Catherine and Chris converted a box truck (or “lorry” in British English) into a full-time home they call “Florry the Lorry.” As empty nesters from a blended family of seven, they built the conversion themselves over 18 months while still working, then hit the road across Europe with their dog Rolo.
The interior is lined in honey-colored wood that gives the space a warm cottage feel, with a fixed double bed, L-shaped couch, full kitchen with double oven, wet bathroom, and a wood stove for cold weather.
Exterior and Layout
Bedroom
The fixed double bed sits at one end of the truck with a skylight overhead for stargazing. Wooden crates underneath provide organized storage, and a twig partition creates a visual barrier between the sleeping area and the living space—adding natural character while maintaining an open feel.
Living Space
The open living area features an L-shaped couch for lounging and a wood stove that keeps the space warm during colder months of European travel.
Kitchen and Bathroom
The L-shaped kitchen includes a double oven and compact appliances. The wet bathroom is behind a door, providing a self-contained shower and toilet space.
The Build
Catherine and Chris completed the conversion themselves over 18 months, working part-time around their jobs.
Life on the Road with Rolo
Q&A with Catherine and Chris
What got you into tiny living?
We’ve been motorhoming for over 25 years. I (Cat) lived in a motorhome for a year over 26 years ago with my ex husband’s and our two girls who were then, 4 months and 3 years old, travelling around NZ. Motorhoming has been in my blood for a long time. Chris and I have had campers and motorhomes for over 15 years and used to always spend the school holidays going off on an adventure before we moved into Florry full time. We are a blended family of 7 and with our kids grown up and parents still healthy we decided it was time to downsize and live a simpler life in our tiny home on wheels.
Did you build your home or buy it?
We built Florry ourselves with hard work and determination. It took us about 18 months to build as we did it part-time while we were working. It’s an ongoing process that adapts and changes as we go along.
How has tiny living changed your life?
For better. Simpler life, less materialistic things to go wrong, new gardens every few days because we move every few days, having our home with us wherever we go. Easier to clean and quick but negative it has to be done every day as it accumulates dust very easily from being on the road. We get to meet so many people wherever we go and make new friends along the way. The flip side is we also miss friends when we leave too.
No electricity bills, although there is the expense of buying the solar panels and batteries but long term, we save on electricity. Have to be tolerant of each other and have had to learn to communicate better and respect each other’s space in such a small place. Feel cosy inside wherever we are. We could be in a horrible car park but inside is always home.
We have met so many interesting and amazing people on our journey which we would never have done if we had stayed in hotels or B&Bs. Life in lorry has meant we have made some very good friends all over Europe.
How do you make money on the road?
Chris works in IT. He’s a senior system administrator and works remotely—all he needs is good reception, a phone, and data. We have a booster installed in the lorry to make sure we always have good reception.
What’s the hardest part?
We get road fatigue at times and also miss family and friends too, but always make sure we get to see them as much as we can. The only real thing I miss is a long hot soak in a bath with bubbles from time to time and in winter having a full size washing machine.
What’s the most rewarding part?
Meeting new friends and new gardens to explore and the simpler life with nature.
Any advice for people looking to go tiny?
I still wake up every morning looking around thinking… wow! We built this. Still can’t believe we did it. It was such hard work, blood sweat and many tears. We worked so hard on the build and it’s been worth every minute.
At times, it is hard on the road and shouldn’t be over glamorised either. We have to always think about where our next water supply will come from, where to park, packing up every time we have to move on. It’s a lot more physically tiring than living in a house where you don’t think about a running tap, a flushing loo and worry about running out of water.
When someone asks us what it’s like to live in a lorry in such a small space we say, go live in your bathroom for a week and take a stove and food you need and use limited water only going out to go outside. It’s hard being in a confined space in winter and we have to respect each other, work hard at our relationship and communicate more than most couples because we are together for many hours of the day in a confined space during winter.
We also have a car which gives us time to be on our own. So far, it’s worked and we are enjoying our lives and experiences.
Follow Florry the Lorry
Images © Catherine and Chris / @florrythelorry
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Natalie C. McKee
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Only one thing I would change. If I’m viewing the bathroom correctly, it looks like to use the sink one has to stoop over the box in front of it. That would be uncomfortable. Otherwise, this home is PHENOM!! Love all the wood and decor.
I love everything about this home!!
I love nothing about this home. It looks, to me, to be a mish mash of styles and just really does not work. Yeah, I know, different strokes for different folks. Which is why “I” don’t like it.
“Florry the Lorry” is incredible! Really nice job!