Turning Cars Into Campsites: Peter Ducato Talks Luno, Adventure, and Smart Outdoor Gear 514

Today I'm talking with Luno founder Peter Ducato. Peter is a seasoned entrepreneur and product specialist for the passenger building brands that blend, design, and impact. He's the founder and CEO of Luno, redefining outdoor adventure by turning vehicles into comfortable, ready-to-camp spaces.

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He Slept in His Car to Save Money… Then, Accidentally Created a Category

What Happened (Personal Story Style):

A few years back, Peter D. found himself freezing in the back of a Subaru Outback somewhere near Mammoth Mountain. The wind was howling, the tent felt like a bad idea, and hotels? Not exactly college-student budget friendly.

So what did he do? He cozied up in his car with a flimsy hiking pad—and by “cozy,” I mean he survived. Barely.

But that freezing weekend ended up being the beginning of something much bigger. When Peter got back home, he grabbed a tape measure, climbed into the back of his car, and started sketching ideas. Because surely sleeping in your car didn’t have to feel like punishment.

Fast forward a few years—and a misprinted mattress valve later—and Peter had pioneered in-vehicle camping, launched a category-defining brand, and built a company that not only weathered a pandemic launch, but sold out in a month.

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Principle:

What I love most about Peter’s journey is this: he didn’t wait for the perfect conditions. He leaned into what bugged him. He didn’t need a fancy van or huge investors. He started with a real problem, his own two hands, and a stubborn refusal to accept that the outdoors had to mean discomfort.

That’s a principle worth holding onto: Sometimes the best ideas are born in the middle of discomfort—and yes, even in the back of a freezing Subaru.

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Transition:

Too many of us think we need ideal circumstances before we act. The perfect setup, the funding, the five-year plan.

But maybe what’s holding you back isn’t the market or the money—it’s waiting for conditions to be “just right.” It’s believing that if you’re not ready now, you’ll never be.

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That’s Why:

That’s why I love this episode. It’s not just a founder story—it’s a permission slip. To start where you are. To use what you’ve got. To trust that the worst nights can become the best ideas. And to remember that even if you mess up (like mislabeling thousands of mattress valves), people will root for you if you’re honest and human.

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