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Man Converts ’87 Military Cargo Truck into his DIY Tiny Home


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This is a man’s tiny home he created out of a 1987 military cargo truck.

Outside, you’ll see the general shape of a military truck that you’d expect. The front fascia has been painted blue, but the backside of the vehicle has been transformed into his living area. He can drive it at a max of 45 mph right now, but said he’ll try to get it to 55 mph in time.

When you go inside, you’ll find a stove, sink, cabinets, and a microwave in the kitchen area. He has a table that folds up for more room and folds down for eating. His bed sits on top of the cabin and includes a television so he can watch TV in bed. It also includes a bathroom. Watch the video below to meet his pet goat and cat.

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Man Converts ’87 Military Cargo Truck into his DIY Tiny Home

Military Cargo Truck Conversion to DIY Tiny Home 001

Images © Talk And Travel TV via YouTube

Military Cargo Truck Conversion to DIY Tiny Home 002

Images © Talk And Travel TV via YouTube

Video: Tiny Home Military Vehicle Conversion

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Natalie C. McKee

Natalie C. McKee is a contributor for Tiny House Talk and the Tiny House Newsletter. She's a wife, and mama of three little kids. She and her family are homesteaders with sheep, goats, chickens, ducks and quail on their happy little acre.

Latest posts by Natalie C. McKee (see all)

{ 27 comments… add one }
  • Debbie Johnson
    February 22, 2016, 11:15 am

    I would like to say, I love his for a THoW. The problem is Youtube. You cannot watch it without is stopping and starting so frustrating to hear about the unit.

    • Cindy
      February 22, 2016, 1:48 pm

      Debbie, your Youtube issue is a problem with your computer. I had no problem with the video. Love this tiny house!

      • Debbie Johnson
        February 22, 2016, 3:52 pm

        Cindy,
        Thank you for the info. I will check it out.

  • Kanye
    February 22, 2016, 1:09 pm

    This guy’s personality ruined the tour. “Yeah, I got some stuff. You know what it’s like. I’ve got wires.” coupled with bad jokes… I would have liked to have seen a real tour. The place looked interesting.

    • Paul
      February 22, 2016, 6:31 pm

      I had to laugh at 4:57 seeing the “To Do List” inside the cupboard, lol. 1. Get high, 2. Relax, 3. Walk goats

      • Bigfoot
        February 22, 2016, 7:59 pm

        I think he started on the to do list 1.get high before the filming began. Absolutely no technical info in regards to the build so pretty much nothing to learn from what’s being presented. Those deuce & a halves are beasts but they’d be quite costly to run down the road or try to travel with or have to repair. Guy seems happy & he’s doing his own thing so I give him a hat tip anyway.

        • Paul
          February 22, 2016, 8:33 pm

          M923a2 is actually a 5-ton, makes the deuce-and-a-half look like a dwarf truck, lol

        • Bigfoot
          February 22, 2016, 9:04 pm

          Thanks for setting me straight Paul 🙂

        • Paul
          February 22, 2016, 9:09 pm

          Haha, no problem. I actually had to Google the nomenclature myself to be sure, but I knew it looked more like a 5-ton with those fenders.

  • Darcy
    February 22, 2016, 6:20 pm

    I really dislike people who post there tiny homes that are unfinished. Wait till your done then post and let us see the finishes results. The video is hard to watch, guy is either stoned or just not all there, if I were his girlfriend, I’d run.

    • Kristina H Nadreau
      February 23, 2016, 12:57 pm

      I agree. More truck, less blab.

  • John
    February 22, 2016, 7:28 pm

    Strange I had this idea today and here is the email!. I found a model similar to this for 7-11,000 bucks. The sides EXPAND on this model, which makes it bigger. Called an “expand” van. BIG diesel engine, impossible to kill them and this guy got a rebuild. It’ll last forever! Forty five MPH is the recommended speed, it will go faster but you would have to rig the inside to keep stuff still. I like it and might do my own.

    • Large Marge
      October 11, 2016, 4:38 pm

      John,

      You might be referring to the American army M934 ‘expansible van’.

      The M934 series was engineered as a Command Center or Radio Shack (aka ‘bomb magnet’), so they were made in enormous numbers although few survived their first hours on the battlefield. They required specifically-trained drivers because a lot of the weight was aloft, leading to single-vehicle fall-over wrecks. If you get one, stay on flat ground, and take turns at a walking pace. You’ll thank me later.

      You are right about the engines. As an exercise in futility, the 2.5-ton and 5-ton series were upgraded from weird military-only components to COTS (Commercial Off The Shelf). The pathetically-underpowered multi-fuel engines were swapped for the legendary (in a good way) Cummins 8.3-liter 250-horsepower, the finicky stick-shift transmissions were swapped for tough push-button Allison automatics. We see them at

      In the video, he mentions his rig was re-built, but he might mean it was re-powered.

