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Adventurous Couple Converts Travel Trailer into Tiny Home


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I’d like to introduce you to Heather and Dana of HD Adventuring. They converted a travel trailer into a tiny home. Here is their story.

HD Adventuring is the story of two New Englanders who made the trek out to the Golden Coast. We met in college, and a few months after graduation, we decided California was calling our names.

To get here, we packed all of our things into a single station wagon and got rid of the rest. We spent a month road tripping all over the country.

After that month of living with only a couple of bags full of stuff, we realized that all we needed fit into that small car.

We decided that we wanted to live tiny, so we purchased a camper, and are converting it into a tiny house.

Please enjoy, learn more and re-share below. Thank you!

Adventurous Couple Convert Travel Trailer into Tiny Home

Adventurous Couple Convert Travel Trailer into Tiny Home

Images © HD Adventuring

Adventurous Couple Convert Travel Trailer into Tiny Home Adventurous Couple Convert Travel Trailer into Tiny Home Adventurous Couple Convert Travel Trailer into Tiny Home

Related: Couple Living Tiny in a 140 Sq. Ft. Camper Trailer

Adventurous Couple Convert Travel Trailer into Tiny Home Adventurous Couple Convert Travel Trailer into Tiny Home Adventurous Couple Convert Travel Trailer into Tiny Home Adventurous Couple Convert Travel Trailer into Tiny Home Adventurous Couple Convert Travel Trailer into Tiny Home Adventurous Couple Convert Travel Trailer into Tiny Home Adventurous Couple Convert Travel Trailer into Tiny Home Adventurous Couple Convert Travel Trailer into Tiny Home

Images © HD Adventuring

Our big thanks to Heather and Dana for sharing with us!

You can send this travel trailer to your friends for free using the social media and e-mail share buttons below. Thanks!

If you enjoyed this travel trailer you’ll absolutely LOVE our Free Daily Tiny House Newsletter with even more! Thank you!

Related: Couple Renovate 5th Wheel Travel Trailer into Tiny Home

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Andrea is a contributor for TinyHouseTalk.com and the Tiny House Newsletter! She has a passion for sharing tiny and small house stories and introducing you to new people, ideas, and homes.
{ 36 comments… add one }
  • Jonnie Hammon
    September 22, 2015, 1:37 pm

    That’s a really good question Eric Zachary Ryder. After developing Night Blindness, using the facilities after sunset, is not an option for me. It does make a cute little home, however, my family is too large to gather in it, for the Holidays.

    • Beth @ An Unusual Life
      September 24, 2015, 9:34 am

      Don’t let “family gathering at the holidays” be the reason you don’t live tiny. There are plenty of reservable locations to celebrate with family.

  • September 22, 2015, 4:45 pm

    Nice job! It looks great.

  • JIM PETERSON
    September 23, 2015, 12:09 pm

    ===========
    KAREN: “Attractive efficiency. Due to lack of insulation, you will have condensation in colder weather, however.”
    ===========
    Newer style RVs which have the smooth-sided FRP siding are better insulated than you might think. The real-wood paneling on the inside adds a bit of R-value — as does the 1/4″ plywood which the FRP is laminated to. Usually the studs and framing are aluminum and the entire side wall is bonded as a single unit. Large presses keep everything perfectly flat and then polyurethane spray foam is injected to fill all cavities (much the same as steel-clad residential doors). All RVs are not the same, and the newer ones tend to be *much* better insulated than the wood-frame RVs of old which often had nothing more than a 1/4″ thick blanket of fiberglass stapled on the outside of the studs under the aluminum siding — just about worthless.
    ==========

  • Michael Tomlinson
    September 23, 2015, 12:24 pm

    Many people live in travel trailers. I don’t consider this a tiny house.

  • Debby mahan
    September 23, 2015, 12:26 pm

    We live in our 27 ft. Pull behind an have for a lil over a year an absolutely love it we heat with a electric fireplace an stay quite cozy an as far as condensation goes we have a dehumidifier that takes care of that very well…. I love being able to just put a few things up an take off an go wherever our heart desires….I think your tiny home is awesome….

