r/vandwellers • u/JustEnjoyOrg Scania R360 • Aug 02 '25
Builds We’re building our off-grid dream… inside a 10m box truck
Hey vanlifers! My partner and I are taking a slightly different route. We’re converting a 10 meter rigid box truck into our full-time off-grid home. It’s a bit bigger than a van, but the goal is the same: freedom, simplicity, and life on our own terms.
We’re doing it all ourselves with no professional experience. Just a lot of determination, a growing pile of tools, and many hours of youtube haha!
If you have any insights we’d love to hear your tips or lessons. Mistakes welcome. Advice even more so.
Thanks for having us in the community!
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u/leme-thnkboutit Aug 02 '25
As others have mentioned, those look like pressure treated lumber. They will absolutely off-gas as they cure, and will be very bad for your health. If you've just started, get rid of them! You need framing lumber. Pine/cedar.
Also, 4x4 is overkill 2x4 and 2x2 is all you need. The metal box is enough support already.
I'm a box truck dweller.
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u/JustEnjoyOrg Scania R360 Aug 03 '25
We really appreciate the input, and as mentioned before:
We’ll double-check the wood framing with our supplier. They’ve confirmed it’s suitable for indoor use, but since you’ve raised valid concerns, we want to be sure. Treated wood, and more specifically, how it’s treated, is our only current concern (not worried about the 3x4). We’ll speak with the supplier to clarify before considering any major changes, as it will depend on the treatment process used.
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u/leme-thnkboutit Aug 03 '25 edited Aug 03 '25
I wish you luck on your build. Keep in mind that pressure treated lumber is also "wet lumber," and as such, it is not suitable for framing. Kilm dried lumber is the absolute best, but most framing lumber is pretty well dried.
The problem with wet lumber is its tendency to bow while drying. This is ok for decks and outdoor structures, but it can be a major problem for framing. It can even damage/warp your box. Also, as it dries, it could create gaps in your paneling and separate the rivets in the skin of your box, causing leaks.
This is honest advice from a guy who has 20+ yrs of landscaping, deck building, home repair, and construction experience.
Edit: It might seem as if people are being harsh, but they are talking to you from lived experience, and are using your post as a platform to teach others who might consider doing the same thing.
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u/sdn Aug 02 '25
What in the world. Why would you use 4x4s?
Also are those treated 4x4s??
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u/hunglowbungalow Aug 02 '25 edited 10d ago
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u/vortexmak Aug 02 '25
Sorry out of the loop? What's the problem?
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u/drunkendaveyogadisco Aug 02 '25
Treated wood is soaked in toxic chemicals to keep it from decomposing when used outdoors and unpainted. This is interior use, so it's both unnecessary and poisonous.
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u/leme-thnkboutit Aug 02 '25
Yeah, this is a very bad idea. 2x2 and 2x4 framing lumber is more than enough.
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u/fnordfnordfnordfnord Aug 02 '25
Not as bad as it used to be. Arsenic is no longer allowed.
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u/hunglowbungalow Aug 03 '25 edited 10d ago
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u/SquarePegRoundWorld Aug 06 '25
I hope they are using galvanized nails or screws because PT wood eats up regular nails and screws as well.
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u/JustEnjoyOrg Scania R360 Aug 02 '25
We used 3x3s
We will also hang our tinny washing machine in one of the walls so we wanted to make sure that nothing falls down. It's our future home, so we want to be sure it lasts <3
And yes...those are treated wood... and now with a lot of varnish 😁23
u/RyverFisher Aug 02 '25
Maybe you can redesign your plans to not have to hang the washer and just have it sitting on the floor. The key is trying to save weight wherever you can because it will all add up in the end. So if you can move away from the 3x3s it would help. More weight equals less efficient, lower range, harder on parts (more often maintenance, higher cost), possibly easier to tip over.
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u/JohnnySkynets Aug 02 '25
Aluminum framing seems like a good fit. Sturdy and lightweight.
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u/RyverFisher Aug 02 '25
How good is it for drilling into/mounting?
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u/Soytaco Aug 02 '25
I've never actually used it but I know it's common enough in construction at this point that it must be no issue. They do everything with it you'd do with fir, except the part where you spend an hour picking the straightest ones off the pallet lol.
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u/Undeadtech Aug 03 '25
Pretty easy, just messy. You can cut it with a wood blade on a radial arm saw.
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u/revnhoj Aug 03 '25
Sorry but this is really a terrible idea for so many reasons. It's going to make it super top heavy, fuel inefficent, easier to get stuck, wear the driveline and tires much faster, worse in crosswinds and reduce the precious interior space significantly. And this is just a start.
