When building on a budget, Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace are amazing resources, as Courtney and Sawyer will tell you. They relied heavily on deals for reclaimed materials that created their custom box truck home named Elfie.
This couple wanted to get into vanlife as soon as they were done with college and had saved up enough money to get started on a build. Coming from small college living spaces, the transition to mobile living went smoothly. Elfie features an elevator bed, a cat condo for their feline companion, and a custom mural painted by Courtney.
Don’t miss other interesting tiny homes like this one – join our FREE Tiny House Newsletter for more!
2003 Isuzu Box Truck with Elevator Bed
Images via Tiny Home Tours
Reclaimed Materials Create Cozy Interior
Images via Tiny Home Tours
Custom Mural Gives Elfie a Face
Images via Tiny Home Tours
Video Tour: DIY Isuzu Box Truck with Bed Lift
Design Details
- Vehicle: 2003 Isuzu box truck
- Name: Elfie
- Build Style: DIY couple’s build on a budget
- Materials: Reclaimed materials sourced from Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace
- Sleeping: Elevator bed (lifts up to create floor space)
- Pet Features: Built-in cat condo
- Exterior: Custom mural painted by Courtney
- Interior Style: Cozy with reclaimed wood accents
Lessons from This Build
- Secondhand Materials Save Money: Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace offer affordable reclaimed materials that add character while keeping costs down
- Elevator Beds Maximize Space: A bed lift mechanism allows the same floor area to serve as living space during the day and bedroom at night
- Pet-Friendly Design Matters: Building in a cat condo shows that mobile homes can accommodate furry family members with intentional design
- Small Space Experience Helps: Living in college dorms or small apartments before transitioning to vanlife makes the adjustment easier
- Personality Through Art: A custom mural transforms a plain box truck into a unique rolling home with character
Learn More
Related Stories
- Couple’s Cozy Box Truck w/ Lift Bed
- He Converted This Box Truck into a Zen Office
- Unfolding Box Truck Goes from Stealthy to 350 sq. ft. Motorhome
Our big thanks to Tiny Home Tours for sharing!
You can share this using the e-mail and social media re-share buttons below. Thanks!
If you enjoyed this you’ll LOVE our Free Daily Tiny House Newsletter with even more!
You can also join our Small House Newsletter!
Also, try our Tiny Houses For Sale Newsletter! Thank you!
More Like This: Tiny Houses | Van Life | Video Tours | Conversions | House Trucks
See The Latest: Go Back Home to See Our Latest Tiny Houses
This post may contain affiliate links and/or sponsored content.
Alex
Latest posts by Alex (see all)
- Custom Built 7×14 Cargo Trailer CAMPER Tour - May 20, 2026
- Living Full-Time in a Tesla Model X - May 20, 2026
- Tiny House Communities in Georgia: Where to Live Small in the Peach State - May 20, 2026