Living Off-the-Grid in a Box Truck: A Family Adventure
Have you ever dreamed of living on the road, traveling to new places every day, with the freedom to go wherever you please? This family of four is living in a custom overlander, which is basically a tiny home on wheels that can go anywhere. In this blog post, we’ll take a tour of their unique home and hear about their journey of living off-the-grid in a box truck. From building their home on wheels to traveling the country with their two young children, this is one family’s adventure you won’t want to miss. So sit back, relax, and let’s dive in!
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Tiny Living Dream: Living Off-the-Grid in a Custom Overlander
In today’s video, we meet a family of four who have been traveling on the road for about a year and a half in their custom overlander. This tiny home on wheels packs a punch, with all the necessities they need to live off the grid for long periods of time. The overlander is essentially a tiny home that can go anywhere, which means the family can change their backyard every single day if they want to.
The family built their overlander themselves, with the help of an incredible Airbnb owner who provided a perfect workspace filled with tools. It took them around two months to build the overlander, and the total cost came in at around $65,000. The whole idea behind their overlander was to create something like an earth rover but on a budget, and it turned out to be a good compromise and balance for what they ended up with.
The overlander has four-wheel drive, which was essential for the family to go off-road and explore areas that might not be accessible to regular vehicles. The overlander is a Ram 5500 that has gone through quite a few modifications. From the super single wheel conversion to the big tires for weight capacity, this overlander can hold up to 6,400 pounds. It also holds 74 gallons of diesel, which cost around $350 to fill up. With an average of 10 mpg, they can go miles and miles from civilization.
How One Family Sold Everything to Hit the Road
The family we’re about to meet will take us on a tour of their tiny custom overlander. Their overlander is basically a tiny home that can go absolutely anywhere, allowing them to change their backyard every single day if they want to and stay off-grid for long periods of time. This is one family’s dream life, and they are living it in their custom overlander.
The family had a beautiful piece of property in East Tennessee on 11 acres where they thought they would live and grow old together. However, they heard about overlanding and decided they wanted to do it full time. They’ve been on the road for about a year and a half. They initially traveled for the first year in a van they built out themselves, but it didn’t provide them with enough space or payload.
They found a compromise by building out a box truck that cost around $65,000. The whole idea was kind of like an earth rover, and they managed to manifest and transform it in front of their eyes. The family has two kids, aged five and eight, who were amazed by the process and think their dad is a superhero who can build anything.
The Unique Features of a Custom Box Truck
The Overland Uncharted family’s custom box truck is truly an impressive feat of engineering and imagination. Just looking at the exterior, you can see the many unique features that set this vehicle apart from any others out there. For starters, the super single wheel conversion is something you don’t see every day. And those tires! They can hold up to 6,400 pounds each, ensuring that this truck can handle even the toughest terrain. Plus, with four-wheel drive, they can truly go anywhere.
One of the other standout features of this box truck is the deck that was added to the top. This expands the living space significantly and provides a great place to relax and take in the view. With the cvt awning and screen room, this is truly a place where you can enjoy the outdoors without being bothered by bugs or harsh weather.
Of course, the interior is just as impressive. The family has managed to fit everything they need into this small space, from the bed and seating area to the kitchen and bathroom. It’s amazing what can be done when you have a clear vision and the determination to make it happen.
Overall, the Overland Uncharted family has truly built a dream vehicle. It’s not just a box truck, it’s a home on wheels that can take them anywhere they want to go. If you’re looking for inspiration for your own custom overlander, look no further than this incredible machine.
Traveling in Style: Four-Wheel Drive, Big Tires, and 74 Gallons of Diesel
This family of four has been living on the road for about a year and a half in their custom Overlander, which is essentially a tiny home that can go anywhere and allows them to change their backyard every single day. They previously travelled in a van that they built out, but they found that it didn’t provide them with enough space, payload, or four-wheel drive. That’s when they decided to sell the van and build out a box truck to meet their needs.
Their custom Overlander, which they call “Macho”, is built on a Ram 5500 chassis with a super single wheel conversion that required them to install big tires with a weight capacity of 6,400 pounds. It’s also a four-wheel drive and holds 74 gallons of diesel, which costs about $350 to fill up, and it has an average fuel economy of around 10 mpg. The modifications they’ve made to the truck allow them to carry all the gear they need for long periods of time off-grid.