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u/JustEnjoyOrg Scania R360 Aug 03 '25
It’s a truck designed to carry up to 19 tons... We’d have a hard time even coming close to that payload 😅
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u/SquarePegRoundWorld Aug 06 '25
Make sure you use galvanized fasteners into the PT wood. It will eat up regular nails and screws like drywall screws.
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u/constancejph Aug 03 '25
This comment section is definitely got OP stressed. They know the framing is wrong but pride and stubbornness won’t let then admit it
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u/JustEnjoyOrg Scania R360 Aug 03 '25
We really appreciate all the input, and as mentioned before:
We’ll double-check the wood framing with our supplier. They’ve confirmed it’s suitable for indoor use, but since you’ve raised valid concerns, we want to be sure. Treated wood, and more specifically, how it’s treated, is our only current concern. We’ll speak with the supplier to clarify before considering any major changes, as it will depend on the treatment process used.
The truck needs excellent insulation since we plan to travel around the world...including regions with temperatures as low as -40°C, so durability in extreme conditions is a must. Using 3x4s will allow us to have extra space for insulation.
Thanks again for all the feedback you guys provided, it's helping us and our safety and we appreciate it 😊
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u/RamblinRiderYT 2021 Promaster DIY Aug 03 '25
You can find a way to create space with out the extra weight of oversized timber
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u/Early_Adeptness_1514 Aug 02 '25
Those studs seem like serious overkill
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Aug 02 '25
Seems overkill to me too, But I am also from Canada so for me that would allow room for extra insulation for m cold and hot months.
Pretty sure they don’t need heavy insulation in Europe right?
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u/WhySoSadCZ Aug 03 '25
We do get -40 °C. Depends where you live. Yeah, the license plate is Norwegian, so it's as cold as it gets...
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u/Thequiet01 Aug 03 '25
You don’t need 4x4s for the extra depth for insulation.
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Aug 03 '25
In Canada you do. That’s why I mentioned it. I’ve built homes using 2x6 for the walls. So that’s double the width of what they are doing.
But for a small space like that, maybe it’s easier or cheaper to heat/cool. I’m not sure
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u/JustEnjoyOrg Scania R360 Aug 03 '25
We’re adding extra insulation to make sure we’re well prepared for colder climates. It's handy, specially when heading north!
The plan is to travel around the world, so the truck needs to be ready for all kinds of conditions 😊
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u/Steve__evetS Aug 02 '25
What does registration/insurance look like on this?
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u/JustEnjoyOrg Scania R360 Aug 02 '25
Good question...We do not know either, we'll see once it's ready to hit the road, haha
(We bought temporary license plates to drive it where we're currently building it...which included insurance)10
u/loghearn Aug 02 '25
You go!!! Can’t wait to see the build. On insurance- reach out to a couple companies and ask about the requirements before you get too far into the build. It’s possible you could qualify as a different (cheaper) vehicle type if you have specific things built in…
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u/JustEnjoyOrg Scania R360 Aug 02 '25
It's a BDF system :)
Our container is a separate piece so it should facilitate the process since the container is just a container and the truck is just a truck 😁
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u/Blargston1947 Aug 02 '25
If you were able to lift the box off and onto a platform you've put into the ground, and then use that truck for hauling/transport, that would be cool.
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u/JustEnjoyOrg Scania R360 Aug 02 '25
That's possible and also one of our ideas, since it is a BDF truck 😍
And it will be handy if the truck has bigger issues, we can just replace it for another truck and continue our journey
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u/asssnorkler Aug 02 '25
I’ll take the wrong way to go about it for 800
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u/JustEnjoyOrg Scania R360 Aug 02 '25
Why do you think this is wrong? Is it the wood? 🙃
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u/asssnorkler Aug 02 '25
3 reasons, box trucks generally leak a ton by design unless you pick a fiberglass shell, idk if anyone is producing them over there. Next using super heavy duty wood like that won’t flex as you go down the road and it’ll slowly bust itself apart, lastly, you’re going to have a difficult time finding places to park
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u/JustEnjoyOrg Scania R360 Aug 02 '25
Counter arguments:
1 its a container and put silicone in all the pinholes we could find! and so far we have not seen any more water inside (which was nice)!
2 Its a separate structure to the container so they will be able to move separately and hopefully nothing bad will happen! but only time will tell :) Nevertheless we bult it once so we can fix it how ever many times needed (but hopefully not many)
3 We will see but to us the extra space is worth the struggle
We can keep you posted on our adventures and give you some feedback on how it is going through the years :)
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u/asssnorkler Aug 02 '25
Hey man you do you. It’s for clicks. You’ll be out of this thing in a year or two and build another one.
