If you're familiar with EarthRoamers, you know how expensive they are. If you're short on cash, one option is to create your own more affordable version, he said. The unit we're going to talk about today is exactly that.
The owner and creator of this rig is multisport athlete and content creator Andrew Muse. Before we take a full-time look at his tiny house on wheels, let's tell you more about his story.
Andrew began considering a nomadic lifestyle at a young age. Initially, he left his hometown to travel in a Volkswagen Golf. He then upgraded to a 1976 truck, his camper, and used it as his home for several months as a trailer for him and his golden retriever. However, tragedy struck when Andrew was involved in a terrible car accident. His equipment was destroyed and unfortunately his dog died.
After getting his stuff back together with the help of friends and family, he began looking into options for a new mobile home. He decided to build his budget-friendly Earththroamer with the help of many friends. The results were amazing.
What we have here is a 2004 Ford F-550 with a 6.0-liter turbocharged diesel V8 engine that puts out 325 hp and 560 ft-lb. (759 Nm) of torque. Andrew bought the vehicle when the odometer was just over his 100,000 miles (160,934 km) and built the camper box from scratch.
Photo: YouTube Screenshot / Tiny House Giant Journey
The box measures 16 feet (approximately 4.9 meters) long, 8 feet (2.4 meters) wide, and 13 feet (4 meters) high (including vehicle height). Additionally, it offers 128 square feet (11.9 meters) of space. Although not much, the interior is designed as efficiently as possible.
Initially, he planned a budget of $30,000 (€27,411) for construction and hoped to complete the project in just a few months. Of course, like many other builds, it ended up being more expensive and time-consuming, taking him 20 months to make.
Andrew said he had invested a total of $60,000 (55,321 euros), but it is unclear whether that included the base vehicle. Still, this is a big difference from EarthRoamer's price. For example, the EarthRoamer LTi has a base price of $695,000 (640,797 euros).To be fair, that option is much more high-end than what you'll find on his Andrew's rig, but its features probably “Too much” For many people.
You won't miss this rig on the road. Even if you don't notice its size, the blue mountain graphics will definitely catch your eye. Before we take a peek inside, let's take a closer look at the exterior features.
Photo: YouTube Screenshot / Tiny House Giant Journey
The camper is on a Continental MPT There are 81 tires. At the front you can see the backstop his bumper with a Warn winch. Additionally, for storage, Andrew has devised his two abdominal compartments where tools can be stored.
This rig is equipped with two 30-gallon (114-liter) diesel tanks. According to Andrew, the camper's fuel economy is about 10 MPG (23.5 L/100 km), which means it can be driven up to 600 miles (966 km).
The roof has a rack for three 175W solar panels, a spare tire, and a light. Other notable elements on the top are two vents, an air conditioning unit, and a ski box. And finally, Andrew added tires and his two large aluminum boxes to the rear.
When you step inside, you will be greeted by a bright and warm interior. One of his best design touches on this rig is the Sho Suga van. If you're like me, you probably have no idea what that means. Simply put, Shosugi Ban is a traditional Japanese wood-burning technique that not only looks beautiful, but also helps preserve the wood. There is also an air conditioning unit, Maxx air fan, and multiple lights installed in the ceiling.
Photo: YouTube Screenshot / Tiny House Giant Journey
On the left, you'll see a huge closet split into two parts. One for Andrew and one for his girlfriend. You'll find a bathroom ahead. Equipped with a cassette toilet, shower, ventilation fan, and small window. What's more, this space also doubles as a drying area as there are hangers all over the place.
The next area of this interior is the kitchen, located on the driver's side. It features a striking countertop made of sycamore wood, a deep sink, a dometic oven with three-burner hob, and a large refrigerator located just off the bathroom entrance. When it comes to storage, there are multiple cabinets and drawers under the countertop, as well as three overhead cabinets on each side of the interior.
The final section of the kitchen countertop serves as Andrew's desk, where he edits photos and videos. This is a simple workspace with plugs nearby and a soundbar under the cabinet above. Under the desk is a shelf containing camera equipment.
On the other side of the kitchen, Andrew devised a lounge area consisting of two benches and a dinette table between them. The space under both benches is used, one to store dog food and a diesel heater, and one to store the rig's electrical system.
Photo: YouTube Screenshot / Tiny House Giant Journey
Highlights of the power system are four lithium-ion batteries, an inverter, and a solar charge controller connected to a 525W solar panel on the roof. I don't know the total battery capacity, but there aren't that many power consumers inside this rig, so it's probably enough to allow off-grid travel.
And finally, there is a sleeping area located directly above the driver's cabin. The mattress of the bed is installed on the Froli system, which allows air to circulate under it and prevents moisture from building up. Notable features of the bedroom are two small windows and a small storage space.
Overall, I applaud Andrew's willingness to return to his dream lifestyle. He built the ultimate tiny house on wheels for himself, his girlfriend, and his dog so they could enjoy the type of life he wanted: a life full of excitement and adventure. It's done.
It may not have the equipment or abilities of the EarthRoamer, but it clearly did the job for these adventurers, and it wasn't all that expensive to manufacture. In addition to that, it looks great from the inside and offers plenty of living space.