Meet Jessy and her 1978 Dodge Commander, lovingly named “Mander.” She and Mander (along with her cat) have been on the road now for three wonderful years of travelling around the country!
She’s become her own mechanic for nearly everything her renovated campervan has needed in order to save money — and she only spent $1,900 when she bought the camper with 54,000 miles on it. She just recently updated the interior again, and it’s bright and modern with its popular grey and white hues.
The biggest interior upgrade was her bathroom, which now features a separate shower stall and area for her Nature’s Head composting toilet. The build is beautiful, and Jessy’s story is inspirational! She even wrote a book on how to get into vanlife, which you can buy here.
Check out the awesome tour and video interview with Tiny Home Tours below.
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Life on the Road in her Dodge Commander

Images via Tiny Home Tours/YouTube
Her interior space is clean and open!

Images via Tiny Home Tours/YouTube
Love how she made the cab special.

Images via Tiny Home Tours/YouTube
The table flips up for meals.

Images via Tiny Home Tours/YouTube
Here’s her shower stall.

Images via Tiny Home Tours/YouTube
And new toilet cubby over the wheel well.

Images via Tiny Home Tours/YouTube
Her queen-sized bedroom is surrounded by windows!

Images via Tiny Home Tours/YouTube
VIDEO: 3 Years Living in a $1,900 Renovated RV
Highlights:
- 1978 Dodge Commander
- Bought for $1,900
- Recently updated interior
- Recently did mechanical improvements
- Living on the road for 3 years
- She wrote a book on vanlife
- She offers coaching
- Nature’s Head composting toilet
- Queen-sized bed
- Kitchenette with everything but stove
- Flip up table and counters
Learn More:
Related Stories:
- Finding Financial Freedom: Goodbye Mortgage, Hello RV Renovation!
- Photographer & Florist’s Clean & Bright RV Renovation
- Digital Marketer Celebrates One Year of RV Life with Two Cats
Our big thanks to Tiny Home Tours for sharing! 🙏
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Natalie C. McKee
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I really admire her independance and imagination, good for you!
Great story and lifestyle. It shows that you don’t need a huge amount of money to live your dream.
So true!
Do it while you’re young, don’t wait until the ‘Golden Years’ when all your gold goes to the doctors. Looks super fun.
In the highlights it states;
Kitchenette with everything but stove
I believe you meant oven.
Sorry Lantz! You are correct.