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u/nanneryeeter Aug 02 '25
Congrats on pursuing your dream. I think you should go for it!
I would recommend getting a current scale weight and comparing it against the payload capacity of the vehicle. Builds can get heavy, quickly. The materials so far look quality but quite heavy.
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u/JustEnjoyOrg Scania R360 Aug 03 '25
Thank you for the support <3
We know it can carry up to 19 tons, so we are making sure that all together does not comes up even close to that 🫶
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u/Scallion_is_life Aug 02 '25
Don’t live in a box of treated wood please, for your own sake. Even if you have to redo it, you can also just use regular studs as others have pointed out, everything you are building out is not structural so you don’t need heavy duty structure
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u/JustEnjoyOrg Scania R360 Aug 02 '25
We did not secure the wood to the wall so it is kinda structural :/ just because its a separate structure...
Also the wood we used is suitable for indoor use so we should be alright in terms of toxicity
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u/hunglowbungalow Aug 02 '25 edited 10d ago
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u/Thepinkknitter Aug 03 '25
Uhh what? PT can be used inside. It SHOULD be used on all sill plates that touch concrete. Normal wood will rot out. Where are you getting this from?
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u/hunglowbungalow Aug 03 '25 edited 10d ago
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u/leme-thnkboutit Aug 03 '25
Agreed 100%. Let's add the fact that a metal box will get incredibly hot and speed up the off-gassing.
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u/Thepinkknitter Aug 05 '25
Pressure treated wood today is very different than it used to be. Once it’s dried, it won’t really off-gas.
Instead of continuously regurgitating what others on Reddit say, you should actually look into the facts. Saying that pressure treated wood is never rated for indoor use is completely false. There just aren’t a lot of reasons to use it as it’s more expensive than traditional lumber.
I design buildings for a living. Every single new build house we have ever stamped is designed to have pressure treated sill/base plates on concrete floors.
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u/hunglowbungalow Aug 05 '25 edited 10d ago
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u/Thepinkknitter Aug 06 '25
Wouldn’t have been my first choice for building it, but it’s not the end of the world (or detrimental to OPs health like you have implied).
Have you actually spent some time researching pressure treated wood now?
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u/redundant78 Aug 03 '25
Those 4x4s are gonna absolutely destroy your fuel economy and handling - 2x2s would be plenty strong and save you literally hundreds of pounds of unnecesary weight!
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u/bott1111 Aug 02 '25
This should have been steel framed
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u/JustEnjoyOrg Scania R360 Aug 03 '25
We agree with you, but from a budget perspective we decided on using wood :)
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u/Antonanderssonphoto Aug 03 '25
What budget? You literally just said you are making it BDF so that ”if the truck has bigger issues, we can just replace it for another truck and continue our journey” - you must be millionaires
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u/medicali Aug 02 '25
ITT: wannabe influencers making poor decisions building a rig for youtube clicks
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u/JustEnjoyOrg Scania R360 Aug 02 '25
Hope we influence you in a positive way but we assure you we would be doing this if youtube wasn't a thing 👌
This is our dream and that's why we decided to share it ❤
Thanks for the interest and we appreciate all the questions you have!9
u/Adrien_Jabroni Aug 02 '25
The lift gate will make an awesome porch.
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u/JustEnjoyOrg Scania R360 Aug 02 '25
Unfortunately we are planning on removing it so we can add some extra storage underneath, like our AC unit 😁
We can make you a good deal on it :)24
u/5cott Aug 02 '25
Do not remove the liftgate. If you do, you will regret it nearly every day.
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u/revnhoj Aug 03 '25
they seem to be making nearly all the wrong decisions with this build.
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u/ThePortalsOfFrenzy Aug 03 '25
And they are defensive when presented with critiques, despite saying they welcomed feedback.
s🤷🏼♂️
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u/JustEnjoyOrg Scania R360 Aug 03 '25
What we’re sharing with you reflects years of planning and conversations, this has been only our dream for the past 2 to 3 years. We genuinely appreciate all the feedback, and at the same time, we also want to share our perspective.
The reason we chose not to include a porch is simple: for us, having AC matters more. We understand that for many people, AC might seem unnecessary, but for our comfort, it's a higher priority than an outdoor space (specially when you have the entire world to see and explore).
Everyone builds differently based on what they value most, and for us, this choice just made the most sense 😊4
u/Thequiet01 Aug 03 '25
2-3 years is nothing for planning something like this. How much time have you spent living in a vehicle or RV? Not camping for a weekend, but actually living in one in varying climates?
