A COUPLE who quit their jobs to travel the world have revealed how they transformed a disused fire truck into a luxury 2-storey camper.
Jon and Jess have created the ultimate stylish mobile home inside a 6-wheel drive they bought for £31,000.
The existing roof was cut out and reinforced with a metal frame, which became the structure of the pop top[/caption]
Whilst they still have a couple more weeks to go with the build, they said the renovation has so far cost £14,000[/caption]
The most daunting part of all was fitting the protective canvas because of how precise you need to be with measurements[/caption]
The couple opted for solid wood for their kitchen worktops because of its attractive finish, light weight and general good usability[/caption]
The young couple built and designed their quirky home from scratch – from the electrics and stove to building a whole new level for their bedroom.
It even comes fit with an induction hob and classy wall tiles.
Whilst they still have a couple more weeks to go with the build, they said the renovation has so far cost £14,000.
“These six wheel drive Pinzgauers are one of the most capable off-road vehicles ever made so we decided to see if we could turn one into the ultimate expedition camper,” Jess said in their video.
“But it’s biggest downfall is you can’t stand up inside,” she added.
To gain more space they built a brand new roof on their diesel-fuelled “big red”, which they agreed was “very nerve wracking”.
The existing roof was cut out and reinforced with a metal frame, which became the structure of the pop top.
After a gruelling process, installing the bed frame and ensuring all the bits were held in place, they finally revealed the impressive new structure.
But the most daunting part of all was fitting the protective canvas because of how precise you need to be with measurements. Ensuring the area was fully water and bug proof was also a big concern, they added.
“We paid extra for the big windows,” Jess said.
“You do get a bit of daylight coming through but the benefit of it being thin is it’s only 2 kilos,” she added.
The couple opted for solid wood for their kitchen worktops because of its attractive finish, light weight and general good usability.
In total this cost £93.50 – not too shabby for a luxury material.
One of the negatives of wooden worktops is they tend to warp.
This is easily prevented by putting a metal bar underneath to hold the shape, Jess said.
The couple chose the same wood to create a lagoon table top that can be propped up for a side table or desk to work on.
If that wasn’t enough the pair even wired the entire truck themselves to make it fit for the ultimate getaway.
Jess encouraged anyone nervous about taking on this electrical challenge to seek help from a professional.
“There are companies out there who will design the whole electrical system for you. You just have to say what you want and they’ll tell you what cables and batteries you need,” she told viewers.
As for the pièce de resistance – the truck’s highly stylish kitchen – the couple settled for a household induction cooker that is both mobile and can sit flush on the worktop.
They even added a tiled splashback – a simple stick on job using lightweight imitation tiles that cost just £28.
As for one of the most important assets of all – the bed – they used a track saw to cut out the perfect sized mattress, which they slotted onto slide-out panels.
“This is just in case of bad weather,” the couple pointed out. For the most part, they intend on sleeping in their super-deluxe pop-up roof.
It was expensive but definitely “worth the money” they agreed.
“I worry what’s going to happen to all my tools when I die,” Jon joked.
“He has so much of everything, Jess said.
“which is why it’s so hard to give you a proper cost check,” she added.
The whole process has been documented on their social platforms, where they’ve answered hundreds of questions from inquisitive onlookers.
They used a track saw to cut out the perfect sized mattress[/caption]
The couple picked an old fire truck to turn into their campervan[/caption]
When one commenter asked how off-grid they planned to be, they replied:
“We never stay at camp sites so will be fully sorted, hopefully”.
The couple’s renovation project follows Erica’s caravan transformation earlier this year.
The mother from the UK, bought a 2004 Lunar Lexon caravan, which was in need of modernising, and transformed it from drab to fab all whilst on a budget.
Posting on social media, the savvy DIY fan gave her followers a close-up look at the van before its epic overhaul.
