This Artist Ditched the Rat Race and Single-Handedly Built a Truck Camper for Just $5K

Having a big budget to buy or build your dream mobile home makes things way easier. That being said, there are many ways in which you can reduce your expenses when dealing with a camper project.

One of the most considerable costs of a camper is the base vehicle. Some people go for a van or even a skoolie for the additional space and storage options. Of course, more space means more features and, thus, more money needed. So, one of the more budget-friendly options is choosing a truck as a base vehicle.

There are some things to consider when choosing a truck – whether it's gas or diesel, long bed or short bed, and if it's a regular, extended, or crew cab. Most adventurers prefer Extended Cab or Crew Cab trucks, and most truck campers are designed for these two variants.

As a rule of thumb, the heavier the truck, the more weight it can carry. Popular choices include one-ton trucks such as the Ford F-350, Ram 3500, or the Chevy Silverado 3500HD. In Lance's case, he built the home using a Silverado as a base vehicle, as he owned it beforehand.

Before we take a closer look at Lance's build, I want to lay out the financials for you. A truck camper can cost between $5,000 for a small, basic pop-up truck camper and around $60,000 (€56,855) for a larger model fitted with many creature comforts. Some models cost even higher than that, but there aren't many.

Lance spent a mere $5,000 for his truck camper, including all the equipment. It might sound hard to believe, but he was able to keep costs to a minimum by building the rig from scratch all by himself. He is a carpenter by trade, so he knew what he was doing.

His story might ring a bell – Lance was tired of running the rat race and his 9 to 5-job. He felt he was stuck in a loop, and van life turned out to be his solution. Like most people, he was initially very fearful of making the switch, but everything aligned, and it all turned out well in the end. He sold everything that he owned, and with that money, it took him just 20 days to build the camper.

On the outside, this rig looks like a standard camper pod finished in black. Inside, you'll discover a pretty cluttered space, but keep in mind that this is quite a tiny truck camper, so Lance did his best to fit all his things inside. He's also a painter; we know artists aren't always that well-organized.

Lance shared some advice, saying that he suggests others looking to build their camper to take some time to plan everything out beforehand. His entire build was done on a whim, so that might be one of the reasons why it isn't that well laid out.

Once you enter, you'll have the kitchen on your left side. You'll notice a spacious countertop, a deep sink connected to a 30-gallon (114-liter) underneath, a small fold-up table, a portable gas stove, and a fridge/ freezer box. Under the countertop, you'll find a drawer and a cabinet that houses the electrical system and a foldable solar panel.

A 700 W Allpowers portable power station provides energy to the camper. It's connected to a switch where Lance can control the lights and the water pump, as well as charge his devices via USB ports.

If you look above, you'll notice two large cabinets, one of which uses bungee cords to prevent anything from falling off. Lance explained that he was able to save money by buying some of the things he installed inside this camper from Habitat for Humanity or from dollar stores. For instance, he paid a single buck for the kitchen cabinet door.

Opposite the kitchen, you'll discover the living room area, where Lance also paints. He uses a fold-out table when painting and stores gear in another big cabinet and smaller boxes. He actually has many extra tools and wires to repair other people's vans, campers, and buses while on the road to earn some bucks.

What I like about Lance's rig is that he added a large window on the kitchen wall, a smaller one in the living area, and two others in the bedroom, so there's plenty of light shining inside. Being such a small space, you also won't have any issues circulating the air inside. What's more, the ceiling fan can work both ways, pulling air in and out.

And lastly, we have the bedroom space – there's not much to tell you about it, as it's just as simple as the rest of the areas in the camper. Lance went as far as to manufacture the mattress himself by gluing pieces of memory foam. Moreover, you'll notice a drawer for storage where Lance holds extra blankets for colder days.

Given the low budget and small space, Lance couldn't fit a bathroom inside this camper. He uses a Planet Fitness membership to work out and care for his hygienic needs. If he's in dire need of a shower, he can connect a hose to the sink, pull it through the window, and shower outside.

To add more personality to his space, Lance plans on painting the interior walls with his artwork. Furthermore, he wants to add a skylight in the ceiling.

Overall, I know this isn't a particularly aesthetically pleasing rig, but it's still impressive what Lance achieved on such a low budget. From what he told us, it's enough for him to enjoy a comfortable experience, and that's what matters. It goes to show that with some creativity and a well-defined plan, you can navigate the challenges of building a camper.