One of the features that sets their Overlander apart is the deck that expands their living space and allows them to enjoy the outdoors. They have also installed aftermarket bumpers, lights, and a roof rack from Front Runner, as well as storage boxes from Yakima and additional fuel tanks. To make their Overlander even more functional, they’ve added foldable steps from e-trailer, dual doors and windows from Arctic Turn, and an air compressor for inflating their big tires. All in all, this family has definitely figured out how to travel in style and comfort in their custom Overlander.
Expanding Living Space: The Pro Scape Box with a Custom Deck
Meet the Overland Uncharted family who turned their dream of living in a tiny custom overlander into a reality. They built their tiny home using a box truck. It cost them around $65,000 in total with the box costing around $15,000 and the build costing about $50,000. Their plan was to create an “earth rover on a budget” inspired by the expensive Earth Roamers which cost around $500,000. They achieved their goal with the Pro Scape Box that includes a custom deck.
One of their primary requirements was space. When they first lived in a van, they didn’t have enough space for the family, and as the kids grew, it became even more of an issue. Payload was also a crucial factor, as they were at the limit with the van, and four-wheel drive was missing. The Pro Scape Box solved all of these issues.
It came with a deck which expands their living space and was high on their priority list for the build. Originally, the door came down on an angle, and then it had a ramp that folded down to the ground. They made some modifications to get it flat and added some grass. They also added a CVT awning and a screen room to keep away mosquitoes.
The Overland Uncharted family loves their new home. It has fulfilled all of their expectations and more. They even have a role model for the kids as their dad built everything himself. Follow Jenna on her channel for more tours of unique tiny homes.
Q&A
Q: What is the YouTube video about?
A: The YouTube video is about a family of four living in a custom overlander, which is a tiny home that can go anywhere. They have been on the road for a year and a half and have chosen to live off the grid in their custom overlander, which is essentially a modified box truck.
Q: What inspired the family to start living off the grid in a custom overlander?
A: The family originally had a farm on 11 acres in Tennessee, which they thought would be their forever home. However, a new trend in overlanding caught their attention and they decided to build their custom overlander as a way to live off the grid full-time.
Q: What were some of the challenges the family faced in their previous van home that led them to build their custom overlander?
A: The family found that they needed more space as their children started growing, and the van wasn’t able to accommodate their needs. Additionally, they were at the maximum weight capacity and couldn’t add anything to their travels. Finally, they needed four-wheel drive which was unavailable on their van.
Q: How long did it take the family to build their custom overlander?
A: It took the family about two months to build their custom overlander once they had sold their van. They had a good workspace to build their custom overlander in an Airbnb that had tools of all kinds.
Q: How much did it cost to build their custom overlander?
A: The family spent around $65,000 on the truck, $15,000 on the box, and around $50,000 on the build, totaling around $130,000. They found that this was a good compromise and balance for what they ended up with.
Q: What modifications did the family make to their custom overlander?
A: The family did a super single-wheel conversion, added a front bumper with lights, a front runner roof rack, and a Yakima cargo box that holds their paddleboards. They also added a deck to expand their living space, and Arctic turn doors and windows.
Q: What is the fuel capacity of the custom overlander and how much does it cost to fill it?
A: The custom overlander has a fuel capacity of 74 gallons of diesel, and it costs around $350 to fill it. The family gets around 10 miles per gallon for the vehicle.
Q: How do the children feel about living off the grid in the custom overlander?
A: The children love living off the grid in the custom overlander and are intrigued by the whole process. They look up to their father as a superhero who can build anything.
Q: What is the family’s favorite feature of their custom overlander?
A: The family’s favorite feature of their custom overlander is the deck, which greatly expands their living space and allows for outdoor living.
And there you have it, the inspiring story of a family of four who chose to veer off the beaten path and live a life of adventure on the road. Not only did they build their own custom overlander box truck, but they also embarked on an amazing journey of self-discovery and exploration with their children.
It just goes to show that with a little creativity, determination, and an open mind, anything is possible. Who knows, you too may be harboring a dream of living off-the-grid someday. It may not be easy, but as this family shows, it can be incredibly rewarding.