Stealthy Box Truck Hides a Deluxe Beach Condo Packed With Countless Nifty Features

Meet Scott and his self-built box truck, which serves as his full-time home. Scott is an avid surfer – he spends half of the year on one of California's most popular beaches and the other half in the desert – quite the combo, isn't it?

Scott has lived in RVs and boats his whole life – the last rig before the box truck was a 36-foot (11-meter) RV. However, the beach he's been surfing at for the past 50 years imposed a length limit for vehicles: those over 25 feet (7.6 meters) were no longer allowed. And so, he planned out a new build based on a box truck. Initially, he didn't plan to build it, but then the pandemic came, and this was the perfect project to fill his time.

What we have here is a 2008 GMC/ Isuzu box truck. Scott opted for a box truck because he wanted a commercial chassis that could support heavier weights and also wanted the driver's cabin to be separate from the living space.

This rig boasts an 18-foot (5.5-meter) box with a height of 8 feet (2.4 meters). Moreover, it offers about 120 square feet (11 square meters) of interior space. But before we go inside, let me tell you more about the exterior features.

One of the most important features mounted outside is the solar panel system. This tiny home on wheels runs purely on all-electric power – there's no propane inside. The 1,600 W solar panels on the roof ensure Scott has enough juice for the many features he has installed inside.

Amazingly, he has never run out of power in the three years he's been using the rig, nor was it ever necessary to plug into shore power.

One really cool part of this rig is that its exterior passenger side serves as a 16-foot (5-meter) movie screen. You can use a projector to display a movie or even connect a gaming console such as a Nintendo Switch and play with friends.

Unlike other campers, this vehicle doesn't have many exterior storage compartments – you'll soon see why inside. On the passenger's side, a small box next to the main diesel tank holds two spare diesel canisters.

On the opposite side, you'll discover another box holding a hose. Right beside, Scott mounted a large waste tank. He explained that every month, he connects the hose to the waste tank to dispose of the waste in designated spots – it takes just three minutes for the tank to empty.

At the rear, you'll notice the entrance for the camper, next to two tall windows. This is also where you'll find Scott's umbrella setup: he added an umbrella holder to a receiver underneath the vehicle. Moreover, Scott has under-mounted surfboard storage spots, one at the rear and two on the sides.

The umbrella setup with the extension and receiver mount all fit in floor compartments. Furthermore, Scott installed a 2,000-lb. (907 kg) hydraulic lift that holds a motorcycle rack.

To enter, you'll have to first walk up a small ladder, which, by the way, has its own storage spot by the entrance. Oh, if Scott wants to go full stealth, he can pack up everything at the rear and lower a white tarp over the entire rear part, completely hiding all the features. In this setup, it's extremely hard to tell that anybody lives in this rig.

And that's it for the exterior – if you thought this setup is cool, wait until you see the inside. Open the rear door, and you'll be greeted by a warmly-designed interior blending white elements with wooden details, such as a cedar ceiling.

The first area you'll be in is the living room – it comprises an L-shaped lounge, a massive 50-inch TV mounted on the wall, and a flip-up countertop with two chairs where you can eat or work on your laptop. What's more, the tall windows I mentioned earlier can be folded up and hung from hooks mounted to the ceiling.

In the passenger side rear corner, Scott has a storage spot and a small A/C. On the opposite side, you'll find a beautiful design touch: a guitar stored in a backlit glass case. Above it, you'll find the electrical panel with a Victron battery management system and distribution panels for the 12 V and 120 V systems.

The L-shaped couch can be lifted and lowered electronically at the touch of a button. Underneath it, Scott fitted a washing machine, a fridge/freezer box, and the electrical system, comprising six BattleBorn batteries, a 3,000 W Victron inverter/charger, and twin solar charge controllers. As I mentioned, it's potent enough to support all the appliances inside. What's more, a counter next to the L-shaped couch holds two trash cans and the main A/C.

You'll find the kitchen on the passenger side, next to the TV. It's minimally equipped, boasting a butcher block countertop, a deep stainless steel sink, a dual-burner induction stove, an Isotherm fridge, and a tiled backsplash (with genuine tiles, not a sticker). For storage, there are three stainless steel drawers and two spacious overhead cabinets.

Here's one of the best parts of this box truck. If you're familiar with campers, you know that most builders opt for many overhead cabinets on the sides for storage, as well as a garage. Well, Scott came up with a bit of a different solution: he raised the entire floor of the camper and used the room underneath for storage. An enormous floor compartment in the kitchen hallway serves as a pantry. It's got nine storage bins that can be lifted out.

The bathroom is located in the front left corner of the interior. Scott chose a Jabsco marine toilet because it doesn't smell, although it uses more water than other types of toilets. He also fitted a large, full-size shower. By the way, Scott didn't mention how much water capacity he has in his rig, but I bet it's a lot – he said he could take a five-minute shower without stopping the water.

Finally, we have the bedroom area, located at the front of the interior. It features a small double-sized bed, two overhead cabinets, a fan, and a monitor system with light switches, a thermostat, various plugs, and a monitor displaying a camera feed from outside. Moreover, integrated into the bed frame is a hanging closet that goes down into the floor and a microwave.

So, what do you think of this conversion? Isn't it one of the best box truck conversions you've ever seen? It's undoubtedly one of the coolest I've ever written about. It's fully off-grid-capable, stealthy, aesthetically pleasing, and so practical.

But wait, things get even better – it didn't even cost that much to build compared to other campers. Scott explained he invested a total of $65,000 (€60,729) into the rig, including the truck. That's how much some people pay for a professional van conversion that doesn't include the base vehicle.