Affordable Toyota Hilux Camper Has an Artsy Handcrafted Interior With Many Functionalities

Of course, the adventurer who made this creation isn't based in the United States since the Hilux isn't available there. Instead, he travels in his mobile home all around South Africa. By the way, I recently wrote about a van-dwelling family that is also based in South Africa.

Meet Ryan and his full-time mobile home, a converted 2011 Toyota Hilux sporting a 3.0-liter D-4D engine that outputs 171 hp.

Ryan's story is quite similar to other people who adopted a mobile lifestyle. He was always planning outdoor trips, so he thought, "Why not do this full-time?" And so, he found this vehicle. He was able to get a good deal on it by negotiating with the previous owner. In the end, Ryan invested a total of R450,000 ($23,793 or €22,048) into this build, which is an excellent deal.

On the outside, this rig is finished all around in green paint. What's more, it seems to be covered in Raptor liner (or a similar coating) for extra protection when off-roading.

You'll discover various exterior accessories. On the driver's side of the rig, you'll find an outdoor sprayer, an awning, and three storage compartments, one of which is a pass-through. At the rear, Ryan attached two spare tires and a bike rack that holds his mountain bike. There's also a large window letting plenty of natural light shine inside.

Finally, on the passenger's side, you'll notice a large graphic depicting mountains and trees and a storage spot holding car jacks and two propane canisters.

Step inside, and you'll be surrounded by a clean and cozy interior. I'd say it offers enough space for a person to live full-time inside, maybe even for two people. Specifically, the interior boasts a width of 5.7 feet (1.75 meters) and a length of 12.5 feet (3.8 meters).

Straight ahead, you'll find the kitchen. It features two spacious countertops, a fridge, a sink/dual-burner stove combo, and a small Dometic hood. For storage, Ryan can use five overhead cabinets and various drawers and cabinets underneath the countertops.

There are various design details that make this camper's interior stand out. For example, Ryan wood burned a dandelion into one of the countertops. The other countertop boasts another woodburned design that encapsulates everything that Ryan loves doing: it's a compass with mountains, a forest, and a tent.

Another distinctive detail is the wooden ceiling, which has a mandala engraved into it. What's more, it integrates a skylight, through which Ryan can pass to climb on the roof.

At the front, Ryan came up with a clever solution to have some extra storage space – he created a shelf out of wood slats right above the driver's cabin. In order not to block the way to the front seats, he can fold this shelf out of the way since the slats are connected via elastic bands.

Right by the entrance, you'll notice this rig's control panel beside a Victron solar charge controller and a DC-DC charger. It features switches for the lights and other appliances, as well as a battery monitor. By the way, this rig is equipped with a 200 Ah and two 400 W solar panels on the roof.

What I really like is Ryan's DIY solution for the electrical system display. Most people choose the easy yet pricier of buying a Victron Cerbo GX display. However, Ryan wanted to keep costs to a minimum, so he created an open-source panel using a Raspberry Pi. No, that's not a dessert, but rather a single-board computer that allows you to control electronic components for physical computing.

It even looks like a Cerbo GX and fulfills the same purpose. Moreover, Ryan installed temperature sensors in the freezer, fridge, on the battery, and inside the camper, allowing you to make sure everything runs smoothly. In addition, he can control everything via Bluetooth.

Like in many other campers, the rear part of the interior serves a dual purpose. It's Ryan's office and lounge, but it's also used as a bedroom. It boasts a U-shaped couch and a swivel table in the middle. Moreover, there are three large windows around, keeping the space well-lit; they can also be fully opened.

The two long benches can serve as two single beds, but Ryan can also connect them to create a large bed. Underneath the benches, there's a lot of storage space. Other notable elements in the rear are three shelves on each side, two overhead cabinets in the corners, and a 4K TV attached to a swivel mount and hidden in a counter.

All in all, Ryan built an affordable yet efficient camper. It has plenty of storage spaces, good off-road and off-grid capabilities, and a homey vibe.