RVers have used several types of vehicles for their tiny home conversions from retired school buses and city buses to old ambulances and even fire trucks.
Former moving trucks and cargo trailers have also been popular as converted tiny homes. They have an empty and spacious interior that works well as a blank canvas to build out a custom floor plan.
Youtuber Cole Webb recently shared a tour of the former U-Haul truck he converted into a tiny home-on-wheels. What makes his build particularly homey is the traditional home door, window, and wall on the back side of the rig.
In his tour video, Cole says the truck conversion ran about $9,000 total. This includes $5,000 for the truck and an estimated $4,000 in supplies.
He purchased the 2006 E-350 truck with only about 80,000 miles on it. The back roll-up door was taken out and replaced for both safety reasons and easier access. The truck could only latch from the outside, so if it somehow became latched (or if somebody walking by outside latched it) and he was already inside he would basically be trapped. The roll-up door also took up at least a foot of the interior living space.
It was replaced with an $80 window, $200 traditional door, and T1-11 siding that was sealed and stained, all found at his local Lowe’s. The interior walls were built with 3/4-inch foam board insulation and 5-millimeter plywood. On the ceiling, there are stained rough cut pine boards that give the interior a more homey feel than the original white ceiling in the truck.
The door swings inwards and leads into a comfortable interior with room for the whole family. There is shoe storage hidden behind the door as well as hooks to hang coats and keys. The dinette table converts into a bed and has lots of storage beneath for clothing, batteries, etc.
Their mini wood stove was one of the most expensive items for the camper (at about $900). It keeps the place warm and is also used for cooking. The kitchen consists of large storage cabinets, a free countertop from Craigslist, and a simple wooden shelf with a water jug. He also created a DIY kitchen sink from a bucket with some drilled holes.
For their bathroom and shower, Cole picked up a Durastall standalone shower from Ace Hardware and cut a hole in the floor so the water can drain outside. The shower also hides their DIY toilet made from a 5-gallon bucket with an attached toilet seat.
The kids sleeping area is in the back of the camper and can be accessed up a short ladder. Clothes and other accessories for the kids are stowed away underneath the mattress.
There are USB chargers by the bed as well as the dinette table for charging devices. The interior LED lights run off a battery that charges off the alternator while driving. Cole shares how he wished to have added in more windows, but the project was on a limited budget. They did add in a MaxxFan Deluxe 4-speed fan that vents out the top for better air circulation.
Check out this video for the full tour:
You can view more of his videos and subscribe to his Youtube channel here. He also shared this time-lapse video of the entire truck build from start to finish:
Only thing is draining the water outside.this is said knowing that there’s many worse ways to pollute. I suggest spending or finding for free a Grey water storage tank,or something that could function like it .Otherwise just be careful with that Stove inside and from embers emitted. I also think some sort of hinged version of the roll up door would add a layer of security while inside and when gone enjoying the great outdoors . But overall very thrifty and “Neat” GOOD JOB!!
DOT certified glass? Just asking.
well done … i’d keep the original rolling door as well though … comes in handy when parking the car anywhere and leaving it for long hours or even days …
Nicely done especially for your budget.
Have lots of fun and learning experiences.
If you have an AGM battery, no worries.
If flooded cell battery, be sure to provide ventilation and a battery box with cover for safety.
12 volt coolers only draw 5 amps so that might work for you instead of ice chest which gets everything wet with melting ice.
I’ll be watching for your travel reports.
Enjoy and God Bless you all.
Hillbilly!