you run the AC/heat all night off the battery and automatically starts the engine to charge. That being said, for a used one, once the battery goes you'll have to sell the whole car for scrap or look into a very expensive replacement.

>>13197 >>13196 Some of the builds can be pretty nice. https://www.reddit.com/r/priusdwellers/comments/zpa3q6/prius_camper_conversion_running_water_fridge/

>>13197 I think you can get battery rebuild kits that will allow you to replace the individual battery cells, it's still pretty pricey, looks like in the realm of $1500-2000 USD, but if the car is in otherwise good condition it might be worth it. I know a lot of people say that it's not worth spending money on an old car after a point, but it beats having to have a payment and paying out the ass for full coverage insurance on the ever more expensive new cars out there.

>>13194 Large cars like Chevrolet Savannah v8 can accommodate you but require you to move around. Problem is, I don't know if OP is going to live in a city thus taking his showers at a gym + stealth car life or OP's going to live innawoods

I lived in the bed if my little Tpyota pickup truck with a flimsy shell over it for a while. Not too different from a car except I had to get out of the truck to get in the back which is more conspicuous. I had a camping pad and a good sleeping bag that kept me warm below freezing. Along both sides of the bed I had 6 identical coolers for food, one-gallon water jugs, clothes, and various other things. All you need to keep yourself clean is a sturdy bucket, washcloth, soap, other toiletry stuff. If you have to take an emergency crap you can just out a garbage bag in the bucket, sit on it and go, then tie it up tight and dispose of it somewhere appropriate. You can keep your clothes in a cheap cotton laundry bag and go to a laundromat once in a while. As long as you can get enough money for food, water, gas, and vehicle repairs you could live that way for a long time. I found a good road turnout part way into a wooded area where the police didn't bother me (they were pretty cool actually). That way you have a little privacy if you walk into the woods. You can still do the YMCA showers thing if you want to. If you rent a mailbox for paper mail and a phone messaging service for voicemail you even have and address and phone number. Make sure you have a valid ID, too.

>>13197 Or get some newer, bolder batteries

>>13194 Your worse enemies are humidity and heat. You need a good passive ventilation, with openings on the bottom and top of the car. Active ventilation will be pointless if you have a good passive one, which you need. You have to decide if you want to do stealth car camping or if you can allow you to look like a camper van. I prefer stealth in a family monospace. Keep the car clean by having a small place which will be the only ones you shoes will ever be and by not having a dog. It's a lot easier in the wild where there is no one than in a city. >>13218 Hilux would be the ultimate car for camping if you could go to the back from the driver seat.