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You might remember Trevor and Rae’s first Overlander that they built on a budget. When we last talked to them, they were in the process of taking an old snowplow truck and making their second epic overland rig. Now it’s finished, and you’ll love the tour!
The rig is beautiful and decked out with an amazing solar system which allows them to run a mini-split to keep their dog comfortable. While they think nomadic living gives you more freedom than any other lifestyle, they make it clear that it’s not necessarily cheaper or easier. Check out their rig below!
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A Green-Cabinet Galley with Color-Changing Lights
Step inside and the first thing you notice is how much like a real home kitchen it feels. Deep green cabinets with brass pulls, butcher block counters, white subway tile and a full-size range turn what was once a work truck into a place where you can actually cook. Strip lighting along the ceiling changes color, which lets Trevor and Rae set the mood for a cozy dinner or a bright work session. In a rig this size, lighting does double duty: it makes a long, narrow room feel wider and gives the space a personality that a standard overhead bulb never could.
A DIY Wood Stove for Cold-Weather Camping
Because this truck was built to handle Alaska winters, heat was a top priority. A homemade wood-burning stove sits in the corner of the living area, with a hook overhead for an interior hammock and a skylight placed right above the bed. A wood stove gives off dry, steady heat without drawing on the batteries, which matters a lot when you camp far from hookups. The black curtain at the center of the rig separates the sleeping area from the kitchen, so one small room can act like two when you need privacy or want to keep the warmth where you are.
A Retired Snowplow Built for Rough Roads
The foundation is a 2008 GMC retired snowplow truck, a chassis designed to push through heavy snow and punishing terrain. That heavy-duty pedigree is what makes it so capable on the bumpy tracks that lead into the wild. The black box body has ample exterior storage, and behind it they tow a trailer “garage” that holds a motorcycle, extra food, tools and outdoor gear. Keeping bulky gear outside the living space is one of the smartest moves in overlanding, because it leaves the interior free for living instead of turning it into a storage unit.
Solar Power That Keeps the Mini-Split Running
Trevor and Rae went big on solar, and it pays off in a practical way: there is enough power to run the mini-split around the clock so the temperature stays comfortable for them and their dog, even while they are parked away from civilization. Off-grid climate control is usually the hardest thing to get right on the road, and sizing the battery bank and panels to support it is a lesson any builder can borrow.
Design Details
- Base vehicle: 2008 GMC retired snowplow truck
- Builders: Trevor and Rae, a DIY build and their second overland rig
- Climate control: mini-split powered by a large solar system, plus a DIY wood-burning stove
- Interior: green galley kitchen with butcher block counters and range, color-changing lights, a skylight above the bed and a hook for an interior hammock
- Storage: ample exterior storage plus a towed trailer garage for a motorcycle, food, tools and gear
- Travel style: full-time nomads, with their dog, built to withstand Alaska winters and bumpy backcountry roads
What Makes This Build Special
- Purpose-built toughness: starting with a snowplow truck gives the rig a chassis made for harsh conditions.
- Heat from two sources: a wood stove for cold nights and a solar-powered mini-split for year-round comfort.
- Gear stays outside: the trailer garage keeps a motorcycle and tools out of the living space.
- Honest perspective: Trevor and Rae believe nomadic living offers more freedom than any other lifestyle, but they are clear that it is not necessarily cheaper or easier. Their advice for anyone curious about life on the road is simply to do what works for you.
Video Tour of the Snowplow Motorhome
The full walkthrough covers the kitchen, the bedroom, how they make money on the road, the exterior and the trailer garage, and ends with advice for people considering life on the road.
Highlights
- A 2008 GMC retired snowplow truck converted into a full-time off-road home
- Built to handle Alaska winters and rough backcountry roads
- Solar system powerful enough to run a mini-split around the clock for the dog
- DIY wood-burning stove, color-changing lights, and a skylight over the bed
- Towed “garage” trailer that carries a motorcycle, food, tools and outdoor gear
- Watch the full walkthrough: “4×4 Snow Plow Turned Overland Tiny House“
Learn More
- Follow Trevor and Rae on Instagram (@wazimulife)
- Subscribe to their YouTube channel
- Subscribe to Tiny Home Tours
- Their first budget-built overlander
Related Stories
- She Went From Van Life To This Truck Camper
- Bantha: Full-Time Overlanding in a 6×6 Military Vehicle
- Her Awesome Truck Camper w/ Shower & Toilet
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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.
Natalie C. McKee
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