Sarah and Matt Parks lived in a 1978 VW Westfalia before they decided to build a new rig using a newer Chevy van as a platform. What are the benefits of using a newer platform? Easier to heat during winter, more storage, less maintenance. Sarah and Matt along with their new rig will be featured in our upcoming book, aptly called Hit the Road Jack due out towards the end of the year.
Paul’s rig which features a globalxvehicles pop top will be in one of our next books on adventure rigs. Due out next year.
This build will be featured in our upcoming book Hit the Road, Jack. Due out next year.
Left to right:
I would fly into San José del Cabo, pick up the truck at my friend Chilon’s house, drive out to an arroyo on a ranch, down to the beach, let air out of tires and go 2 miles or so on the sand to Roosterfish Cove. All alone for days. No clothes nec.
Imagine waking up each day in a stunning new location, stepping outside your home, grabbing your surf board and hitting the waves. Kiwi electrician Johnny Johnston is living that dream, traveling and working all over New Zealand while hunting down the countries best surfing locations all in his converted van.
Johnny’s van is completely self contained, with toilet, kitchen, living area, bed and of course stunning and ever changing views. As an electrician he has installed an impressive solar system in the van to keep his adventures powered up and to help make his van home regardless of where it’s parked up…
Photo by Kaya Lindsay
Would you like to be a part of the book? Please send Evan an email with a little information on your rig — as well as a picture — to evan@shelterpub.com.
The VW Westfalia is an iconic vehicle, and to me, Thomas J. Nugget, or Nuggs for short, is my symbol of freedom. Nuggs is a 1989 Volkswagen Westfalia camper van.
He is in incredible condition and is equipped with a 2,200 cc, 2.2L Subaru engine, built-in propane tank, two-burner stove top, thermostat-controlled furnace, a 12-gallon water tank, sink, roof-mounted solar panel, a refrigerator/
freezer, two full-size beds, a swing-out table, and lots of storage…
Lance Gillies and his wife were globe-hopping overlanders who couldn’t buy the rugged, go-anywhere four-wheel-drive home they could imagine so they built it instead.
Today, his Bend (Oregon)–based company makes the rapidly deployable Earthcruiser on a hefty Mitsubishi Fuso platform (complete with a motorized retractable toilet and indoor shower), but a newer pop-top truck camper as well.
Mike takes on a new way of tiny homes with his latest build, here sharing his dreams of chasing storms and showing the steps of building what it takes to create your Dream Chaser.
The Flying Tortoise is a 1977 KD Bedford bus built in New Zealand by Hawke Coach Builders. Originally it was used in forestry areas to carry work gangs to remote bush sites, Built high off the ground and with a short wheelbase for tight turning, there’s hardly a hill it can’t climb, and with its off-road tires, it’s almost a “Go Anywhere Vehicle.”
Hi, Lloyd and Lew,
I just wanted to let you know that Rocky Mountain PBS premiers the Lost Sea Expedition series January 4th. The series will also stream on Amazon and Vimeo. The story about this tiny wagon voyage across America featured in Tiny Homes (pp. 188–189). I think this info would really interest readers of The Shelter Blog.
About the Lost Sea Expedition series
The four-part series is about my 14-month voyage across America in my 21-square-foot mule wagon. I filmed the series with only the gear I carried in my wagon — no chase team, sponsor, or film crew.
One new episode will be aired on Rocky Mountain PBS every Thursday in January. The series will also stream on Amazon and Vimeo.
It would be great if you could let readers of The Shelter Blog know about this series. I think they’d be very interested as it covers tiny homes on the move, off-grid living, and the best way to move a rattlesnake with a buggy whip.
I sure have enjoyed following The Shelter Blog over the years and think this series would really interest your readers.
Have a great New Year!
–Bernie Harberts
PO Box 684
Lenoir, NC 28645
Some years ago Joaquin De La Cruz traded his ’48 Triumph motorcycle for this vintage Chevy Flatbed — and with little money, much imagination, and found discards — set about making one of the most unique ever to roll along America’s roads.
For the last five years Joaquin, Gypsy, and their three kids — Heather, Bear, and Serena — have moved around the country and were last seen parked along California’s Feather River…
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