I transformed a $10,000 van right into a tiny residence as a result of hire is simply too costly
SKYROCKETING house prices and mortgage rates have forced residents to find alternative housing solutions across the US.
One person found a housing solution in a minivan – but warns it may not be for everyone.
A YouTuber said that he lives completely off-grid in a Nissan panel vanCredit: YouTube/Stories From a Van
The YouTuber, Evan, had several tips for van livingCredit: YouTube/Stories From a Van
Evan explained his lifestyle in several YouTube videosCredit: YouTube/Stories From a Van
In a YouTube series, Evan (@StoriesFromaVan) walked through how he converted a small Nissan NV200 panel van into a tiny home with running water and electricity.
The U.S. Sun found several used Nissan NV200s on sale for under $10,000.
The YouTuber calls the moveable home a “stealth van” and said that he parked in public lots and on residential streets at night.
The van helped him clear San Francisco and Santa Cruz, California, rent prices – both cities have some of the highest rental rates in the US.
The series goes through several explainers on how to live in each city without a permanent address.
Getting mail, finding a job, and saving money on food are particularly difficult in converted vans.
The YouTuber explained ways he was able to figure out the bureaucracy without a home.
TINY HOME TIPS
The YouTuber said he gets his mail through a P.O. box.
This way, his mail is collected at a specified postal center.
“My biggest design regret for my van was not including a dedicated cooking setup,” Evan said.
“I can cook out of my van, but to a limited capacity.”
He reported spending between $100 to $800 month on food alone.
Evan also reported that post-coronavirus-lockdown jobs have made the lifestyle easier.
He retrofitted the can with strong Wi-Fi and is able to work remote from the car.
Lastly, he said the van is susceptible to inclement weather.
Evan said that the van didn’t come with an auxiliary air conditioning system.
He relies on his built-in roof vent and fan to regulate the temperatures in the car at night.
He reported temperatures outside the car can get up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer.
INSIDE THE VAN
Evan designed the van to optimize storage and dual-purpose surfaces.
The van’s entire floor is a storage area, allowing him to stow personal belongings throughout the car.
Three foldable cushions lay on top of the flooring to make his bed at night.
The driver’s side of the car has one bar where his hung clothes sit on hangers.
An igloo cooler sits in front of the clothes for some food storage.
A sink is attached to the van’s back doors – the internal plumbing comes from a refillable jug that’s accessible from the other side of the door.
The sink has a cover that makes the surface a usable desk.
“Despite how small the Nissan NV200 is, I was able to have a decent amount of storage space, due to the fact that I sacrificed the entire floor space,” Evan wrote in a video caption.
Th U.S. Sun reports on other tiny homes – here is a $5,000 option on sale at Home Depot.
Also, this couple spent $40,000 to build their dream tiny home in their backyard.
