The house is 8 feet by 12 feet, weighs 3,600 pounds, and has cathedral ceilings to fit Robert’s 6 foot 6 inch frame. It has a bead-board ceiling, true divided light windows, a cedar shingle roof, oak threshold, pine floors, queen sized bed up on a platform, and a closet. The house has what Robert calls a “non-integrated” kitchen: a small refrigerator, a wood shelf and a hot plate. Because the kitchen is not built into the house Robert said it has the opportunity to move and change.

When traveling or living in the truck house Robert and Susan utilized alternative and environmental solutions for personal care, toilet, and solar shower, brought in power and phone from their tree-mounted service lines. In winter, the local health club happily accommodated them by charging $1.00 a shower.

“It’s the most magical and cozy retreat,” Susan said. She added that it also makes a great meditation house.

Robert said that he appreciates the excellent craftsmanship of boat design and likes to have a place for everything and everything in its place. He gave the tiny truck house a nautical theme with white paint, white bead-board, dark blue bedding and a clean “Cape Cod” style.

As a carpenter, Robert has also taken the truck house out to job sites while he works. He mentions to clients that his little house is better built than most large homes. He adds that the little truck house is a combination of Henry David Thoreau and Martha Stewart: minimal and tasteful.

Robert is happy to take orders to build a custom truck house, or any small house for tiny house lovers. He is willing to sell this truck house to a potential buyer. If you are interested, please contact Robert or Susan at follyfolio (at) gmail.com, or leave a phone message at 978 369-6119 with your interest.

Photos courtesy of Susan and Robert O’Neil. No reproduction without permission.

By Christina Nellemann for the [Tiny House Blog]

Facebook Fan Page: We Can Do It! Women Who Camp with a Teardrop, Tent or Trailer

Camp Like a Girl

The Beehive Cottage

The Vintage Housewife

Cute as Pie Cottage

By Christina Nellemann for the [Tiny House Blog]

Here is what Alfred has to say about it: It’s very light and supposedly 98% recyclable. No prices on the site, but from other places on the web where they are for sale, figure $10-15,000., which is not bad, considering. The company has been around for a while (and I have seen their pop-ups which are pretty nice). For me, the big plus as opposed to Scamp, etc., is the interiors are a lot less cheesy.

Here is how the company introduces the Camplite:

This revolutionary ultra-lightweight camper can be towed by a number of full size sedans, nearly every minivan, and even the Jeep Wrangler! Constructed of only aluminum and composites, the Camplite is 98% recyclable! While other trailers made of steel and wood are cutting back on their structure in order to save weight – most still tip the scales between 3,500 and 4,500 lbs.

The Camplite is a true lightweight weighing in at a feathery 1,500 lbs. So another alternative to a teardrop or other lightweight retro trailer. To learn more go to the QuickSilver website.

Each trailer is 12 feet long and weighs 1,200 pounds. They are custom made with hand built oak and birch walls and cabinets. The Vintage Trailer Crazy design team will consult with you to create your custom Woodie Love Bug. These trailers are built new from the ground up, but use VIN numbers from vintage 1930-1950 trailers. Over 500 man-hours go into the production of each little trailer. They cost around $12,500 and Dayton told me that they sell a lot of them, primarily because of the popularity of smaller trailers.

Each trailer contains a small kitchen area with plenty of storage including a charger and converter cabinet, a dining booth which converts into a double bed, and holding tanks for fresh and gray water which are stored under the sink along with the battery. A propane tank and hookup is available on the front of the trailer and a storage cabinet is located on the back. Vintage style windows and doors add to the details.

Included in each trailer:

• New heavy-duty frame with torsion bar suspension
• 12 volt battery or 110 volt for power
• DVD/CD entertainment center
• “Smart” battery charger / converter from 110v to 12v
• 2-burner propane stove
• Stainless steel sink with running water
• 12 volt fridge
• Solid wood flooring

Trailer options:

• Air conditioner/heater combo
• Interior/exterior color schemes: red and white, turquoise and white or black and white
• Hitch / propane tank painted to match tow vehicle
• Exotic woods (like birds eye maple)
• 1950’s black and white tile, vintage “Boomerang” or “Cracked Ice” counter/table Formica
• 1950′s Diner style aluminum table/counter edge trim
• Matching awning

For more information contact Dayton Taylor at Vintage Trailer Crazy.

By Christina Nellemann for the [Tiny House Blog]

SylvanSport GO – reinventing how we carry gear and camp from the ground up.

GO light. At 800 lbs. GO can be towed by almost any vehicle out there. This efficient ‘backpack on wheels’ allows you to have the benefits of an RV without the gas credit card.

