The Tumbleweed Vardo brings traditional gypsy wagon aesthetics to a modern micro camper design that fits in a truck bed or on a small trailer. Built primarily from recycled materials for just a few hundred dollars, this tiny shelter offers a practical first building project and weekend camping solution designed by Tumbleweed founder Jay Shafer.
Vardo Specifications
- Designer: Jay Shafer (Tumbleweed Tiny House Company)
- Style: Gypsy wagon / traditional vardo
- Transport: Truck bed or small trailer
- Construction: Primarily recycled materials possible
- Features: Rounded roof, angled side walls
- Use: Camping, travel, weekend shelter
Vardo Design
Image: Tumbleweed Houses
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This Ford Transit cargo van conversion transforms a commercial vehicle into a complete stealth camper with fold-down bunk beds, kitchenette, cooler, portable toilet, and dedicated bike storage. The exterior maintains its work vehicle appearance for discreet urban parking while the interior provides everything needed for comfortable travel and living on the road.
Conversion Details
- Base Vehicle: Ford Transit Cargo Van
- Style: Stealth (work vehicle appearance)
- Sleeping: Fold-down bunk beds
- Kitchen: Kitchenette with cooler
- Bathroom: Portable toilet
- Storage: Road bike space
Stealth Exterior
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This video tour captures a tiny house on wheels mid-construction, showing the framing, layout decisions, and building process. The 12-minute tour provides insight into how builders approach trailer-based construction and make design choices during the build. The project used new plans refined from a previous successful build.
Video Details
- Duration: 12 minutes 11 seconds
- Content: Construction site tour
- Stage: Post-framing, pre-windows
- Builder: Dan Louche (Tiny House Project)
Construction Site
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This tiny house on wheels construction demonstrates how quickly framing can progress with proper planning and experience. Starting from a bare trailer, the builder completed wall framing in just four days, incorporating design improvements from a previous build. The rapid progress shows what dedicated DIY builders can accomplish.
Build Progress
- Builder: Dan Louche (Tiny House Project)
- Timeline: Four days from trailer to framed walls
- Design: Improved plans based on first build
- Foundation: Trailer-based (THOW)
Day One: Starting Point
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LaMar Alexander of Simple Solar Homesteading built a 14×14 off-grid solar cabin in Utah with a full loft for just under $2,000 in new materials. The 400 square foot home (including loft) operates entirely off-grid with 600 watts of solar and 400 watts of wind power, providing all modern conveniences, including WiFi, TV, microwave, washer, and dryer, without monthly utility bills.
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The Tumbleweed Harbinger offers 310-407 square feet of living space on a permanent foundation, providing more room than trailer-based tiny houses while maintaining the company’s efficient design principles. Available in one or two-bedroom configurations, the Harbinger includes space for full-size appliances including washer, dryer, dishwasher, and range with oven.
Harbinger Specifications
- Designer: Tumbleweed Houses (Jay Shafer)
- Size: 310-407 square feet
- Foundation: Permanent (not trailer-based)
- Bedrooms: One or two (optional ground floor bedroom)
- Stories: One plus sleeping loft and storage loft
- Estimated Material Cost: $26,000-$33,000
Harbinger Exterior
Photo via Tumbleweed Houses
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Derek “Deek” Diedricksen of RelaxShacks built the UB-30 treehouse cabin in the Vermont woods as a birthday gift for his brother. The two-sleeper micro fort features a see-through roof that creates spaciousness while connecting occupants to the forest canopy above. Built inexpensively using salvaged materials including recycled windows, the cabin overlooks a stream from its elevated perch.
Cabin Details
- Name: UB-30 (for brother’s 30th birthday)
- Builder: Derek “Deek” Diedricksen (RelaxShacks)
- Location: Vermont woods
- Capacity: Two sleepers
- Roof: See-through/transparent
- Materials: Salvaged and recycled
- Setting: Overlooking stream
- Support: Attached to live trees
UB-30 Treehouse Exterior
Images via RelaxShacks/YouTube
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Builder Dan Louche of the Tiny House Project began his second tiny house on wheels after successfully completing his first build for his mother. This Florida-based project incorporated lessons learned from the first construction and featured a sleeping loft to maximize interior space. The build demonstrates how experience improves subsequent tiny house projects.
Project Details
- Builder: Dan Louche (Tiny House Project)
- Project: Second tiny house on wheels
- Location: Florida
- New Feature: Sleeping loft design
- Purpose: Vacation home or potential sale
- Plans: New plan set developed during build
Initial Materials Budget
- Trailer: $2,700
- Windows: $3,000
- Home Depot Order: $5,500
- Initial Total: $11,200
Dan Louche – Tiny House Builder
Photo via Dan Louche
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