This Couple Adopted the Nomad Lifestyle by Renovating an Awesome and Affordable Toyota RV

Of course, how much you'll invest in a tiny home on wheels will determine how comfortable your rig will be. That being said, building a budget-friendly camper with more than enough comfort for most people is definitely doable.

In Jonluc's and Jackie's case, they chose a 1993 Toyota Winnebago Warrior RV as a base vehicle. You might not even know that Toyota made RVs. As you probably know, the Japanese manufacturer is renowned for building reliable vehicles. When it comes to this model, you can expect excellent reliability. The problem is, however, with weight capacity, as it has a GVW of about 6,000 lbs. (2,722 kg).

From what I've read online on forums with owners of this model, most campers run overweight. That's definitely not recommended and unsafe, but people seem to be doing it nonetheless. Anyway, just some food for thought in case you're thinking about getting your hands on one of these bad boys.

Before going in-depth regarding this couple's home, let's discuss costs. The duo spent $9,000 (€8,400) on the base vehicle and invested a further $15,000 (€14,000) into its renovation, bringing the total cost of the rig to $24,000 (€22,403). Regardless of the type of camper, $24,000 is a good deal.

Jonluc and Jackie have spent the last year and a half traveling in this rig. Their story is similar to other van dwellers - they were tired of spending so much time at their jobs and wanted a change. Both of them were interested in this mobile home lifestyle, so that was the obvious solution for them.

The couple listed several must-haves for their camper – it needed to be very reliable and have a solar panel system, an oven, and a bathroom. These last three are relatively easy to achieve, but making sure your camper is fully ready for the road is more of a challenging task, especially when dealing with older vehicles.

As I mentioned, Toyota vehicles are known for their reliability. Still, Jonluc and Jackie spent lots of time prepping it. They fitted new brakes and a new suspension. Furthermore, they covered the exterior seams of the fiberglass shell to ensure proper insulation and prevent any leaks.

On the exterior, the duo equipped the vehicle with a rear bike rack, a storage container, and 600 W solar panels on the roof. However, one thing that is missing is a ladder to get on top of the vehicle.

It might seem like a compact home from the outside, but the couple has devised a clever and practical layout. They removed a significant part of the living space, repainted some of the elements, and brought their modern interior vision to life.

As soon as you enter, you’ll be in the lounge area. Having multiple seating options was critical for them, so they came up with a spacious and practical layout. It features a Jackknife sofa, which can be converted into an extra bedroom. On the opposite side, you’ll discover the sectional seating spot, complete with a dinette table.

Underneath, they fitted part of the vehicle’s utilities. You’ll discover a diesel heater and the electrical system, consisting of a full Victron system paired with 400 Ah BattleBorn batteries. There’s also an A/C mounted on the ceiling.

There are multiple overhead cabinets on both sides of the interior. Moreover, instead of fitting a TV, they use a projector. A nice and clever touch is that they didn’t install a projector screen. As a replacement, they use a window curtain to display their favorite movies and series.

The bedroom is located in the loft area above the driver’s cabin. This way, they still get a decently sized sleeping area while maximizing space in the rest of the interior. What’s more, for extra privacy, they made a curtain out of fabric they found at a thrift store.

You’ll discover a full XL bed, a large window at the front that allows them to take in the view from the comfort of their own bed, two side windows, and a ceiling fan. Furthermore, the area doubles as a library, as many books are stored around.

Step past the lounge area, and you’ll find yourself in the kitchen. It’s relatively tiny but quite well-equipped. It features an oven with a three-burner stove, a double stainless steel sink, an enormous fridge/freezer, an air fryer, and even a hood to ensure they don’t smoke up the interior. The only thing I see that could be improved is more counterspace – the only one they have is the sink's wooden cover.

Lastly, we have the bathroom, located at the rear of the camper and separated from the living space by a sliding door. Again, the area is tiny, but it comes with a large mirrored hanging closet, a small sink, a composting toilet, a shower space, and various small storage spots. Jonluc and Jackie use the shower for storage, as they prefer washing themselves outside in a tent by using the Nemo pump solar shower, which they say they’re very happy with.

This camper was beautifully converted by the couple, and it seems to be the perfect tiny home on wheels for them. I certainly didn’t expect the RV to be this well-equipped, especially when I heard it cost just $24K.