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Mini RV Built On Top Of A World War II Ben Hur Trailer

This post was updated on March 15th, 2024

As a Cub Scout growing up, I used to love going to military reenactments. You’d get to see the old WWII guns and uniforms, and tour World War II-era vehicles up close. One avid camper decided to take a vintage WW II trailer and turn it into a tiny RV. While the trailer clearly shows its age on the outside and doesn’t have much in the way of amenities, it could work well as a weekend camper.

From the Seattle craigslist ad:

This is an original U.S. Army WW2 Ben Hur trailer that I purchased from a farmer in Waterville 20 years ago. It’s all original except for whomever painted it orange decades ago. Anyway, it’s all in working condition and has served me faithfully all this time with never a problem.

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Two Novembers ago I had to come up with a very affordable place to sleep for a few months and building this little cabin into the trailer was my solution. I designed and built it myself and it is solid, insulated and very cozy. Great ventilation thanks to dual roof vents and the opening windows, which are vintage.

The interior is all tongue and groove pine. Exterior is all cedar and clear polyurethane coated. The bed deck is Queen mattress size, (mattress in photo not included). It’s basically a super comfortable sleeping space with lots of storage. The trailer bed is 4×8′ and the camper dimensions above the trailer bed side level is 62″x9′. I am 6’1″ and I can stand in the middle at the foot of the bed.

It served me very well and has been a great impromptu guest bedroom where I live now. But, I really don’t need it anymore and am lightening my material load in life.

WWII Ben Hur trailer RV

Ben Hur tiny RV

Front view of small RV

Ben Hur trailer wheels

Small window in DIY RV

“Vivere in veritate” means “living in truth.”

Rear of mini RV

The rear gate of the trailer flips down and allows the door to swing open.

Entrance to the makeshift trailer

Revealing a storage area and sleeping compartment.

Storage and sleeping area in tiny RV

Spacious sleeping area

From the rafters

Sliding window grate.

Window grate slides into position

Looking toward the rear of the trailer.

Looking toward the rear of the trailer

Some cubby holes for storage.

Cubby holes for storage

Besides the slightly rusted exterior of the old trailer frame, this looks like one solidly built little camper.

UPDATE: the craigslist ad was recently taken down, but here’s an archive of the ad.

H/T: TinyHouseTalk

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