Robert’s Tiny Truck House
About 15 years ago, Robert P. O’Neil of Concord, Massachusetts spent a month building this “truck house” for himself and his longtime partner, Susan to live in while they built their half-cape house. He built this tiny abode to originally fit his 1949 Ford F6 dump truck, but it is now mounted on a flatbed trailer which is towed by his Ford F350.
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.
Photos courtesy of Susan and Robert O’Neil. No reproduction without permission.
By Christina Nellemann for the [Tiny House Blog]