This is the most unique camping and travel trailer you’ll ever find. The GO was designed from the frame out to be a one-of-a-kind mobile adventure trailer that’s even more versatile than a Swiss Army knife. It’s lightweight and easy to manage in the parking lot, garage or on the road. Weighing in at 800 lbs, the GO can be pulled by even the smallest cars.

Beyond its beautiful surface you’ll find that no design element was left untouched. The tent sets up in minutes and stows cleanly into the roof’s storage box. It also comes equipped with a weather-tight gear box that locks to keep your weekend camping essentials secure and ready for whenever you go. See how easy by watching the video below.

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” Mark Twain

Check out their story here.

Today’s Trilliums are built utilizing the original models. So the quality, design, and floor plans are true to the former manufacturing standards. The overall look of the fiberglass body remains the same. Big improvements are in the area of newer, high tech appliances, modern cushion materials, curtains, and exterior graphics. The trailers have the same dimensions, but will weigh a little more. This is due to the addition of more equipment that users have requested in the trailers.

Tom has opened up his design process to include feedback and ideas from Trillium fans. Some of the new ideas include open storage cabinetry, a small bathroom, modern styling and clean lines.

Trillium RV produces two models: the 1300 and the 4500, two floor plans without bathrooms, a four sleeper bunk,  a three sleeper front dinette, and  a bathroom floor plan. The new Trillium has an even higher level of quality control, some degree of customization, and top notch customer service. The trailers are sold directly to the consumer, without a dealer network.

Both the 1300 and the 4500 include these features and basic equipment:

1300

• 2,000 lb. maintenance free torsion axle – capacity/GVW
• 13 feet 5 inches in length
• 12 Gauge Heavy Duty Steel Frame
• 20 lb. propane tank
• 45 Amp Power Converter/Battery Charger
• Patio Light
• 4″ High Quality Cushions

4500

• 2,200 lb. maintenance free torsion axle – capacity/GVW
• 15 feet 3 inches in length
• 12 gauge heavy duty steel frame
• 20 lb. propane tank
• 45 amp power converter/battery charger
• Patio light
• 4 inch high quality cushions

Both the 1300 and the 4500 are offered in the Classic Model and the Legend Model. The cost of the 1300 Classic is $11,995 and the 4500 Classic is $13,995. The cost of the 1300 Legend is $13,995 and the 4500 Legend is $15,995. The Legend comes with everything that is included in the Classic plus additional items such as:

• Upgraded refrigerator
• LED reading lights
• Cable TV hookup
• Kitchen counter extension
• Day/Night shades
• MaxxAir roof power vent upgrade

If you are interested in a Trillium, but are not ready to buy, Trillium RV trailers are also offered as rentals.

By Christina Nellemann for the [Tiny House Blog]

As mentioned on their blog, Aluminum Bliss, Chris and Lani decided to make the Airstream their new home because of its sleek, rounded, aluminum interior and large windows that open up a small space and dispel the feeling of living in a box. The modern furnishings inspire a clean environment and the numerous storage spaces eliminate clutter. Their classic rig also turns a lot of heads.

Chris works out of the trailer using a Verizon MiFi, satellite dish and free campground WiFi. Lani takes care of the Airstream and the blog and awaits the birth of their new baby. They decided on this lifestyle because Chris is able to work from anywhere and it seemed like a good time in their lives to do some traveling. They were tired of be “owned” by their stuff and they craved the open road and a little adventure. After a year or so of traveling in an Airstream, they have a few insights on living the aluminum life:

“We no longer buy too many groceries that sit in our pantry well beyond the expiration date. In fact, we seem to buy more fresh foods and have learned to carefully plan our meals out in advance so as to avoid multiple trips to the store.”

“Our water consumption has decreased tremendously. When you only have a 15 gallon gray water tank, you quickly learn how to use less water when washing dishes or brushing your teeth.  Showers are quick, even when they are in the campground’s bathrooms.  And, laundry…well I’m pretty cheap when it comes to using my quarters so laundry is only done once a week.  And, with less clothing in tow, we’ve learned that some things can be worn awhile before being considered ‘dirty.’”

“We live in 160 square feet so it takes little to heat and power our humble abode. And, we grow tired of refilling our propane tanks so we are pretty stingy with our propane use. Additionally, we recently began converting the few lights in our home to LED.”

They plan on staying on the road indefinitely, or until they get tired of the lifestyle. In the meantime they have this to say about their decision:

“It’s been an incredible lifestyle change and one that will continue with us long after our Airstream journey comes to an end. I enjoy life so much more without the clutter and junk.  Don’t get me wrong, traveling the country and seeing what we’ve seen is amazing but so is this new sense of freedom from being owned and defined by our stuff.”

