I converted a $10,000 van into a tiny home because rent is too expensive – I even rigged running water and electricity
Skyrocketing home prices and mortgage rates have forced residents across the US to seek alternative housing solutions.
One person found a housing solution in a minivan – but warned it might not be for everyone.
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In a YouTube series, Evan (@StoriesFromaVan) shared how he converted a small Nissan NV200 panel van into a tiny house with running water and electricity.
The US Sun found several used Nissan NV200s for sale for under $10,000.
The YouTuber calls the mobile home a “stealth van” and said it parked in public lots and residential streets at night.
The van helped him sort out rental rates in San Francisco and Santa Cruz, California — both cities have some of the highest rental rates in the US.
The series includes several explanations of life in each of the non-resident cities.
Converted vans make it especially difficult to get mail, find a job, and save money on groceries.
The YouTuber explained how he was able to overcome the bureaucracy without a home.
TIPS FOR TINY HOME
The YouTuber said he gets his mail through a PO box.
In this way, his mail will be picked up at a specific mail center.
“My biggest regret with the design of my van was that it didn’t have any special cooking equipment built in,” Evan said.
“I can cook in my van, but with limited capacity.”
He said he spends between $100 and $800 a month on groceries alone.
Evan also reported that post-coronavirus lockdown jobs have made the lifestyle easier.
He has retrofitted the socket with strong WiFi and can therefore also work remotely from the car.
He concluded by saying the van was vulnerable to inclement weather.
Evan said the van was not equipped with an auxiliary air conditioner.
To regulate the temperature in the car at night, he relies on his built-in roof vent and fan.
He reported that temperatures outside the car can reach as high as 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer.
IN THE VAN
Evan designed the Transporter to optimize storage space and multi-purpose areas.
He uses the entire floor of the van as storage space, so he can stow personal items anywhere in the van.
There were three foldable pillows on the floor that he used as a bed at night.
There is a rail on the driver’s side of the car where his hanging clothes hang on hangers.
There is an igloo refrigerator in front of the clothes, which can be used to store food.
A sink is attached to the back doors of the van – internal plumbing is via a refillable jug accessed from the other side of the door.
The sink features a cover that turns the surface into a usable desk.
“Even though the Nissan NV200 is so small, I was able to have a decent amount of storage since I sacrificed all of the floor space,” Evan wrote in a video caption.
The US Sun covers other tiny houses – here’s a $5,000 option at Home Depot for sale.
Also, this couple spent $40,000 to build their dream home in their backyard.