U-Haul Box Truck Was Turned Into an Affordable and Ingenious Off-Grid Home on Wheels

Meet Jimmy, the owner and converter of this box truck camper. He took an old U-Haul truck and ingeniously transformed it into a modern home. "But why go for a box truck conversion?" you might wonder. In Jimmy's case, he was about to lose his accommodation, so he started looking for alternative solutions.

On a general level, box trucks are fantastic platforms for camper conversions for several reasons. They're extremely stealthy, can carry a heavy load, and provide a ton of space to fit (almost) anything you want. Furthermore, they can fit into a standard parking space and are quite inexpensive.

Jimmy stumbled upon this box truck at one of U-Haul's old lots in Auckland, California. The conversion wasn't easy - Jimmy lived in the back of the box truck for a year, devising his dream interior and taking inspiration from countless YouTube videos. It was all worth it in the end, as you'll soon see.

After traveling and living in it for a while, Jimmy nowadays uses it more as a "weekend warrior," as he calls it. However, this camper is designed to provide all the comforts you need to live in it full-time.

As usual, I'll start the tour with the exterior. This rig is finished all around with Herculiner, a bed liner for pick-up trucks. What's more, Jimmy repaints the exterior each year with house paint to keep it looking nice and fresh.

You'll notice two windows and fold-down steps leading to the entry door on the passenger side. You'll also discover eight 100 W solar panels on top of the vehicle.

The most distinctive part of this rig's exterior is the front. Jimmy mounted two enormous Weatherguard storage boxes and two spare tires on a Unistrut frame.

This setup not only allows Jimmy to store a lot more stuff, but it also helps protect the front of the truck in case of an accident. Moreover, it acts as a gigantic "sun visor."

My favorite exterior feature is a huge roll-up door at the rear. It allows Jimmy to let a bunch of light and fresh air inside and enjoy the beautiful views while preparing a meal. The only downside I see here is that there's no bug net.

There's a pull-out ramp under the door that Jimmy deploys whenever he wants to bring his motorcycle onboard. Furthermore, he uses tie-down points hidden inside the rig to ensure the bike remains stable while driving.

Now, let's check out the interior. It boasts wood all around and has an open, spacious feel. Since box trucks have straight lines (as opposed to camper vans), outfitting their interior is less challenging.

Jimmy explained that he got most of the things he has inside from Ikea and Craigslist. In fact, all the bamboo floor panels used throughout the rig for the ceiling, floor, and walls cost him a mere $200 (€187).

The rearest part of the box truck is occupied by the kitchen. It features a Dometic dual-zone fridge/freezer, a stainless steel sink, two large overhead shelves, and a knife rack.

Underneath the sink, you'll find a propane-powered heater, a 6-gallon (23-liter) water heater, and a greywater tank. What's more, on the opposite side, Jimmy devised a countertop holding a microwave and three shelves.

One detail that makes the interior feel so spacious is the "open furniture." For instance, instead of having a closed cabinet under the sink, like in most campers, Jimmy opted for an open frame. If you're unsure what I'm referring to, take a look at the picture above.

Walking deeper inside the box truck, you'll discover a sizeable wood stove on the right. Initially, Jimmy planned to travel to Alaska, so he added the stove. However, he found a job in California, so he continued living there, making the wood stove redundant.

On the opposite side, Jimmy fitted the bathroom. It comprises a Nature's Head composting toilet, a tiny sink, and an almost full-size shower. By the way, both this tiny sink and the shower drain into an under-mounted 46-gallon (174-liter) greywater tank. A 46-gallon freshwater tank provides all the water inside this rig.

Next, we have the seating area. It consists of a couch facing a TV on the other side. Moreover, a slip-up table under the TV is perfectly positioned to enjoy a meal or work on your laptop.

Finally, the bedroom is located in the cab-over part of the rig. It's a straightforward space with a twin-size bed and a tiny window. Underneath the bed, you'll find the rig's power system.

Its highlights are a 100 Ah battery, a 3,000 W inverter, and a solar charge controller connected to the 800 W solar panels on the roof. Other notable components in the same area are light switches and a water pump. The only disadvantage I see with the power system's setup is that there was no space to create a pass-through door to get to the driver's cabin.

There's not much to talk about regarding the driver's cabin since Jimmy didn't make any modifications to it. There's one exception, however: he replaced the driver's seat with a 3,000 W Honda EU 3000iS generator attached to a short Unistrut. Its exhaust runs through the floor, pushing the fumes under the vehicle. It's a lifesaver on cloudy days when the electrical system can't support the energy load, and it enables Jimmy to go off-grid worry-free.

You're probably curious about how much this all cost to build. Jimmy estimates he spent about $10,000 (€9,357) on the conversion – that's a fantastic deal considering everything he has inside. Some people spend that much on their camper's utility systems.

All in all, this clean and minimalist build is equipped with everything you need to enjoy life on the road. What's more, it proves you don't need to invest a fortune to create a lovely tiny home on wheels.