The 2010 Airstream Sport

Airstream Sport. Photos courtesy of Colonial Airstream.

For a big adventure in a smaller package, I recently saw a 2010 16 foot Airstream Sport for sale and was impressed with the design and layout. In this new model, the full bathroom from the back of the rig has been removed and has been replaced with a double bed. The reduced bathroom is now a wet bath without a sink. There seems to be plenty of storage space around the bed, in the closet and under the dinette. The tow weight is 3,500 pounds, it has a 23 gallon fresh water tank and a 21 gallon combination gray and black water tank. It also has a a 12,000 BTU furnace and an option for AC.

View the Airstream Sport brochure

The Sport is available in four types of decor: Cinnabar, Mochablue, Oatmeal and Sharksfin, and typical of the new Airstream designs, has clean, sleek retro styling. The price for this Airstream is about $35,000.

By Christina Nellemann for the (Tiny House Blog)

They initially bought a fifth wheel trailer and a large truck to tow their new home, which they planned to see the country with and do some work along the way. After a few months, they decided to simplify even further by purchasing a 1999 Starcraft pop-up trailer and a smaller Suburban.

Their blog (and nicely done videos) chronicles the lives of two professionals who had enough of the rat race, and decided to hit the road. They work in campgrounds as workampers, usually getting a free camp spot, amenities and a few dollars in their wallets. These jobs are normally seasonal, allowing Duncan and Jessica to stay mobile and work where the good weather is. What I really appreciate about their blog is that they take the time and effort to show important details in the lives of nomads and workampers, including how to find jobs, save money and live in close quarters with your partner.

They are still experimenting with their trailer and see it as a stepping stone to another choice down the road. They’ve done their research and have a list on their blog of the pros and cons of various types of RVs and trailers. The pop-up suits their needs for now and allows them to spend more time outside and by the campfire. There’s even enough room for their dog, Patience.

“We were a young, newly-married couple who was living the life the way that we were told to. We had the house, the car, the big screen TV… everything that society told us to aquire. We had the regular 9 to 5 jobs at an advertising agency. The alarm goes off, we get up, go to work, go home, eat a little something, reset the alarm clock, and go to sleep. Repeat forever. Next thing you know it’s fifty years later and we wonder where it all went.

Sound familiar?

That’s when we decided to break away and leave it all behind. We’ve sold it all, the house, the car, the TV and we’ve bought an RV, hitting the road, making everyday different. New experiences, new people, new life. Turn off the TV and enjoy everything that this world has to offer. Follow our adventures while we are traveling on the outskirts.”

By Christina Nellemann for the (Tiny House Blog)

Unicats are manufactured in Germany and custom units can take up to 12 months to complete. If anything, these mobile houses are a great example of space saving techniques and gadgets.

If you really want to get off the beaten track and explore some of the more rugged areas of the world (yet still live in comfort) this RV might be for you. If you can afford it. Most Unicats sell for around $500,000.

In the U.S. Unicat offers two styles of RVs. The Amerigo is a family expedition vehicle in 4×4 or 6×6 configurations. The Professional is primarily used for search-and-rescue, natural disaster survival, remote eco-tourism, off-road ambulances, fire-fighting trucks, professional film crew trucks, and off-road racing support vehicles.

From the Unicat website:

In designing the body, first priority is given to functionality and performance criteria such as weight distribution, center of gravity, stability, and reliability. Next, a well-balanced interior layout comprised of seating/eating area, sleeping accommodations, kitchen, toilet/shower, storage, water supply, heating, lights, and electricity. Thirdly, we enable individual choices for interior appointments such as upholstery, flooring, counter tops, and cabinets in many finishes and materials.

Although UNICAT will gladly build custom one-of-a-kind vehicles, we recommend and prefer to build standardized models. Much research and testing go into the design, engineering and build-out of every new model and it’s extremely expensive and time-consuming to go through that rigor for each vehicle. Customer benefits include greater reliability, better value, greater serviceability, faster delivery, and most importantly, a better chance for an overall ownership experience over the long term.

“Drive from Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, to Tierra Del Fuego, Chile, roads optional. Ship your EV to the Sahara, Gobi, Kalahari Deserts or the Australian Outback. See people and places that others can only dream of. All this in a vehicle offering the highest standards of reliability, safety and comfort.”

Photos Courtesy of Apartment Therapy and Unicat

By Christina Nellemann for the (Tiny House Blog)