Thought I’d give you guys an update on our progress renovating our 17′ Truck Camper. My husband purchased this camper in very poor condition in January 2017. Initially he was planning to fix it up as a way to go out on quick trips for a few days at a time. However, as his plans manifested themselves in his mind, he realized how much potential there was for this camper. He started telling me we were going to move in and live in this tiny space full time. It took a long time to convince me. 🙂

I’ll tell you a bit about the work we’ve done on the outside first, then I’ll take you inside and show you our living space. I’m saving before and after pictures until we complete this project. So for now, I’m just sharing pictures to show where we’re at with this project right now.

There was a lot of dry rot on the back wall, so hubby decided to just take the whole thing off and rebuild it! We love having a regular house style door and door knob. And of course the cedar wood makes it look and feel like a cabin.

Coming around to the front of the camper, we also replaced most of this front wall. There used to be a window up on top here, but the previous owner ran into a tree with it and busted the window out. With the way we changed things around inside, it made more sense to fill it in rather than replace the window.

We also put a brand new roof on this RV, which turned out to be a rather stressful job. With the help of friends and family, we got it done about 3 days before the Pacific Northwest rains set in for the year.

Here is the big idea of the interior. I love it so much! So thankful to have a handy husband, and to be able to live in a home we built ourselves and own it outright!

When you first come inside, there is a chair to the right and our shower/bathroom to the left. The seating is still a work in progress, but eventually there will be a couch of sorts where you see the green blanket. We’re considering putting a corner desk where the office chair is currently placed. But for now, this is our only chair inside. We do most of our sitting outdoors.

The shower was designed with 3 coat hooks that hang out behind the shower curtain when it is pulled and in use. This is the only way we are able to have a coat rack in our little house. Genius if you ask me. 🙂 We also have a very compact composting toilet that slides out of the way a bit to save even more space.

Between the shower and my mini smart oven, we plan to install our cubic mini woodstove. It’s been sitting in our black trailer waiting ever since we pulled it out of the 5th wheel before we sold it last September. We’ve already purchased the tile for this area, it’s just a matter of finding the time and fitting all the pieces together. Before we can put the stove in, we have to install the bathroom shelf which goes on that blank piece of plywood you see there.

My kitchen is so perfect. I couldn’t be happier with it! Or so I think…but hubby says I will be as he still has a few shelves/cupboards to build in here. There are a few large dishes I’m still storing in the black trailer so I am looking forward to having everything in here. But he designed these drawers to fit my dishes perfectly. We spent a long time measuring dishes and discussing width/height/depth before he built this. I love everything about how we set it up.

This counter top is made from a tree that my husband cut down in Oregon. We owned a Mighty Mite Sawmill that he used to mill the wood into lumber. Then he used a hand router to make tongue and grove and piece this together. There is literally blood, sweat, and tears in this beauty! I think it turned out gorgeous though and we are both so glad he didn’t give up on this idea, in spite of not having all the right tools for the job.

Across the way is the stove, pantry, and refrigerator. Just a simple 2 burner propane stove meets our needs perfectly. Our 5th wheel had a 3 burner stove but I never used the 3rd burner so I knew this would be sufficient.

The timber frame to the right of the stove provides support for the back end of the camper, without making things feel boxed in. It gives the space a much more open feel than it had before.

And then there’s the bedroom. Simple. Tiny. But just right. We actually both have empty shelves in our clothes closet and though we do have a tiny hanging closet, neither of us really wear that kind of clothes so they just sit there. Kitty makes herself at home in that window cubby behind our pillows.

Thanks for coming in for a visit! Hope you enjoyed the tour. Let me know if you have questions about anything or thoughts for any of our future design plans. And drop me a comment and let me know your favorite part of our renovation project!