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I’m excited to introduce you to John Russell and Debbie Hanson. They’re a couple who’ve gone from divorces and 2,000 sq. ft. homes into a DIY 200 sq. ft. tiny house on wheels that they call their Ritz on Wheels. It cost them only $15,000 in materials to build it themselves and just under a year in labor.
Images © RitzOnWheels
We moved around a lot the past two years and thought about buying a house and decided at our ages (49 & 50), it was not the journey we wanted to embark upon. We wanted to simplify our lives post divorce for both of us, travel, and be adventurous. Getting rid of pieces from the past and downsizing was therapeutic.
We started building in July 2013 and finished in May 2014. John had a boat trailer and we went from there. We designed it & made changes along the way. We researched tiny houses and tried to pull the best from the best. And we have no regrets. It’s a true statement that you can live a big, fulfilled life in a tiny house. Next weekend is Chapter 2. A move to a more permanent location for the winter and possibly beyond. 40 acres about 45 miles from the RV park we have been in. John made improvements to hookups for sewer, electrical and water just tonight. Our kids (4 total – all young adults) all embrace what we are doing & we hope it teaches alternative ways to loving life. Not just living life.– Debbie
Believe It Or Not, The Construction Started with This Boat Trailer
And later you’ll see how John was even able to add a third axle to it so it can better handle the load.
Construction Photos and Progress of the Ritz on Wheels
Foam Board Insulation
Platform/Subfloor
Floor Plan
Framing
Roofing
Sheathing
Installing Metal Roof
Windows and Sheathing
House Wrap
Siding
Building the Interior
Related – This Couple’s DIY School Bus Conversion
Completed Tiny House Photos of the Ritz on Wheels
Inside you’ll find all the comforts of home. A full-sized shower, kitchen, flat screen TV, Wi-Fi, and best of all… no mortgage. When asked by a local newspaper reporter what they do in the house, Hanson responded, “We sit on the couch. We eat. We sleep. We go to the bathroom. That’s about it.” To make best use of the space Russell created several multi-functional components in the house like the fold down table, wheeled furniture, and a large floor to ceiling closet/storage space. Please enjoy and re-share below.
Images © RitzOnWheels
Highlights
- John Russell and Debbie Hanson built a 200 sq. ft. tiny house on wheels called the Ritz on Wheels
- The house cost them $15,000 in materials and took nearly a year to build
- It features a full-sized shower, kitchen, flat screen TV, and Wi-Fi
- The couple lives mortgage-free and enjoys the simplicity of their lifestyle
- The house includes multi-functional components like a fold-down table and wheeled furniture
- They started building in July 2013 and finished in May 2014
- The couple downsized and simplified their lives after divorces and previous large homes
- They are moving to a more permanent location on a 40-acre property
- Their children support their lifestyle and they hope it teaches alternative ways to love life
- The construction started with a boat trailer and was designed based on research of other tiny houses
- The couple has no regrets and believes that a big, fulfilled life is possible in a tiny house
- They also built a school bus conversion in addition to their tiny house
They also built a school bus conversion! Check it out below…
Our big thanks to Debbie & John for sharing their inspiring tiny house living story with us!
=> Read their story on the Traverse City Record Eagle local newspaper
If you enjoyed this couple’s story on how they live big in a tiny home on wheels you’ll absolutely LOVE our free daily tiny house newsletter with even more! Thank you!
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you purchase through one of our links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Alex
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