For sale, $55k
the house truck
Lofty
the idea
Could I build a tiny home on wheels that was truly comfortable? Could it be as beautifully-crafted as it was functional as an off-grid home..
I’ve been fascinated with the idea of a home I could move almost anywhere for as long as I can remember, so when the opportunity arose in my life to create just such a thing, I took a trusting breath and a leap of faith
It’s taken me several years to dial in every aspect my truck home (all the while, living in it full-time) but she’s now fully off-grid, finished to the point that you can just drive away - to the beach, to the mountains, across the country or the world.
Forget a bug out bag, this is a bug out home.
walk-through
An extended tour of the house truck
The build
It started during the pandemic. After a long search, I found the right truck.
She was once a plumber’s fleet vehicle. Well-cared for mechanically, but a little the worst for wear looks-wise.
With the help of a friend I stripped off the rattly old roll-up door and the bits and pieces left over from her former life and got to work cleaning, insulating, painting and cutting holes..
now
A stylish, one-of-a-kind comfortable tiny home on wheels.
Lofty has taken my dog Freja and I to the mountains and beaches of Canada, to the ocean, to the forests and, once, out of the path of a wildfire.
Now it’s time for someone else to love her and take her on adventures of your own.
financing available through vanlifetrader.com
Lofty, a home on wheels
She has three skylights, for plenty of natural light; the one over the bed opens for star gazing from your pillow. It also features a built in bug screen and blackout screen.
Fully insulated on all four interior surfaces, she stays cozy in winter and cool in summer (especially with the use of the air conditioner, installed under the bed).
For heat there is a Winnerwell wood stove, which quickly makes the space super toasty. It also has a portable oven that can be set on top for cooking while you have a fire. There’s a diesel heater for off-grid heat, electric heater and underfloor rug warmers (these last two for use on shore power). The small luxury of putting bare feet on warm floors in the winter really cannot be beaten!
The window over the kitchen counter is an Arctic Tern, double glazed (quieter and better at temperature management than traditional camper windows) with built in bug screen and blackout blind.
The shower features handmade tile and a sealed cedar enclosure, a rainhead shower as well as a handheld unit and a faucet, both of which are great for washing a dog or trail-dusty feet.
And perhaps the best part.. a hidden bathtub under the sofa.
It’s not a very common addition to a self-build camper but it was important to me to include one. The pleasure of taking a hot bubble bath anywhere you park cannot be overstated!
the technical stuff.
Lofty is a 1994 Chevy HD1500 with a well-cared for and heavy-duty V8 engine (gas).
Odometer: 128,300
She has six wheels.
The box is all aluminum (so it will never rust!) 16 feet by 8 feet wide and 7 feet tall.
The total length of the house truck is 25’
She’s rated for 13000lbs
Heat
One Winnerwell Woodlander double view wood stove (with additional folding oven)
A diesel heater
An electric heater
Underfloor heat mats
Cool
One Midea-U high efficiency AC unit (currently installed in the passthrough under the bed but could be moved to the top of the cab)
Water
one interior 65 gallon fresh water tank
one 55 gallon exterior gray water tank
one additional, portable (for easier cleaning) 10 gallon gray water tank for the kitchen drain
12v 3.5gpm shurflo water pump and SEAFLO 2 gallon accumulation tank
full sized Kohler bathtub located under the sofa
water is heated by a Furrion tankless propane water heater (capable of providing enough hot water to fill the tub or take a long hot shower, as if you were in a house)
there is a tiled and cedar-lined shower with rainhead, handheld and faucet components (the handheld is very useful for cleaning dirty dogs or feet!)
two 10 foot Campco gray water drain pipes
one 25 foot fresh water hose and one 25 foot heated fresh water hose (essential for camping or living in climates that get below freezing!)
Power
she’s powered inside by one 45V, 100ah lithium iron battery (for 4800 watts of power) and one 3500w all-in-one charger, inverter and solar monitor. In real world terms this means you can run the house for four days without a charge - meaning running the fridge 24/7, using the toaster, lights and chargers - but with the addition of the solar panel(s) you have virtually infinite free power.
wired for 110v and 12v appliances and charging
there’s one 435 watt solar panel on the roof and two additional ones that can be deployed on the ground at a permanent parking spot or installed on the roof if desired
several 30amp and 20amp electrical cables and adaptor for connecting to shore power in every situation
Toilet
included is a Joolca gotta go portable toilet with both an ‘eco’ cassette (composting type) and a chemical cassette.
Kitchen
there is a Cusineart electric oven with toasting and air frying capabilities, fits standard cake and muffin pans.
one electric slice toaster and
one portable butane hob (very useful for cooking outside when the weather is so warm that you don’t want to introduce more heat inside)
the fridge is a vintage-style but modern and super efficient Chambers 12 cubic feet size fridge with freezer compartment
Bed
one twin XL memory foam bed on Ikea bed slats, over a huge storage space
Storage
Ample.
Coat and shoe closet by the rear door
Two large kitchen storage cupboards, six large drawers under the kitchen counter, 3’ by 8’ by 4’ storage space under the bed, a cubby under the wood stove, a clothing closet with hanging space and two large drawers, plus a charging station by the bed
Lofty can also come with all dishes, storage tubs, cutlery and LLBean bedding if desired, so you can truly just drive away into the sunset.
Extras
the truck comes with
2 five gallon propane tanks (for the water heater)
20 feet grey water drain hoses
25 foot fresh water hose
25 foot heated fresh water hose
25 feet 30amp 110v electric cables with adaptors and surge protection
25 feet 20amp 110v electric cable
2 435w solar panels in addition to the one mounted on the roof (for deployment at long term parking or also adding to roof)
two step ladders for easy entry (one lightweight, easier for frequent moving, one heavy duty, better for long stays)
one super-light extendable 12’ aluminum ladder for reaching the roof
multiple storage totes if desired
also possible: all current cutlery, dishes, pots, pans and food storage containers
Lofty will best suit a single person in search of a comfortable home on wheels for adventure or perhaps just to park somewhere as a home, guest suite or Airbnb. She is capable of of being totally off grid, or connected to water and power where available.
I built her just for me and my dog but it would be possible to extend the bed over the cab with the help of a welder, so that the truck could accommodate a larger bed.
