Toy Hauler Trailer Was Transformed Into a Remarkable, All-Inclusive Rustic Home on Wheels

Meet Megan, Jordan, and the "Perpetual Adventure Machine" - I've seen various names for campers, and this one is definitely one of my favorites. Before we go into detail regarding the tiny home on wheels, let me tell you more about this couple.

Megan and Jordan, like many other people choosing a mobile lifestyle, have a constant need for adventure. After they got married, they hiked the Appalachian Trail. Since finishing it and moving back into the comfort of their home, their desire for adventure grew more and more, and their solution was to move full-time into a tiny home on wheels.

"Why convert a toy hauler trailer?" you might wonder. Well, in this couple's case, the main reason why was that they wanted more space than a camper van offers since they travel with two German Shepherds. They also considered a bus conversion but felt it was too restrictive since they had to tow another vehicle for better mobility.

The duo opted for a Discovery all-aluminum trailer because of its lightweightness and increased life span compared to steel models. Moreover, Megan and Jordan custom-ordered the trailer because they wanted more headroom inside. This model comes standard with a height of 6.5 feet (180 centimeters), and they ordered it to be 8.5 feet (259 centimeters) tall.

Moreover, the only components that aren't made from aluminum are the axles and hitch, which are made from steel. By the way, this rig tips the scales at 6,500 lb. (2,948 kg) dry and is 18 feet (5.5 meters) long.

The unit they found cost them around $10,000 (€9,307). After making 12 CAD designs, they decided on one and started building their tiny home on wheels. In the end, the conversion set them back about $20,000 (€18,557), bringing the total cost of this tig to $30,000 (€27,836). That's a fantastic deal – it's less than specialized van conversion companies typically ask.

The couple uses a Ford F-350 pickup truck to tow it. It sports a diesel engine and gets about 9.6 MPG (29 L/100km) in the mountains, as explained by the couple.

Before we look at the feature-packed interior, let me tell you more about this rig's exterior details. At the front, the couple fitted a window – it's, in fact, a house window, which turned out not to be the best decision. That's because when it rains heavily while they're driving, water leaks inside.

You'll also notice house windows on the side. Water doesn't go through them even when driving in the rain, and they didn't have any other issues with them.

Megan and Jordan equipped the trailer with 360-degree lighting, meaning there's an LED light on each of the rig's five walls. Furthermore, on the roof, you'll notice eight 230 W solar with a whopping total capacity of 1,840 W.

And finally, at the rear, the duo fitted a spare tire and a swing-away rack that holds a mini-split. However, the best part here is that the entire rear wall can be flipped down. There are several benefits to this setup.

First, it lets you quickly ventilate the interior. Second, you can lie in bed or work at the table while enjoying the beautiful views. Lastly, the wall can serve as a platform when it's flipped down, the perfect place to set up a table and enjoy a meal.

Now, let's head inside. The interior is roomier compared to those of camper vans – specifically, this trailer offers 150 square feet (14 square meters) of interior space. What's more, it's also easier to build out since the trailer has straight lines instead of curves, like in vans.

The kitchen is the first area you'll be in once you step inside through the entrance on the passenger side. Regarding design, Megan and Jordan chose a rustic log cabin look, with wood all around, including the walls, ceiling, and cabinets. Specifically, they used fence slats for the walls, pallet wood for the doors, and barnwood for the countertops.

The kitchen is in the V-shaped part at the front of the trailer. It's designed to mold into the V shape and features two massive overhead cabinets, a deep stainless steel sink, a dual-burner induction stove, a small flip-down oven, a fridge, a separate 5.2-cubic-foot (147-liter) chest freezer, and various cabinets and drawers.

To match the interior theme, the couple hung various cast iron cookware on the wall. As you can expect, they don't travel with them hung, but it's a nice detail they add whenever they're stationary. That's true dedication to the theme – adding and removing the cookware anytime they stop and go.

Next to the fridge and freezer, you'll discover the bathroom. I love that Megan and Jordan added a beautiful sliding door made from barnwood and parts of an old picnic table. Inside, there's a shower with copper piping and a custom-made composting toilet. They wanted to build their own since the composting toilets available to buy are often costly, running north of $1,000 (€928). They spent just $50 (€46) to make it

Opposite the bathroom, these two adventurers devised a utility room – yes, they had space to fit something like this. It's pretty simple, featuring one facility that's so good to have onboard a camper: a clothes washer. However, they can only run it when they're connected to shore power, as it gulps up battery juice.

Next, you'll find an enormous closet that houses all of the couple's clothes, as well as various gear, tools, cushions, medicine, and more. Interestingly, the closet is made of fence slats and has painters' canvases as front panels. This solution was not only cheap but also reduced weight.

Inside the closet is also where you'll discover a 24 V electrical system. Its highlights are an inverter and 560 Ah lithium batteries. Oh, by the way, the duo built the battery system themselves; they just bought the individual cells and linked them, thus saving a lot of money. Even though they had no previous knowledge, they learned how to do it and had the confidence to pull it off.

The last part of the living space is the living room, right at the rear of the trailer. It comprises a large couch with a swivel table on one side and a huge counter on the other, right next to a wood-burning stove.

Just like the couple described, the wood stove is this room's centerpiece – it quickly heats up the interior, and its top area can be used for cooking. Furthermore, corrugated metal panels surround it, serving as heat shields. Oh, and to make sure they have enough heat inside, the couple also installed a diesel heater in the kitchen.

Even though Megan and Jordan didn't separate the living room from the rest of the interior by using a door, they used other techniques to make the rooms feel different. For instance, they added a 14-inch (35-centimeter) step when you walk into the living room, which hides two massive, eight-foot-long (2.4-meter-long) drawers. What's more, the walls in the living room are also built out of fence slats, only they were sanded and painted differently than those in the kitchen.

On the counter I mentioned above, the couple holds a 3D printer, which is their primary income source on the road. Moreover, the cabinets underneath hold various useful tools.

The couch was designed in such a way to be transformed into an L-shape or to be extended into a full-size bed by pulling out three extensions. This is where guests can sleep.

The main bedroom, however, is above this area in the form of an elevator bed. Instead of purchasing a popular electronically operated one, Megan and Jordan built a manually operated elevator bed themselves. They used constant force springs to make it, and it sits on L-Traks, so it can be adjusted to leave room underneath. This way, one person can lie on the bed while the other can sit under the table.

All in all, Megan and Jordan have done an incredible job with this tiny home build. It looks fantastic and is extremely practical, and by making many of the features themselves, they were able to keep costs to a minimum. It's one of the best trailer conversions I've seen.