What is a Housetruck RV? A DIY Global Phenomenon

We couldn’t go so far as to call this a RV. It lacks the many amenities that have become synomous with a recreational vehicle. But, people more familiar with custom built homes on a truck chassis would call it a “housetruck”. The housetruck, seemingly a novelty to most, actually represents a large group of devoted craftsmen that build their own homes on the back of trucks around the globe. Do-it-yourself’ers find a older truck and build their creation from the chassis up. The housetruck tends to be more popular in Europe, Australia, and New Zealand but they also have a following in the United States. Dont believe us, some people even do it as a business. Houstrucks can be found online for rent by the night.

These go-getters tend to take a used truck chassis and build a home on the back of it using wooden construction, siding, and roofing much like that of a traditional house.

The example below is from a couple out of New Zealand that built a housetruck on the back of a 1985 Hino truck. They built everything from the frame, to the walls, to electrical system, to insulation by hand (and feet). Their housetruck has a steel frame that was welded by hand. They also built the cabinets, benches and even the shower custom by hand. They sourced wood from local timber mills and picked up other items second hand to build out the interior. One of the impressive aspects of this housetruck is the beautiful custom windows with inlaid designs shown in the photos.

The Housetruck In Progress:

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The Housetruck Completed:

This thing must be a treat to drive given the weight and height of the back end. It features a walk out back porch and a crawl out window onto the roof. When you look at it from the side it seems like 3 separate homes combined to almost look like much more hospitable Kowloon Walled City. The higher areas on the front and back offer unique living space. One side is a bedroom and the other allows the access onto the roof spectacular views. The inside gives the feel of a secluded mountain cabin while the outside has a design that may very well be one of a kind.

You can read more about the construction process and see dozens of more photos at the OldSchool.co.nz forum.