  • Robyn Rosser
    September 23, 2015, 12:26 pm

    Awesome job! Thus is the first time I’ve ever been moved to comment on this wonderful and inspiring site.

  • Sandra
    September 23, 2015, 12:42 pm

    This one makes little sense to me. Those units are meant to be light, light, light. To add all that extra weight to a ultra lite makes me wonder. It might look cute but in the end is it safe to pull? And why go to that expense with a travel trailer? Not for me.

  • Cooltruth
    September 23, 2015, 2:22 pm

    These campers are a good option for people who find tiny houses too expensive. You can buy them used for under $5000.00 if you look around for the deals. Economy matters to many of us and used campers are about as economical as places to live get unless you count tents.

  • Valerie
    September 23, 2015, 3:01 pm

    I am impressed and excellent job on this trailer.

  • Martha
    September 23, 2015, 4:37 pm

    I think the small amount of space was wisely and attractively used. Having lived in a couple of large houses, a 34′ 5th wheel RV, and now a small park model home, I know I could easily live in this travel trailer.

  • alice h
    September 23, 2015, 5:25 pm

    I seriously considered upgrading a travel trailer for tiny house living but it would mean I’d have to build a driveway so I’m back to a skid shack built onsite instead. After looking at a lot of RVs, the setup I liked best was a fifth wheel with as high a bedroom “loft” area as possible, washroom with a closet across from it just before the loft, rear kitchen and couch in the middle along the length, facing a large window. I would have ripped out the built in dining area and replaced it with a small drop leaf table and chairs. Also would get rid of any large lounging chair that some had in front of the couch. That layout seems to give the most “house-like” feel rather than lining up things on either side of a small walkway all along the length of the trailer. I even saw one that had a living room area in the lofted space and the bed in a separate room at the other end. It left the kitchen along the long wall and the “grand central hallway” again but the living area was quite open and comfy. It worked best with at least a 24′ trailer. For under $6,000 in my area you could occasionally find used ones with a winter package of extra insulation and storm windows. Not much work or money to reconfigure and redecorate.

  • Theo
    September 23, 2015, 6:35 pm

    Not sure how much ‘converting’ a travel trailer would nee, to be considered ‘liveable’, but at least no loft.

  • Dee
    September 23, 2015, 8:49 pm

    Hello. Well I have to say I live in a 34 ft Jayco camper for 6 months from the end of October to the end of May. We bought it used. Its a 1999 and was and still is in excellent condition. When we got it we went over it from top to bottom. All the instruction books came with it. I dont think it had ever been used. We took out the bench seat after discovering it wasn’t a very good setup. It has 2 bunks in the back that we use for storage. We took off some of ” fancy” valances, they take up way to much room. We also purchased an addition that attaches to the awning and adds a 8ft by 21ft addition to the camper. We stay in Tennessee for 6 months. We purchased a dehumidifier this summer because it did get cold last year. There is insulation in the walls but im not sure what the R facter is. Ive been in love with tiny houses since I discovered them and I consider this as close as im going to get and im happy with it. We do have a shower and potty. Thank you for your time.

  • Marsha Cowan
    September 23, 2015, 10:01 pm

    That is so adorable! It is beautifully organized and decorated. Love the colors, and the peg board. Great idea! I have used the porta-John, and an outdoor tent shower at my RV Court for over a year now. I never even think about it anymore. I hang a hand wash dispenser from the hook on the door of the John, and keep it swept like it was mine, and even put flowers in there sometimes! Lol! I love the outdoor tent shower so much that I don’t think I will ever go back to a regular one, so don’t worry about not having a bath. There are plenty out there! Great job!

    • Marsha Cowan
      September 23, 2015, 10:09 pm

      By the way, I think insulation R values are overrated. When it is hot, go outside and sit under a tree in the cool breezes. When it is cold outside, crank up the tent propane heater and relax. You will only be using it a little while before bedtime when you will cut it off and snuggle under your down blankets and sleep like a baby no matter what the temps are outside. I sleep well in temps in the single digits without using a heater at night. Life is not meant to be spent inside your tiny house all the time, at least not the tiny house lifestyle. If one needs to be inside all the time, one may not be cut out for tiny house living. I’m just saying…

  • Susanne
    September 23, 2015, 10:58 pm

    I’d like to add that if I ever live in a smaller home of any type, it would be nice to be comfortable. It would be unpleasant to downsize and be unhappy not having the basics such as climate control. Sitting outside is limited-depending on what state and season… I despise humidity, and mosquitoes…:(
    Plus keep in mind staying busy with various activities does not normally happen for free, so not all of us would be able to afford that. When I am at home, at least I expect to be happy since I’ll be spending a lot of time there.