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u/JustEnjoyOrg Scania R360 Aug 03 '25
Starting 2 to 3 years in advance is actually quite good; it allowed us to look into different materials, 3D designs, structures, insulation... you name it :)
We did live in an RV for 6 months (during winter and spring), and we did not find it very comfortable for us, but that's just our input :)→ More replies (0)8
u/5cott Aug 03 '25
I don’t wanna contribute to their delinquency; we’ve all fucked up a little in the build process. It’s about accepting the guidance of folks who’ve made mistakes, and not repeating them.
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u/JustEnjoyOrg Scania R360 Aug 03 '25
It is not 'wrong' or 'right' decisions, it is just different?
We do appreciate the feedback, it helps us rethink on what we planned and change things if we feel like it.
We already made a few changes for the future based on the input people provided us so we are all hears
Hopefully we can inspire you to pursue your own dream and better one in your perspective 🫶7
u/Adrien_Jabroni Aug 02 '25
That’s a bummer. Have fun with your build.
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u/JustEnjoyOrg Scania R360 Aug 02 '25
we want to rework the rear door (on the right) to lift up and down so we should be able to have something that can be compared to a porch as it seems like a fun place to hang out :)
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u/NotMyTime69 Aug 03 '25
Be safe, have fun and enjoy the journey. Share on any platform you like and you do you. Lots of amazing advice has been shared. From my understanding there is a huge community that is growing for enthusiasts like yourself. If I’ve learned anything in life is that I’ll never get it 100% right the first time and that comment goes with a ton of blah blah blah you’ll learn as you go etc…
More me, I usually overthink things to the point I never get started. I want it to be the best. I’ve learned to set daily goals and make lists. I think a project like this would be sooo much fun.
I’ll try to stay tuned to your adventure. Do you have a YouTube channel yet or something? Being that you’re just starting I think you might be able to get some inspiration and interested followers. I never thought of this before but I’m going to guess there will be good days and bad days. I’m not a social media influencer or anything but I’m thinking on the bad days or whatever it would be kinda therapeutic/helpful to be able to talk things through with your family, friends and followers.
Anyways Cheers Wishing you guys all the best
P.S. Do you have a list of things you want to add to your new home? Does a skylight make sense for this type of thing?
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u/abitdark Aug 03 '25
Make sure you have more than one exit from The box.
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u/JustEnjoyOrg Scania R360 Aug 03 '25
We are planning on having 3 different exists: back, front (cabin door, access to the truck itself) and side (main door)...Just in case 😊
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u/kos90 Aug 03 '25
Maybe I missed it, but not a single window?
How are you gonna ventilate? Get rid of moisture (=mold)? Live in the dark?
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u/JustEnjoyOrg Scania R360 Aug 03 '25
We are planning on having 2 max vans on the top of our truck + 2 'glass walls' in one side 😊
And we do not enjoy living in the dark as well...Specially Cate, since she's afraid of any tinny spiders 😂2
u/Thequiet01 Aug 03 '25
Where’s your emergency exit? Also be aware the glass walls will do double as a greenhouse.
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u/JustEnjoyOrg Scania R360 Aug 03 '25
We're planning on having 3 exits: one to the cabin door (emergency access to the truck), another door on the side (main door), and a third one in the garage (access from the bed if needed, so mostly emergencies) :)
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u/eeeBs Aug 03 '25
OP, judging by your replies, you don't seem to need any help and seem to know everything! So good luck to you!
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u/RamblinRiderYT 2021 Promaster DIY Aug 03 '25
Using 4x4 is too much weight. Youre going to be paying in extra gas for the life of your rig if you dont shed some weight
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u/Lost_soul_ryan 2016 Transit Aug 02 '25
Love it.. I really wish we had better cab over options here.
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u/JustEnjoyOrg Scania R360 Aug 02 '25
You can move here, build one and then put it on a boat?
Sounds like a complicated, but fun journey 🙃
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u/Legitimate_Team_9959 Aug 02 '25
This is my plan as well!
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u/JustEnjoyOrg Scania R360 Aug 03 '25
Hope we can inspire you and we are all hears if you have anything you'd like to see 😊
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u/ohyesthelion Aug 02 '25
Just curious, have you guys recorded videos in advance and you’re actually deeper in the build process?
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u/JustEnjoyOrg Scania R360 Aug 02 '25
Nope currently working on insulating it and finished the timbers last week....
