This Couple Transformed a Bread Truck into a Stealthy, Budget-Friendly Tiny House on Wheels

Early last month I discovered an old bread truck that had been converted into a full-time mobile home. This is one of the most creative and stealthy campers I’ve seen, and its owner has gone the extra mile to ensure his vehicle is as discreet as possible.

The bread truck I’m talking about today isn’t that stealthy, but it’s still not obvious that anyone lives inside. Let me tell you how this happened. Ellie and Paul are nomads and they met while enjoying this lifestyle. Soon they fell in love, moved into Paul’s bread truck together and carried out a complete interior overhaul with an emphasis on efficiency and practicality.

So, Paul owned the truck before they met – it’s a 1989 Utilimaster with a four-cylinder Cummins turbo diesel engine. According to him, the truck consumes an average of 14 MPG (17 L/100 km). Additionally, the engine is paired with a four-speed manual transmission.

Paul bought it on Craigslist for just $3,700 (€3,401), but it was in pretty bad shape, so he had to do a lot of repairs – he said he paid around $7,400 (€6,805) for it. put it back in good condition. . Furthermore, Paul explained that he invested a total of $20,000 (€18,386) in this platform, which is a very good deal.

Before we take a look inside, let me tell you more about the exterior features of this rig. The first thing you will notice is the “Merita Rolls” logo and writing on the sides. It’s a nod to Paul’s origins: Merita was once a large bread factory in Paul’s hometown of Orlando.

At the back you will discover another graphic reading, “Bread trucker.” Above, Paul installed two large windows, the only windows in the platform’s loading area. Finally, on the roof, Paul imagined a roof rack that could accommodate two 350 W solar panels.

Let’s take a look inside, starting with the driver’s cabin. The couple made no significant changes to it. They added a shelf with plants, a GPS and a GoPro mount.

A traditional door separates the driver’s cabin from the living space. Enter and you will find the bathroom on the left. It features galvanized steel panels, a custom composting toilet, a shower with copper piping, two shelves and teak carpet. A nice addition to the bathroom is a cabinet with a mirror that the couple attaches to the inside of the door.

Photo: YouTube screenshot / Tiny House Giant Journey

A small door built into one of the bathroom walls hides a Camplux water heater and an opening that leads to the driver’s cabin. The shower head can be pulled through there and attached to the outside.

Opposite the bathroom you will find a large hanging closet with additional storage space above and below. Another nifty feature inside this rig is a slide-out storage space behind the closet – the couple found themselves with dead space behind the closet, and so they came up with this solution. It is essential to use every available inch inside motorhomes.

Walk deeper inside and you’ll be in the living room/kitchen area. Regarding the design, the couple opted for white cabinets combined with barn wood walls. A striking touch is an old-fashioned linoleum floor.

The lounge is located on the driver’s side – it has two bench seats and a removable dining area table. In addition, the table can be fixed between the two benches to connect them and form an extra bed.

Photo: YouTube screenshot / Tiny House Giant Journey

Both benches have additional space underneath. One houses two storage bins and the other holds toilet paper and cleaning supplies. Other places where you can store items are two hanging cabinets.

It was important to Ellie and Paul to have a well-equipped kitchen as they use it daily. It features a Coleman two-burner portable stove, deep stainless steel sink, drawer slide-mounted refrigerator/freezer, spice rack, lighted backsplash, and small cubby.

For storage, you can use various drawers and cabinets under the counter, as well as three large hanging cabinets. To keep them closed while driving, they use simple wooden wedges.

The rear part of the interior is occupied by a permanent queen-size bed. On the driver’s side, you will find a large headboard incorporating two large shelves.

Photo: YouTube screenshot / Tiny House Giant Journey

To separate the living room from the bedroom, Ellie and Paul use a bright piece of wood. Next to it, you will discover a door that hides part of the electrical system.

By the way, the electrical system includes 210 Ah batteries, an inverter and a solar charge controller connected to the 700 W solar panels. Most of the components are located under the bed.

Overall, Ellie and Paul did a great job with this bread truck. They transformed it into a cozy and functional little house on wheels with a warm and welcoming interior, all without breaking the bank.