Have you ever seen a moving van driving down the road and thought to yourself: “I think I could make that into a nice home?” If you are like most people, the answer to that question is most likely “no.” You may think that someone who wants to live in a truck might be a little crazy. However, you may start thinking differently after seeing what this couple was able to do with a standard moving truck and a lot of ingenuity. You have to see what they turned this truck into to believe it!
This is Justie and Jola with their young son. After traveling overseas they decided to move back to New Zealand but they didn’t have anywhere to live. Justie had the idea of living in a bus and came up with a plan to make a home on wheels. They wanted to make a mobile truck castle!
It helps that Justie is interested in art and engineering because both came in handy when following through with his idea! This is a sketch that he drew after coming up with the idea.
His wife must have had the same vision and faith in their abilities to pull it off because she not only agreed but helped in making it happen! Here is the old truck they bought which would soon become their castle!
What’s the point of turning an old truck into a house if you aren’t still able to drive around? Their house tucks up neatly into itself so it is street legal.
Whenever they grow sick of the neighborhood they just pack up and drive their home to a new location!
This is a view from the front door looking into the house while it is still in a compact state. Looking at this, it doesn’t look very homey, that’s for sure!
However, once they expand all the moving parts, it starts to look less like a vehicle and more like a beautiful castle home!
Even without knowing this house is able to transform into a vehicle, it’s an unusual home considering it has two turrets, which most homes don’t normally have. Talk about your home being your castle!
What home is complete without a front porch?
Once expanded, it’s quite roomy inside! Complete with a full kitchen that includes a full-sized oven! I have seen apartments that don’t have full size ovens!
They have a sitting/living room near the kitchen that also has a wood burning stove. The word burning stove also acts as the heat source for their water heater. Talk about efficiency!
Under the sleeping area they have plenty of closet space, with two revolving closets on a sort of lazy susan type system under their bed.
The sleeping quarters are on the second floor, which has a beautiful vaulted ceiling and tons of natural light. The wallpaper in the mobile truck castle is custom-made out of sheet music.
However, there’s more! They even have a covered roof-top deck complete with hammock!
And what rooftop deck would be complete without a bathtub big enough for two?
It’s absolutely beautiful on the deck and would be so relaxing!
However, the deck’s roof is not only functional but it’s practical as well. Inside the roof is a drying rack so this family can have all the dehydrated fruit they could want!
They thought of everything they may need when designing their mobile truck castle, including solar panels on the roof to provide eco-friendly power
And a home isn’t a home without a restroom. In keeping with the eco-friendly theme they have a composting toilet in one of the turrets at the back of the van.
The other turret holds the shower as well as a tiny washing machine!
Oh, and as if that wasn’t enough, their side door expands so the outdoors becomes a part of their living room.
Take a look at the video below of the mobile truck castle in action!
More info: Living Big In A Tiny House
This tiny house is absolutely beautiful. It is luxurious in a simple and eco-friendly way and completely awesome in that it’s mobile! Next time you see an old truck, instead of only seeing what it is now, try to imagine what it might become with a little imagination and a lot of hard work and ingenuity. You too may have a dream home like no other!