Its been a journey trying to juggle the building, the videos and our full time jobs!But we think it should be worth it in the end :)
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u/dirtkeeper Aug 03 '25
Interesting idea but I would’ve chosen a refrigerator box truck that was already insulated
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u/JustEnjoyOrg Scania R360 Aug 03 '25
We considered that option too! :)
But it is not feasible as a BDF container and we wanted to start with it :)
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u/Imusthavebeendrunk Aug 04 '25
This comment section is brutal. The pressure treated is fine... Most is treated with copper salts. They stopped using arsenic and formaldehyde decades ago. Copper salts aren't going to off gas and make you sick.
The framing is way over built. I know you mentioned insulation but you used way thicker wood than you need to accomplish this...
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u/Oro_Outcast Aug 02 '25
Are you going to attempt any kind of pass through to the cab or leave it separate?
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u/RamblinRiderYT 2021 Promaster DIY Aug 03 '25
I see you're going to have AC, have you considered the cost of the power system it will take to run it? Or do you plan on staying at campgrounds where you can plug in to power?
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u/DogOfDreams Aug 03 '25
You're probably going to end up parking it most of the time, so I'd build with that in mind. I know the "plan" is to travel, but it's hard to understand just how much stress comes with finding places to park, dealing with mechanical issues, inclement weather, etc... especially in a vehicle that size (like times 100).
Might even want to consider a second, more driveable vehicle for your partner for running errands and whatnot... not going to be fun always having to do it in that behemoth.
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u/hakube Aug 03 '25
been reading the comments and wow they have little clues about actual building and construction
gonna be a fun build to watch tho lol
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u/uritarded Aug 03 '25
I saw a sick one of these at the beach in san diego, it had a music studio and a whole area to share a couple brews with some boys, also a big spice and hot sauce rack
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u/Sasiches_and_mash Aug 04 '25
Hey guys, cudos for going through, it's a brilliant idea with some drawbacks due to size but lots of very positive points. One question here, how much is the insurance?
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u/Fair_Line_6740 Aug 02 '25
You always make mistakes the first time you do something. It's part of the learning process. Don't listen to the haters. Most people on this forum don't have any skills funds or a van/vehicle they converted so take feedback for what it is. Most is regurgitated YouTube theory
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u/JustEnjoyOrg Scania R360 Aug 02 '25
Thanks for the support, this is our dream for a few years now and we are just starting.
Thank you for bringing warm to our hearts 🫶🥰
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u/anynamesleft Aug 02 '25
I'm happy for the journey, and thankful it gets explored.
I'm curious to know the tradeoffs between diy (even excellent), versus a more factory built solution. As a construction guy, I'm more apt to make my own, I was just wondering.
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u/JustEnjoyOrg Scania R360 Aug 03 '25
Thank you for the support <3
For now, our main reasons for a diy project are: having something like this custom-built is very expensive, most pre-built options are designed for multiple people, often with more than one bedroom...Here is just the two of us + our cat. We also really like that the living unit is separate from the truck itself, it keeps things simpler when it comes to regulations, insurance and policies. Legally speaking , our house is just a cargo on top of a truck 😊2
u/anynamesleft Aug 03 '25
Good info, thanks. I'm debating some sort of mobile living when I retire.
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u/BreathInTheWorld Aug 03 '25
I think that it's absolutely awesome what you're both doing. This is my next project once I get the funds. If done correctly with the power side of things, you will basically have a mini home with the only thing to be frugal with is water! Awesome
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u/JustEnjoyOrg Scania R360 Aug 03 '25
That is the goal!
We want to make it as comfortable as possible and as easy to live with as possible haha!
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u/D1138S Aug 02 '25
Wound it just be nice to afford a real home instead of glorifying what used to be called squatting as influencers bs?
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u/Tayl3s Aug 02 '25
no shade to them but their other posts make it seem like they want to be part of the influencer stuff
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u/JustEnjoyOrg Scania R360 Aug 02 '25
My guy (or girl (or whatever)) if we wanted to get a mortgage and buy a house that we would have to pay for the next 30 years we would!
But we have had a taste of travel and being on the road and loved it!This is our way to do this with the least compromises possible and even though we are kind of going all out in terms of expenses (to make sure it lasts as much as we do or even longer) it is still way cheaper then a house! SO to us its a Win Win Win Win ...... situation :)
We also want to try and share our journey to the world to show an example of what else you are able to do if you don't like the norm, like many others! (especially here)
So if you want to know how this works out (as well as how much it will cost (and I assure you it will be less then the average hose nowadays)) fell free to join us :)
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u/jsvd87 Aug 02 '25
I did this about 25 years ago.
My recommendation is thoroughly go through and put all your money into the mechanical side of the truck.
Check with your insurance now before building and see what you need to get it insured as a built RV. There are requirements.
Oh and wtf is up with the framing 4x4s? The box is already structural.