4 unique Tiny Home experiences

We have traveled to more than 100 countries in the past 8.5 years. In 2020, we had to take a break from international travel, which forced us, as full-time travelers, to reevaluate what we were going to do with our lives.

So we decided to buy a converted Sprinter van and explore our own backyard by road tripping across the United States. Living in a van really made us curious about what it was like to live in other unique homes, so we took breaks from our van every now and then to try living in vehicles like a converted school bus, Tesla Cybertruck, Earthroamer from $ 1.1 million and many others. We wanted to see what life was like in these more unconventional ways of life and decide if we really made the best decision buying a sprinter van.

1. Converted school bus

Fun fact: When we were first shopping for a van to live in, we almost bought a converted school bus. We ended up buying a Sprinter van because we knew it would be easier to get around the way we wanted, but the school bus always seemed like a cool idea and stuck in the back of our minds. When we found a converted school bus to rent on Airbnb, we knew we had to try it out to get a taste of what van life could have been like and to decide if we made the right decision.

One of the more obvious benefits of living in a school bus is how much space it has compared to other vehicles. The bus had a spacious hangout area with a couch that could be converted into a dining room or an extra bed. In the kitchen we had a huge sink and fridge/freezer (okay, huge for a van) along with an electric stove, which is our DREAM but totally impractical for our own van. The master bedroom took up the entire back of the bus and the bed was completely stationary and not a bed that you had to fold up against the wall during the day. Our favorite feature was the miniature wood stove, which was absolutely the perfect place to warm up and make s’mores.

The power supply and storage capacity of the bus were an immediate disadvantage for us. Inside the bus there was limited storage and no place to store clothes long term. Without solar power, we had to hook up at a campsite to get enough power to power the bus. These things make the bus perfect as a weekend adventure vehicle, but impractical for longer, off-the-grid adventures.

2. $1.1 million Earthroamer

We thought the $150k sprintervan was pure luxury until one day we discovered a company called Earthroamer. We got the chance to try out their $1.1 million van and experience what the most luxurious form of van living would be like.

The Earthroamer bus is absolutely equipped to handle any type of adventure you want to undertake, any time of the year. This beast is 34 feet long, 12 feet high and rides incredibly smoothly over rough terrain. The luxury starts before you even enter the bus with military tires and two winches that can pull 16,500 pounds. At the back of the van is an outdoor kitchen with a top-of-the-line Traeger grill, tool kit and storage space that’s perfect for skis – yes, you heard that right. This bus is one of the few campers that fully functions in the snow.

We think this Earthroamer has the nicest kitchen of any camper out there, with plenty of counter space, an instant hot water dispenser, and custom cabinets stocked with plates, knives, and other kitchen essentials. Thanks to the custom design, you won’t have to worry about glassware breaking while you’re driving! The California King bed comes with a TV, Bose surround sound, and a skylight so you can enjoy the view of the stars every night.

3. Houseboats

After spending a lot of time in houses on wheels, we decided to try something new and experience life on the water. We went to Seattle and spent the night in a houseboat on Lake Union, where the house from the movie Sleepless in Seattle is famous.

The houseboat wasn’t fancy, but it had everything we needed to live comfortably. Our favorite features of the houseboat were the full fridge/freezer and unlimited fresh water—something you won’t find in any home on wheels. On rainy days, which are common in Seattle, you can cuddle up in the Murphy bed and watch a movie, but when the sun is out, relaxing on the rooftop deck or barbecuing is the way to go. Since the boat can’t move, there’s a dock with a kayak where we paddled to a restaurant for the best clam chowder of our lives. Seriously, this could be a great way to live minimally and close to nature in a big city.

4. Tesla Cybertruck

If you want to feel like a celebrity for a day, we recommend renting a Tesla Cybertruck and just driving it around. Okay, you don’t have to, but when we borrowed a Cybertruck for a few days, the amount of people stopping for photos made us feel so fancy.

Anyway… let’s get to the part where we talk about what it’s like living in the Cybertruck. Owners of this futuristic-looking vehicle have the option to add a $3,000 camping setup called ‘Basecamp,’ a tent that can be stored in the back of the truck and set up when needed. The Cybertruck is extremely powerful and can easily drive over rough terrain. These things, combined with the fact that this Tesla is basically a huge energy source, means this vehicle is perfect for driving out to the middle of nowhere and setting up your own high-tech camp.

Compared to the rest of the truck, the ‘Basecamp’ tent was surprisingly simple and low-tech. It has to be inflated via a manual bicycle bump and has no lights, despite being only a few meters from a car socket. The tent is approximately 4 feet wide and 6 feet high and has a padded mattress to provide padding on top of the car’s hard surface. Despite its shortcomings, “Basecamp” is definitely better than sleeping straight on the ground in a regular tent. And when you need a break from the outdoors, you can just hop in the truck, turn on theater mode, and enjoy surround sound streaming services that somehow work even in the middle of nowhere.

Which of these little houses would you most like to live in?