      This series was tough == to a point == as far as moving stuff, but improvements in IEDs, particularly usable in the rustic areas the Deuce-and-a-half and 5-ton might operate, relegate these to last century’s war.

      We see these at auction for a few hundred US dollars (sometimes in lots of two or three for US$1,000!)… after US tax-payers invested US$60,000 each in the upgrades. Often, they are purchased by dismantling yards, because the components are worth far more than the running vehicles.

      And in some American cities and states, these cannot be driven on the road because of tightening emissions regulations. To get them to your ranch or farm, they need to be carried on a flat-bed or towed.

      • Large Marge
        October 11, 2016, 4:54 pm

        That closing thought in our third paragraph should read:
        “We see these at auction with all the maintenance records from incept, and most have only a few hundred miles and a few dozen hours total since new… but they still got their oil and filters and belts changed with zero use since the prior maintenance. Is this an example of ‘make-work’? But, at least, they can claim the USA borders are secure, by golly!”

  • Tiffany
    February 23, 2016, 1:01 am

    I thought he was a very Sharp guy who made jokes cuz he seemed a little shy being on camera. I’m guessing they contacted him for the interview & maybe the beginning filming is the unfinished side & the later filming (beannie & goat footage) maybe later in the build, so it seems very choppy. I’d like to see a sketch up of what it looks like In one view. The bouncing around of sections made it very difficult to know where In the truck they were at except the cab of course. Really great idea & know how!

  • Scott
    June 22, 2016, 12:09 pm

    Dude I don’t know what to say except you have a Moto guzzi at least or looks like anyway so props on that .
    I was wondering why if you have a big honking military truck though wouldn’t it have been easier to have bought a small used shipping container and dropped it on the bed of he truck ?
    At least in theory that would have been a nice platform to build out your living space and would keep with the overall aesthetics.
    What you have now reminds me of Jed Clammpets jalopy from the Beverly hill Billy’s . Lol
    Good luck, the first one is always a learning experience anyway! lol !
    video was too funny.

    • Paul
      June 22, 2016, 1:12 pm

      The smallest (length) shipping containers that I’ve heard of are 20ft – which is way too long to fit properly on this truck. 5-tons have a 14ft bed.

      • Large Marge
        October 11, 2016, 5:05 pm

        Paul,
        re: shipping container length

        Construction contractors often whittle on them to fit a job-spot, then weld in doors and windows. An 18.5-footer might start as a 40-footer. Wow! Two for the price of one! Double your fun!

        Just don’t bury the darn things. They rot through in hours. You’ll thank me later.

        • Paul
          October 11, 2016, 5:17 pm

          That’s true, I hadn’t considered chopping one up to fit, haha. I’ve heard about not burying them, major death trap…

  • June 22, 2016, 7:11 pm

    I have seen 10 ft shipping containers. Too small! Wow, I almost could reach the other wall.

  • October 11, 2016, 3:40 pm

    If you are not Crazy, we do not want theam!

  • ZACHARY E MOHRMANN
    October 13, 2016, 10:39 pm

    I don’t like it, looks like a nightmare, the whole thing is up way to high…! And what’s with the goats, it’s just to weird for me…! Don’t get me wrong I love old military vehicles, and I personally don’t have anything against goats, as a matter of fact I have a great recipe for a delicious couscous and roast goat, but this guy is way to weird….!

    • Natalie
      October 14, 2016, 6:40 am

      What? Goats are my favorite 🙂 I am going to have some one day (not for eating!) — Tiny House Talk Team

  • Pam
    June 21, 2017, 11:59 pm

    @ Paul, I was wondering if anyone besides me noticed #1 on the “To Do” list! Priorities! I found this guy quite entertaining and admire his ambition. As far as his design, I find it “meh”. But I do love the goats!!!

  • Jean
    June 22, 2017, 6:56 am

    That was hysterical..”and there’s that”. And good for him for making this happen.

  • keepyourpower
    June 22, 2017, 8:07 pm

    Good looking young man! Looks a lot like a man, I loved back in the 70’s!
    Ah! To be young again!

  • Stephan of Arkansas
    September 25, 2021, 6:06 pm

    I did not watch the video because of the uncomplimentary remarks. The young gentleman lives his life without doing harm to anyone; and if pays his own way …… then bravo for him. May he enjoy his goats and herbal remedies. My question: What kind of gas (diesel) mileage does he get? This is respectfully submitted. Stephan of Arkansas

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