After 25-year old Mike Hudson quit his job he spent the next 5 months building his new home. An old cargo van that he would live off grid in and travel around Europe with.
Leaving from England heading throughout Europe visiting music festivals and camping everywhere in between he has everything he needs inside his van. There is a kitchen with space to cook, a mini refrigerator, solar panels for power, shower, toilet, work desk area and even a hammock.
Don’t miss other van dwelling stories like this – join our FREE Tiny House Newsletter for more!Â
He quit his job, built out this cargo van tiny home, and is traveling Europe while sharing his experience online
Images © Van Dog Traveller
Van Dog Traveller =Â 1. Quit Job. 2. Build Camper Van 3. Travel
Below you will see some photos of this tricked out van and videos too. Enjoy!
Every good tiny house needs a kitchen.
And in a van conversion, it’s no different!
Well, hello there!
Keeping warm inside 🙂
Life in a van conversion.
Lots of adventure! A new scene every day.
Images © Van Dog Traveller
VIDEO: Living in a Van – a 90 second timelapse
VIDEO: From Van to Home in 5 Months
Resources:
- Van Dog Traveller
- Curbed (as seen on)
- YouTube (video)
You can share this van conversion and Europe travel story with your friends and family for free using the e-mail and social media re-share buttons below. Thanks.
If you enjoyed this Man Converts Cargo Van to Travel Around Europe you’ll absolutely LOVE our Free Daily Tiny House Newsletter with even more! Thank you!
Latest posts by Andrea (see all)
- 32-Foot Gooseneck Tiny House: A Spacious, Luxurious Home on Wheels by Fritz Tiny Homes - March 12, 2023
- New Frontier Tiny Homes Latest Tiny House Build - March 11, 2023
- 206 Sq. Ft. Modern Scandinavian Fritz Tiny Home - November 6, 2022
IT HAS A TOILET!!! These folks know how to put together a real traveling home!!
Really love this! Although I had a brand new $90,000, 2006 “Airstream Parkway” motorhome (built on the “Mercedes/Dodge/Freightliner Sprinter” van, I couldn’t continue the horrific payments on that 20 YEAR loan! Would much rather do something like THIS in something like a small, efficient, le$$ expen$ive van, such as the NEW “Ford Transit Connect”, or the “twins”: the NEW “Nissan NV200” and/or “Chevy City Express”. Think “Chrysler” is also now coming out with a smaller “Fiat”-based one as well. A small fridge, portable propane cooktop, sink, porta-potty, and one of those “solar showers” (i.e. the big, black plastic bag hung up in a tree until the water gets hot…LOL!). A cheap “futon” for sitting & sleeping. Wouldn’t co$t too much, would be kind of “stealth”, easy to drive & park on OR off the grid. And get pretty decent miles per gallon to boot! YIPPEE! thanks for the GREAT article/photos/video! Keep on CAMPIN’! ;-D Greg
Nicely done, everything you need and looks good too. BTW, if you want a shower with the solar bag just heat some water in your kettle, add it to some cold in there and go right ahead. No need to forgo showers on cloudy days or if you’re in a hurry.
Nice setup! Limited only by one’s ability to buy fuel!
I have an old 1973 Chevy van that was converted at that time into a camping van, and part of why I keep it around is because I may have to live in it one day. And it would be do-able: mine also has a kitchen, seating/bed, and toilet. But mine came that way – this impressive van was built by the owner. Amazing!
Love the wood on the walls and ceiling. What a smart job and way to travel!
Another way to stay, um, “hygienically correct”, besides using some kind of “shower contraption” would be what West Point Cadets use “out in the field on maneuvers…” Both the guy & gal Cadets pack those “wet wipes” to freshen up with, and the ones that can be “flushed down the toilet” are even MORE “convenient”! In a pinch, they DO REALLY WORK! Trust ME! LOL! >;-D
You could also just do the old bowl and washcloth method. If you do it right you can get everything done in the right order using one cloth and as little as 1/2 to 1 cup of water. If you add hair washing you can do that with a minimum of water if you don’t go crazy with shampoo then use that water for the rest of you. The wipes are OK in an emergency but not as refreshing as a proper “cat wash” with a cloth. Even “flushable” wipes should NEVER go in a toilet, they are bad for the sewage system.
I have almost waist length hair and when camping or out at my shack often wash it with only a few cups of water using a basin and a dipper or cup. Wash using just enough water to wet hair and a tiny amount of shampoo, rinse using that water, then use a separate cup or two of clean water to slowly rinse again. You can get pretty good at doing the whole wash with minimal splatter in tight quarters. You can also make a bunch of washcloths by cutting up an old t-shirt into squares. No hemming required and if the odd one has to be abandoned for whatever reason no big loss.
AWESOME! Does he need a sister???
What a nice conversion. It has everything anyone would need and it’s very neat inside. Great job!
I sure like your conversion Van . I a,m wanting to do something like that and travel around the us. I am wanting to work and travel , some . I am looking to get started sometime this year . Take care , enjoy your time .
I think Mike has found a new occupation – customizing Van interiors!
Nice work, dude!
A far cry from the ’73 Vega Wagon I lived in, during the summer of ’86.
One could park that in a trailer court and live in it indefinitely.
Very cool rig. Thanks for sharing it with us. =)
Gets a Big Smile from Me!
Ah, to be young, free, and still tolerant of primitive living conditions… 😉
Seriously, though, that young man is quite the jack of all trades, to have done everything from the woodwork to rigging the plumbing to soldering the electrical system together!
Love it!!
Fantastic job mate!
What a wonderful idea! Great van conversion. Keep traveling and learning! God bless you and protect you.
I am a 65 yr old female and admire the genius in that young guy. This would be a very good option for me and my partner to escape to warm weather during winter time. I live in Canada and can hardly live with the cold.
i am green with envy …
Hello!
Who can I contact to consider transforming my Honda Van into my little palace? I’ve been researching micro-houses,trailers and tiny houses for years and I just can’t seem to get to the sites that can help me follow my heart’s desire to live in my own little world. Is there someone out there that could guide me through possibilities and options? I am looking for a way to retire to suit my hope for fun and adventure in my advancing years. Please call or e-mail me if you can help. Thank you kindly. Marti Twomey in Hollywood, California
323-799-0175
Is there someone out there that could guide me through possibilities and options?
Read more at https://tinyhousetalk.com/man-converts-cargo-van-travel-europe/#imiZoulTMzs4cWk3.99
hi marti! have you found someone? i too would love this help! i’m up in santa barbara. thanks in advance for your reply!
michelle
I love this. A little too small for me to want to live full time, but I dream of having something like this on the side to take very long trips someday. It’s great for moving around, where 200 sq feet not so much and more cost and planning to uproot.
True! It’s much more mobile.
If you simply got to be there over night….!