A guy named Jason wanted to construct himself a studio apartment on wheels in order to escape housing-related debt. Jason used to live in a large home with five housemates before deciding to go to graduate school for urban planning.

He realized that this mid-career change would require him to live in large cities with high living costs, so he devised a plan to avoid the exorbitant rentals. Jason wanted to reside in a discreet mobile home where he could feel protected. Fortunately, he discovered a suitable vehicle on Craiglist: an old 2004 Ford E-350 box truck.

The vehicle is 15 feet long and 8 feet wide. Even better, it already had a pass-through from the cab to the rear, providing him with a lovely loft area. Jason built the majority of the structure himself and recruited a buddy to handle the design and some of the more difficult elements.

Basically, he wanted a mobile residence that looked like a work truck on the exterior and could be parked wherever. Jason moved into the mobile van, dubbed the “Stealth Studio,” at the start of 2021.

So far, he’s enjoying it since it enables him to live in the city without paying high rent. Jason normally leaves his car for four to seven days and then rides his bike or uses public transit around town. Because he doesn’t drive the van every day, the truck’s poor gas economy isn’t a deal-breaker.

Jason uses a 12-gallon gasoline tank put beneath the rear of the truck as a heater. He can receive some natural light and appreciate the scenery outdoors via a window while he’s in the mountains. Because the automobile is designed for covert urban life, Jason designed the glass to resemble a vent.

His bed has a pull-out cupboard underneath it. Jason enjoys cooking, so he built his kitchen with plenty of counter space and easy access to his most-used gadgets. He also has a compact refrigerator, microwave, induction stove, and large sink.