The Taj is mostly done, so we’re off on the first road trip! In February, I was getting ready for a month-long immersion of yoga teacher training at Kripalu center. I wasn’t planning to take the Taj, but my friend staying at my apartment caring for my kitties needed my car- and Taj was roadworthy, so why not? As it turned out, it was so nice to have a little place to escape to on sunny lunch breaks- and play my guitar and sing to the mountains. I stayed in the dorms, so I still haven’t actually slept in the Taj- yet. One chilly afternoon I did have the Mr. Heater fired up, a cup of hot rooibos tea, and I just sat, strummed, and enjoyed the view, letting it all soak in. 🙂
The Taj has been officially accessorized! My first real guitar, an Alvarez Regent I bought in 1986 or 87, is coming with me to Kripalu.
Taj’s first housewarming gift 🙂 Thank you, Alison.
Packing up for the first Taj voyage to Kripalu, for a month long immersion of studying yoga.
First stop- Island Tire for some new shoes!
Ready for the first little road trip!
Ready for the first little road trip!
Ready for the first little road trip!
Ready for the first little road trip!
A sunny lunch break, playing guitar to the mountains.
The view from here, at Kripalu.
My Taj MaSmall 
Thank you for recording each step of your journey. I’m starting on a path right now (albeit with a school bus) yet it is so good to have a visual reference point such as yours.
You’re welcome, alifeallah! I can’t wait to convert a school bus next. Best of luck, and post your progress!
Thank you for sharing this process. I am so happy to see others able to do the very thing that I want to do and you took it to a whole other level. Love, Love, Love… Thank you again…
You’re welcome, Barry! Thanks for commenting and best of luck on your project. It’s a learning process, happy to share what I’ve learned.
Amazing! I absolutely LOVE the loft bed, and all the lighting (windows) you’d installed!
Thank you, SplittingElm!
i was wondering if I could follow you on Facebook or if you had any of the plans for the RV? I can’t tell you how much of a dreamer has been for me to buy a uhaul truck and do what you did!!!!
Hi Michael, thanks! I don’t have this on FB yet. Mostly what I do is surf how-to DIY vids on youtube, since I don’t watch TV. I pretty much make it up as I go, looking at the space, considering my needs then figure something out. I’ve made mistakes, or learning curves- I hope to wrap this all up into some nice plans one day for others to get started. Good luck!
Awesome Job 🙂
Thank you!
Thank you, Veronika!
Update?
Thanks Davrell- I will try to get an update soon 🙂
Looks awesome. Who did you get RV insurance with, I’m in PA and have trouble deregulate ring as an RV and getting insurance in a non-professional conversion. Many thanks.
Hi Richard- I have not yet hooked up any pipes, water, tanks, cooking, etc- so at present it is a regular truck/ passenger vehicle. Hope that helps. Good luck!
On your fiberglass piece that you used for your loft-do you have any resources for that? Like did you buy it or have it custom made? Did you install it yourself? Any info would be helpful! Love your blog by the way!
Thank you Justin! For the roof, look back through the archives in the blog, I posted of how I made it. (links below) Basically I made a custom wood frame, lined the sides with a floor underlayment foam board, the front is the ‘bendy’ plywood, and I covered it with fiberglass cloth, epoxy and exterior deck paint. It was a huge job. You need a good respirator when working with resin, and the area has to be 70*f during application and drying. Thanks for loving the blog! I had searched everywhere for custom tops and ideas, and I watched a ton of youtube how-to videos- finally just made up my own.
Here you go, Justin- and thank you! Good luck with yours!
Where did you get your fiberglass top for the uhaul at? I’m wanting to do something similar but am having trouble finding info on it.
Hi Justin, I did a lot of youtube research, I built the frame and sheathed with bendy plywood, then I put the fiberglass fabric on and did the resin over it. Heavy on the research, and heavier on the eye /skin / respirator breathing protection 🙂 Good luck!
Wow… this is really great! Thanks so much for sharing. I was going to get the 15′ truck, newer one. Like you, I wanted to get something with good MPG, but these trucks lucky to get 10, and that’s probably empty. Full of cabinets, doors, windows, beds, etc…etc… More like 8! I dunno, thought about buying a RAV-4 with a tow behind tent trailer (they make some nice ones, with even a king size bed) then park trailer in camp site, and use rav – 4 to explore the city – towns. Hybrid rav 4 gets about 35 or so MPG, probably pulling a trailer be lucky to get high 20’s … But… such a trade off. Or I guess … one could go all out and “camp” in a toyota prius! Haha! Imagine getting 55 + MPG in your “RV”??? haha I just find it funny what some people will do! I really like the sacrifice you made to get the smaller truck but, getting the ‘bed’ out of the way and leaving the 10′ box for other stuff, is a great idea! I love the skylight! hope it doesn’t get too hot! My plan was to buy a 15′ box truck, and install a murphy bed. We shall see! 🙂 Funny how plans change! Follow your bliss!
Thank you, Eric! Good luck!