    • Steve in Micco
      March 31, 2017, 8:41 am

      Humidity and mosquitoes….here in Florida every morning the previous night’s dew drips from the eves for a few hours….and the skeeters? ….should be up for consideration as our new state bird (its main competition being fried chicken).

  • September 24, 2015, 7:47 am

    i too am going to live in my travel trailer which I am in the process of reworking. It has pretty much been gutted and rebuilt. I bought it for 300 Cdn. With furnace and stove, fridge. We brought the studs out to 3″ and are using Roxul mineral wool insulation so it will be toasty warm on the mountain. Raised the roof 6 inches. The “bathroom” is going to be a shower/ tub because I like a good hot soak after working the land (80acres). DIY composting toilet will sit just outside. I like what Marsha said, too hot, go outside. I will have 2 shipping containers I use as storage for farm equipment that form two rather good walls, the trailer between them and one fixed wall to close it off. But my point is, the 8×12 trailer will be my tiny home. Adding the deck that I can eventually roof will extend my living space. It IS now a fixed home, I will not be moving it and my cost will be under 2,000 Cdn.

    • Martha
      September 24, 2015, 11:42 am

      Sue, I hope we can see pictures of your completed home when it’s finished. Sounds intriguing.

  • kerry
    October 5, 2015, 5:28 pm

    To answer The comment about a travel trailer being a tiny house or not, Anything that is tiny that you count as your home Is a tiny house Plain and simple. I have a 17 foot 76 prowler that has been gutted Rebeamed with 2×3 ,real windows Real toilet Standard size shower 2 beds Real sink 4.5cf refrigerator,And it is a tiny house, So for ppl Who believe that a travel trailer can not be a tiny house, Are thinking VERY small! P.S People who make a shed into a home ,Is it still a shed or is it a tiny home? ( home is Where you make it ! )

    • Ann
      February 11, 2016, 6:02 pm

      I agree. But they may be thinking it is not a “tiny house” in the sense of the “tiny house movement”.
      I like the idea for using peg boards. As someone mentioned, it doesn’t look “trailerish”. Although the layout isn’t my style, I like that they made good use of the space for themselves.
      I am just starting to change my 1999, 26′ Fleetwood Terry travel trailer. The dinette booth went out last night and the couch goes this weekend. Will have a cute little round cafe type table and a chair or two for eating, and a couple of small chairs nicely arranged in living area, both of which are in the slide-out. The dinette was taking up too much room and I didn’t use it anyway, except for computer.
      The little compartment doors near the floor that go under the table bench and couch let in a lot of cold air. Have one blocked with a small pillow until I can get it filled in with insulation of some kind. I don’t think these walls have any insulation in them, either.
      I was using several small heaters that blow hot air, but found they were circulating too much cold air near the floor from the fans. So I got several 3′ long, low radiator heaters and put a tiny fan by the ceiling to circulate the warm air up there and now just one heater keeps the whole place warm. I can’t run too many things at once inside or they’ll trip the breaker. So I ran an extension cord from the outside box, in through a hole where the outside shower sprayer goes through to under bathroom sink, and inside where I could plug the heater in.
      I am dealing with the windows beading up but a dehumidifier should help. I also got an electric heated hose to keep my water from freezing. That was a good investment.
      I am going to paint the walls and maybe place cabinets all around the walls to make up for the loss of storage space. : )

      • December 17, 2018, 8:51 pm

        Ann, thank you for the details on what you are doing with your travel trailer. I have a 5th wheel with a gooseneck attached that I’m doing the same too. Dinette set was the first thing to go. Replacing it with a desk/storage area and stools. Couch hides the water tank so I may leave it, but I plan to reinsulate and hopefully replace the whole roof for a nicer curved one. It’s not huge, but it makes me happy!

        • Ann
          December 17, 2018, 9:19 pm

          Toni, as it turned out I ended up moving into a tiny (very old) house in the country on other side of town near my daughter and her family last year. She wanted me closer to them and her friend was moving out of this place, so I relented. Fortunately the landlady let me park the trailer out back. Several months later I sold it to a nice young couple who later said they turned it into a tiny house. Didn’t get to see pictures, but I was happy for them. Would love to see some of yours sometime, though.

        • Alex
          December 18, 2018, 10:11 am

          Thanks for the update, Ann! Best wishes to you and your family.

  • November 10, 2015, 3:43 pm

    What a wise and great idea for converting travel trailing into tiny house. In every travel they have, there’s no need to rent any space because they already have it. If they wanted to take a nap at any point, they can. And of course, it is a big advantage for them as a couple since it is a big way to save money. This is an inspiration for me. Thanks for sharing this one.

  • Barbara
    February 11, 2016, 1:04 pm

    I think that this was a marvelous converstion, and it doesn’t look “trailer-ish” at all! I can’t wait until we can do the same thing – buy a used travel trailer for very little, fix it up, and live in it for a year so we can save a great deal more money with which we’ll get a tiny home in Costa Rica, but have the trailer to stay in when we come back to visit our grown children and their families. During that year, we will live in the state/national parks that are so abundant in Florida, and love every moment of it. REALLY LOVE IT. Two of our sons and their families go camping all the time as well, and they can make use of the trailer while we are out of the country. (Hmmm – perhaps I should charge them rent……!)

  • Michael L
    February 14, 2016, 9:45 pm

    Thanks for showing another travel trailer conversion. I like how fresh it feels.

    I’m retiring in about a year and have decided to do the same thing. I want to get it ready now then take to the road for a year or so. If it works out, and I see that tiny house living is as wonderful as I think it is then I’ll do a custom tiny house.

  • Mike Miller
    March 30, 2017, 7:53 pm

    have been following tiny homes for a long time. I have 40 years in the real estate business. I began studying tiny apartment info from Japan, and other locations, about 38 years ago. So I’m not knocking THOW’s but beginning to wonder the benefits of a THOW, with all the weight, versus a lighter weight quality travel trailer. Can a few, don’t answer is caps please, tell me what think? I love to inspect the posts on here so don’t misunderstand my question. I am really interested.

  • Mike Miller
    March 30, 2017, 9:37 pm

    I should have been more specific….I meant for actually traveling with it, very often, or feeling like you wanna move on down the road every now and then. I can’t imagine pulling THOW 600-900 miles. I know, without a doubt, THOW’s have their place. I am doing some thinking about other ways to have a lot of living in a small space.

  • keepyourpower
    March 30, 2017, 11:44 pm

    Did you redesign the bathroom, or keep it the same? I guess it is behind the brown door?

  • keepyourpower
    March 30, 2017, 11:45 pm

    Forgot to tell you…I really like that Tiny Home!

  • Mike Miller
    March 31, 2017, 10:06 am

    Thanks, Natalie C. McKee…..I can say Bingo on your pros and cons link you provided. I had already considered all of those, but had not given much thought to the toxic materials side of it, as those seem to be in carpeting, laminate flooring, ceiling tiles, and probably many other household items. But, toxic content is certainly a concern. I thought maybe I was missing a “pro” aspect for THOW’s. I would love the process of constructing one or more, but owning one for bouncing from Hilton Head to the panhandle of Florida, or futher down, even if every other year, overwhelms me. I love the “small” homes on permanent foundations. And,even with those,fun to imagine extracting a ton of function out of a very small space and the corresponding small investment. Will keep watching emails from TinyHouseTalk.

    • Toni
      August 9, 2018, 3:06 pm

      @ Mike Miller. One aspect not mentioned much here but possibly viable is steel stud framing. It reduces weight while maintaining structural integrity. Or, check out Peter’s post and beam construction on his THOW. I can’t remember his last name, but his tiny was featured on this site and he’s from Great Falls. Maybe someone else can help with a link to his build.

  • Cate
    August 11, 2018, 10:22 pm

    Why no picture of the bathroom?

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